eBay ever shut down your SO tool auctions?

[BQuicksilver]

It's happened to me twice now (a year ago and again lately). Not misrepresenting anything, I just get an e-mail stating copyright infringement and the auction is closed.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[Fedwrench]

Happens all the time. I had an auction pulled for a MG725 once because I wrote the specifications for the impact. Don't copy verbage from catalog or item boxes. Don't use terms like Flank Drive plus or talk about warranty. People know what you're selling and will still bid on generic descriptions.

 

[SMKS]

The only one I had pulled was because I mentioned the warranty.

 

[scott37300]

The only one I had pulled was because I mentioned the warranty.

Yep.

Did you mention anything about lifetime warranty in any way? That equals instant pull.

 

[BQuicksilver]

Maybe that was it. I could have had the warranty drop-down field on there. Didn't mention it in description. Thanks guys!

 

[kc-steve]

I'm a long-time user of Craigslist and am just getting into eBay even though I signed up for it years ago.

Isn't eBay like Craigslist? . . . in that someone has to blow the whistle on ya for the "moderators" to pull the plug?

I know of several occasions on Craigslist where people were just getting booted because a competitor didn't like their ad, or it was so close to borderline of the rules that it was difficult to tell. Competition like that *****.

Steve

 

[BQuicksilver]

I think SO has people who are dedicated to closing eBay auctions per my ex-SO dealer friend.

 

[rapyoke]

What rule is that breaking? As long as you are not violating the ebay TOS, how do they pull the auctions?

 

[JimDon]

Ebay *** clowns are a bunch of f-----g pri--s. Pulled my wife's auction for a high end designer purse that she bought new and had receipt from Macy's for. E-bay *** clowns said it was a fake, pulled the auction and kicked us off E-bay for a month. We did not mention anything out of line from what I could tell. Now ask me how I really feel about Flea bay.
Jim

 

[treasureseeker]

intellectual property

 

[Hoss356]

intellectual property

Please expand on this, I fail see how physical goods qualify as intellectual property.

 

[Skin]

What rule is that breaking? As long as you are not violating the ebay TOS, how do they pull the auctions?

intellectual property

This ^

you cant claim that SO will warranty your sale when their terms clearly state original owner. Technically, and as stupid as it may sound, its not a trasferable warranty, by making it appear it is you are violating Snap-Ons terms of agreement. So mark your items as no warranty and let the bidders draw their own conclusions.

Please expand on this, I fail see how physical goods qualify as intellectual property.

Its not so much the physical item as it is the rights and privileges you're entitled to as the owner.

 

[treasureseeker]

Please expand on this, I fail see how physical goods qualify as intellectual property.

I had a Snap-On ad ended by eBay which they sited intellectual property as I used some information from the Snap-On catalog description. I took the eBay intellectual property test they offer after implying I needed to pass to sell again. From the information provided that you read before the test I can copy specs from the Snap on site but can’t use statements such as how the item compares to other brands. What follows is what got my ad canceled.

Description:

Stop, Turn and Listen. Introducing the smoothest, strongest ratchets on the planet. You have to try them to believe them.

Based on Dual 80™ Technology these ratchets feature:

Strength: Provides up to 90 ft. lbs. Of ultimate torque to help break loose rusted and seized fasteners faster and easier.

Precision: Dual pawl, 72 tooth mechanism provides 15% less ratcheting arc to engage the next tooth allowing you to ratchet in tighter areas.

Durability: Snap-on's ultimate strength and patented sealed mechanism provides permanent lubrication while sealing out dirt, dust and other contaminants leading to a tool life.



I agree with EBay pulling my ad but don’t see how people sell on eBay for a living. I had them cancel a sale after I paid(Snap on ratchet). My last purchase after paying I have an hourglass with “payment being process for ten days now” Next to the item. For whatever reason they are holding the payment from the seller for 21 days, but he thinks the issue is on my end. In paypal there is box next to cleared payment for me to check off received item or not.

 

[Skyline]

I had auctions pulled for using the language "Snap-on Blue Point".

