topic Re: Copied my title listing in Selling

Copied my title listing

houseofgeorge — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:35:42 GMT

Hi,

I was wondering what people think when another seller copies your title listing for their sale. I've had one who's posted a few listings using exactly my title, word for word. It was in fact a cut and past job.

Now I know it's not the same as photo and item description theft but what's everyone's stance on the practice?

Furthermore, the seller initially copied my "Australian Seller" badge and only until recently did they change it. Then again, it may have been copied from someone else's.

Thank you so much.

Jesse

Re: Copied my title listing

bettyboopsadaisy — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:55:41 GMT

In the past, I have been very quick to contact other sellers who have copied and pasted my photos or item description or even just used my wording, word for word, but typed it in themselves. Usually, they at least claim to be unaware that this is a 'no-no' and revise their listing pretty smartly, removing any of my material.

Its a bit of a different question, if its just a title of the listing, in my opinion. Its never happened to me but I think it might be a bit difficult to make a case claiming they have appropriated your material. You can try to contact the ebayer in question and ask them to remove it but I suspect that they will deny they copied from you.

Re: Copied my title listing

character_parties_aus — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 00:55:41 GMT

The copying of a title listing is easily done and not really a breach of policy. If you simply click on your listing and then choose ( sell one like this) ebay does it for you. Plenty have copied mine and I don't really care although I can understand your frustration and annoyance with it. I dont think its fair.

If sellers are taking pictures etc that's a whole different conversation and there have been plenty of previous threads on how this may be breach of copyright. I'm not really sure how that works to provide an informed comment but I am sure plenty of others have an opinion ( correct or incorrect).

Re: Copied my title listing

zelly888 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:13:35 GMT

In fact ebay insist that everyones titles should be the same,hell in all of my listings they are telling me that I need to change the title,the wording, add this and add that.

Hey ebay I will write,add what ever I want that actually describes what I am selling 100% so no need for you to help out I know what I'm doing thanks very much.

Re: Copied my title listing

imastawka — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:29:38 GMT

Someone copied my item condition gradings, ranging

from mint to poor condition - 5 conditions.

I wish everyone would copy it. I hate to read 'good considering it's age'

What on earth does that mean? What's your definition of good?

Re: Copied my title listing

i-love-my-sheep — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:32:18 GMT

I got one of those 'top tips for selling on eBay' emails this morning telling me I need to add item specifics to X listings (most of them). How many do they want? Most of them have no less than 4 item specifics, majority have 6, 7 even 8. There are no more options! I've described colour, shape, type, weight, material, treatment and if I know it, origin. What gives?! Each time I relist I add more item specifics if I can think of them, yet they still send thos stupid emails (which promptly get deleted).

They also offered suggestions for titles. My titles are OK as far as I'm concerned. I bet someone gets paid a lot of money to send out these ridiculous emails.

Sorry OP for hijacking your thread 😄

Below is a screenshot of one of the items where they were telling me to add more item specifics.....

Re: Copied my title listing

zelly888 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:39:13 GMT

good for its age- just noticable to determine what it is, lol

Re: Copied my title listing

zelly888 — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 01:45:58 GMT

Here's another one-Update photos increase selling chances by up to 13% My photos are excellent,listings all have bids on them so how did ebay come up with 13% better chance of selling? I have noticed that no matter what amount of listings I have it's always 13% lol

Re: Copied my title listing

englishrosegardens — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 07:59:56 GMT

I got one today that said to change my title listing. How would they know what I'm even selling, let alone that the title isn't adequate?

The ones I really hate are the ones telling me to drop my prices so that I have a better chance of selling (probably 13% ), but I've proven again and again that I get more sales by increasing my prices, not decreasing them. Perhaps the powers that be are mixed up - they think we'll sell more if we decrease our prices, while they increase their fees.

Re: Copied my title listing

englishrosegardens — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:05:00 GMT

Sorry for getting off track.

Someone sent me a listing a couple of days ago that had my blurb about postage fees & combining postage in it - word for word, and obviously a cut & paste job. It took me HOURS to figure out the right way to word it so I was a bit annoyed, but on my friend's advice I let it go. If they had copied my actual description of the item I would have said something, but they had so much rubbish in their terms that not many people would have read down as far as the bit they'd copied anyway.

I don't know what's in your title but I imagine there'd be a lot of listings with the same titles simply because there aren't many variations for some things. Sometimes we just have to accept that imitation is a form of flattery.

Re: Copied my title listing

i-love-my-sheep — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 11:06:12 GMT

I've found that upping the price can help things sell. Even just a dollar or 2 seems to help. I wonder if buyers have been watching and then see the price go up and think "ooohhh, I'd better get that before it goes up a again".

I'm hoping I've stopped those wretched top tip emails temporarily. Normally I ignore them, but I decided to click on it tonight. Up the top was this nice little button saying something along the lines of "don't ask again for item specifics". I ticked all the boxes and hit that button and they all disappeared. Of course that will only work until they are relisted again, but it might shut eBay up for awhile.

