Counterfeit goods, so what?

[theclassof1984]

Hello,

As botha seller and a buyer, I have had my experience with counterfeit goods here on Ebay. I have been fooled once with a USB flash drive which was too good to be true, and it turned out to be just that. I didn't have much help with Ebay getting my money back and had to settle for the seller giving me a partial refund - lesson learned.

I have been looking for a pair of Rayban sunglasses lately and cannot help but notice that probably half the sales are shameless fakes. Nobody can sell a pair of Rayban Wayfarers for 30 or 40 bucks, so why doesn't Ebay shut this stuff down? You may say that the sellers need to be reported in order for Ebay to act? Well, I have also noticed these seller feedbacks specifically claiming the buyers was sold counterfeit glasses,and yet people seem to ignore this tool for safe shopping. But the question stands - why does Ebay do next to nothing about this? Is the fee money so great from these counterfeiters that they don't want to bite the hand that feeds them? I don't get it.

I don't believe that Ebay can't realistically go after every scammer because of the sheer number of them - if the same amount of people decided not to pay their Ebay fees, you know damn well Ebay would become extremely vigilant and methodic about collecting their money owed. I guess it's about priorities.

[femmefan1946]

I can't speak about electronics, but I can speak about clothing.

The markup on clothing is very high.

If the landed price of a dress is$10 (that includes materials, labour, transportation and duty) it will probably sell for $100 or more.

Not because the seller makes so much on that dress, but because he loses on all the other dresses he bought that did not sell.

Those unsold dresses undergo price cut after price cut, then are sold on to Winner's or Frenchie's where they are displayed with yet another price point. (sometimes higher than the lowest price the original store sold for)

Clothing, particularly women's clothing, goes bad pretty quickly. Fashions change four or more times a year, and while most women ignore this, the stores can't and don't.

Brand names also have some other benefits. One is consistent sizing- the total bugaboo of shopping. It is not unusual for a woman to have clothing in four "different sizes" in her closet and not just for the time of the month. The marked sizes are different but the actual measurements are the same.

There are also differences in finish details from linings (or the lack of them) to french seams or staystitching, to matching of patterns in different parts of the garment.

Knockoffs don't bother with those details. I have counterfeit purses that lack the lining that the brand normally uses or which have cheap cotton blend linings instead of the heavy polyester of the real thing. RayBan lenses are optically perfect. Counterfeits have a waviness or sometimes the lens coating delaminates.

And we don't even have to talk about some of the truly dangerous knockoffs, like fake Colgate toothpaste or exploding batteries.

The apologists like to say the fakes are made in the same factories. I call shenanigans on that. The fakes are made in different factories, because the real contractor does not want to lose his lucrative contract with the Western brand to sell a few hundred one at a time on eBay.

[i*m-still-here]

This isn't exactly counterfeit, but it is a $24 glass vase from Home Sense with some sort of light rigged up to it.

230852800731

I wouldn't be all that surprised if someone buys it.

[rich1299eb]

This isn't about counterfeit goods so much as seller deception, in my opinion fraud though I doubt leaglly so.

But on the issue of counterfeit goods if an item's price seems too good to be true I don't dismiss it but I do investigate the item more closely. Good deals are available, in some cases people don't know what they've got, especially if individuals, not stores, and are just looking to get rid of somethign they don't want, perhaps a present from an ex, something picked up in a lot or estate sale and so on..

I've had a bad experience with a seller who listed one price for shipping on their shipping and payment page but another much more expensive price hidden in a lengthy description on their item description page. I felt that it was fraud but since they did mention the much higher charges for shipping hidden in their very long description of the item, a very common set of coins that needs no description at all, I'm sure that legally it doesn't qualify as fraud because of that but it was deception.

I bid on several coin sets from them, that just didn't need a long drawn out description, based on the shipping price to Canada listed on their shipping and payment info page. The seller made no mention whatsoever of much higgher shipping charges anywhere on their shipping info page. With the much higher shipping charges the coin sets weren't worth the money. I only discovered the much higher than listed shipping charges by accident.

I contacted the seller and asked if they would honour the shipping price they listed on their shipping info page. The seller's response was to block me from buying from them in the future, not that I'd want to do so after their deception. But now on my buyer's account it shows I've been blocked by a seller but there is no way for me to leave feedback about this seller warning their customers of their much higher shipping charges than they've listed on their shipping info pages.

I know there's some sort of resolution system but all I want to be able to do is to leave feedback about this seller warning other customers of the deception. However as far as I can tell there is no way at all for me to do this. That is just wrong as far as I'm concerned.

