Got to blow some steam - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cdplayer · #1 04-24-2009, 09:53 PM

I have read about this happening to another forum member a long time ago.
I just retired and have realized my weekend hobby of collecting used Mercedes parts to sell on Ebay has become a full time job. For anyone who has sold items there, you know it takes a lot of care and time to clean up, photograph, list, and describe the items you are selling.

I routinely search similar items on Ebay to see what prices the parts are listing for.
Well, I discovered this lazy individual using my photos to list his items.

Now, I do not mind him selling similar items. But stealing my pictures to list his items, in my opinion, is a type of fraud. When you look on Ebay to buy, you want to bid on and get the item in the picture. Right?

He is Ebay member Sevag. Even has an Ebay store. Currently using 6 recent pictures I took to list his items. His listings using my pictures are: #120383542325,120383542344,120383542347,120383542357,120383542360 and 120383542370. As of 4/24/09.
Be warned gentlemen. These pictures are stolen from my listings. And you will not be getting what you see in his.
Feel much better now.
Thanks, guys.

Matt SD300 · #2 04-24-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdplayer

I have read about this happening to another forum member a long time ago.
I just retired and have realized my weekend hobby of collecting used Mercedes parts to sell on Ebay has become a full time job. For anyone who has sold items there, you know it takes a lot of care and time to clean up, photograph, list, and describe the items you are selling.

I routinely search similar items on Ebay to see what prices the parts are listing for.
Well, I discovered this lazy individual using my photos to list his items.

Now, I do not mind him selling similar items. But stealing my pictures to list his items, in my opinion, is a type of fraud. When you look on Ebay to buy, you want to bid on and get the item in the picture. Right?

He is Ebay member Sevag. Even has an Ebay store. Currently using 6 recent pictures I took to list his items. His listings using my pictures are: #120383542325,120383542344,120383542347,120383542357,120383542360 and 120383542370. As of 4/24/09.
Be warned gentlemen. These pictures are stolen from my listings. And you will not be getting what you see in his.
Feel much better now.
Thanks, guys.

WOW!!...CD.. that's whacked!!...........

Nate · #3 04-24-2009, 10:25 PM

Call ebay about it...

~Nate

Eskimo · #4 04-24-2009, 10:28 PM

If you look near the bottom on the listing page, you can find a "Report this item" link. If you follow it, you'll have the option to report it for "Copying of your listing". If you select that, you'll also have the choice of detailed reason: "Report your picture or description was copied or linked without your permission".

Would eBay actually pull the listings and hand the seller a listing violation based on your report? I don't know.

cmbdiesel · #5 04-24-2009, 11:05 PM

Well, it may be childish, but I just asked 'general question about the item' on the auctions you listed, wondering if they were pictures of the actual item. Even suggested that I had seen the same pictures in a different auction.

Hatterasguy · #6 04-24-2009, 11:08 PM

Report him to ebay.

mgburg · #7 04-24-2009, 11:33 PM

Report to eBay and have the poster pulled off.

And letting others on other forums know this is being done helps everyone understand to what levels fraud is be perpetrated.

Good job catching this and I hope, for your sake and everyone else out there, that he gets nailed for, at least, maybe a copyright infringement, if it's possible...

tankdriver · #8 04-24-2009, 11:48 PM

You should watermark your pictures in the future.

cdplayer · #9 04-25-2009, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eskimo

If you look near the bottom on the listing page, you can find a "Report this item" link. If you follow it, you'll have the option to report it for "Copying of your listing". If you select that, you'll also have the choice of detailed reason: "Report your picture or description was copied or linked without your permission".

Would eBay actually pull the listings and hand the seller a listing violation based on your report? I don't know.

Thanks Eskimo. I will follow up on this. Great tip.
This guy has 42 pages of listings. He's got 16 pictures that are mine. Three of which I am still running on my Ebay. How many other people have put hard work into their listings to have this moron steal it away.

cdplayer · #10 04-25-2009, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Well, it may be childish, but I just asked 'general question about the item' on the auctions you listed, wondering if they were pictures of the actual item. Even suggested that I had seen the same pictures in a different auction.

Hmmm. I like this one too. It's got that walk silent and carry a big stick ring to it.

cdplayer · #11 04-25-2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

Report to eBay and have the poster pulled off.

And letting others on other forums know this is being done helps everyone understand to what levels fraud is be perpetrated.

Good job catching this and I hope, for your sake and everyone else out there, that he gets nailed for, at least, maybe a copyright infringement, if it's possible...

