eBay Rumored to be on verge of making sweeping changes to combat Fraud

[mandy]

From ChannelAdvisor CEO Scott Wingo's blog:

We have inside information that eBay is going to take these actions shortly:

  1. Paypal verification will be required to list more than one item that is often counterfeited – don’t have to accept paypal, just have to be verified.  This will give ebay a higher level of knowledge of the seller  (presumably allowing them to  track bad guys better and stop them from opening account after account with different basic info).
  2. Seller review – sellers will be limited to listing a small number of items until the sellers account has undergone an initial review. Once you list an item, you will go under review (by TnS I'm guessing - they are going to look for past  issues I'm betting to gauge the seller's trustable).
  3. 1-3 day listings done - Elimination of 1 and 3 day listings of these items that are often counterfeited by all sellers.
  4. Restricting of cross-border trade - HK/china specifically (e.g. won't be able to sell to china from  Europe, from China to Europe, etc. (China is the source of lots of counterfeits from what I've heard).

What is the list of items most often counterfeited?  eBay isn't going to issue this list because it gives the bad guys a head's up. 

full article: http://ebaystrategies.blogs.com/ebay_str...g_str.html

[FiberGuy]

ehhhh....

Really?



I remember the last time ebay *officially* came out with the statement that they had this new "state-of-the-art software" to combat fraud and shilling.

It's anyone's guess what happened to the so-called "software".

[sneakymagenta]

1. Paypal verification will be required to list more than one item that is often counterfeited – don’t have to accept paypal, just have to be verified.  This will give ebay a higher level of knowledge of the seller  (presumably allowing them to  track bad guys better and stop them from opening account after account with different basic info).

Get ready for PayPal account required to sell anything on Ebay. :nbiteme:

[mandy]

Auctionbytes has additional details on the new program:

ChannelAdvisor President and CEO Scot Wingo, who broke the news on his eBay Strategies blog on Tuesday, said he loves the new initiative but is concerned with any changes made during the busy fourth quarter, even positive ones. "My take is they've dipped toe in water with other efforts, seen positive results, and now are going deeper."

eBay Senior Director of Seller Development Todd Lutwak said the move was "not a holiday initiative." When asked if it was in reaction to litigation, eBay spokesperson Catherine England said the move was designed to ensure a good buying and selling experience on eBay that would bring long term value to the marketplace.

Lutwak explained that after a seller lists more than a certain number of items on the list, the system would set off an automatic trigger requiring a manual review of the seller. "If you've sold these items in the past, your account may have already been reviewed," but if sellers alter what they are selling, they may be subject to another review...

full article: http://auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y06/m11/i29/s01

[amy]

I remember the last time ebay *officially* came out with the statement that they had this new "state-of-the-art software" to combat fraud and shilling.

According to eBay fraud has been reduced to 0.000000000000000000000001%. 

Get ready for PayPal account required to sell anything on Ebay

This is one step closer to requiring all sellers have PayPal accounts.

[accentnepal]

Todd Lutwak said the move was "not a holiday initiative."

Translation: Our gift of chaos for the Holidays. 

When asked if it was in reaction to litigation, eBay spokesperson Catherine England said the move was designed to ensure a good buying and selling experience on eBay that would bring long term value to the marketplace.

Translation: Yes, it is in reaction to litigation.       

after a seller lists more than a certain number of items on the list, the system would set off an automatic trigger requiring a manual review of the seller.

Translation: Don't expect us to hire real human people for money.           

[BellisimaJ.]

[quote author=accentnepal link=topic=6141.msg34510#msg34510 date=1164966631]

Todd Lutwak said the move was "not a holiday initiative."

Translation: Our gift of chaos for the Holidays. 

When asked if it was in reaction to litigation, eBay spokesperson Catherine England said the move was designed to ensure a good buying and selling experience on eBay that would bring long term value to the marketplace.

Translation: Yes, it is in reaction to litigation.       

after a seller lists more than a certain number of items on the list, the system would set off an automatic trigger requiring a manual review of the seller.

Translation: Don't expect us to hire real human people for money.           
[/quote]

[let the truth be told]

Does anyone know if they will be putting the same efforts towards stopping fraudulant buyers?


let the truth be told
u1it4less - "it's all in the name..."
x-pop nation

[sneakymagenta]

Does anyone know if they will be putting the same efforts towards stopping fraudulant buyers?

That won't happen unless sellers file a class action. 

[mandy]

From TAG's email newsletter:

EBAY'S NEW DOUBLE SECRET ANTI COUNTERFEIT POLICY
************************************************************
With new lawsuits filed by trademarked brand name and patent holders rolling in all
the time, ebaY has finally had to face the fact that they must do something about
the counterfeit items and fakes being sold on their site.  ebaY profits from those
illegal sales, and one day a court is going to confirm the illegality of profiting from
fraud and theft, and ebaY will be held to account. 

Forced to the wall, ebaY is implementing some steps that might actually have a
positive affect on the multitude of fakes listed on the site.  Of course ebaY is
implementing this in a typically ebaY way, secretly (so no deterrent value),
unannounced (so in effect without being posted on the site without adequate notice
and in violation of the user agreement) and with what is sure to hurt legitimate
sellers with ebaY usual response to falsely accused sellers - no appeal process in
place and sellers put out of business with no recourse and no way to prove their
legitimacy.

So far this appears to be intentionally "leaked" information - nothing posted on
ebaY's site that TAG could find - so it is sure to change before ebaY actually posts a
policy - even though the secret policy is supposed to be active now.

The components of the plan allegedly consist of ebaY developing a list of commonly
faked goods  (kept secret) and screening anyone who sells these items.  Anyone
who sells items on this secret list will have to be PayPal verified (but not required to
offer PayPal as payment).  Sellers of the items on the secret list will have to undergo
an ebaY review - but they wont know it until they are blocked from selling items,
and who knows how long ebaY will take to do the review.  Sellers will not be able to
use 1 or 3 day listings for items on the secret list.  TAG has been saying for years
that there is no reason to allow 1 day listings for anything and that 3 day listings
should also be eliminated or restricted.  One and three day listings are favored by
thieves, scammers and con artists, who delight in the ability to get their victims
snared before anyone can report the fraud.  Even when reported, ebaY does not
react fast enough to eliminate the listing before it ends.  The best part of this plan
is that ebaY is restricting some cross border trade and some in country sales. 
Sellers in China, including Hong Kong, will not be able to sell items on the secret
list.  This is probably an early indicator that ebaY is throwing in the towel on the
China market, and TAG would not be surprised to see ebaY backtracking on their
investment etc in China, giving Yahoo another victory.

http://www.auctionguild.com/