Apparently only Snap-on has the right to use that language. Several thousand auctions later, it appears that it's OK to use: "Blue Point Pliers sold by Snap-on"

If you want more info on how and why auctions can be pulled, search eBay and Google for VeRO. Whether it's a Snap-on wrench, or a Hermes handbag, these companies have signed on to a program with eBay to protect their intellectual property rights. Whether it is preventing fake goods, or improper use of trademarks. These participating VeRO companies get to police and pull auction themselves...then the burden of proof that something is legit falls to the seller. And he is treated like a criminal until the issue is resolved.

 

[route246]

Look, it is easy to see that some jackass idiot inside views ebay sales as competition to their retail sales channels. Idiot doesn't realize that a vast, robust, lucrative resale market makes their retail (new) products that much more valuable and able to be sold at the outrageous profit margins that they offer new gear at. They are so focused on their immediate profit margins and don't give a rat's *** that the secondary market is the primary reason they are able to charge so much in the first place.

It is pretty easy to see that their MBAs come from second rate schools. If they had any MBAs from a first rate school (Harvard, Wharton, et. al.) they wouldn't be doing this. A smart MBA could realize that a certain amount of cannibalization is going to occur but in the end the brand will be much stronger due to the very strong resale market.

They are not seeing the forest for the trees. A seller's real estate agent is not going to be focused on getting maximum commission for a sale. The agent is going to be focused on getting THE commission for THE sale. The size doesn't matter. Closing the deal does.

Disclaimer: I have an MBA from a second rate school meaning it's not Harvard or Wharton, but I am also smart enough to see that their MBAs are probably not even from a second rate school if they are pulling stupid maneuvers like this.

Car makers like Benz saw this decades ago. It's what allows them to charge so much for their new cars.

 

[route246]

I read the VeRO stuff but this doesn't make much sense to me. If I peddled goods I would be absolutely flattered that there was a secondary market for them, the more the merrier. I can't see how using an arbitrary technicality such as IP protection is going to be productive but obviously, ebay has been served with legal threats to "do something" about the perceived problem.

This sort of thing does no good for ebay or SO. It's bad for business, it's bad for the buyer, it's bad for the seller and it doesn't make any sense for any marketplace to restrain legal trade.

I had auctions pulled for using the language "Snap-on Blue Point".

Apparently only Snap-on has the right to use that language. Several thousand auctions later, it appears that it's OK to use: "Blue Point Pliers sold by Snap-on"

If you want more info on how and why auctions can be pulled, search eBay and Google for VeRO. Whether it's a Snap-on wrench, or a Hermes handbag, these companies have signed on to a program with eBay to protect their intellectual property rights. Whether it is preventing fake goods, or improper use of trademarks. These participating VeRO companies get to police and pull auction themselves...then the burden of proof that something is legit falls to the seller. And he is treated like a criminal until the issue is resolved.

 

[treasureseeker]

Snap-on Blue Point could fall under a misleading title if the item was a Blue Point. If an item is pulled without a reason it may be another seller getting rid of the competition.

 

[TOOL MASTER]

Ebay=f/n morons

 

[Skyline]

I read the VeRO stuff but this doesn't make much sense to me. If I peddled goods I would be absolutely flattered that there was a secondary market for them, the more the merrier. I can't see how using an arbitrary technicality such as IP protection is going to be productive but obviously, ebay has been served with legal threats to "do something" about the perceived problem.

This sort of thing does no good for ebay or SO. It's bad for business, it's bad for the buyer, it's bad for the seller and it doesn't make any sense for any marketplace to restrain legal trade.

I've had auctions pulled for making mistakes, plain and simple. The problem is that you can't go to Snap-on, and ask them for a guide to selling on eBay without ******* them off. I, for one, have figured it out the hard way, and have sold THOUSANDS of Snap-on items on eBay without a hitch.

Designer companies like Hermes I mentioned above are much more concerned with limiting forgeries sold as real on eBay, (have you ever priced a real Hermes handbad????) Other companies, (like Snap-on), are more concerned with the proper use of their trademarked names, logos, etc. Since the law gives every owner of an item like a tool the right to re-sell it...Snap-on can't stop you from doing so. But you must follow the proper, (and sometimes invisible) guidelines.

 

[bobemmerich]

Yep. They did that to me when I was downsizing my tools... I had to relist them several times before they went on.