posted on December 21, 2000 02:32:24 PM new
I sell widgets that look just like a famous maker's widgets, except they don't have the famous maker's name on them, nor do they have the exact styling, just a bit different, but when you see my widgets you automatically think "Hey that look's sorta like XXX's widgets".
I was putting "XXX styled widget" in my title (and description clearly showed that it was not authentic XXX), and learned that was a no no - even though most of my competitors do that as well. So my last round of listings I took the name out of my ads. Since taking the high road and abiding by eBay's rule, I've gotten no hits on my auctions, much less actual bids!
I feel that using the famous maker's name to describe the style is not infringing... Now if I was selling fake widgets that actually had the famous maker's name on them and advertised them as authentic, now that would wrong... I never got a letter from eBay telling me to stop, though I know of at least one seller has... (of course while allowing 30 others to continue using the name).
Anyway... I know my competitors are doing quiet well by using the famous maker's name in their titles and I'm bummed that I'm being punished by following the rules. So I'm just venting...
I've tried Yahoo auctions... couldn't sell a thing there.
posted on December 21, 2000 02:42:25 PM new
Unfortunately, the Famous Brand manufacturers don't agree with you. Using the term Famous Brand Like is still getting attention for your ads because of the words Famous Brand.
eBay on the other hand, seems to watch some categories much more closely than others. In one category that I actively browse, name dropping is commonly used in the auction headers. As a buyer I find it somewhat of a nuisance.
In your predicament, I wish I could make recommendations to get your hits/sales back up. Does listing in the same category not help at all?
