topic Re: Counterfeit LEGO in Selling

Counterfeit LEGO

notorious_guf — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:56:49 GMT

So, I've noticed lately that there has been an increase in the amount of Counterfeit LEGO. A brand called Decool has popped up using LEGO in the listing title & also Ninjago, which is another Trademark. I've reported plenty of times & know other people who have done so too, but eBay have still done Nothing!

The listings also use Official LEGO images & are often difficult to find the information that they are not genuine LEGO minifigures or sets.

How can we stop rubbish like this getting onto eBay? One seller even has multiple identical BIN listings, which has again been reported, but with no action from eBay!

For those buying LEGO, especially in the lead up to Christmas, please read the listings carefully, otherwise your childs LEGO collection will get diluted with inferior product!

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

putney32 — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 02:35:56 GMT

reports of fakes or replica items will only be looked at by eBay if the Copyrights holder is a member of the eBay VERO programme and the copyrights holder reports the items.

it is up to LEGO to report these items to ebay as copyright infringements, but if people buy these items thinking they are in some way the original overpriced bits of plastic manufactured by LEGO there is not much ebay can do, without LEGO's co operation.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

travelling_agoraphobic — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:19:10 GMT

At the very least, it's Keyword Spamming, having 'compatible with Lego' in the title. Maybe you could try reporting them for that and see if eBay will take any notice.

Contact Lego direct and let them know, they may take action themselves.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

patchoo78 — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:34:39 GMT

Why do you, personally care? Does your family have shares in Lego or something?

Yes, everyone look out! you wouldn't want to buy the same product for 1/3 of the price now would you?

As Putney said, not much is likely to happen unless LEGO themselves do something about it

If I had kids that wanted LEGO I would be buying them this

Thanks for bringing it to my attention, I shall pass it on ;\

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

*new2vintage — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:10:22 GMT

Handbags, sunglasses, jewellery etc and now lego. 😮

Is anything safe ?

I occasionally report bootleg recordings but nothing happens so reporting anything seems to be a waste of time.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

notorious_guf — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 04:55:36 GMT

I have reported them for the Keyword spamming, which has had no effect either, LEGO has also been informed & I know they are quite aggressive at shutting these bootleggers down.

Patchoo78, I care because as a child, it would anger me if ever someone gave me a fake LEGO set or if someone gave me a bunch of "LEGO" bricks that weren't actually LEGO, they don't work as well & only disappoint. To this day, it still upsets me when I see a kid who receives this crap, because they are always unimpressed by it.

I can't stand copycats who are just out to make a buck off someone else's ideas, if you came up with a brilliant idea and someone stole it & undercut you on pricing &was an inferior product, I doubt you would be too pleased, especially if they made out that it was as good as the genuine thing.

If you chose to buy low quality products for your kids, if you ever have them, then good luck to you. Just remember that there is no guarantees the product meets safety standards & I bet they'll be disappointed that all their friends have the real thing & they don't.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

izabsmiling — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:03:59 GMT

LEGO has it's own specific category too doesn't it ?

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

annies_fancy_dress — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 06:27:36 GMT

LEGO has it's own specific category too doesn't it ?

That wouldn't stop sellers from listing fakes in that catergory.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

izabsmiling — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 06:35:32 GMT

that's right Annie.Though if they did it would be a different violation to key word spamming or copyright issues wouldn't it ?

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

notorious_guf — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 06:48:43 GMT

In some cases, they don't list it in the LEGO category. I'm just fed up of having to scroll through listing after listing of rubbish product.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

izabsmiling — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:02:56 GMT

I understand notorious_guf .I felt the same when I searched Lego Listings a few months back.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

travelling_agoraphobic — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 07:13:11 GMT

Good on you for making the effort to try and stop sellers from flogging fakes, notorious_guf. I hope it pays off.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

i-once-was-bump — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:26:07 GMT

I had overpriced bits of plastic as a child and they were passed onto my nephew along with all the overpriced bits of plastic my sister had amassed as a child.

My nephew played and built with the blocks for years so I would only ever buy genuine Lego because it still goes together perfectly after about 50 years and will last another 50 years of good solid play.

