UPC Code

[HansVera]

My items don't have UPC codes. What do I do? Do I use "identifier_exists - False" attribute? Does having no upc code affect traffic/rating?

[MoonwishesStore]

Each and every one of your items for sale if purchased from the actual manufacturer SHOULD have a UPC code I would think (don't most garments have it on their hangtags? I don't buy enough clothes to remember). Are you are registered reseller For the companies that make these cartoon characters?. Saying Branded in the title doesn't mean anything. You need to be extremely careful that you have purchased these from a legitimate manufacturer and can prove that you are a legitimate reseller of the cartoon characters main owner. If you are getting these from some other company and through a different maker, they are most likely counterfeit and can not be sold here. SpongBob, Nobita, are registered trademarks, and your 'pink' fairy looks suspiciously like Tinkerbell only in pink instead of green (wihtout young girls in my life, I'm not up on all the girl designs). Disney owns Tikerbell and is very staunch when defending itself against those that illegally use their designs without permission. Just saying all this so that you can be sure you are selling legally.

Anyway, about your UPC question. Yes if you don't have a UPC you should use the identifier exists attribute.

Not having proper attributes can affect traffic from Google perhaps but no where else.

Rating I don't know what kind of rating you are talking about. Don't forget that on ecrater you can't just list your products and expect them to sell. You personally have to market/promote them to get sales.

[Shaelily]

Rabbit Skins is a popular manufacturer of "blanks", clothing that is ready to be printed (similar to Delta, Alstyle, etc.). Generally a customer buying a t-shirt or infant bodysuit would not recognize that brand. I had to look it up myself. If you are using the blanks and printing them yourself then the items would not have UPCs. In that case, you would definitely use the identifier_exists:false.

Printing on blanks is perfectly fine and legal as long as you are using your own designs. As Moonwishes is saying, using popular logos, designs, or characters (such as SpongeBob) is illegal unless you are licensed by the owner to use their property. If you are indeed licensed, congratulations and awesome for you! That is extremely expensive and that right is often only given to huge companies. If you are not licensed by Nickelodeon to use the SpongeBob image you are not allowed to sell any products with their images or likeness. They can rightfully sue you.

Moon, unfortunately most apparel does not have the UPC in the garment tag. Some huge brands do like Levi's and Carter's but it's not consistent. Some stores with store brands do (like Kohls) but more often it is the store UPC that starts with a "4", not the manufacturer UPC. And in this specific case Rabbit Skins is a blank manufacturer so it would not have a UPC. The UPC would be purchased and used after printing.

[SheilaDeesPostcards]

@Shaelily, thanks for the well written helpful information.

I just love the fact that this forum has so many knowledgeable people in so many different fields willing to help other sellers.

[Shaelily]

[MoonwishesStore]

@Shaelily - Yes, thanks. Like I said I don't buy much in the way of clothes (thrift stores don't use UPC codes). I knew, or surmise, that there is something hinky with the sellers products. I hadn't heard of the rabbit skins things either, but I figured getting the legal rights to sell spongeBob would have been almost as difficult as trying to sell Mickey Mouse! And a big reseller is going to have a whole lot more than 4 different designs.

I never can understand why instead of doing something honestly, people are so willing to jump in with both feet to do something that is outside legal parameters to try to make money. At least the deliberate stuff. I realize that at times we may stumble with something we are unfamiliar with or have forgotten a rule, but the moment it is mentioned, we fix the problem.

Also learning as well and at my age it helps stave off senility. When I started doing this my mom was only ~10 years older than I am now and she was flabbergasted with what I could on line and the money I made. She has never bothered to learn anything about computers and sees no need for one. But older folks that use computers seem to be more in touch with the world and more engaged that people who basically sit in their recliners all day.

[HansVera]

[HansVera]

[MoonwishesStore]

I am allowed to post to this thread if I want to. I at no time was being rude or even trying to be rude. You may be interested to know that 'personal attacks' are what you did to ME!

I was, however, trying to give you fair warning that it looked like you were selling items illegally. While you may be new, it is your job to read the rules so that you aren't doing so. If you notice I was the first person that tried to help you. I don't answer threads here for my own amusment but to be helpful, but it seems whenever a seller hears bad news, they take it out on the bearer of bad news. How much work did you want to do listing inventory before finding out that you are suspended completely for selling pirated copies of things? Those big companies like Disney, Nickolodean, etc. are big, mean, with lots of lawyers to defend their trademarks that will plow over the little guys like no one's business.

[ArtistsUnion]

Welcome to eCrater, HansVera, and good luck!

[HansVera]

[HansVera]

[HansVera]

[SheilaDeesPostcards]

[HansVera]