seller using my photos after leaving me neutral

[brucbern]

A buyer has left me neutral feedback recently stating that I should have said that the material was thin on the top and that their undergarments were visible. It was a country road cotton knit top. I checked the feedback that they have left for others and of course they are fond of leaving negs and neutrals.

I then checked what they have for sale and lo and behold my horrible thin top is for sale for more than my asking price with no mention of it being thin material. They said it was only for sale as they had recently lost a lot of weight and it didn't fit any more!! (This has since been removed from the listing)

They have used my title for the listing including "buy any 3=free post" despite the fact they have only 2 items for sale, and they have used my photos.

I sent them a message saying that they should perhaps state that the material is thin so as not to give anyone else a neutral buying experiance and to please use their own photos, but no reply.

Is there any way to report this seller to stop them using my listing minus description?

[fixnwear]

digital*ghost,

thank you for that very detailed explanation!

Except - it doesn't really explain anything.

For crying out loud - we are talking about a pictures of the object for sale, when that item is sold the buyer who bought it relists it (for whatever reason) - using the same pictures.  And even though the original picture taker doesn't have another item like it to sell they still object like crazy for someone using their pics - that is the part I can't understand - it just implies extreme pettiness.

It seems to me that Ebay community, at least Australian Ebay comunity could greatly benefit from much less bickering and arguing and small mindedness and unvillingness to help each other as much as possible - it looks like a war zone at times - and the first casualty of any war is  the truth. 

With a lot of collateral damage in the process - just like what happened to OP in this instance.

Which is glaringly obvious on the boards here.

Evident in nature of the complaints, in f/backs left

We - buyers & sellers are not enemies, we are both totally reliant on each other - and a little give & take goes a long way - like a prime example of winning something for 99c. and actually fully expecting to get it - and punishing the seller if you don't!

Or looking to report people for using your pictures of an item you no longer have!

[li.varia]

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[chameleon54]

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@fixnwear wrote:

digital*ghost,

thank you for that very detailed explanation!

Except - it doesn't really explain anything.

For crying out loud - we are talking about a pictures of the object for sale, when that item is sold the buyer who bought it relists it (for whatever reason) - using the same pictures.  And even though the original picture taker doesn't have another item like it to sell they still object like crazy for someone using their pics - that is the part I can't understand - it just implies extreme pettiness.

It seems to me that Ebay community, at least Australian Ebay comunity could greatly benefit from much less bickering and arguing and small mindedness and unvillingness to help each other as much as possible - it looks like a war zone at times - and the first casualty of any war is  the truth. 

With a lot of collateral damage in the process - just like what happened to OP in this instance.

Which is glaringly obvious on the boards here.

Evident in nature of the complaints, in f/backs left

We - buyers & sellers are not enemies, we are both totally reliant on each other - and a little give & take goes a long way - like a prime example of winning something for 99c. and actually fully expecting to get it - and punishing the seller if you don't!

Or looking to report people for using your pictures of an item you no longer have!

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I occasionally have a similar thing occur.

I often sell rare items of which there may only be two or three on ebay worldwide. The items I sell are often very specialised and require highly detailed listings which at times require extensive research. Specialising in this area I take pride in offering buyers rare, high quality, well researched, specialist  products and are able to charge premium prices for the privilege.

To spend 1-2 hours researching an item and then find another seller has copied my listing word for word is frustrating and unfair.  Often these are people who have just stumbled across a similar item, have no idea what they have and yes, they undercut my price. They can afford to do this because they haven't taken the time to research the product and simply used my technical description that has taken a lot of time to research and write..

At times I have multiples of the same item and re-use listings for items that have sold. I dont feel it is petty to object to someone plagerising my research and descriptions.

[digital*ghost]

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@fixnwear wrote:

digital*ghost,

thank you for that very detailed explanation!

Except - it doesn't really explain anything.

For crying out loud - we are talking about a pictures of the object for sale, when that item is sold the buyer who bought it relists it (for whatever reason) - using the same pictures.  And even though the original picture taker doesn't have another item like it to sell they still object like crazy for someone using their pics - that is the part I can't understand - it just implies extreme pettiness.

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Ok, I will put it more simply.

• Content such as images are - by default - protected by copyright laws.
• Copyright belongs to the content owner, which is - by default - the person who created the content
• Taking something without asking is called stealing. 
• Stealing from someone is breaking the law. 

If you still don't understand, perhaps you might consider it a matter of respect, to ask someone if you can use their images and benefit from the work that went into them.

I find it very interesting that in the same post, (and indeed, in many posts before the one here) you come across as though someone winning an item for 99c is as good as stealing from someone and is something you wouldn't do, and yet just because you don't see the merit and/or value behind an image of an item, completely disregard actual theft as an issue for someone to be upset or concerned about. 