None of the pieces have ever been damaged through normal use and probably only about 5 pieces overall have ever been damaged through carelessness.

Why rubbish something that you don't like or want to buy when so many are happy with the item and only want the genuine item?

I think it is all about choice and someone here wants to buy the genuine stuff and good on 'em,

Lego lasts a lifetime.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

wishuponastarcelebrationsandgifts — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:02:35 GMT

Interestingly when I started selling Lego their distributor at the time reviewed my website to ensure it was satisfactory for the purposes of selling Lego. Presumably they wanted to ensure that it looked professional.

I was also advised that it is a condition of trade that Lego is not sold on Ebay. I contacted Lego directly and they confirmed this to be the case. As a result I chose not to list Lego (and other brands with similar conditions) on Ebay. They specifically stated "We do not give permission to sell our sets on ebay." but also acknowldeged that they are "aware that many people do sell sets on that (EBay) website".

I agree that at least some of the other "plastic blocks" on the market are inferior to Lego, some moreso than others. Unfortunately not all parents can afford to buy Lego branded plastic bricks for their children, and I don't think they should be made to feel guilty for doing so. That is a bit harsh.

I agree that non Lego branded plastic blocks should not be able to use the word "Lego" in their description. I imagine some will get around this by saying that the blocks are compatible with Lego.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

notorious_guf — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:27:14 GMT

Wishuponastar.... you make a very valid point about Parents who cannot afford LEGO, I tend to agree with this, however it does not make it right that Counterfeit LEGO, blatant copies of the Genuine product, should be allowed to be sold, it is illegal! There are plenty of similar brick/building block products to LEGO that are legitimate & are cheap, essentially they have their own ideas & designs & offer the Parent, who may not be able to afford LEGO, an alternative, without buying illegal product.

Take for example a person who can afford a BMW, not everyone can afford this, so the alternative is a different brand with their own marketing etc, perhaps a Holden, or Hyundai. If there were Fake BMW's for sale, first of all they would unlikely have the same safety standards & actual quality, they would just look the same and be of cheaper standard, they would still be illegal!

I am not arguing with you, as I agree with you, I just wanted to clarify the fact that it does not make Counterfeits right!

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

i-once-was-bump — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:03:45 GMT

I know not all parents can afford the genuine item but i don't understand the disparaging comments about the genuine item. What did they offer to this thread?

If fake items are being sold then surely that is the issue.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

2106greencat — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 21:26:13 GMT

Cat among the pigeons here, but if the said blocks are 'compatible' with Lego, surely that can be legally (eBay legal) be included in a title or description. They are not fake, persay, but a cheaper brand that will in fact interlink with Lego. I sell cookware that is compatible with induction cooktops, I am not trying to say I sell the cooktop.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

notorious_guf — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 03:45:13 GMT

2106greencat, the issue with saying it is compatible with LEGO is that LEGO is a brand name. This is a vast difference to saying you sell cookware compatible with induction cooktops, as "Induction Cooktops" is not a brand name.

You would not say in your listing title "Brand New Dyson DC12 Hoover" for example. Hoover is a Brand Name, even though a lot of people use Hoover to describe a Vacuum Cleaner.

So really the problem with using "compatible with LEGO" is that it is purposely using the word LEGO in the title to affect their search results & it confuses people. What they could do is say "Compatible with other Interlocking Bricks" or something similar.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

lyndal1838 — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:11:32 GMT

But the bricks may not be compatible with all other interlocking bricks. How do you indicate to the buyer that these bricks are compatible with LEGO if you are not allowed to mention LEGO.

My own children (now 39 and 43) were given numerous sets of "LEGO" over the years by well meaning elderly relatives and friends who had no idea that all interlocking bricks were not the same. At least if a listing says that bricks are compatible with LEGO then people can buy them knowing that the child will be able to use them with genuine LEGO.

I understand the issues of keyword spamming, but I have to agree with greencat....saying something is compatible with a brand name item is giving the buyer necessary information, not saying it is that brand.

Re: Counterfeit LEGO

notorious_guf — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 06:45:33 GMT

Lyndal, I believe you are allowed to put this information in the Listing Description, why does it need to be in the title of the listing?