works well with...similar to...etc (1 Viewer)

[zblang]

I just had my ebay selling privileges for writing that something would work well with K&C. Ebay just told me that was to confuse buyers. I see this all over ebay. I have even seen people list things as "Not King & Country". For my privileges to get suspended, someone must have reported it right? Even today, I looked and there are tons of listing with the same language.

So, my real question....how do I list something that in fact would be good with King and Country, without saying it? Can I really only put the scale in there and not mention anything else?

A bid was retracted too, so what I think happened is someone saw K&C and bid without actually reading, got pissed and reported it.

I've only sold approx. 6 things on ebay so I'm not familiar with the nuances!

 

[jazzeum]

That's pretty unbelievable as I've done it myself when trying to sell a Figarti piece. I've written that "Figarti figures go with K & C." It's probably a disgruntled bidder. Did you receive a warning or a suspension. I received the former for trying to sell two Hitler pieces. Of course, I see them all the time on eBay.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Zach...

they suspended your selling privileges for this?

you are not allowed to sell on Ebay now...permanently?

is that right?

 

[zblang]

one day suspension and my listing for the item is gone!

 

[zblang]

"Oops, it looks like you missed something. Please fix the problem below.
You can't complete this listing right now. See below for details.
eBay has restricted your ability to list new items for approximately one day as a result of a policy violation. You can still access other features on eBay.
For more information about this policy violation, please check your messages in My eBay.
Thank you for supporting our efforts to maintain a safe marketplace."

"After reviewing your eBay account, it looks like you haven't followed our Brand Name Misuse policy. As a result, we've taken the following actions on your account:
- Selling privileges have been temporarily restricted. You won't be able to list new items or revise current listings for 1 day. You're also not allowed to register a new account during this time.
- Listings that didn't follow our policies have been removed. A list of removed items is available further down in this email.
- Any fees for listings ended early because of this violation will not be credited to your account.


Please be advised that by placing the brand name "Like King & Country", buyers who are looking for this item are also drawn to your listing. We can see that your listing is for a different brand and the brand name you included is not related to the item you are selling. We aim to create good searching and browsing experience for buyers, so we advise our sellers to always use only the brand name used by the company that manufactured or produced the item for sale.

We understand that it was not your intention to not follow our guideline. When you relist, please don't include any brand name or details that have nothing to do with the item for sale in the listing.

For more information on this policy, go to:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/search-manipulation.html

During this restriction you can still:
- Send email
- Obtain shipping addresses
- Leave Feedback
- Perform other administrative tasks

Please be sure to manage any current listings and to complete any open transactions. After 1 day, your account will no longer be restricted. However, keep in mind that any additional violations of this policy in existing or future listings could result in the suspension of your account. Once we suspend an account, a member no longer has any account access. In addition, all active listings are canceled, and members who placed bids on those listings are notified."

 

[zblang]

I just know that if I list it again, the same illiterate moron who didn't read it right the first time, is going to bid again and later realize he did it again and then report the listing again! {sm4}

 

[thebritfarmer]

Perhaps try

Compatible with most 1/30 scale manufacturers?

 

[mikemiller1955]

Zach...

I have had the exact same thing happen to me before except I was not suspended for a day...

I had someone put in a bid on an item that I was selling that had similar verbiage in the listing...
"works with"..."good with"...etc...
and they notified me that it violated Ebay policy and they cancelled/removed my listing...
so I lost the sale...

I see other people do this all the time...

works well with Tommy Gunn...

suitable for King & Country figures...

compatible with John Jenkins...

I have seen generic replacements parts for appliances...cars...etc...
that state in the listing they are comparable to the manufacturers replacement part...

I have seen hundreds of ads with a listing that says..."works well with"...and then has the brand name included...

the exposure to that group of buyers is lost without the "key name" in the listing...

I was never trying to deceive anyone...but there is no way to appeal to that group of people unless you include the brand name in the listing...

Ebay makes it tough with that policy...

 

[jazzeum]

I didn't even know there was a policy but, duh, the whole point is to bring in people who like other brands. I suppose I can understand the listing being removed but a suspension -- particularly on a first offense -- is absurd.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Looks like someone reported you, and who ever reviewed the item at eBay decided to remove it. Nobody there is on the same page. It has happened to me several times. Mostly from competition that didn't like the price I was charging I suspect. There are many listings that describe items as being compatible or used with. What about diorama accessories like mats that use the manufacturers name in their descripitions. The whole reason to use a major manufacturers name is to make your item easier to find in a search.

