Unauthorized Chinese seller on my listing
Greetings,
I have a product I am selling on Amazon. I am the brand owner and I do not sell to distributors, other retailers, etc. I sell this product STRICTLY on Amazon.com.
Today, I have found a random Chinese seller on my listing selling my product. I have no idea how this is possible or even allowed as selling other brands almost always requires some sort of invoice or LOA.
The products being sold are obviously counterfeit, as (once again) I DO NOT distribute this product to anyone else.
I contacted seller support and was told to just "report a violation". So, I attempted to report a violation in Brand Registry, but it seems I am unable to as the trademark is still pending with the USPTO (it should be fully registered within 2 weeks according to the USPTO).
Why am I not able to just remove this seller (or any seller for that matter) that is under my brand or require them to submit an invoice/LOA?
This seller is doing the exact same thing to other branded products as I am typing this.
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
I recently made a reply saying they are gone, but they are back and doing it again. I have exhausted my options as my trademark is still considered pending and Amazon does NOT allow you to report counterfeits while it is still pending.
Why should Amazon tell me to send in ~1700 units to meet demand or face a "low inventory level fee"? Just for a random person to hop on the listing, steal buy box, thus making me sell less, and now have to pay extra inventory fees for these units I was told to send in.
Why should I have to go through the effort of purchasing a trademark, creating an LLC, sourcing product, getting a listing made, product images, buying business insurance, and taking all the risk up front with my money for some random person to leech off of your listing?
34 replies
Dougal_Amazon
Hello @Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y,
My name is Dougal and I can provide some resources to help explain.
The Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page is really robust, but a one stop shop for reporting IP violations. To answer your question of why you cannot just remove this seller, please refer to the "Types of notices not accepted on Amazon," and specifically, the "Exclusive Distribution," bullet.
You can also find a longer explanation on the Report Infringement form under the section "We Do Not Enforce."
I recommend doing a test buy to identify if/what the actual violation is. Are they selling a completely different product or are they infringing on your TM? If it is the former, this is NOT an IP violation, but a listing issue and should be reported as such via Report Abuse from the Account Health Dashboard. If it is the latter, follow the steps under the "Report Infringement," section of the Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page, this has best practices to follow and some common pitfalls to avoid.
Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best, Dougal
Seller_WBnGS7Ix3XiDX
Wow, I am so sorry this is happening to you! I also sell my own product, and take this personally.
I also do not sell anywhere else, except other platforms, & my own site. They would have to buy it from me to sell it to someone else, so I understand why you wouldn't assume they are selling the exact product.
I wanted to ask how you found this out? What would I look for if someone is on your listing? I am always afraid of someone doing this, but not sure how I would know.
Thanks and good luck, please let us know if you are getting some help resolving this.
Seller_Cj39FIFBjVLNf
buy every single item and start a return process saying they are counterfeit.
Seller_csooxqpaiSPU1
I can explain why this is happening.
Amazon's policy of allowing followers is well intentioned to have more products to compete and offer lower prices to buyers.
However, on the Chinese version of TIKTOK, there are a large number of unscrupulous training organizations that cheat people who know nothing about Amazon and advertise to them that newbies can make money by follow selling in order to earn training fees. There is no risk, no need for big investment, and even no need to be responsible for the products. A large number of people are tricked into paying training fees to follow sell others using this method. They are completely unaware of the infringement risks involved.
Their strategy is to buy a lot of accounts, make money fast, and if you complain, he'll just change the store. This causes great harm to sellers who operate in compliance. We hate this behavior very much, so I suggest you, sign up for the Transparency Program and solve this problem once and for all.
I am also a Chinese seller, but I would never do something that violates the rules and hurts other sellers.
Seller_TFtK05AWCtKWm
Be careful with Brand Registry - i reported a seller with inauthentic product, they accepted the report then removed MY stock and gave me a violation!! Unbelievable incompetence! I'm now 6 replies in to a seller support ticket with no helpful response yet.
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
Update: The seller is now gone after I reported it as counterfeit after a test buy! Hopefully, I do not see them again.
Seller_TyNPnzv9SaYa3
Keep a very close eye on that ASIN, once a chinese seller targets an ASIN they will keep after it - they do not really want to sell your product they want the ASIN for its sales rank. One day you may find the ASIN is completely different product and Amazon will even claim you did not create the ASIN, because the owner data will be changed in amazon systems by a compromised sub contractor
Seller_bXqoky6ohYXR3
Same issue with me also, 5 to 6 chinses seller mapping my listing and sale around 300 to 500 units of my item and my listing review rating is 4.9 but now its gone to 3.8 my whole listing destroyed. No one is helping its very disgusting, we are brand owner but can't do anything.