I carry about 100 listings a week. I was looking for information on a W123 vacuum trunk lock actuator for a customer I have in Turkey. My listing on this item sold last month and I did not get any more. So I typed in W123 vacuum trunk actuator to see the listings come up on Ebay. That's when I saw,among others, my picture of this element I took with my silver back board I use to highlight the item. When I clicked on 'see seller's other items' I discovered 42 pages of listings in his Ebay store of which 16 had pictures I took.
I wrote each item number down and sent them to Ebay fraud department.
Along with three listing numbers I have still running with the same pictures he is using from my site.

I then went back to each of the 16 items and 'contacted seller with a question'...I have you now. Your deception to your customers has been reported.
Tomorrow is another day. Lock and load.

Skid Row Joe · #12 04-25-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdplayer

I have read about this happening to another forum member a long time ago.
I just retired and have realized my weekend hobby of collecting used Mercedes parts.....

Start putting your name as a "C" Copyright on each photograph. Unless the guy can chop your Copyright off each picture, and he may not be that sophisticated to remove your copyright.
I'll illustrate here with a photograph that a goofball on another forum posted I frequent, with his C 2009 pkjr logo.

mgburg · #13 04-25-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Start putting your name as a "C" Copyright on each photograph. Unless the guy can chop your Copyright off each picture, and he may not be that sophisticated to remove your copyright.
I'll illustrate here with a photograph that a goofball on another forum posted I frequent, with his C 2009 pkjr logo.

I like SRJ's suggestion, but with a small change...

If you put your "C 2009 cdplayer" logo on your shots, position the logo in a way that "cropping" of the photo (by anyone) will remove a portion of the product you shot.

Also, size your logo a bit smaller so that it doesn't distract too much from the item you're attempting to show...

It's a balancing act, more than anything...large enough to show some professionalism, but small enough to get everyone's attention.

In the sample that SRJ provided, cropping that photo a bit from the bottom and top (to "balance" the scene) would remove the "C 2009 pkjr" logo in the lower-left corner. But, if "pkjr" had reduced the font size and moved the logo up and into the vegatation just underneath the "splash," "cropping" of the photo becomes a worthless endeavor for the "thief" of the work...it would involve quite a bit of "photoshopping" to repair/cover the attempt at stealing the work.

Anyways, sink this skink...we're pullin' for ya'!

strelnik · #14 04-25-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

I like SRJ's suggestion, but with a small change...

If you put your "C 2009 cdplayer" logo on your shots, position the logo in a way that "cropping" of the photo (by anyone) will remove a portion of the product you shot.

Also, size your logo a bit smaller so that it doesn't distract too much from the item you're attempting to show...

It's a balancing act, more than anything...large enough to show some professionalism, but small enough to get everyone's attention.

In the sample that SRJ provided, cropping that photo a bit from the bottom and top (to "balance" the scene) would remove the "C 2009 pkjr" logo in the lower-left corner. But, if "pkjr" had reduced the font size and moved the logo up and into the vegatation just underneath the "splash," "cropping" of the photo becomes a worthless endeavor for the "thief" of the work...it would involve quite a bit of "photoshopping" to repair/cover the attempt at stealing the work.

Anyways, sink this skink...we're pullin' for ya'!

I think that the best way to get this guy is to contact Ebay and let them see the copy on your photos, especially if you did it with your Ebay account name.
Then, when someone else uses it, you can tell Ebay you are suing both the people who took it AND Ebay.
Then the other guy will start to get warnings.

And there's some kind of Ebay bulletin board. But I have never used it.

Put it on blogs too. Go to other MB sites and let people know, see what happens to this guy.

cdplayer · #15 04-25-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

I think that the best way to get this guy is to contact Ebay and let them see the copy on your photos, especially if you did it with your Ebay account name.
Then, when someone else uses it, you can tell Ebay you are suing both the people who took it AND Ebay.
Then the other guy will start to get warnings.

And there's some kind of Ebay bulletin board. But I have never used it.

Put it on blogs too. Go to other MB sites and let people know, see what happens to this guy.

I spent some time this morning looking at his feedback from other buyers. He has stung other's in the past. Some called it bait and switch. Some received parts "not as pictured". Some received damaged parts and the guy refused refunds. And one complained the part was shipped to someone else. Makes me wonder what else,sevag, has stolen from the general public for his benifit.
So I contacted each one of them to let them know what I have found. Kind of spreading the word.
The watermark(copyright) suggestion sounds great. Just not smart enough to know how. Cut and paste is challenging. Just a simple kind of guy here getting s&^%$d.
I am speaking out so no one else falls victim to this scumbag.
Thanks for your kind words guys.