Unfair competition on a marketplace: what to do
Unfair competition is deliberate damage to your product card by competitors: sabotage orders followed by a refusal and a damaged return, fake negative reviews, false complaints about the card, copying of your content. The goal is to spoil your metrics (buyout rate, rating, returns) and knock down your positions. You cannot insure yourself completely, but almost everything can be documented and disputed if you keep monitoring and collect evidence.
In short: competitors attack through orders and returns, fake reviews and complaints. Defense = monitoring + evidence + disputes through support.
Typical attacks
- Sabotage orders — bulk orders with a refusal or damage, to push returns up and freeze your stock.
- Fake negative reviews — a wave of fake low ratings and reviews (see negative reviews).
- False complaints — mass complaints about a card to send it for review.
- Content theft — copying your photos and texts into their own cards.
How to defend yourself
- Monitor reviews, returns and card status every day — an attack has to be spotted early.
- Document anomalies (screenshots, data exports) — this is the evidence base for support.
- Dispute through platform support: abnormal returns, review manipulation, false complaints.
- For content theft, file a complaint with proof of rights (brand protection) — the strongest position belongs to a private label with a registered trademark.
Related reading: competitor dumping., competitor attack on a product card
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
"What should I do if competitors order my product and damage it?" Document the returns anomaly (data export, screenshots) and dispute it through platform support. Regular monitoring helps you catch a wave of sabotage orders early.
"Can fake negative reviews be disputed?" Yes. An abnormal wave of identical low ratings without a purchase can be disputed with support. Platforms clean up manipulation when they are presented with evidence of it.
"How do I protect myself from false complaints about a card?" Keep the card in order (content, certificates), monitor its status and dispute unfounded complaints through support with evidence of compliance.
"What should I do if my photos and card copy have been stolen?" File a complaint against the infringer with proof of rights. A registered trademark and authorship of the content strengthen your position in a dispute.