Seller_XJ5fPXK82lIHl
I wonder if I am getting hit from the same seller as you. I have a handmade product I sell and same as you don't sell to distributors. They are also selling other random items from other brands. AMZ brand registry support was no help because my trademark is still pending. So messed up
Unauthorized Chinese seller on my listing
Greetings,
I have a product I am selling on Amazon. I am the brand owner and I do not sell to distributors, other retailers, etc. I sell this product STRICTLY on Amazon.com.
Today, I have found a random Chinese seller on my listing selling my product. I have no idea how this is possible or even allowed as selling other brands almost always requires some sort of invoice or LOA.
The products being sold are obviously counterfeit, as (once again) I DO NOT distribute this product to anyone else.
I contacted seller support and was told to just "report a violation". So, I attempted to report a violation in Brand Registry, but it seems I am unable to as the trademark is still pending with the USPTO (it should be fully registered within 2 weeks according to the USPTO).
Why am I not able to just remove this seller (or any seller for that matter) that is under my brand or require them to submit an invoice/LOA?
This seller is doing the exact same thing to other branded products as I am typing this.
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Unauthorized Chinese seller on my listing
Greetings,
I have a product I am selling on Amazon. I am the brand owner and I do not sell to distributors, other retailers, etc. I sell this product STRICTLY on Amazon.com.
Today, I have found a random Chinese seller on my listing selling my product. I have no idea how this is possible or even allowed as selling other brands almost always requires some sort of invoice or LOA.
The products being sold are obviously counterfeit, as (once again) I DO NOT distribute this product to anyone else.
I contacted seller support and was told to just "report a violation". So, I attempted to report a violation in Brand Registry, but it seems I am unable to as the trademark is still pending with the USPTO (it should be fully registered within 2 weeks according to the USPTO).
Why am I not able to just remove this seller (or any seller for that matter) that is under my brand or require them to submit an invoice/LOA?
This seller is doing the exact same thing to other branded products as I am typing this.
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
I recently made a reply saying they are gone, but they are back and doing it again. I have exhausted my options as my trademark is still considered pending and Amazon does NOT allow you to report counterfeits while it is still pending.
Why should Amazon tell me to send in ~1700 units to meet demand or face a "low inventory level fee"? Just for a random person to hop on the listing, steal buy box, thus making me sell less, and now have to pay extra inventory fees for these units I was told to send in.
Why should I have to go through the effort of purchasing a trademark, creating an LLC, sourcing product, getting a listing made, product images, buying business insurance, and taking all the risk up front with my money for some random person to leech off of your listing?
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
I recently made a reply saying they are gone, but they are back and doing it again. I have exhausted my options as my trademark is still considered pending and Amazon does NOT allow you to report counterfeits while it is still pending.
Why should Amazon tell me to send in ~1700 units to meet demand or face a "low inventory level fee"? Just for a random person to hop on the listing, steal buy box, thus making me sell less, and now have to pay extra inventory fees for these units I was told to send in.
Why should I have to go through the effort of purchasing a trademark, creating an LLC, sourcing product, getting a listing made, product images, buying business insurance, and taking all the risk up front with my money for some random person to leech off of your listing?
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
I recently made a reply saying they are gone, but they are back and doing it again. I have exhausted my options as my trademark is still considered pending and Amazon does NOT allow you to report counterfeits while it is still pending.
Why should Amazon tell me to send in ~1700 units to meet demand or face a "low inventory level fee"? Just for a random person to hop on the listing, steal buy box, thus making me sell less, and now have to pay extra inventory fees for these units I was told to send in.
Why should I have to go through the effort of purchasing a trademark, creating an LLC, sourcing product, getting a listing made, product images, buying business insurance, and taking all the risk up front with my money for some random person to leech off of your listing?
34 replies
34 replies
Dougal_Amazon
Hello @Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y,
My name is Dougal and I can provide some resources to help explain.
The Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page is really robust, but a one stop shop for reporting IP violations. To answer your question of why you cannot just remove this seller, please refer to the "Types of notices not accepted on Amazon," and specifically, the "Exclusive Distribution," bullet.
You can also find a longer explanation on the Report Infringement form under the section "We Do Not Enforce."
I recommend doing a test buy to identify if/what the actual violation is. Are they selling a completely different product or are they infringing on your TM? If it is the former, this is NOT an IP violation, but a listing issue and should be reported as such via Report Abuse from the Account Health Dashboard. If it is the latter, follow the steps under the "Report Infringement," section of the Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page, this has best practices to follow and some common pitfalls to avoid.
Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best, Dougal
Seller_WBnGS7Ix3XiDX
Wow, I am so sorry this is happening to you! I also sell my own product, and take this personally.
I also do not sell anywhere else, except other platforms, & my own site. They would have to buy it from me to sell it to someone else, so I understand why you wouldn't assume they are selling the exact product.
