CORRECT PROCESS TO REMOVE UNAUTHORIZED SELLERS????
@Dougal_Amazon @Cooper_Amazon @Jim_Amazon Jameson_Amazon Sandy_Amazon @KJ_Amazon @Steve_Amazon @Robbie_Amazon @Dougal_Amazon @Danny_Amazon @Michelle_Amazon @Tatiana_Amazon
I'm hoping to received some clear answers about unauthorized sellers. The US trademark is pending and the application number has been provided to Brand Registry. Trademark is registered with Brand Registry in another market. A few months ago we had 41 counterfeit sellers from China, where there are no distributors of this brand. It was painstaking to get them removed. I am the only authorized US seller, and pretty much the only person in the brand that sells and operates daily with Amazon. The brand is confused from info they are getting in their home market.
This situation is slightly different than a few months ago because we aren't exactly sure what these sellers are selling yet. The current 2 sellers are US based, both showed up on the same day and based on higher pricing don't seem too interested in selling much. We have test purchased and are waiting to see what they are selling, via FBA.
The brand is afraid to do anything before then - letter to Amazon legal or Cease and Desist notices.
I am looking for validity of the following prescribed actions from an Amazon-moderated forum posting a couple months ago, actions listed were these. What can the brand do and what can the seller do?
1. Have an attorney write Amazon Legal request Amazon remove the unauthorized sellers [Does this apply if trademark is pending?]
2. Write a cease and desist letter to each seller. [Is this for the brand/manufacturer only or can a seller with Brand Owner status do this?]
3. Report Abuse Forms [These never worked and all attempts were rejected due to what, no one knows.] As a seller we will do this but will have to open and escalate a case to make these work.
4. Write seller reviews once test product is received. [I've had different answers from different Amazon people as to whether this is appropriate.]
5. Does reporting on the listing page about the seller work? When I've reported issues with listings, it seems like nothing happens. But is it okay for a seller on the same listing to report issues. If it does work, can the seller do this?
CORRECT PROCESS TO REMOVE UNAUTHORIZED SELLERS????
@Dougal_Amazon @Cooper_Amazon @Jim_Amazon Jameson_Amazon Sandy_Amazon @KJ_Amazon @Steve_Amazon @Robbie_Amazon @Dougal_Amazon @Danny_Amazon @Michelle_Amazon @Tatiana_Amazon
I'm hoping to received some clear answers about unauthorized sellers. The US trademark is pending and the application number has been provided to Brand Registry. Trademark is registered with Brand Registry in another market. A few months ago we had 41 counterfeit sellers from China, where there are no distributors of this brand. It was painstaking to get them removed. I am the only authorized US seller, and pretty much the only person in the brand that sells and operates daily with Amazon. The brand is confused from info they are getting in their home market.
This situation is slightly different than a few months ago because we aren't exactly sure what these sellers are selling yet. The current 2 sellers are US based, both showed up on the same day and based on higher pricing don't seem too interested in selling much. We have test purchased and are waiting to see what they are selling, via FBA.
The brand is afraid to do anything before then - letter to Amazon legal or Cease and Desist notices.
I am looking for validity of the following prescribed actions from an Amazon-moderated forum posting a couple months ago, actions listed were these. What can the brand do and what can the seller do?
1. Have an attorney write Amazon Legal request Amazon remove the unauthorized sellers [Does this apply if trademark is pending?]
2. Write a cease and desist letter to each seller. [Is this for the brand/manufacturer only or can a seller with Brand Owner status do this?]
3. Report Abuse Forms [These never worked and all attempts were rejected due to what, no one knows.] As a seller we will do this but will have to open and escalate a case to make these work.
4. Write seller reviews once test product is received. [I've had different answers from different Amazon people as to whether this is appropriate.]
5. Does reporting on the listing page about the seller work? When I've reported issues with listings, it seems like nothing happens. But is it okay for a seller on the same listing to report issues. If it does work, can the seller do this?
5 replies
Sandy_Amazon
Hello @Seller_8jEUlYHPEsxtD
Thank you for your post here on the forums. My name is Sandy from the Amazon community manager team.
Please see my answers below.
I cannot speak to question 1 and 2 as this decision is based on the seller. However, what I can say is that Amazon's policies allow any seller to list items for sale on an ASIN so long as the intellectual property accurately represents the item being sold and has not been illegally reproduced. This includes intellectual property for which you are the rights owner.
If you believe that the sellers are illegally reproducing the items, please submit these through the Report Abuse tool after completing test buys. Once your trademark is registered in the US, please use the Report a Violation tool via Brand Registry as only registered trademarks added to your Brand Registry account and those enforceable in the jurisdiction of the selected Amazon store can be selected.
3. If your trademark is pending, please continue to use the Report Abuse tool. Please make sure you only state facts in the details on how the product is counterfeit or illegally reproduced.
4. This also depends on the seller. However, my recommendation is to not write seller reviews and just go through the Report Abuse form. The seller could possibly notice that you are the buyer and use this to contact Amazon to mention a competitor is trying to harm your listings. Of course Amazon will check before making any enforcements, however, it is just to stay safe from unnecessary violations.
5. Yes this goes to a team but typically Amazon does not reply back with the outcome of the investigation as these are private informations about another sellers account.
I hope I was able to clarify some questions for you. Please let me know if you have additional questions.
Sandy
