Retailers urge eBay to stop stolen goods sales
Published January 10th, 2007
Members of The Fashion Forum, led by loss prevention company ORIS Group are lobbying the government to stop the selling of stolen goods on eBay. Twenty fashion retailers, and members of The Fashion Forum, including Marks and Spencer, Next, River Island, French Connection, New Look and Mothercare are calling to end the sale of allegedly stolen goods, worth millions of pounds, on the famous auction site.
Retailers are adamant that they have no objection to auctions of legitimate merchandise on the site, but it seems eBay has become home for criminals selling stolen products, often stolen from the supply chain before it reaches stores, or taken from shops. Internal theft costs the fashion industry millions of pounds every year. River Island head of profit protection Simon Hoyle commented that just 25% of River Island sales on the site are for new products with tickets.
The Fashion Forum held talks with the Home Office and the Department of Trade and Industry in December, and is calling for a code of practice to be introduced between eBay and high street retailers.
Related Articles eBay UK told to get tough on sale of stolen goodsNews seller jailed after dealing in stolen goodseBay VeRO is no substitute for litigation, UK judges ruleMan accused over stolen specs on eBayWarning after fraudsters’ £200,000 shopping spree
