eBay - A Counterfit Chainsaw Sellers Paradise

[brassopolish]

I'm really seeking some suggestions from experienced eBayer's in regards to getting eBay off it's butt to stamp out Sellers who peddle Chinese produced counterfit chainsaws.

I realise counterfit products are nothing new to eBay, or indeed many online selling venues, however unlike a counterfit Nike t-shirt, a counterfit fit chainsaw presents a major community safety issue...for example a counterfit t-shirt is not likely to rip an arm or leg off at 13,500 RPM, whereas a chainsaw will.

I am in the outdoor power equipment industry, so will declare that up front to avoid any respondents saying I have a vested financial interest in selling on eBay. In saying that I DON'T SELL on eBay, I only purchase items.

My major complaints about these counterfits are based upon safety in the first instance, but secondly the poor Buyers who are hand over often $1000 and more for these flimsy junk counterfits.

These counterfit chainsaws are mainly branded either STIHL or HUSQVARNA, with 90% of those listed on eBay are listings from Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Singapore...the other 10% of listings are from bottom feeding scum right here in Australia who buy counterfits in bulk from Asia, then flog them off on Ebay by creating a faux image they are Australian OPE dealers.   

If you are in the OPE industry you can spot these fakes a mile off, but your average eBay buyer would simply view these as genuine items, in particular as most these shonky Seller's list them as being genuine.

NOW......WHERE IS  eBay  IN ALL OF THIS, and more to the point, WHAT ARE THEY DOING ABOUT IT ???????

I like many in the OPE industry have taken to reporting these counterfits to Ebay on a weekly basis, I've even taken to writing emails to eBay's Trust & Safety team. The listings remain, and in fact the number of listings have increased in recent months, I would say almost doubled.

All eBay could offer was some lame answer they "don't have the capacity to identify counterfit items"....honestly are we talking about the same eBay which rakes in US$60 BILLION plus per year.

Come-on eBay, you have industry experts giving you the "heads up" which costs you nothing, but if you don't wish to believe us (because we have a vested industry interest), then go and hire a fraud & security consultant for a few months to stamp out the counterfits. Once the counterfitter's listings are smashed week-in and week-out for a couple of months, then the message gets through (for a while at least for a while).

It appears eBay just turns a blind eye as it's all $$$$$$ in the till

[lakeland27]

fact is , husqvarna manufacture in China.

[cherry7113]

Are you sure they are counterfeit? Why I ask that is because there are alot of things that are made in China so that's why they are cheaper to buy that doesn't mean that they are counterfeit they are just a chinese made item.I know someone that sells mowers and brushcutters that are made in China so they are cheaper to buy but not counterfeit.

[brassopolish]

You are correct that both Stihl and Husqvarna do have production facilities in China, but only on a limited basis, and only on bottom end domestic models. Professional series models are still produced ONLY in places like Germany, Sweden, USA, Canada, Switzerland, and Brazil.

NONE of the professional models being counter fitted and sold on eBay have ever been, or indeed likely to ever be produced in China

[brassopolish]

Hi Cherry7113,

I manage one of Sydney's largest dealerships, so I guess you'll just have to trust me when I say the listings I'm speaking of are 100% counterfeits. On average we get 5 of these chainsaws brought in a month by customers...and I really hate breaking the news to them they have a fake.

like I said my main complaint is about safety, on the sales counter of our dealership we have an actual safety helmet a customer wore, along with photos of his facial injuries caused by a counterfeit Stihl MS660 cracked in two while he was cutting fire wood. For those who don't know much about chainsaws, a Stihl MS660 is one of the largest most powerful saws on the market, and not a toy for trimming the rose bush in the garden.

again, those in the industry can spot these fakes so easily, do the responsible thing and report to eBay, who in turn do nothing.

As for your friend who imports mowers etc from China, I'm guessing his products are not branded Stihl or Husqvarna, so there is no issue with what he imports if that's the case

[auction_assassin]

To get action taken against these sellers, contact the actual Brand company's and tell them what is going on here.

eBay will act swiftly if they are told by the company's that the brands you speak of are indeed fakes being sold on site.

[kopenhagen5]

Hi brass,

Appreciate your frustration as it spoils it for the honest members.

However ebay is only a medium for members to use and rely on experts like yourself to provide written information for investigations. As well, information from manufacturers will see more action taken.

ebay are involved with a VeRO program and here is a link that may help -

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/confidence/programs-vero.html

Seeing as you are involved with the industry and may know the correct contacts, perhaps provide some written information including item numbers or sellers of counterfeit items to the manufacturers, whom may be your suppliers. They in turn can take action with ebay, therefor ebay will act fairly quickly.

Good luck.

[brassopolish]

Thanks Copenhagen and auction assassin for your replies, both provide some great information and advice

[dropyourjeans]

Ouch, glad I got fake bags not a fake chainsaw  :^O

[fitzroy14]

Yes, E-bay should take action on being notified that a listing item is fake. Of course they dont have time to check every listing.

Over a week ago I reported about few sellers from China, Spain, Italy and even Australia selling seeds of the "Rainbow Flowering Rose". It took me only a few minutes to surf the internet to find the facts.

So far E-bay does not care, maybe they still get their profits from real or fake?

Buyer beware!!