 

[mikemiller1955]

The whole reason to use a major manufacturers name is to make your item easier to find in a search.

Paul...

this is slamming the nail on the head...

it's all about the exposure to potential buyers...

without the brand name in the listing title...

your ad is pretty much lost in the Ebay shuffle...

the brand name is included in the listing...

because you honestly believe that your "clientele's search" is where your product should be listed...

 

[Running-Buddy]

First thing you have to understand is that EBay is like any other High-Tech company and Outsource their Labor. So I am sure that it was a foreign person that reviewed the claim and made the decision. Whenever I have a problem with something on EBay it Goes to a foriegn country and the communication is less than normal. Then Their undestanding and resolution of a problem is lost in communication so no 2 cases are settled alike. Like it or not that is the way it is my friend.

Howard Hulsebosch
Buck Private(DO YOU HEAR ME)

 

[zblang]

Would you relist, or just forget it.....

Torn as to what to do in case same buyer reports it again. Maybe I'll just list it here

 

[theBaron]

I see literally hundreds of auctions that have the names of other manufacturers in the title, eg, "Britains, Mignot, Jenkins, King & Country" for something like a Stadden casting, when that casting as nothing to do with those other manufacturers. It's as Mike said, it's a way to get your auction retrieved by more searches. I'm surprised that eBay has such a policy. It must be triggered by an active, interactive complaint; someone must have reported it.

Prost!
Brad

 

[jazzeum]

Would you relist, or just forget it.....

Torn as to what to do in case same buyer reports it again. Maybe I'll just list it here

List it here. That's what I did with my Adolf figures and someone bought them at a price that I thought was fair.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

Or you could use the Treefrog consignment service...:wink2:

Also, just for a different perspective...this rule your talking about has been around for a long time and it makes a lot of sense to me as a buyer.

Think of how many millions of listings eBay must have at any given time. If a person is looking for a particular piece or line, say a Napoleonic piece from XYZ Company and they do a search for XYZ Napoleonic it can be totally frustrating to have to weed through a bunch of 'like XYZ Napoleonics' 'compatible with XYZ Napoleonics' etc.
They wanted XYZ, not compatible QRS.
While they might find the QRS piece interesting, the listing is advertising a QRS piece, not an XYZ piece. So in eBay's eyes, mentioning XYZ to get your QRS noticed is false advertising whether you meant it to be or not. It waters down the search results and returns a bunch of listings that are not in fact what the person is searching for.
As I say, I've known about this rule for years and I find it frustrating when I'm looking for a specific thing and I get back a bunch of unrelated items because people ignored the rule and peppered their titles with the keywords of what I'm looking for even though what they are selling has nothing to do with my search.
(And no, I didn't see your listing and turn you in )

Usually they only get upset if you drop the names of other manufacturers in the title. I was under the impression they do have staff actively looking for basic violations so I'm not convinced a specific individual turned in your listing. If you really want to let people know that your item is compatible with other lines I would find out if you can mention something in the description portion of the listing and just keep those other manufacturer names out of the listing title.

And to avoid this altogether...Treefrog consignment

 

[jazzeum]

Shannon,

I think the perplexing thing is inconsistency in application. If it was universally enforced, there would be no problem. It is that inconsistency that causes frustration and/or bewilderment.

Moreover, if a seller has a piece that will go with another company's product, where is the harm. For example, I recently sold a Toy Army Workshop piece. I advertised it as going with Trophy WW I and it does (although the TAW figures are a bit smaller). Trophy WW I collectors might not have been collecting TAW items had I not mentioned it. Both the buyer and seller benefited. I got a decent price and maybe a Trophy collector got a piece that fits in with his WW I collection.

Brad

 

[Running-Buddy]

Shannon,

I think the perplexing thing is inconsistency in application. If it was universally enforced, there would be no problem. It is that inconsistency that causes frustration and/or bewilderment.

Moreover, if a seller has a piece that will go with another company's product, where is the harm. For example, I recently sold a Toy Army Workshop piece. I advertised it as going with Trophy WW I and it does (although the TAW figures are a bit smaller). Trophy WW I collectors might not have been collecting TAW items had I not mentioned it. Both the buyer and seller benefited. I got a decent price and maybe a Trophy collector got a piece that fits in with his WW I collection.

Brad

Inconsistency all across the board from listings to Bid retractions is my point. Uneven enforcement because of one word "OUTSOURCING" my friends. Very poor quality control

Howard Hulsebosch
Buck Private (DO YOU HEAR ME)