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Loaf

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#255478 13-Aug-2019 22:26
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So I was selling a copy of Pokemon Sapphire (Gameboy Advance) on Trade Me. I've relisted the item a couple of times. After relisting it today I got a warning email that I needed to provide "receipt evidence that I purchased the item", a request that is somewhat unreasonable for a game that hasn't been available since the early 2000s. The email claimed I could be infringing intellectual property.

 

I responded asking what this was about and that it wasn't possible to provide a receipt. That evening, within the space of two minutes I got spammed with 3 emails; one which told me that I would need to provide evidence or I would be warned, followed by one about how I can't sell fake products, followed a couple of minutes later by a message about how my account has been given a strike for selling counterfeit goods.

 

I feel confident I can prove the legitimacy; it came from a legitimate games reseller and the physical appearance is consistent with online advice on verifying legitimate Pokemon games. Fakes are lazy and it is quite easy to prove using visual details.

 

My question is this: what's the deal with this? I've never had a problem like this before and I'm astounded at how they wasted no time in flagging my account and lecturing me on fake items before allowing me to provide alternate proof, presuming that not having a receipt = guilty. Has anyone else had similar problems lately? The reason I asked is I also got sent an email a week ago about how a person who won my auction was "probably illegitimate and I shouldn't sell to them" along with an automatic refund of the auction fees. The buyer was super confused about it via email. I can't see what the risk would have been there because it was shipping + bank deposit only. I feel like maybe Trademe has introduced automatic flagging of accounts and auctions recently and I'm wondering if anyone here knows if there is anything to that?


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PeterReader
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  #2297742 13-Aug-2019 22:26
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Hmmmm. Here we go.





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freitasm
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  #2297756 13-Aug-2019 22:47
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A bit unrelated but wife was listing a pair of Nike football shoes (our daughter's outgrown them and never really used) on a closed Facebook group... And go the post taken down with claims of "counterfeit product". 

 

I told her to just donate to the Salvation Army, not worth the effort/time to talk to people who are probably not qualified to evaluate an item to try and get it listed.

 

But yes, a bit outrageous to be put in a "bucket" with the actual scammers.





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bfginger
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  #2297758 13-Aug-2019 22:52
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If you were a real counterfeiter it'd be easier to fake a receipt than a Gameboy cartridge.



Loaf

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  #2297759 13-Aug-2019 22:53
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Yep, it is a strange feeling.

 

I think what rubs me the wrong way about (and any other similar case) is this is that they rushed through with striking my account before I could reasonably respond. It doesn't feel like a legitimate process. I also don't understand why Trademe thinks receipts are good proof... do I misunderstand what they are wanting? Just like bfginger says, it would be very easy to fake a receipt. How could they possibly validate it if I claimed to have bought it from a store in 2005.

 

 


richms
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  #2297760 13-Aug-2019 22:55
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Come over to facebook and try selling it. Lots sell on there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1721521784800633

 

 





Richard rich.ms

Edwood
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  #2297777 14-Aug-2019 06:29
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I think we'll see a lot more of this kind of thing... Sometimes AI just isn't very smart :)

 

 


SaltyNZ
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  #2297808 14-Aug-2019 08:14
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Edwood:

 

I think we'll see a lot more of this kind of thing... Sometimes AI just isn't very smart :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it learns from the internet...





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1101
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  #2297827 14-Aug-2019 09:20
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Thats really strange

 

What Ive found is that trademe dont five a rats arse when I report fake goods (software)
A CD containing software from 4 completely different companies , and a dongle to bypass copy protection.

 

I was in touch the the NZ importer for one of the brands and he said he's given up trying to get the fakes off trademe, as trademe didnt really care .

 

 


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  #2298892 14-Aug-2019 09:58
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Yet my FIL tries selling a legitimate guitar, gets picked on straight away and requires to hand over proof that the item is in his possession....  then I got a heap of items removed as being counterfeit - had to go see Disneys NZ lawyer representation to sort that one out....  :D

 

If you're a big fish, then TM will do whatever you want. If a little fish, all bets are off.

 

 





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Loaf

108 posts

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  #2299152 14-Aug-2019 12:48
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Haven't managed to lift the strike so far.

 

Took the guy 60 seconds to spam me with 3 separate emails accusing me of being a scammer and striking my account, and yet it's taking all day to deal with the proof of legitimacy I sent.

 

I asked them what evidence or grounds they had to remove the listing and strike my account and obviously they didn't give any because there is none.


Handsomedan
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  #2299196 14-Aug-2019 13:41
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If this kind of behavior continues, they'll go from the number one listing site to irrelevant very, very quickly. 





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lNomNoml
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  #2299213 14-Aug-2019 14:08
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Handsomedan:

If this kind of behavior continues, they'll go from the number one listing site to irrelevant very, very quickly. 



Can only hope.

Geektastic
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  #2299426 14-Aug-2019 19:59
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Handsomedan:

If this kind of behavior continues, they'll go from the number one listing site to irrelevant very, very quickly. 



We aren't exactly awash with good alternatives.





Loaf

108 posts

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  #2300381 16-Aug-2019 12:01
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I'm currently being asked to provide a high resolution of the item (pretty sure I sent the highest resolution one my phone could take to begin with) along with a dated publication in the photo... the suspicion is real.

 

Such inconvenience for no good reason... it really has put me off Trade Me.


KrazyKid
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  #2300410 16-Aug-2019 13:14
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At this point I'd go to the library and find an 1930s newspaper as by dated publication.
Can understand your annoyance.

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