posted on January 30, 2003 09:10:29 PM new
A friend bought some Billionaire Beanies (or Billionaire Babies?) at a hotel in Mainland China. She's aware they are counterfeits but would like to get rid of them.
What are your thoughts? I'm thinking that, if it's even possible on ebay, we would of course say they are not authentic and sell them that way. My friend has seen some of these counterfeit ones on ebay sell for around $100. We just don't want to commit an ebay e-crime!
posted on January 30, 2003 09:43:59 PM new
These aren't counterfeits, in order to be counterfeits they would have to be marketed as Beanie Babies, even though they aren't. If they have a different brand and different designs, they are a cheap knock-off, but that is not the same as a counterfeit which was designed to appear to be the real thing...
posted on January 30, 2003 10:08:51 PM new
But my friend says these are copies, label word for word, of Beanie Babies special productions. If this isn't true, I'm *really* confused. I hope a collector comes in here to set us straight!
posted on January 30, 2003 10:39:50 PM new
Looks like a cache-22 situation. If you represent them as authentic, it would be fraud. If you admit in the description they are counterfeit, you can look for trouble from Vero as well as Safeharbor. It's a big no-no to knowingly sell counterfeit items on Ebay, no matter how you write the description. I might be mistaken, but I certainly wouldn't risk a suspension to find out. Especially for a sack of beans.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
posted on January 31, 2003 03:51:01 AM new
If your friend decides to sell the fake Billy Bears (slang) prepare her for what could happen. First, the auction could be Vero'd. Second, the so called "Beanie Police" will harass her through emails to no end. Third, she'll have to deal with bid retractions and people bidding with no intentions of paying. She would also have a pretty good chance of having her ID put on the traderlist.com as a counterfeit seller.
An authenticated Billionaire Bear (depending on which one...there are currently 5) can still bring $500-$1000 with ease. What she has is very desirable to those who cannot afford the real thing. According to the trader boards your friend would have more luck on Yahoo.
