Selling Lacoste Polos on Ebay that they claim are fake

[cherrypappa]

I live in Ohio.

I just got a email from Lacoste saying that I sold fake Lacostes and they want my suppliers and who I sold to.

I sold probably 30 of them on ebay, but I bought them at a Florida flea market and I think they were real. I paid basically store prices for them and actually sold them for a loss because I thought I would get more for them.

They sent the certified letter to the wrong address so I never received it. Do I have to respond to the email if I didn't get the letter in the mail?

What are my options? How do I/they know if they were real?

I am a college student and this obviously took me by storm.

Thank you so very much for your time.

 

[FlyingRon]

You know they are real when you buy them through authorized locations rather than at flea markets from other counterfeiters. You're either intentionally a scammer or dumber than dirt.

They're not obligated to tell notify you at all. The next sound you could hear was the local sheriff either stuffing a lawsuit in your face or taping it to your front door. Then you can think about whether there is some technicality that you can invoke to delay the inevitable judgement against you for infringing upon their trademarks and design patents.

Your options are to comply or to hope that because you are an equally lousy business as you are at crime, you probably have no assets for them to sieze, and hence are judgement proof.

 

[Tayla]

wow! So Lacoste tracked you down via ebay and contacted you via email? How did they get your email? How do you know legitimately it was from their company? What does your email header say? Do you know how to do an email tracking for legitimate emails? Did they bid and win on your product in order to conclude these are fake? Where is the evidence of this claim they are making against you? Lacoste would have to have your product in order to make the conclusion its fake. I find this post filled with more holes then a fly swatter.

 

[TheGeekess]

Guess you've never heard of VeRO, have you, Tayla?

 

[cherrypappa]

Well I have 10 business days until they will take any action, so no, I doubt the local mounty is going to be slamming on my door anytime soon.

This was small scale, less than 50 over a year, and I bought them awhile back. They were 40 something for one but I bought a box and got them for a little less. Wasn't like it was some steal, and it wasn't just some local flea market, it is the biggest one in the country in Fort Lauderdale.

I was wondering if they would actually come after a small fry. I didn't make more than 400 total, and I know they are only entitled to damages on the company.

I talked to two lawyers this evening, and they both said they would look into it but not to respond at this time. I have the ten days anyway, but I thought someone on here may have had an experience like this. Honestly, I never thought it was as big of a deal as it apparently is.

I have no assets and I am in med school, my primary residence is protected here, and the total profit is much less than 500.

Does anyone have any advice? I didn't think I should respond because I would be admitting guilt. Please help me out if you can.

I appreciate you time.

 

[Country Living]

Does anyone have any advice? I didn't think I should respond because I would be admitting guilt.

You need to do what they asked.

I just got a email from Lacoste saying that I sold fake Lacostes and they want my suppliers and who I sold to.

 

[Tayla]

Guess you've never heard of VeRO, have you, Tayla?

OT: Thanks Geekness- Just got educated on that Ebay Policy-
Need glasses too on my part...

 

[cherrypappa]

I think I will wait until they send another letter. My legal friends told me that they are probably only looking for me to stop, which I already had done. I didn't realize what a issue this is.

I thought about replying and letting them know that I bought them at a flea market a while ago and just stating that I am in college. This might let them know that I am a terrible candidate to sue anyway because I have absolutely no assets and they wouldn't recover from me.

I thought this may be a good idea because as of now I am sure they don't know if I am a corporation or person selling thousands of them randomly or just some guy that thought he got a good deal and picked some up.

I don't know what to do, but this is finals time so I have to let it pass until after the 10 day period that they gave me. I don't have the info they asked form anyway, so admitting anything would be incomplete with the demands the legal team set forth (names and addresses of anyone that has one)...nor do I know where my supplier would be located.

If anyone has any input I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for taking time to help myself and people like me.

 

[Shadowbunny]

I think I will wait until they send another letter. My legal friends told me that they are probably only looking for me to stop, which I already had done. I didn't realize what a issue this is.

I thought about replying and letting them know that I bought them at a flea market a while ago and just stating that I am in college. This might let them know that I am a terrible candidate to sue anyway because I have absolutely no assets and they wouldn't recover from me.

If anyone has any input I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for taking time to help myself and people like me.

This is not legal advice, just common sense advice: don't ignore them, it will only make you look guiltier, and annoy them greatly. And as far as you being a "terrible" candidate, I believe that they can attach any future earnings. As you're in med school, they would probably see you as a GOOD candidate.

 

[dereksagar]

how'd this turn out?

I just received the same letter and I would like to know how this turned out for you. Thanks.

 

[Country Living]

The odds are, since this post is so old, the OP won't be back to answer your question. It would be better if you send him a PM (Private Message).