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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Someone's copied bits of my listing on ebay.

132 replies

SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 20:39

Very similar item and not very common in the UK, mine's been on for less than a week and has a lot of watchers.

Theirs is a worse version on at a fifth of the price, but similar, and they have basically stolen about three different long sentences I have used to describe mine, and bunged them into their description.

I have sent a friendly message saying 'nice item, did you mean to copy bits of my listing word for word?!' Best wishes, etc.

Bit nervous now...but honestly how hard is it to write your own bloody description?

OP posts:
justkeeponsmiling · 30/07/2015 21:06

This is hilarious !!
Op you are seriously comparing your ebay listing to the works of JK Rowling?
Hysterical Grin Grin Grin

Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:06

It's inaccurate anyway - they have said it is sound and reliable when actually it's really rusty and looks like a piece of shit.

I think I will let them hoist themselves by their own petard.

OP posts:
justkeeponsmiling · 30/07/2015 21:07

I forgot...

Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:07

Oh of COURSE I am not comparing my listings to the works of a famous author

have you never heard of ANALOGY

FFS

OP posts:
Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:08

right back at you.

OP posts:
CocktailQueen · 30/07/2015 21:10

Cheeky! Report it.

Kayden · 30/07/2015 21:11

YABU to even let this bother you enough to post an AIBU.

BertieBotts · 30/07/2015 21:11

Pulling a picture from a company website is illegal because it means you're pretending to be that company and gaining their brand recognition etc when you are not, you are just a private individual. "Stealing" from another private individual is not the same.

Sorry but I think you are both overreacting. Let it go! As you said, the quality of their item speaks for itself anyway.

It's not plagiarism. An ebay description is not an artistic work, it doesn't matter how long it took you to write it. I can see being a little bit miffed and/or feeling that the other person has been cheeky, but being outraged and wanting to report it and really feeling wronged by it and expecting an apology is an overreaction. IMO.

Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:13

Well we rarely see eye to eye this week Bertie so let's to agree to disagree Smile

I take your point that I may be oversensitive
I'm only venti =ng.

sorry toddler again

OP posts:
justkeeponsmiling · 30/07/2015 21:14

Thank you. I can hold on to it while I wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes Grin

chaya5738 · 30/07/2015 21:15

Let. It. Go.

BertieBotts · 30/07/2015 21:18

I wasn't attacking you, just disagreeing! :) Happy to agree to disagree. I would politely suggest that AIBU is not the best place for a vent...

Balaboosta · 30/07/2015 21:21

You haven't got much time but you've got time to do ?

DoJo · 30/07/2015 21:22

For those who don't get it - there are laws against plagiarism!

There aren't actually, hard though it may be to believe - most instances that would come under this general heading are copyright infringement, but it's very tricky to tackle. I agree that it's cheeky and annoying, but there's really very little you can do about it.

Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:22

Bertie I think you might be right but it feels better to have had a shout about it. Grin

Yes, I know not attacking

you are v nice.

Justkeeponsmiling - is it really that funny? Whatever floats your boat.!

OP posts:
Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:23

No laws? Oh MY GOD

OP posts:
Original poster
SophiesDog · 30/07/2015 21:23

Priorities, Bala...priorities

OP posts:
butterflygirl15 · 30/07/2015 21:28

In all fairness copying someone else's listing or stealing their pics is against eBay rules - and op is quite within her rights to report the listing and eBay will remove it.

I think the effort and time to list items is sometimes such a blooming hassle, and if someone else steals your hard work then it does wrankle don't you think?

Op report her and block her. It is the best way.

Jux · 30/07/2015 21:39

You could add a sentence to yours indicating that yours is a true original unlike some which not only are cheap copies, but which copy the copy too.

msgrinch · 30/07/2015 21:47

I clicked "sell something similar" earlier and ebay pretty much duplicated the other person's ad. I had to edit as there's was used and ours new but other than thay left it. I doubt the eBay police will hunt me down if it's something they automatically do on the app

msgrinch · 30/07/2015 21:49

Just rtft. wow op get a hold of yourself.

19lottie82 · 30/07/2015 21:59

Yup, it is against the rules. Copyright, innit? Description and photos.

If you click list similar, it just mirrors the categories ect not the descriptions or photos.

swallowed · 30/07/2015 22:06

I do this all the time!

I list on a European eBay site and my written language skills in that language aren't great. I find a similar item and cut and paste the description.

Is that not allowed??

19lottie82 · 30/07/2015 23:44

No it's not allowed. Why should another seller spend time writing a description just for someone else to "steal" it to promote their own product, which they are selling in competition. It's not cool.

19lottie82 · 30/07/2015 23:44

If you are reported eBay will pull your listing for copyright violation.