I wanted to ask how you found this out? What would I look for if someone is on your listing? I am always afraid of someone doing this, but not sure how I would know.
Thanks and good luck, please let us know if you are getting some help resolving this.
Seller_Cj39FIFBjVLNf
buy every single item and start a return process saying they are counterfeit.
Seller_csooxqpaiSPU1
I can explain why this is happening.
Amazon's policy of allowing followers is well intentioned to have more products to compete and offer lower prices to buyers.
However, on the Chinese version of TIKTOK, there are a large number of unscrupulous training organizations that cheat people who know nothing about Amazon and advertise to them that newbies can make money by follow selling in order to earn training fees. There is no risk, no need for big investment, and even no need to be responsible for the products. A large number of people are tricked into paying training fees to follow sell others using this method. They are completely unaware of the infringement risks involved.
Their strategy is to buy a lot of accounts, make money fast, and if you complain, he'll just change the store. This causes great harm to sellers who operate in compliance. We hate this behavior very much, so I suggest you, sign up for the Transparency Program and solve this problem once and for all.
I am also a Chinese seller, but I would never do something that violates the rules and hurts other sellers.
Seller_TFtK05AWCtKWm
Be careful with Brand Registry - i reported a seller with inauthentic product, they accepted the report then removed MY stock and gave me a violation!! Unbelievable incompetence! I'm now 6 replies in to a seller support ticket with no helpful response yet.
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
Update: The seller is now gone after I reported it as counterfeit after a test buy! Hopefully, I do not see them again.
Seller_TyNPnzv9SaYa3
Keep a very close eye on that ASIN, once a chinese seller targets an ASIN they will keep after it - they do not really want to sell your product they want the ASIN for its sales rank. One day you may find the ASIN is completely different product and Amazon will even claim you did not create the ASIN, because the owner data will be changed in amazon systems by a compromised sub contractor
Seller_bXqoky6ohYXR3
Same issue with me also, 5 to 6 chinses seller mapping my listing and sale around 300 to 500 units of my item and my listing review rating is 4.9 but now its gone to 3.8 my whole listing destroyed. No one is helping its very disgusting, we are brand owner but can't do anything.
Seller_XJ5fPXK82lIHl
I wonder if I am getting hit from the same seller as you. I have a handmade product I sell and same as you don't sell to distributors. They are also selling other random items from other brands. AMZ brand registry support was no help because my trademark is still pending. So messed up
Dougal_Amazon
Hello @Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y,
My name is Dougal and I can provide some resources to help explain.
The Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page is really robust, but a one stop shop for reporting IP violations. To answer your question of why you cannot just remove this seller, please refer to the "Types of notices not accepted on Amazon," and specifically, the "Exclusive Distribution," bullet.
You can also find a longer explanation on the Report Infringement form under the section "We Do Not Enforce."
I recommend doing a test buy to identify if/what the actual violation is. Are they selling a completely different product or are they infringing on your TM? If it is the former, this is NOT an IP violation, but a listing issue and should be reported as such via Report Abuse from the Account Health Dashboard. If it is the latter, follow the steps under the "Report Infringement," section of the Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page, this has best practices to follow and some common pitfalls to avoid.
Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best, Dougal
Dougal_Amazon
Hello @Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y,
My name is Dougal and I can provide some resources to help explain.
The Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page is really robust, but a one stop shop for reporting IP violations. To answer your question of why you cannot just remove this seller, please refer to the "Types of notices not accepted on Amazon," and specifically, the "Exclusive Distribution," bullet.
You can also find a longer explanation on the Report Infringement form under the section "We Do Not Enforce."
I recommend doing a test buy to identify if/what the actual violation is. Are they selling a completely different product or are they infringing on your TM? If it is the former, this is NOT an IP violation, but a listing issue and should be reported as such via Report Abuse from the Account Health Dashboard. If it is the latter, follow the steps under the "Report Infringement," section of the Intellectual Property for Rights Owners help page, this has best practices to follow and some common pitfalls to avoid.
Hope this helps and please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best, Dougal
Seller_WBnGS7Ix3XiDX
Wow, I am so sorry this is happening to you! I also sell my own product, and take this personally.
I also do not sell anywhere else, except other platforms, & my own site. They would have to buy it from me to sell it to someone else, so I understand why you wouldn't assume they are selling the exact product.
I wanted to ask how you found this out? What would I look for if someone is on your listing? I am always afraid of someone doing this, but not sure how I would know.
Thanks and good luck, please let us know if you are getting some help resolving this.
Seller_WBnGS7Ix3XiDX
Wow, I am so sorry this is happening to you! I also sell my own product, and take this personally.
I also do not sell anywhere else, except other platforms, & my own site. They would have to buy it from me to sell it to someone else, so I understand why you wouldn't assume they are selling the exact product.
