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(I removed the downvote kvetching; sorry.) Taobao listings are peer to peer (somewhat anyway; it's also partly like Amazon retailers). So it's other users tha
by beambot 10y ago
(I removed the downvote kvetching; sorry.)
Taobao listings are peer to peer (somewhat anyway; it's also partly like Amazon retailers). So it's other users that are intentionally duping buyers, not Taobao directly. It's possible (likely?) that Taobao is complicit and turning a blind eye. But it's also difficult for them to address in any meaningful way; how are they supposed to obtain the necessary expertise...?
We know for a fact that other P2P marketplaces (eg. eBay) do care and have spent an insane amount of resources to combat the problem (or been litigated by brands) -- and yet they haven't been able to crack authentication at scale. Our tool addresses that problem.
It is relevant... because it is part of the solution to this problem: How can you authenticate brand-name items in a resale market.
(Worth noting: The brands aren't motivated to help in the resale market. They want everyone to buy new and reap 1000% markup... which is why they crack down on counterfeits.)
- rahimnathwani 10y agoI don't see how Lollipuff's service, as you describe it above, is relevant to counterfeit items on taobao. If someone is selling, e.g. a copy of a particular dress, using stock photos from the original designer, for 5% of the regular price, how does your authentication service help taobao, the seller and/or potential buyers?
- beambot 10y agoOur tool could be part of a solution... For example, Taobao could work with us to: (1) Require sellers to get their items authenticated, and provide a link to the authentication certificate in their listings. This would require sellers to take photographs of the actual items rather than using stock photos. (2) Train buyers to request authentication certificates from sellers before proceeding with transactions. (3) Setup a dispute process (like eBay) where buyers can get their post-purchase items authenticated and have financial recourse in the event of counterfeits. I'd be happy to speak with people at Taobao about how to setup a partnership and/or implement ways to dissuade bad sellers. But it will require concerted effort and will on the part of Taobao.
- rhizome 10y agoCan you detect modified photos of authentication certificates?
- nradov 10y agoWhat incentive would Taobao have to do any of that?
- beambot 10y agoTo avoid the ire of the US gov't and getting press coverage in articles like this? Heh.
- rahimnathwani 10y ago(2) and (3) assume the buyers are wanting to buy licensed, not counterfeit, products. This is not the situation described in the OP, nor the one I described. (1) is a non-starter as sellers sell multiple of the same product (i.e. one listing could represent 100,000 units of inventory), or the seller doesn't even have the item on hand (they acquire it from a local supply chain the day they get a customer order). Taobao isn't primarily a flea market with someone selling their own stuff. It's more like Amazon marketplace, with almost all the volume coming from professional sellers. Your service (assuming it is as you described) has value in protecting folks trying to buy or sell authentic items, but that's not the case here.