Manfrotto Disallowing Used Gear to be Sold on Ebay

I put my used video tripod on ebay a few days ago. Today I received an email from ebay informing me that my listing was being removed due to copyright violations. I didn't use any stock photos or language from the manufacturers website. All the photos are my personal photos (taken with my iPhone) and the description was all my own.

I was instructed by ebay to email the "rights owner" Manfrotto LTD if I have any questions. Ebay included a contact email for Manfrotto.

So I emailed the Manfrotto contact person and asked them why they contacted ebay claiming copyright infringement. She responded by telling me I am not an authorized Manfrotto dealer and my listing was removed because I am not legally allowed to sell their products. I responded telling her I am not selling their products, I am selling my own personal property. The tripod belongs to me and I am representing nobody other than myself.

Has anyone experienced similar issues when selling used gear on Ebay?

Well that's a new one. Can you still view the cancelled listing?

Interesting. I'm curious how this plays out.

I'm curious. Did your listing describe the item as "New", "New (Other)" or "Used"?

I checked the "used" box and most definitely described the listing as being pre-owned gear. Even checked the "good" condition box ebay has for used items.

No, the cancelled listing cannot be viewed. Here is the link: http://www.ebay.com …item=1816574164​14&errid=2.

Very odd..... Especially considering the fact that there are lots of Manfrotto tripods still listed there.

Sounds like someone let the intern use the computer again at Manfrotto. I'm sure you'll be fine if you repost.

PhotogNY wrote in post #17418904
Sounds like someone let the intern use the computer again at Manfrotto. I'm sure you'll be fine if you repost.

Good one and I agree. I would list it again.

Somebody made a mistake.

This was the contact persons signature in the email I received.

Linda Hodgman
Executive Administrative Assistant
Manfrotto Distribution USA
+1 (201) 818-9500 Ext. 273

Providing this is true, and I have no reason to believe it is not, the people at Manfrotto are wrong. You can sell your own used property just as you can sell used cars, used music CDs, used anything.

Garth Brooks has advocated music rights holders being able to prohibit used sales, but even he knows present law does not allow for that.

eBay is infamous for taking the word of their corporate clients without lifting a finger to verify anything.

Should Manfrotto persist, and were sued, they'd lose. Unfortunately, lawsuits take a lot of time and money... time and money that average people don't have.

Shoot, if anything, eBay should be fighting this battle for you. A huge part of their business model depends on indioviduals being able to sell their own stuff.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am in the market for a carbon tripod and now I can knock the Manfrotto 055 right off the list. I cannot see supporting a company that tries this kind of BS. Microsoft tried this with their newest game console and got slapped pretty hard.

Can anyone suggest another brand of carbon tripod with the swing-mast feature like the Manfrotto's? I think Vanguard makes one, are they any good?

It'd be interesting to see what Manfrotto's second reply is. I'd definitely make a big stink out of this, maybe even contact the local media, but not until receiving a final answer from Manfrotto.

Still no second reply from Manfrotto.

Here is the email I received.

I tweeted at manfrottoUS and eBay. Sometime social media can produce a quicker response.