| eBay has policy guidelines that prohibit the sale of | | | | by the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit |
| counterfeit items, replicas, or "knock-offs." The most | | | | items. In recent years, organized criminal groups have |
| common counterfeit items sold on eBay are handbags, | | | | emerged as the principal distributors, producers, and |
| jewelry, pirated software, designer apparel, and | | | | shippers of counterfeit goods, especially computer |
| watches. | | | | software, DVDs, CDs, and other digital goods. |
| Authenticity is critical on eBay. Why? First of all, the | | | | Trafficking counterfeit goods is a serious crime, |
| sale of replicas and counterfeits devalues the originals. | | | | punishable by fines and imprisonment. Counterfeit |
| Manufacturers of the original items feel that the | | | | goods trafficking rings are often linked to organized |
| replicas decrease the value of the original. The | | | | crime, drugs, prostitution, gangs, and terrorism. eBay |
| manufacturers understand that many buyers would | | | | really wants no part of this situation. |
| just as soon pay $20 for a pretty good replica, than | | | | The sale of counterfeit items is such a problem, that |
| pay the full $200 for the original. The manufacturers | | | | there are attorneys who specialize in prosecuting the |
| lose business when too many fakes are sold to | | | | manufacturers and distributors of the replicas. If you |
| consumers. | | | | are caught listing counterfeit items on eBay, your |
| The problem here is supply and demand. The larger | | | | account can be suspended or terminated. Many large |
| the supply, the lower the demand, and ultimately, the | | | | companies and manufacturers such as MicroSoft, |
| lower the price. If eBay allowed counterfeit Louis | | | | Tommy Bahama, and Coach regularly monitor items |
| Vuitton items to be sold on their website, thousands of | | | | listed on eBay. Your item can be reported through |
| these items would be for sale to anyone in the world | | | | eBay's VERO program and removed if it does not |
| who wanted one. Many customers would choose to | | | | appear to be authentic. |
| purchase a cheap imitation instead of the authentic | | | | Final thought - when selling expensive designer goods, |
| item. Consumers are already purchasing replicas on | | | | make absolutely sure that the item is authentic before |
| street corners in busy cities like New York and | | | | listing it. If there is any doubt, do not list the item. |
| Washington DC. | | | | Visit for more information on what to legitimately sell |
| Furthermore, the underground economy is often fueled | | | | on eBay for profit. |