Re: Copied my title listing

houseofgeorge — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 22:17:37 GMT

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all your reply. As it's not a photo/description theft and the title could've been just supplied by eBay's sell something similar, I'll let it slide.

I will keep an eye on the seller though just in case.

Thanks heaps folks.

Jesse

Re: Copied my title listing

k1ooo-slr-sales — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 23:35:39 GMT

just out of interest, what was the title that was copied? I'm curious as to why you would feel you should have exclusive rights to use "that" exact wording in your 80 character title. If a seller copied your description word for word then I could understand your angst. Don't panic, I doubt that anyone here will start using your titles if you let us know which ones this thread is all about.

When I list film cameras my titles are usually "Pentax K1000 film camera with f2 50mm lens + bag, AS NEW" and I don't see why I should expect that nobody else should use this exact title if they are selling the exact same thing.

Re: Copied my title listing

digital*ghost — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 01:01:25 GMT

Just thought I'd mention... Images and description are protected by copyright (which is why you can do something about it if someone steals them), titles are not, so you can't do anything about it if someone uses it (unless they are trademarked).

Re: Copied my title listing

donnashuggy — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:37:38 GMT

@k1ooo-slr-sales wrote:
just out of interest, what was the title that was copied? I'm curious as to why you would feel you should have exclusive rights to use "that" exact wording in your 80 character title. If a seller copied your description word for word then I could understand your angst. Don't panic, I doubt that anyone here will start using your titles if you let us know which ones this thread is all about.

When I list film cameras my titles are usually "Pentax K1000 film camera with f2 50mm lens + bag, AS NEW" and I don't see why I should expect that nobody else should use this exact title if they are selling the exact same thing.

If you are selling brand new items with multiple quantities available titles being copied is a real problem, particularly if the competitor lists in the same category and undercuts you by a pathetic amount or more....... it doesn't take long for them to take sales away from you. It happens to me frequently and there isn't much you can do but change your title and keep an eye on them.

Re: Copied my title listing

tallonion — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:39:26 GMT

I discovered someone not only copied my title word for word but used my picture as well. I scanned some trading cards not knowing there was some dust and hair on the scanner glass. These imperfections showed on the pictures but I just left it as I wasn't that bothered. Had a look today and some pr&$k has used my scanned pictures including the dust/hair!!!! I have reported it to Ebay and informed another seller, who I think had the same thing done to them aswell. So hopefully the items are removed and they are banned. Do you think I should contact them direct and demand they remove the pictures? or wait for Ebay to act? Any thoughts would be appreciated 🙂

Re: Copied my title listing

pruetrading — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:26:07 GMT

I just found out that I couldn't report a seller for using my photos, detailed description and title - because my listing had ended (Sold).

When I went through the various menus, the Report Buyer option seems to be only available for current listings. Is that right? So I just gave the seller a warning.

@digital*ghost wrote:
Just thought I'd mention... Images and description are protected by copyright (which is why you can do something about it if someone steals them), titles are not, so you can't do anything about it if someone uses it (unless they are trademarked).

Re: Copied my title listing

digital*ghost — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:44:44 GMT

@pruetrading wrote:
I just found out that I couldn't report a seller for using my photos, detailed description and title - because my listing had ended (Sold).
When I went through the various menus, the Report Buyer option seems to be only available for current listings. Is that right? So I just gave the seller a warning.

I haven't double-checked, but I'm guessing eBay might remove or disable the option to cut down on reports and time spent dealing with them (what little time they do spend on these issues, anyway).

But, a breach of copyright is still a breach, regardless of whether eBay provide the means to report it to them directly (or easily), so in all reality you could still do something about it, even if eBay won't.

Re: Copied my title listing

black*poppy — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 07:43:48 GMT

I've reported other sellers before for using my photos from items that had sold - all were taken down within a couple of hours.

I used the report option in the other sellers' listing and it gives you an option to link it to your own completed listing by putting in the ID number. It might be a problem if the listing is really old - I think they are deleted from the system after 90 days? I haven't tried calling / emailing CS for photos theft, but would definitely try.

As a side note, I reported a seller who was using my photos to sell on Gumtree - quick response and removal also, with the added note that "Also we have blocked the photos so that they cannot be used to re-post."

Re: Copied my title listing

springyzone — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 20:52:56 GMT

I wouldn't worry if it is just the title that is copied, as long as the description and photos are not yours.

From what i can gather there are a lot of key words that pop up in similar listings anyway, so even if the wording in titles is not exactly the same, people have taken note of good ideas or wording and there is a lot of partial copying going on.

eg How many furniture ads do you see with words like vintage, mid century Eames Parker era in them? Every second ad for older furniture has them in some configuration or other.

So don't be too upset by the title. It is annoying for sure to be copied, but just guard your spiel and photos.