If someone knows of a way to leave feedback despite not completing a sale please elt me know.

[i*m-still-here]

rich........... If  you haven't won an item, you can't leave FB.

Again, I know this thread is about counterfeit items, but counterfeit items are just a small part of the deception here.

I just saw something that makes me wonder.

A seller I've followed for years and had a lot of respect for has an item listed and is not being open about the damage.

The item description speaks of the item in glowing terms and it is truly lovely.

The price is moderate for what it is but no so low as to raise flags.

($399)

When you look very closely at the pictures it's possible to see damage of the type that makes the item virtually without value.

EBay is not the main selling site for this seller, and in the past ebay listings have always been linked to the other site.

Not this time.

This seller is using ebay as a dumping ground.

Holy Cow..............

[femmefan1946]

Good deals are available, in some cases people don't know what they've got, especially if individuals, not stores, and are just looking to get rid of somethign they don't want, perhaps a present from an ex, something picked up in a lot or estate sale and so on..

Many B&M stores sell off deadstock at cost or below cost, because they have made their profit already and don’t want to ‘store’ the items for years. Some of the New With Tags stuff you see at the Sally Ann Thrift are the same.

bad experience with a seller who listed one price for shipping on their shipping and payment page but another much more expensive price hidden in a lengthy description on their item description page.

You are not required to pay the shipping fee in the listing description. The only shipping fee you are required to pay is the one on the S&H tab. (Note that sometimes sellers –particularly in the USA- will mention their domestic shipping cost in their listing, Foreign buyers are probably not going to be charged that amount.)

But now on my buyer's account it shows I've been blocked by a seller

A seller’s Block shows on the buyer’s feedback page? No? Where would this be seen exactly?

[2011limey1]

Yikes.....unfortunately I've never been east of Quebec when travelling within Canada and hear Nova Scotia is gorgeous.  The chain of stores you mention gives me that more incentive to visit your beautiful province......see all the beauty AND shop at that outlet store!!  Haven't heard of one like that here in Lotus Land!;-)

[1tobug]

Just having purchased a "used" coach bag, thinking the price was reasonable because it was "used", only to receive a really bad fake..(unfortunately the pictures hid the "O" making them look like the legitimate "C").  Buyer Beware!!

I think that if the description is going to have a name brand and it's not Authentic, then is should read "like the classic Chanel" or "Coach look a like".   I don't care if there is a picture that clearly shows it's a fake,  as a buyer I shouldn't need to inspect the pictures in great detail, especially considering that some of the AAA fakes come with receipts and are difficult to spot that they are fakes by pictures.

People are willing to purchase fakes after all millions of people flock to China town in New York searching for those fakes.

If I'm buying an authentic brand, I want the seller to have to clearly state it's a fake.  Actually there was just a case on People's Court, where a seller sold fake bags for $3K, and the judge confiscated the bags and the seller had to present the receipts from a store to prove that they were authentic, or they would be out the $3K and the bag!!

But at the end of the day, if you're selling fakes, disclose that in the description, if you don't and you try and say that the posted pictureswould have let the seller known it was fake, is unreasonable!

[vintagenorth]

Just having purchased a "used" coach bag, thinking the price was reasonable because it was "used", only to receive a really bad fake..(unfortunately the pictures hid the "O" making them look like the legitimate "C").  Buyer Beware!!

I think that if the description is going to have a name brand and it's not Authentic, then is should read "like the classic Chanel" or "Coach look a like".   I don't care if there is a picture that clearly shows it's a fake,  as a buyer I shouldn't need to inspect the pictures in great detail, especially considering that some of the AAA fakes come with receipts and are difficult to spot that they are fakes by pictures.

People are willing to purchase fakes after all millions of people flock to China town in New York searching for those  

But at the end of the day, if you're selling fakes, disclose that in the description, if you don't and you try and say that the posted pictureswould have let the seller known it was fake, is unreasonable!

Selling fake name-brand items is illegal in Canada and the US. Not just on eBay.

[vintagenorth]

Oh yes, buying a fake is also illegal and a chargeable offence.

[2011limey1]

"The price of new Coach bags can vary from under $100 to over $500 so perhaps a Coach bag in a store like that could be fairly inexpensive although I've seen them at Winners and they are more expensive than they are at the Coach outlet."

