OTCA Octoberfest -Let's Keep eBay Clean

[Cat]

Have you looked up G1 Transformers lately on eBay?

The KO sellers are there in full force, back selling knock-offs as 'reissues', and fooling less knowledgable collectors.

They come and go in waves, but it's a huge problem again.

This month, why don't we, as a community, work together to make it better for every buyer. Let's help those less knowledgable than ourselves, and combat those who are trying to fool and defraud buyers.

Why not commit to just 5 minutes a day/every few days/week and report these sellers, and items.

Aim for the sellers first, and try and get them taken care of, and report the items, so they're at least removed.

Let's make it a fair playing field for our fellow fans.

[theheretic]

Great idea. Let's knock off these knock-off peddlers

[Slag]

Have you looked up G1 Transformers lately on eBay?

The KO sellers are there in full force, back selling knock-offs as 'reissues', and fooling less knowledgable collectors.

They come and go in waves, but it's a huge problem again.


Let's make it a fair playing field for our fellow fans.

I was just thinking that the other day. Type "G1 transformer" into ebay and a huge percentage of the listings are KO's:(

[iamirondude]

there is 1 seller who's always putting up 1 or 2 ko G1 tf's that do fetch a high price but i don't think anyone has report him yet.this dude ripping people off and i have reported other sellers before but they always pop back up with the same stuff.

[drahsrebu]

I reported a seller a few weeks back, he was claiming they were reissues etc. I now notice that he has specifically put KO in the title and in the descriptions now.:)

[Jetfire in the sky]

As an MIB/MISB collector these "reissues" are balls. Thanks to a lot of research I can be pretty confident that I am buying or own a genuine item.
I often report the fake sellers to e-bay and it usually works. However, if a seller specifically has KO in their item description then its a little harder to have any weight to get the item off.
I think someone from Hasbro should be on e-bay daily because it is a breach of copyright, although I have heard that Hasbro may be getting something from these fake reissues without having to produce them, but that was many years ago. :cool:

[GoktimusPrime]

However, if a seller specifically has KO in their item description then its a little harder to have any weight to get the item off.
Selling counterfeits is illegal, regardless of whether you inform customers or not -- and isn't it still against eBay's Terms of Service? Though I suppose if they are openly honest about it, the deception factor's gone. Whoever goes ahead and buys it would know that it's fake and can't claim that they're being duped. Brick and mortar stores like Mandarake do the same thing... and while I don't condone the sales of fakes, I can at least respect the fact that they inform their customers and let them make an informed consumer choice.


I think someone from Hasbro should be on e-bay daily because it is a breach of copyright, although I have heard that Hasbro may be getting something from these fake reissues without having to produce them, but that was many years ago. :cool:
Hasbro is now cracking down on people selling unlicensed stuff at Hasbro-sanctioned events like BotCon, which I think is only fair enough. For now they don't appear to be interested in extending themselves beyond such events though.

[Cat]

I think someone from Hasbro should be on e-bay daily because it is a breach of copyright, although I have heard that Hasbro may be getting something from these fake reissues without having to produce them, but that was many years ago. :cool:

There is absolutely no truth to that.

That rumour started from one of the KO sellers, as a way to justify his wares to unsuspecting buyers: trying to muddy the water with a legit-sounding link.

[Lint]

....although I have heard that Hasbro may be getting something from these fake reissues without having to produce them, but that was many years ago. :cool:

If this were truly the case it would actually incense me even further to not buy a KO. :p

[Cat]

I've commited to two a day, focusing on Australian eBay.

It (sadly) only takes five minutes.

*i chose two so I'm reasonably sure I'm not spamming eBay with multiple reports for the same seller, unless a reasonable time has passed for them to take action.

[Bidoofdude]

Someone please report Surplus_sOlutions as I am sick of seeing that name. :mad::mad::cool:

[griffin]

Saw all those surplus solutions KO listings.... disgusting.

Also saw another dealer selling a set of Dinobots for $260, who clearly states that they are Knock Offs, and are not the originals... to cover himself from negative feedback, as if it makes his listing legitimate. :rolleyes:


I reported a couple of items, but might have to find out from ebay why they don't seem to act on them.

[griffin]

It (sadly) only takes five minutes.


"only"? Okay, it's not as long as 5 minutes, but damn Ebay.au makes it so difficult, it prevents people from bothering. Ebay.us makes it a lot easier by having a "report item" link on every listing. Stupid Ebay.au makes you go through several "contact us" pages just to report a single item. They don't even let you bulk-report similarly infringing items. :mad:

[Jetfire in the sky]

Given some of our members who know how and possibly who to contact at Hasbro could we put a collective petition to them on behalf of all members on this board outlining our concerns about the forgeries regulalrly put on e-bay by certain sellers, naming them as well so Hasbro can take direct action. Realistically all they need to do is inform e-bay and it should be sorted, of course they could take the matter further which would be even more awesome. Get to the source would be the ultimate :):)