Are casual eBay sellers multi-million dollar corporations who can lose (or sue for) millions if their images are used for commercial purposes without permission? No, but every person who takes the time to take their own images deserves at least enough respect to be asked, not stolen from and have their subsequent reaction dismissed as "pettiness". 

[fixnwear]

digital,

Thank you again for further clarification on this matter

When I state something on any subject it always reflect what I think and how I feel about something - which is what I thought we all do here - express our opinions whatever they may, irrespective of the majority view.

If I was selling something stuff like this just wouldn't matter to me, after the item was sold  even if it took me 3 days to take a few pics (which it probably would!) - and if anyone else can also get some benefit of that - so much the better! I would feel my efforts were not quite wasted.

Being benevolent and helpful  towards the others always worked for me - and I get heaps of rewards in return

But... I didn't count on Ebay... where everything seems to be other way round.

Where normally one would feel sympathy for a seller for selling something for 99c - here they get advised "to leave a neg and move on"

Ditto for usage of pics that one no longer has a use for

List of even a slightest and most neligible "misdemeanours" is always jumped on, sellers penalised - countless examples where those things just wouldn't matter in real life - if anything, they would produce the opposite effect... drop everything and help if you can.

[englishrosegardens]

Yes, it all comes down to having respect for others.

Wars are only started when respect is non-existent.

[englishrosegardens]

If your local supermarket had a table out the front with 99c items on it (that were worth much more), would you feel guilty for taking advantage of it? If sellers here take a gamble and list things for 99c, that's their loss if they don't get more. If it's a new seller I'd have pity on them but not someone who's deliberately chosen to take the gamble.

[digital*ghost]

I understand what your view is - I'm not trying to change it, as such, I am responding to the comments you're making about not understanding the position others take on it just because it comes from a place you don't agree with.

In other words, what I'm seeing is you saying you don't understand why others feel a certain way, and I am trying to show you two aspects of the issue that highlights why others feel that way about it - your personal opinion of the issue, and the fact that it wouldn't matter to you if someone used your images, is actually irrelevant to that. The only reason it would be relevant is if you believed others should think and feel the same way as you just because that's what you think, which is just a downright silly way to approach such matters, so I assume that's not the position you're taking.  

It is completely possible to have an opposing view on something, but still understand (and maybe possibly even respect) other's point of view about it. 

To continue dismissing the opposing view as pettiness because you either don't understand it, or it isn't the same as yours, is rather close-minded. 

The problem I have is you're still dismissing it even on the matter of respect. It is (at the very least) a polite and respectful thing to do to ask someone if you can use their images, and then respect their wishes if they say no - you do not have to agree with someone in order to respect them enough for that. Again, I find your statements re: 99c items and image theft completely contradictory, and that you're stating you're happy to help others wherever possible, but then post statements that effectively encourage the disrespect of sellers, and dismissal of their concerns (or terms, as many will have T&Cs surrounding use of their images). That is not very "benevolent" towards people at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. 

[i-once-was-bump]

It's not like they have written a book or painted a masterpiece and someone is trying to plagiarise it.

fixnwear how many words can one copy before it is plagiarism?

If it was a painting wouldn't it be a forgery or a copy?

[everard6920]

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@fixnwear wrote:

And - what do you care if someone is using your pictures, wording, whatever, what use is it to you now, item is sold - and it saves the buyer a bit of time having to do it all over again when there is ready made material to use!

But, you are in good company here - I see it on the boards all the time - so many people get ropable if someone uses their pics.

Could never understand it - I mean - their items are sold, they got their money - after all there is nothing unique about any of that stuff!

They are all dime a dozen, stuff you see everywhere.

It's not like they have written a book or painted a masterpiece and someone is trying to plagiarise it.

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You can't understand it? Okay, let me explain:

1. I, like many other sellers, spend many hours photographing, scanning, and editing to depict my items in the best way possible.

2. My photos don't look like anyone else's - so someone else using my photos can mislead a buyer into thinking that they're buying from me when they're not. Not only do I miss a sale and someone else makes a sale thanks to my hard work, but if the buyer has a bad experience with the other seller, they may never buy from ME (and may trash my reputation).

Sound far-fetched? Well, I've actually had that happen multiple times. One seller even copied the name of my eBay store and registered a domain with that name, and sold the items I sold using my photos.

3. You're right, the items are not unique in many cases - that's why sellers have to set themselves apart with better photos, better pricing,  and better service. You can't set yourself apart if someone is stealing your photos, because that's what buyers are looking at when they scroll through the search results.

Does that help with your "understanding" at all?