Does buying from Alibaba and resale on eBay mean sale illegal copies?

[super-simple-life]

Hi , 

Today I received a email saying I am selling illegal copies. There are many seller are selling the same product and I am buying it directly from the manufuctor. 

There are so many item with some kind of logo or trademark in it. I believe most of them are import them from Alibaba and resale in eBay? Does it mean all of them are illegal?

I have post what is in my message below. What should I do?

Thank you

"You are currently advertising and offering for sale illegal copies of our brand. You are to cease immediately or legal action will be taken against you for trademark and copyright infringement. We expect that within the next 24 hours all offending material will be removed, or legal proceedings will be initiated."

[*tippy*toes*]

The OP might have even more to worry about than just fake listings. I found this in their shipping details quite disturbing. It would stop me buying in an instant.

We offer free postage for our items to save your money. Some of the original package may be remove. If you want the original package, PLEASE let us know and choose a “Postage and handling” option other than free postage.

Why would you need to remove the packaging if it wasn't fake? That's the only reason I can think of. If I'm buying something new that is supposed to come in packaging, I want the packaging....intact. Especially when the listing states it's brand new, unused, unopened, undamaged, in original packaging.

If Global Shop Direct is selling them for $39.99, the OP must have got them pretty cheap to be able to sell them for $4.99 with free postage and still make a profit.

Given the listings are still active, I predict the OP is going to get a very nasty legal letter that could potentially cost them a lot of money.

[cezm]

I haven't looked at the items however the shipping statement may be quite legit.

I buy flea/worming treatment, in little tubes, for animals and removing the packaging allows it to go at letter rate ('freepost' to customer) rather than parcel rate. If I want the original box aswell I need to pay for shipping at parcel rate.

[imastawka]

I've also bought things without the packaging to save on postage costs.

Contents sent at letter rate, rather than parcel post.

I don't need the packaging for an extra $7 postage!

[brerrabbit585]

I can understand that they'd require the buyer to choose a postage and handling option if they wanted the box and it wasn't included in the listing, but it doesn't make sense to charge extra postage if the items are sent cheaper without the original box.

[*tippy*toes*]

The issue is, the item condition states that it's new in unopened packaging. There are people who would get upset about it, even if it did cost them less in postage. The same people who see something photographed with a coin for size comparison and get upset because they didn't get the 5c in the photo.

[brerrabbit585]

Oops, I misread what you copied and pasted from the listing earlier. I thought the listing said if you didn't want the original box you could pay less by choosing the postage & handling option. No wonder it didn't make sense to me!

I think if they said the box isn't included they could get away with it, but only if they changed it from 'new', which of course they won't want to do.

I guess it's a moot point if all their listings get removed. They're worried about losing money on the stock they've bought but they'll lose a lot more than that if they leave the listings up and get sued!

[super-simple-life]

Let use the 5 second fix as an example. If you search it in ebay, there is many seller selling it with more than 100000+ feedback point. That mean those stores are living with product like this for years. How can they live with it fpr so long? 

[*tippy*toes*]

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@imkll wrote:

Let use the 5 second fix as an example. If you search it in ebay, there is many seller selling it with more than 100000+ feedback point. That mean those stores are living with product like this for years. How can they live with it fpr so long? 

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It doesn't mean they have sold 100,000+ 5 second fix products. It just means that Global Direct haven't caught up with them yet. Just because others are selling it, doesn't mean it's allowed. If the warning message you were sent was legitimate, then you must act on it, otherwise you're going to lose more than just the cost of the stock you've bought. You could lose your house, car, everything you own. Selling fake products is simply not worth it. 

Do you know for sure the warning email was legitimate? Who was it from?

[chameleon54]

Not only that, but knowingly selling fake items is just simply fraud. Ripping off your buyers. There I,ve said what I really think.  !!!

[lizzyamelia]

You never advised WHO sent you the email. It wasn't ebay because they just remove listings if they have been advised of a copyright infringement and advise this after the fact. Was the email send by another seller of the same items?