I hestitated to reply to you PJ as you always have great info....but there's no way you can get an authentic Coach bag for the prices you quoted....I've never seen even a tiny change purse for $150 .  Thry practically charge you to walk in the store!  Purses usually range, from memory, from apx.$,1000,00 to a least a few thousand.  I'm not a brand name woman, but must admit I oogle them in the window, not because I want to show off - but because theyare SO well made, will last for years and some are so beautiful.

[pierrelebel]

"will last for years and some are so beautiful."

A few years ago, Mary acquired a few bags made by Astrosatchel of Vancouver (made in Canada by Canadians!).  After years of daily use, they still look like new. And they are not expensive ranging in price from $85.00 to $130.00.

[pjcdn2005]

"The price of new Coach bags can vary from under $100 to over $500 so perhaps a Coach bag in a store like that could be fairly inexpensive although I've seen them at Winners and they are more expensive than they are at the Coach outlet."

I hestitated to reply to you PJ as you always have great info....but there's no way you can get an authentic Coach bag for the prices you quoted....I've never seen even a tiny change purse for $150 .  Thry practically charge you to walk in the store!  Purses usually range, from memory, from apx.$,1000,00 to a least a few thousand.  I'm not a brand name woman, but must admit I oogle them in the window, not because I want to show off - but because theyare SO well made, will last for years and some are so beautiful.

Don't hesitate to reply as I am not always right. 🙂

But perhaps you are confusing Coach with another brand. They do make some expensive bags but they have tons of less expensive bags as well. I've listed a few Coach bags that I've bought from a Coach outlet and they were all under $300. The coin purses,wristlets and wallet that I have listed are less expensive than you suggest and they are all authentic. I'm definitely not selling them for less than what I paid for them at the Coach store.

[pjcdn2005]

1tobug, Before you buy any designer bag on ebay it is a good idea to have it authenticated by someone  on the shoes, purses and fashion accessories message board on ebay .com

As a buyer you should be looking at the pictures to get a better idea of what you're buying...that's why the pictures are there.

The seller is wrong for not making sure that their bag was authentic before listing it but that does happen often so it is best that the buyer do some due diligence before spending money.

[femmefan1946]

Actually there was just a case on People's Court, where a seller sold fake bags for $3K, and the judge confiscated the bags and the seller had to present the receipts from a store to prove that they were authentic, or they would be out the $3K and the bag!!

Errrr--- you do know that People’s Court/ Judge Judy/ Judge Joe/ etc. are TV shows and purely entertainment? They are NOT law courts. They should NOT ever be confused with the legal system (not even with the US legal system which is quite different from the Canadian one.). The “judges” do usually have legal training and some may have been elected as judges at some point, but they have NO way of enforcing their “judgements”.

Purses usually range, from memory, from apx.$,1000,00 to a least a few thousand.

Not Coach. Their fabric purses run in the $100-$300 range, while the leather ones are mostly well below $1000. There is a Coach store at the Ottawa Rideau Store and I drop in every now and then.

There are Coach bags all over the elevators at work. Apparently they are the “in” bag with mid-level public servants. The other “in” bag is Guess. Both have labels that are made to be seen.

The upper level PS seem to go for fabric Longchamps, a French brand that is not sold in Ottawa. You have to go to Montreal.The label on those is an embossed leather disc the size of a quarter. Discreet luxury.

[2011limey1]

Hi PJ - I just googled Coach outlets in Vancouver and there are none.....just in the States - maybe in T.O,, I don't know....but just in case, I don't know how I look up your store.  Are you allowed to post it? ?:|

[2011limey1]

Thanks Pierre - never heard of Aerosatchel....as I mentioned I'm not a brand name girl - my only "vice" are Michael Kors watches - I'm obsessed.  Will investigate - thanks!

[pierrelebel]

Hi 2011limey1  

You will find a long list of retailers who carry Astrosatchel  bags in Vancouver from their website.

[pocomocomputing]

There is a Coach store in downtown Vancouver.

Here is review of the store

http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-coach-store-vancouver-2

[2011limey1]

Thanks, I know that, it's right near my house, it's not an outlet store and the prices are totally out of my league that's for sure.  They sell them at The Bay also, but same thing.  Thanks anyway!

[2011limey1]

Hi Femme - always enjoy your posts.  I don't want a fabric purse and I have a HUGE aversion to anything with huge logos adorning them.  In fact they make me cringe for some reason.  Ah well, it's just a thought...will look, it's certainly not a must-have.  Unfortunately I'm a chronic insomniac   :_|  so I'm up at all hours checking out all kinds of sites just looking at everything - which can be dangerous when you're not all there!. Luckily debt scares the life out of me!