Posts Tagged ‘selling fake items’

Dear eBay Queen:

I am a new seller on eBay. I have not sold anything; seriously my feedback is -0-.  I’ve been reading your articles for years, and thought this year I could sell a few things.  I am truly a bargain shopper, and I have several things I have purchased at deep discounts to sell on eBay.  When should I start listing my holiday items? I have perfume sets, brand new jeans and couple of fabulous new designer winter coats.  When should I start selling?  Do you have any tips for me?

Mrs. Chaps

Dear Mrs. Chaps:

You should list your items now.  Don’t let any more dust gather on your them! Here are some things to think about when listing your first things to sell on eBay.

·         Take several photos from different angles of the item.

·         Write good descriptions, including the measurements.

·         Let the buyer know in your description when you will ship the item.

I would also let your buyers know in the auction ad that you are a new seller, but you understand the importance of wrapping and sending the items out safely and in a timely fashion.  Congratulations on taking the first step to sell on eBay!

Dear eBay Queen:

I have sold and bought on eBay since 2008. I have 100% feedback and I am a Top Rated Seller.  I thought it would be a good idea to open an eBay store. Boy, I was wrong! Since opening the store, I’ve had nothing, but trouble. My listings have been removed; I get hateful emails from other people stating my items are fake or counterfeit when in fact they are originals.

I listed a Coach bag that I purchased at Nordstrom’s in Overland Park, Kansas. It was well kept and I thought since I didn't use it anymore that I would sell it. It was bid up to $375.00, and it had only three more days to go before the auction was over.  Someone turned me in, eBay gave me a trademark violation and my listing was pulled.  I really feel like it was an attack from someone out there who’s jealous that I was doing so well. Now I'm scared to list any of my older designer handbags because I think the same person is going to report it again.  My handbags are real, they are just slightly used. What can I do? Do I just cancel the eBay store? Get a different name and sell items individually? Maybe someone won't attack me if it's not a store or just forget the whole thing and try to get a website up on my own? Please help!! Any advice would be so appreciated!

One more question: Am I allowed to have a listing on eBay and have a link to a website of my own or is that against there policy? I don't know what else to do and I wanted to run a small business to help out my family.

Designer Bagger, Paola KS

Dear Designer:

I am not sure that the influx of problems you are having, have anything to do with opening a store.  I would say you’ve probably been attacked by another person selling those types of purses on eBay.  Selling designer handbags on eBay is a big business, and the competition is steep.  In this situation I would try to find the receipts for the handbags you are going to sell, and take a photo of those to include in the listing.  If you don’t feel comfortable putting the receipts in the listing you could mention you have them which could potentially ward off any attacks. 

If you can find your credit card statement or receipt for the purse that was removed for a trademark violation, you can fax that into eBay and they will remove your violation and allow you to sell the purse.   

You certainly could open your own web store.  The biggest problem with having your own site, (besides the design of it,) is driving traffic to it.  eBay already has the traffic.  Some other options for selling your bags could be Craiglist or BooCoo auctions.   When it comes to eBay the only way you can promote your online store on eBay is when you do it on your “about me” page.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 220700684710 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): Have you shot your big deer yet?  Check out these Whitetail deer shed antlers SOLD $1,600.00     http://cgi.ebay.com/huge-240-whitetail-deer-shed-antlers-taxidermy-horns-/220700684710

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com

Dear eBay Queen:

I have a small eBay problem.  I’ve been selling on the internet for 4 years, and it has always been my policy to not accept refunds. I recently sold a card from a card game called Yugi-Oh!.  The buyer paid me $5.00 for the card (including shipping).  He emailed me after he received it and claimed it was fake. 

He was very nice, and asked if he could exchange it or get a refund.  His email was very nice.  He told me “he understands that I didn’t do this on purpose”.  I didn’t know it was fake.  I don’t know what to do; I no longer have the $5.00 in my PayPal because I spent it.  I’m not sure how to give his money back without any money in there.  What should I do? I said no refunds, but I had no idea the card was fake!  I never even said whether it was real or fake anyway, I just listed the picture and the name of the card.  It was only $5.00, and I doubt he will take any legal action, I do want to solve this but I’m  stumped here, what should I do?

Tom P, Gardner, KS

Dear Tom:

I have never heard of a fake Yugi-Oh! card.  I did a little research and found out they are quite prevalent.  Here are couple of websites to help with identifying faux trading cards. http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Counterfeit  and http://www.yugiohcardmaker.net/ .

In a situation like this, I would ask the buyer to return the item for a refund.  I understand your PayPal account does not have the $5.00 in it; you could refund your buyer with an e-check, or add money to your PayPal account now so the money will be there when it is time to refund him.

One of the things you should keep in mind, even if you have a “no refund” policy, is the fact your buyer could still file a claim against you, and PayPal will take the money out of your account without your approval.

Dear eBay Queen:

I sell and collect My Little Ponies. I recently received a negative because a scammer wanted a refund and to keep the item. I was pretty miffed and I blocked the buyer.  Due to eBay's current policy for seller protection and their "Buyer is always right, even when scamming for free stuff" policy, I have started to screen my buyers more carefully.  I am considering canceling bids from buyers that have a habit of leaving a lot of negatives for sellers, or leaving them for unjust reasons. 

Recently I had a buyer that slipped through my usual net and is starting to worry me with negotiations for lower shipping for the ponies after the auction had ended. Luckily, we were able to resolve it, but that kind of thing, (people not getting their way) ends in a negative feedback more often than not.

What are your thoughts on preemptively preventing proven problem buyers from bidding on your items? It makes me feel a little like a jerk and like I am limiting my auctions.  A couple of weeks ago, another buyer slipped through. She bid on 2 of my ponies.  She lost the bid on one and won the other one that she really didn’t want. She sent me 4 or 5 emails complaining about how she lost the bid.  She ended up leaving me a negative for the pony she did get stating that she did not know the pony had orange in her hair.  (The auction had four photos of the pony with the orange hair and even listed out the colors of the pony in the auction).

PonyGRRL

Dear PonyGRRL:

I completely understand your apprehension with buyers who are quick to leave negative feedback.   I believe it is certainly within your right to block buyers that you believe are quick to leave negative feedback.   I would say if you have the time and means to check out each buyer and their feedback they have left, then go for it. 

I really believe eBay needs to do something about buyers who try to re-negotiate the sale after the fact.  It is this very thing that I think is driving some sellers away. 

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item 350407805064 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page): Remember when cars had hood ornaments?  Check out this LV A Ronson Uncle Sam Hood Ornament Radiator Cap SOLD $1,550.00  http://cgi.ebay.com/LV-ARonson-UNCLE-SAM-Hood-Ornament-Radiator-Cap-RAREST-/350407805064    

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? E-mail: questions@asktheebayqueen.com