What would you do?

13 years ago

It is a tricky situation, have you thought about contacting the seller and finding out what his/her intentions are.

You need to determine whether the seller is trying to rip your product off, or is just a naive affiliate who is going about things incorrectly.

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Kay King 13 years ago

If the person was selling unauthorized copies, doubtful you'd see an affiliate link. Sounds like someone trying to make affiliate sales - in which case no problem with more than one sale.

Ask the seller what his "strategy" is. Do it in a non-accusatory way and you may find he's just a hopeful affiliate selling YOUR product.

kay
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- Michael Shook 13 years ago
  
  What happens when you click the link in the post? Maybe that might give you a bit more information to help deal with the situation.
  
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Laura B

13 years ago

Good points. I will see what he/she says. Could be totally innocent, as you say.

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winebuddy

13 years ago

I have several affiliates promoting several of my products that way on Ebay - no problem.

The first time I saw it I freaked because I thought they had bought and ten were reporducing my product. No - just an affiliate being smart.

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Laura B

13 years ago

Originally Posted by winebuddy

I have several affiliates promoting several of my products that way on Ebay - no problem.

The first time I saw it I freaked because I thought they had bought and ten were reporducing my product. No - just an affiliate being smart.

I'm curious how this worked for you. It seems like no matter what, either eBay or the product creator gets cut out of the loop. If someone bid on it, wouldn't your affiliate then have to deliver the product himself and could do this many times over without you getting any money at all?

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basstrackerboats

13 years ago

That really is a decent way to promote a product as an affiliate.

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Laura B

13 years ago

The thing is, though, how is eBay getting their cut? The only way the affiliate can get his commission is if the person uses the affiliate link, in which case eBay gets bypassed altogether, as far as I can figure.

On the other hand, if they buy the course by bidding on the auction and then arranging payment with the seller, how is he going to get his download link along with the bonus materials? And how will the seller get a commission since in that case I'm the one being bypassed? Maybe I'm missing something obvious.

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Laura B

13 years ago

Update: I contacted the seller, first as a potential customer, wanting to know what he'd say. I asked him if people were supposed to bid on it like a usual auction or use the link at the end of the description. He replied that I should use the link.

So I replied, this time stating that I was the creator of the course, and that I needed to know how he was handling it. How was the person going to get their download link and bonuses? Was eBay going to get their cut? And that I hoped he wasn't sending them the course himself, also mentioning that I didn't think people would notice the link at the bottom. I was polite, just asking.

He replied simply by giving me the affiliate link again. Not helpful.

So I messaged him again, stating a little more firmly that he hadn't answered the question and I needed to know how he was handling this so that he could get his commission, eBay would get their cut, and the buyer would get their bonuses. No answer in about 48 hours.

I'm thinking of contacting eBay and shutting down the auction. Opinions?

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oneplusone

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Laura B

Update: I contacted the seller, first as a potential customer, wanting to know what he'd say. I asked him if people were supposed to bid on it like a usual auction or use the link at the end of the description. He replied that I should use the link.

So I replied, this time stating that I was the creator of the course, and that I needed to know how he was handling it. How was the person going to get their download link and bonuses? Was eBay going to get their cut? And that I hoped he wasn't sending them the course himself, also mentioning that I didn't think people would notice the link at the bottom. I was polite, just asking.

He replied simply by giving me the affiliate link again. Not helpful.

So I messaged him again, stating a little more firmly that he hadn't answered the question and I needed to know how he was handling this so that he could get his commission, eBay would get their cut, and the buyer would get their bonuses. No answer in about 48 hours.

I'm thinking of contacting eBay and shutting down the auction. Opinions?

Dodging answering questions properly, nearly always equals something to hide.

So I would report him.

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sierraandmo

13 years ago

I would report him. You have tried to contact him to find out his true intentions and with his response I get the feeling that he either doesn't believe that you are who you say you are or he is hiding that he is trying to operate around the system.

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Laura B

13 years ago

Okay, I reported the violation. We'll see what eBay says. Thanks to everyone for your input.

