Disturbing news in my eBay inbox.
eBay was built on a simple idea – that we could empower people by building a global trading platform where practically anyone could buy or sell practically anything. But that idea is now under threat from certain brand owners and manufacturers who are trying to turn back the clock and block the sale of their products on online marketplaces and other websites across the EU.
Ultimately, what is at stake is the right of sellers to compete fairly in the wider online marketplace, and the right of buyers
to be able to access the best possible deals from the widest possible selection of goods.Some of these brand owners argue that their objective is to prevent the sale of counterfeits on eBay.
But thanks to our work with 31,000 other rights owners, only 0.15% of listings last year were detected or
reported as potentially counterfeit. The real aim of these brands is to block the sale of all their products on our site – regardless of whether such items are new or second-hand, genuine or fake. It’s not just luxury items that are affected, but also everyday items like children’s toys, electronic equipment, lawnmowers and pushchairs. And if we want to prevent other brand owners from following suit, we need to act now.
We are therefore calling on European policymakers to amend EU competition law to stop these unfair
trade practices. But we need your help to persuade them to take action. If you would like to join our
campaign against online trade barriers, please sign our petition.
Regards,
Your eBay Team
Log into your account and sign, don’t the big brands know how much they sell through eBay?
Related blog: http://www.tamebay.com/2009/07/petition-to-remove-eu-trade-barriers.html
6 responses so far ↓
1 helen ashford // Jul 7, 2009 at 12:56 pm
All you have doe is repeat the tsxt of the email I have received from ebay.
You haven’t given me a reason WHY I should sign the petition.
Why is it important?
2 Shopping Comparison // Jul 7, 2009 at 2:40 pm
This would really be the end of free economy and would lead to monopolies. But there are still alternatives like comparison shopping, that way your buying directly from the stores and you have the option to compare prices.
3 Minnie Minx // Jul 7, 2009 at 3:15 pm
why? ebay has shafted so many people by allowing fraudsters
4 Liz // Jul 7, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I am just raising awareness, the reason is in the text of the petition. This could lead to a ban on selling branded goods on eBay. First eBay, next on-line shops. There will be no small businesses allowed….
Think about it, remove all the sales from products that are branded and see what business you have.
Chinese sourced non branded/own branded products will take over but again it will have limited success.
5 Liz // Jul 7, 2009 at 4:40 pm
Shafted? Maybe so, but there are lots more people that have had good buyer experiences with branded goods on eBay.
6 Liz // Jul 7, 2009 at 4:43 pm
I would (and I am) set up my own brand and stuff the toffee nosed brands that forget that the little people like eBay sellers keep their brands alive too. Its almost like you only get fakes on eBay and you would NEVER see that in a bricks and mortar shop! Like hell….
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