Damaging your competitor

Any laws about intentionally trying to put a competitor out of business?

For example on eBay:
Buying a product to leave negative or damaging DSR ratings?
Leaving damaging feedback?

Although proving this is tricky, if I had reasonable grounds to believe this was happening, what laws are in place to protect my business?

 

[akirk]

slander / libel are obvious ones...
perhaps harassment...

proving it will be very tricky...

just do enough good business with others that it becomes a minor thing...

but no laws against putting a competitor out of business - that is called capitalism!

Alasdair

 

[maxh]

That's called defamation.

There's an entire area of law dedicated to it.

Lying and obvious malice are a no-no. But say your competitor is doing something sneaky you can draw attention to "that practise" in order to "educate the consumer"

 

[Astaroth]

Though proceed with caution as whilst you can sue them for defamation if you go around saying they are doing these things and are then unable to prove it they are equally able to sue you for defamation and you can ultimately get into a tit for tat set of actions with the only real winners being the solicitors

 

[Rainbow Chasers']

That isn't really a very smart way of doing business. Not only will he be able to kick your butt through the courts, he will have your address on his sytem, so he can just go round and kick your butt in person.

If you want to take someone out of business, you use business to do it with. That is the protocol. The rest is like a game of poker!

Say he is selling lets' say a dog collar, on ebay for £3.99 - he is all over you and cutting your business because you usually charge £4.99.

This is where size and experience come into play - you can take him out if you can afford to - by using a loss leader. You put the same item out at 99p - eventually all will be coming to you and he will be losing out - how long he lasts, depends on if he is a good business person with working capital, or he is hand to mouth and splashing the profits around.

But you must regain those loses outside of ebay, be that through your website or other non-competing items on ebay, to cover the losses.

Very easy, very ethical - and above all - it is business!

 

I can easily undercut the competitor as I'm also the manufacturer! However this attracts unwanted jealous competition and it's very simple to knock out a competitor with a negative here and a 1 DSR there.

 

[BenKirkwood]

I can easily undercut the competitor as I'm also the manufacturer! However this attracts unwanted jealous competition and it's very simple to knock out a competitor with a negative here and a 1 DSR there.

What goes around, comes around

 

[DPOM]

Dont even both...juts concentrate on your own business.

I've spent 10 years having one my competitors slating us at every possibility (Not my webdesign company). Its irritating and annoying and generates a bad reputation for both of you.

Sadly, As far as going legal goes...unless you have deep pockets, it just isnt worth it.