I have been an eBay selling member in good standing for well over a decade. A competitor seller has lodged a complaint that I violated trademark regulations. I was notified that I was suspended from trading on eBay without being given a chance to defend myself. The complaint was false and nowhere in my listing was there any reference to the company that complained nor was there any trade mark violation. Not only did eBay fail to conduct even a basic review of the listing it acted without giving me any opportunity to explain myself. If a basic examination of the listing that a competitor found offensive had been made it would have shown that I was innocent of the offence of trade mark violation.
I was insulted when told by an eBay representative that the suspension was for me to "consider my questionable business practices." I was told that it would be necessary for me to contact the complainant, but I wonder why I should have to contact a company I do not have a business relationship with when my business relationship was with eBay. Obviously the company that lodged the false complaint would be unwilling to assist me. I thought eBay might, but I was wrong.
Of course it is difficult for me to defend myself in this dispute when eBay has deleted all references to the "offending" listing and my right and ability to retrieve it, thus destroying any evidence whereby I can prove that the complaint is unfounded.
There is no wonder eBay is having difficulty maintaining its market share of the online auction business, and why sellers are leaving in droves to seek other more customer friendly sites.