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Frank Donovan 13 years ago

Laura,

As far as I'm aware, eBay don't allow downloadable products in their main auctions (?). Is the seller listing it in the classified section?

If it's a physical product, is it the seller's own item - in which case it's just being resold?

Frank
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- Laura B 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Frank Donovan
  
  Laura,
  
  As far as I'm aware, eBay don't allow downloadable products in their main auctions (?). Is the seller listing it in the classified section?
  
  You're right, as I just learned from eBay's response (below). No, it's definitely not in the classifieds, it's a regular auction.
  
  Originally Posted by Frank Donovan
  
  If it's a physical product, is it the seller's own item - in which case it's just being resold?
  
  It's a PDF, and it doesn't appear to be a matter of someone just selling the "copy" he bought, since he is an affiliate and did include the affiliate link. He makes it sound like it's a physical product, probably to circumvent the eBay policy that you mentioned.
  
  This is what I got from eBay:
  
  We'll review what you've reported for violations of our digitally
  delivered goods policy. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
  
  We'll review the listing or post carefully. If we determine that it
  violates eBay policy, we may:
  -- send the seller a warning
  -- remove the listing
  -- limit the seller's buying and selling privileges
  
  We usually won't suspend a seller's account unless the seller has
  violated our policies multiple times. To protect the privacy of our
  members, we don't share what actions we choose to take.
  
  For more information about our digitally delivered goods policy, please
  visit:
  Digitally delivered goods policy
  
  Thanks,
  eBay
  
  So hopefully they'll take it down soon. Thanks for your help.
  
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Rus Sells

13 years ago

Am I missing something?

Your product sells for $97 but the seller has a BIN price of $80. Who's making up the difference if some one uses the BIN price?

How does the buyer receive the product from you if the full $97 isn't paid?

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Laura B

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Rus Sells

Am I missing something?

Your product sells for $97 but the seller has a BIN price of $80. Who's making up the difference if some one uses the BIN price?

How does the buyer receive the product from you if the full $97 isn't paid?

Yeah, that's what I'm wondering.

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Dennis Gaskill

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Rus Sells

Am I missing something?

Your product sells for $97 but the seller has a BIN price of $80. Who's making up the difference if some one uses the BIN price?

How does the buyer receive the product from you if the full $97 isn't paid?

If everything is as it seems, my guess is the seller is a pirate.

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Laura B 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill

If everything is as it seems, my guess is the seller is a pirate.

Gaaarrrrrrrrrrr
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mikkhailalladsense

13 years ago

This has given me awesome ideas for affiliate marketing on eBay.

I wonder if this technique is successful? anybody tried it legitimately and is it against eBay rules?

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John Alves

13 years ago

Tell him you're going to sue him if he doesn't stop selling it. Maybe, that will get the point across. If he's selling your content, then it's copyright infringement. He'll be too scared to auction it off again. He'll just find a new product to steal and sell.

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profitsforall

13 years ago

I would get a friend to buy the product via the web page - and then see exactly what happens in that scenario. Yes it's effectively sending him money - but you've then just proved exactly what his intentions are.

At that point you will be in a better position to have him shut down.

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JustinDupre

13 years ago

Originally Posted by profitsforall

I would get a friend to buy the product via the web page - and then see exactly what happens in that scenario. Yes it's effectively sending him money - but you've then just proved exactly what his intentions are.

At that point you will be in a better position to have him shut down.

Exactly.. and have everything in document/paper works.. get ready for some investigations and lawsuit

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Laura B

13 years ago

Well, the auction is still up with 19 hours left to go. Still hoping eBay will do the right thing and shut it down. Not the seller's whole account but just this auction. If it works for him, he'll just keep doing it, and I'll have to lawyer up.

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Laura B 13 years ago

Well, eBay never took it down, but it expired without selling, at least not officially. I told the guy that what he was doing was illegal, not in harmony with the terms of our agreement, and that he should stop.

If this continues to be a problem, can I "fire" him? He's an affiliate through ClickBank. I only have his first name.
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