The Sad State of Fakes on eBay - a Treatise

[Wildernest Survivor]

I have had a very busy few months, and after I get back to watching the 'bay for good deals on OOP models, something struck me as very disheartening: the level of fakes has grown steadily these past few months, and this is not a good sign. I know that I haven't been free to watch the auctions consistently, like I usually do, but even when I report obvious fakes, usually from repeat offenders, nothing happens. Now, I know that eBay is going through a major site upgrade, and maybe their customer service/seller compliance departments are flooded or have been reassigned, but the level of blatant fakes and lack of response is not a good sign of things to come.
I take this matter seriously: first as a customer, and secondly as an honest member of the knife community. I understand that the 'bay is full of fakes - just try buying a DVD without being extra diligent - but as a customer of eBay and their affiliated sellers, I would like them to take all complaints seriously. It seems that most fakes are from two sources: China, and a few unscrupulous sellers who habitually break the rules. I know that this might be oversimplified, but eBay makes their pricy fees from the sale of items regardless of provenance. Finally, as an honest member of the knife community, I believe that education and vigilance are the two best weapons we have in the arsenal to fight this 21st century foe. Not everyone is familiar with every Spyderco knife, especially the older and more rare models, and if an obvious fraud can be stopped early, we can save that new customer (or unlucky deal-seeker) their hard-earned money, as well as his first - and most likely, defining - experience with Spyderco products. This reason alone is why this forum and all of its posts are so important.
I thoroughly enjoy this hobby and the great people I have meet through this and other fora, and I believe that this is an issue that we can have a great deal of impact and success fighting over the long-run. As Spydercos become more popular and people seek out the best information possible, the true value of this forum and all of its knowledgeable, courteous, and thoughtful members is fully realized. Everyone has a chance to make a positive impact. Before I joined this forum, I never really gave much though to copied goods, but reading all of the informative posts and being surround by such great members, not to mention the responsive corporate reps (thanks Sal and company!), has instilled in me a true pride of ownership never experienced before. I now look at things differently, and I believe that by being proactive with questions and vigilant on the many sites that deal in our beloved Spydercos, one can make a positive difference in the hobby - form the seasoned veteran to the first-time buyer.
Thank you for reading this message: I want to fight this problem head-on with a positive attitude. I believe that this is a serious issue facing the hobby today, but if everyone takes the time to report the fraudsters, we can make a positive difference many times larger than our actual numbers. All too often, I think that nothing can be done - and without action that would be the case - but by a few simply actions, I truly believe that I can make a positive difference in this community, no matter how small. This is one of the rare circumstances in which we all win. :spyder:

I hope you enjoyed this post. I would love to hear what you have to add to the discussion - this is a great starter for a rousing debate!

[The Deacon]

Not trying to defend eBay, but blaming them for what some sellers offer is like blaming the owner of a flea market for what some vendor peddles. They do have a system in place called VERO where IP owners can register and report abuse of their copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property. Those complaints, from what I understand, do get acted upon. Acting in complaints made by individual members proved unworkable. Expecting eBay personnel to have the necessary expertise to determine whether a given item is real or fake would be unrealistic. Allowing one member to report another proved unworkable because it was abused by unscrupulous sellers and their confederates who reported competitor's auctions of legitimate goods.

For those reasons, posting in this sub-forum is really the best thing we, as individuals, can do. It brings the listings to Spyderco's attention so that they can take action. It also brings things to the attention of potential victims. We should also be aware that one of the legitimate "fair use" exceptions to copyright law is "non-profit" educational purposes. Copying and posting auction photos of fakes to show how to spot them would fall under that.

The one thing I do wish eBay would do is to force sellers to post their actual location in their listings. I know the Attorney Generals of at least some states take internet fraud seriously, so knowing where a seller was located would make it easier to report persistent violators to them.