11-12-2018 12:12 PM
It has recently come to my attention that a seller on Amazon has taken my photos and listed my items for sale on Amazon. When they sell something they buy it from me and put a note on the order asking it to be sent without an invoice or any type of branding. From what I read on Amazon, drop shipping this way is not allowed. They are also selling my items for 2-3 times more than what I sell them for on here. I have reported this to Amazon but have not heard back. Can I report them to eBay or should I just block the buyer and hope they don't have more buying accounts? I like the sales, but I'm still not happy this is happening. My items are branded with my seller name and website and it will be easy for customers to go to my eBay Store and see that they got ripped off on Amazon, then contact me thinking that I was the seller. Anyone else have experience with this?
-CM
11-12-2018 01:11 PM
Dropshipping is allowed (but discouraged) on amazon. It must not have an AZ competitor's branding (like walmart or costco).
The amazon seller would need to be selling for double to breakeven (dropshipping is a risky business).
An ebay seller can block the buyer if they are unhappy with the sale (or perhaps look at doubling their ebay price).
If it was me I'd be including a note inside the package with a link to my ebay store.
-..-
11-12-2018 01:22 PM
I think the concern for him was that this was going on. It's very difficult to stop this sort of thing from happening with so many sellers out there. I recently found a seller in China that was using my photos and listing information for an item. The only difference was their item was without box. Mine is new in box. They are able to ship free. I can't. And it's an item affected by the catalog feature. Looks like it was their work around to get it listed. Pointed it out to eBay and was told they would investigate. To date, over a month later, listing is still there.
-CM
11-12-2018 01:46 PM
I've had a few sales that went down like that (please no markings or invoice) and I suspected it was something like that. I could honestly care less, a sale is a sale. If they can sell it more than I could, good on them.
Ian
11-12-2018 01:48 PM
11-12-2018 01:53 PM
I've had 1 repeat customer located in USA who has asked me to ship to his customers in Canada. Also, didn't want the invoice enclosed. But he is entirely upfront about it. He paid my price so I'm okay with that. Using someones "listing specifics" on another site sounds hinky!! Then pass off blame for possible NAD just because!!
-CM
11-12-2018 01:57 PM
I guess using someone else's photos isn't quite right... If I was paying to have professional photos done I'd probably have an issue with that... Then again, my interest is selling the item as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Ian
11-12-2018 02:03 PM
Being old and cynical, my first thought was that the US poster should have been ignoring the request from the AZ seller not to include his own invoice and other information in the package.
He should have also been including a price list for his goods.
And he is getting sales from the AZ seller that he wasn't getting himself.
And since the AZ seller gave him a lead to a marketplace where he could get more money for his product he now has a new venue.
That's three good things the experience gave him.
Dropshippers of this type don't seem to understand that other people may be smarter than them.
11-12-2018 02:07 PM
Not positive on this, but thought the rule was if you used stock or someone else's photos you had to note in the listing that this was the case. Has anyone had any feedback from eBay for using watermarked photos? This did help to some extent in the past. Still ways around it with cropping if the watermark is along the border. Wouldn't this be considered a form of plagiarism?
-CM
PS. Sadly, the new "cheating on an exam" world we live in!!!
11-12-2018 02:21 PM
The bigger problem is the enforcement of these rules. As soon as a new rule is implemented sellers/buyers eventually find ways around them. Could the OP send(report) the seller up the River? Sorry, couldn't resist!! 🙂
-CM
11-12-2018 02:54 PM
11-12-2018 02:54 PM - edited 11-12-2018 02:56 PM
Selling them for 2-3 more than they get on eBay? Far be it from me to suggest you/they open up an AMZN sellers account.
11-12-2018 02:57 PM
11-12-2018 03:03 PM
11-12-2018 03:15 PM
I've gone to research an item on eBay and have seen the same photos for several sellers in different parts of the country/countries. From time to time I've even seen the same text verbatim attached to those listings. It does happen and extremely difficult to enforce.
-CM
11-12-2018 03:25 PM
11-12-2018 03:35 PM
For eBay to enforce. A buyer is only concerned about getting the item represented in the photos. Some "sellers" are just lazy and take as many shortcuts as possible.
-CM
11-12-2018 04:13 PM
11-12-2018 06:19 PM
11-12-2018 09:16 PM
The 'classic' dropshipper is using an online catalogue from his supplier from which he picks and chooses the items he wants to sell.
Then when he gets an order it is passed to the supplier, who as was contracted, ships the item and charges the dropshipping seller.
The supplier may have dozens if not hundreds of contracted dropshippers. It's a business plan that is very attractive to the lazy, who thinks retail is easy.
The part the AZ seller has missed is that the 'classic' dropshipper has a willing supplier and is working with some sort of contract.
The OP should absolutely be including her eBay contact information for her new customer. The one the AZ smartalec found for her.
And probably raising prices.
The question of stolen pictures and descriptions is different.
And harder to enforce.
This has been a problem online for decades.
Including all those photoshopped pictures that end up on Snopes.com.