I wanted to ask how you found this out? What would I look for if someone is on your listing? I am always afraid of someone doing this, but not sure how I would know.
Thanks and good luck, please let us know if you are getting some help resolving this.
Seller_Cj39FIFBjVLNf
buy every single item and start a return process saying they are counterfeit.
Seller_Cj39FIFBjVLNf
buy every single item and start a return process saying they are counterfeit.
Seller_csooxqpaiSPU1
I can explain why this is happening.
Amazon's policy of allowing followers is well intentioned to have more products to compete and offer lower prices to buyers.
However, on the Chinese version of TIKTOK, there are a large number of unscrupulous training organizations that cheat people who know nothing about Amazon and advertise to them that newbies can make money by follow selling in order to earn training fees. There is no risk, no need for big investment, and even no need to be responsible for the products. A large number of people are tricked into paying training fees to follow sell others using this method. They are completely unaware of the infringement risks involved.
Their strategy is to buy a lot of accounts, make money fast, and if you complain, he'll just change the store. This causes great harm to sellers who operate in compliance. We hate this behavior very much, so I suggest you, sign up for the Transparency Program and solve this problem once and for all.
I am also a Chinese seller, but I would never do something that violates the rules and hurts other sellers.
Seller_csooxqpaiSPU1
I can explain why this is happening.
Amazon's policy of allowing followers is well intentioned to have more products to compete and offer lower prices to buyers.
However, on the Chinese version of TIKTOK, there are a large number of unscrupulous training organizations that cheat people who know nothing about Amazon and advertise to them that newbies can make money by follow selling in order to earn training fees. There is no risk, no need for big investment, and even no need to be responsible for the products. A large number of people are tricked into paying training fees to follow sell others using this method. They are completely unaware of the infringement risks involved.
Their strategy is to buy a lot of accounts, make money fast, and if you complain, he'll just change the store. This causes great harm to sellers who operate in compliance. We hate this behavior very much, so I suggest you, sign up for the Transparency Program and solve this problem once and for all.
I am also a Chinese seller, but I would never do something that violates the rules and hurts other sellers.
Seller_TFtK05AWCtKWm
Be careful with Brand Registry - i reported a seller with inauthentic product, they accepted the report then removed MY stock and gave me a violation!! Unbelievable incompetence! I'm now 6 replies in to a seller support ticket with no helpful response yet.
Seller_TFtK05AWCtKWm
Be careful with Brand Registry - i reported a seller with inauthentic product, they accepted the report then removed MY stock and gave me a violation!! Unbelievable incompetence! I'm now 6 replies in to a seller support ticket with no helpful response yet.
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
Update: The seller is now gone after I reported it as counterfeit after a test buy! Hopefully, I do not see them again.
Seller_Z1tNGKIfSCq6Y
Update: The seller is now gone after I reported it as counterfeit after a test buy! Hopefully, I do not see them again.
Seller_TyNPnzv9SaYa3
Keep a very close eye on that ASIN, once a chinese seller targets an ASIN they will keep after it - they do not really want to sell your product they want the ASIN for its sales rank. One day you may find the ASIN is completely different product and Amazon will even claim you did not create the ASIN, because the owner data will be changed in amazon systems by a compromised sub contractor
Seller_TyNPnzv9SaYa3
Keep a very close eye on that ASIN, once a chinese seller targets an ASIN they will keep after it - they do not really want to sell your product they want the ASIN for its sales rank. One day you may find the ASIN is completely different product and Amazon will even claim you did not create the ASIN, because the owner data will be changed in amazon systems by a compromised sub contractor
Seller_bXqoky6ohYXR3
Same issue with me also, 5 to 6 chinses seller mapping my listing and sale around 300 to 500 units of my item and my listing review rating is 4.9 but now its gone to 3.8 my whole listing destroyed. No one is helping its very disgusting, we are brand owner but can't do anything.
Seller_bXqoky6ohYXR3
Same issue with me also, 5 to 6 chinses seller mapping my listing and sale around 300 to 500 units of my item and my listing review rating is 4.9 but now its gone to 3.8 my whole listing destroyed. No one is helping its very disgusting, we are brand owner but can't do anything.
Seller_XKGy6za4gc5bP
[Moderator Edit: removed off-topic]
Seller_XJ5fPXK82lIHl
I wonder if I am getting hit from the same seller as you. I have a handmade product I sell and same as you don't sell to distributors. They are also selling other random items from other brands. AMZ brand registry support was no help because my trademark is still pending. So messed up
Seller_XJ5fPXK82lIHl
I wonder if I am getting hit from the same seller as you. I have a handmade product I sell and same as you don't sell to distributors. They are also selling other random items from other brands. AMZ brand registry support was no help because my trademark is still pending. So messed up
