Policy Violation - Counterfeit claim by vendor that has never even seen my item?!
Not sure how this is even allowed, but I received an email from Amazon stating a “rights owner” is claiming the item I’m selling is counterfeit. How they could possibly determine that within an hour of me listing the single item (new, sealed $30 board game) and never seeing the item is beyond me.
2 phone calls later and Amazon reps say that a rights owner can file a policy complaint if they believe the item is counterfeit, sight unseen. Huh?? Why was I even allowed to create the listing in the first placed without having to go thru an approval process if this company doesn’t want any other sellers on the listing? Why would they not contact me first and say I don’t have their approval to sell the item instead of claiming I’m selling counterfeit items? Completely ridiculous.
Policy Violation - Counterfeit claim by vendor that has never even seen my item?!
Not sure how this is even allowed, but I received an email from Amazon stating a “rights owner” is claiming the item I’m selling is counterfeit. How they could possibly determine that within an hour of me listing the single item (new, sealed $30 board game) and never seeing the item is beyond me.
2 phone calls later and Amazon reps say that a rights owner can file a policy complaint if they believe the item is counterfeit, sight unseen. Huh?? Why was I even allowed to create the listing in the first placed without having to go thru an approval process if this company doesn’t want any other sellers on the listing? Why would they not contact me first and say I don’t have their approval to sell the item instead of claiming I’m selling counterfeit items? Completely ridiculous.
34 replies
Seller_7LrAV0m5llaI7
You're supposed to have brand approval and buying from their authorized wholesale distributors before you list the item. It's Amazon policy that you agreed to in your Business Solutions Agreement when you signed up to be a seller on Amazon.
Seller_0rXAME9V4LQSx
If you are not aware the rules on amazon change frequently. It is getting to the point that anything with a name brand is better sold in other markets if you don't have written permission from the brand to list it on amazon. They are happy to let you list stuff so they can make the fees. They are really happy to confiscate your money and items over "counterfeit" listings if given the chance.
Seller_yEfeXUgbiZiro
I have the same problem with plants. It is not right for Amazon to allow this. It is a strategic way to hurt your competition. It puts a delay in sales. Thier should be repercussions for false claims to make it a fair playing field.
Seller_CW0P5hgbsiqWX
" Amazon reps say that a rights owner can file a policy complaint if they believe the item is counterfeit, sight unseen..."
Anybody can call themselves an agent of the Rights Owner and file a complaint against you. Competitors do it all the time.
"Why was I even allowed to create the listing in the first placed ..."
That is because no bot found a problem when you listed the item. If you create the listing using Seller Central (not using the flat file method), there is always a 1-2 second delay while a bot makes everything is right. The bot checked your listing and found no problems.
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The Intellectual Property reporting form is massively abused, and there is nothing you can do about it until Amazon changes the reporting process. Do yourself a favor. Under GET HELP, located at the lower portion of the seller central page, look up Report Intellectual Infringements. Open the report form. Read what it takes to fill out the form. Anybody can call themselves an Agent of the Company and report you. That is all they have to do, now you have a problem. Reps seem to ignore this is the way it works and do nothing. The system is broke.
Seller_aEzr9PjpfpuxN
As long you have legitimate invoices (not receipts) to submit to show you are sourcing your products from a legitimate (the brand manufacturer or authorized wholesalers) source then you will be fine. I would also ask the manufacturer or wholesaler to site you a letter of authorization.
File an appeal and good luck.
Seller_52pUzzgnsLDGs
If you don't have a gift receipt and can't return your item to the store it was purchased what do you do? Try to sell it on Amazon. How times have changed. I was taught to appreciate a gift. It hasn't even been a week since Christmas.
You clearly are not approved by the owner of the brand to sell that item here. Most of the gifts you received this year will probably fall into the same category. Go to one of the other selling sites and sell them as used.
Seller_TvaTXH61RRGLO
They gate the brands that ask for gating or the ones they consider the amount of unauthorized sellers can not be controlled. Otherwise, most of the brands are ungated.
However, when you list a product from a brand as new, Amazon assumes you buy the item directly from the brand or from authoried distributors and you are authorized by the brand to sel on Amazon.
In this case, I recommend you contact the right owner at the email provided by Amazon with an apologetic attitude and tell them you were not aware you cannot sell their product on Amazon and will not list it anymore then ask to retract the complaint. DO not be surprised if they will ask for compensation, this is pretty common.
Seller_FwpA1naSVnywt
If they did not authorize you, they know you cannot be selling that. In a nano second.
Atlas_Amazon
Hello @Seller_NZc972I8hS0Rl
Thank you for the information provided regarding the violation you received for counterfeit products. As mentioned in the thread, if you do not have authorization to list the product on our platform, this would be considered counterfeit. You can find more on this in our anti-counterfeit policy which will detail that authorization is a factor in authenticity.
Our team will not initially ask for this information when you go to list the product as it is assumed that authorization was already acquired prior. This is why the information is requested if a complaint is received as they will be looking to verify this information. For counterfeit, our team will look for invoices or a letter of authorization.
If they are able to verify your invoices, then it should be able to resolve the violation. Be sure to verify that the document meets all of the requirements as seen in our sourcing policy. If the invoice is rejected and you cannot provide an authorization letter, then you will need to contact the rights owner to see if they would be willing to retract the complaint.
If all of these options do not remove the violation, then you can try to delete the listing and acknowledge the violation. This path is done on a case by case basis and we cannot guarantee that it will lead to the removal of the violation. Additionally, we want you to be aware that when you take this path that the listing removal will be permanent and you will not be able to relist the product.
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding this situation, continue to refer here for support.
Best,
Atlas
Seller_pI3kotsNmuQ8q
We always file these types of complaints against other sellers trying to sell under our own brand. We know its counterfeit because we are the brand owners and the only sellers on Amazon. Sometimes we test buys just to see what brand is being shipped instead of ours and most of the time its unbranded stuff. We used to contact the other sellers directly but its useless so we just do the complaints through brand registry and they're removed within 24 hours.
So most likely you are selling without authorization/approval from the brand owner not Amazon.
i believe the options given for brand owners on brand registry don't include unauthorized re-seller so they usually select the counterfeit because it is the quickest way to get you off the listing.
