posted on August 21, 2002 10:58:40 AM
You folks know I like to ride the edge. You also know that I have a problem with how eBay deals with their PowerSellers who seem to get preferred treatment.
I tried an experiment recently on eBay that had an interesting result and that now makes me question "is VeRO really real?"
I did a search on eBay for an item that I have in my collection. I found 9 listings for the exact same item, 8 of which were listed by sellers with decent feedbacks (in the 100's) and 1 listed by an eBay PowerSeller.
I listed mine using the exact same, word-for-word description as the PowerSeller, but at a starting bid of about 30% below his. I know using someone else's words in a listing could be considered a no-no, but remember this was simply an experiment. Besides, there aren't too many different sets of words that could be used to describe this item
Three days into the listing, I get an email from "[email protected]" advising me that my listing had been ended by a VeRO member. The email included the address of the VeRO member so I could contact that person with questions.
I did that. I also pointed them to the 9 other listings for the exact same item and asked them why these hadn't been ended.
No response within 2 days from either the VeRO member or eBay, but 8 of the 9 listings for the item were prematurely ended.
Guess which one is still out there getting looks and bids?
I have still not received a response from the VeRO member or eBay. This VeRO member either does not exist or does not want to accept my challenge. I have asked them to either cite the part of Law that prevents me from selling my item yet allows a PowerSeller to list and sell his, or reinstate the listing.
Has anyone ever received a reply from a VeRO member when questioning them, or is this just another way that eBay can satisfy their PowerSellers without looking like they have some favourites?
posted on August 21, 2002 11:04:10 AM
They may have filed a counter-notice and either won, or the vero party never bothered to fight the counter-notice. I hear that it can be expensive for the vero party to file the necessary documents once the counter has been filed. For that reason, many of them don't bother fighting the notice and allow the seller to keep selling the item.
posted on August 21, 2002 11:33:56 AM
for those of us who don't know... what is the vero program supposed to be? It sounds like a bunck of neo-nazi policing users, with little to do on their hands. What was their intervention in your listing based on? why do they have this kind of control?
posted on August 21, 2002 11:50:41 AM
one of my auctions was veroed about a week ago and when i looked for the other auction listing for this item i found they had been removed as well. the vero person was very polite and explained to me exactly why my item was veroed. whether or not if there real i have no idea but the reason was legit and understandable.
to answer your question.... yes you will be narued from ebay for relisting the item. at least that is what i was told by ebay.
so i just carried my item over to the cool stuff shop and received more for it then the auction would have.
btw the item was a anime dvd that supposedly is not for sale in the us or canada.
posted on August 21, 2002 11:52:44 AM
I wouldn't take the chance of relisting it until you get permission from eBay. I did that, and was suspended. I then wrote a LONG letter to ebay and the Vero address, and voila, I was reinstated 3 days later. But, I never relisted that item again. Really, it was someone admitting that they were wrong or I wouldn't have been reinstated at all or so quickly, because the email told me that I would be until I got the Vero Company to admit they made a mistake by reporting me.
posted on August 21, 2002 12:12:34 PM
RB, same thing happened to me. I copied from another auction seller as I thought the wording was that of the manufacturer. I was wrong and my auction was ended.
I sent a letter of apology to the Verified Rights owner. I guess you can VERO your descriptions.
I relisted the item, using my own words and all was good.
posted on August 21, 2002 12:13:59 PM
i tried to sell a pen set once, clearly marked "Chanel No. 5 scented" [pen set}. it was ended early telling me that Chanel never made a pen set, therefore, this item *I* bought for resale, was not allowed on ebay. Doesn't seem right if you can't 'sell' what you see in front of you, and it belongs to you!
posted on August 21, 2002 12:38:16 PM
Maybe they meant Chanel No. 5 never authorized the pen set.
It is not odd that the Power Seller got away with the same exact auction the other 8 user had pulled. Elitism exists on ebay and the Power Sellers wonder why they are not liked.
posted on August 21, 2002 01:13:28 PM
robert ... that's the way I see it too.
Hey winnipeggal ... I'm a winnipegguy
I won't relist the item - didn't really want to sell it anyway. But, I am curious. If I did relist it and eBay NARU'd me, would a good defence for me be "I contacted the VeRO member and whyended@ebay for an explanation and did not receive a response, therefore I assume the ending was in error". I know this goes against the eBay "we had your trial, found you guilty and convicted you --- we're so sorry we forgot to invite you" philosophy, but ...
I am seriously thinking of filing a counterclaim stating that the VeRO member, in conjunction with eBay, have interfered with my right to make a living!
posted on August 21, 2002 02:40:19 PM
RB, you may want to send an email to ace staff writer Troy Wolverton at CNET.com ( [email protected] <[email protected]> )
He seems to write a few stories about online auction injustices and may like to hear your story. Couldn't hurt and it would be nice to see someone in the VERO departmart catch hell if Troy wrote a VERO expose story filled with hard facts.
[ edited by robertsmithson on Aug 21, 2002 02:41 PM ]
posted on August 22, 2002 11:28:44 PM
I have had auctions VeROed as both a powerseller and a regular seller. As a powerseller, I got a personal phone call from eBay, explaining politely why I can't sell the item. As a regular seller, I got just an email. But the message was the same in both cases: Sell it again, and you will be suspended.
If you believe you have a right to sell the item, the remedy is simple. Just file a counter-notice. Then eBay will not bother you.
posted on August 23, 2002 09:00:07 AM
This is what is says on the eBay "Help" page about VeRO:
eBay requires that VeRO Members provide an email address so our users can contact the VeRO Member directly about the ending of their auctions. This email address appears in all end auction notices requested by that VeRO Member. (We also encourage VeRO Members to create an About Me page describing their policies, and we link this page to end auction notices.) Of course, eBay is available to help answer questions, but since only the rights owner understands their products and policies, eBay is often not able to resolve disputes. If you are not able to achieve satisfaction by contacting the rights owner directly, you can file a formal appeal with eBay. We will do our best to help resolve the situation. If we resolve the situation in your favor, or if the VeRO Program Member consents, we will allow you to relist the item.
I have sent the so-called VeRO member 3 emails stating my case and citing the part of law that allows me to sell the item, and I have not received any response. The eBay "whyended" bot has also not had the courtesy or integrity to respond to any of my emails.
The eBay "help" page suggests I contact support. That points me to an a$$hole webform that doesn't have this problem listed.
So, how do I file a "formal appeal" with eBay to slap this VeRO member and get my item relisted?
posted on August 23, 2002 05:26:25 PM
I believe the email address for VeRO inquiries is [email protected].
I've posted the counter notice here. Download it, fill it out, then mail it in. eBay will notify you that they received it and that you can relist the item
