TikTok post issue

[AMKasperek]

Cutting a story super short. I run an online shop and purchase via wholesaler who also runs an online shop with same products at retail prices. The said wholesaler came to my TikTok account one weekend and posted the comment giving my customers direct links to their website offering a full range of products to them. Anyone knows the exact laws of competition broken here? I am devastated as my shop is not yet in position to offer huge discounts nor free deliveries over certain order levels and my sales of their products have absolutely dropped since. What would you do if you were in my shoes? Thank you for any input in advance.

 

[fisicx]

Nothing you can do about it. It just shows the many issues businesses face when dealing online.

Did you have many followers on Tik Tok?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Delete the post/comment?

 

[AMKasperek]

Delete the post/comment?

Done it as soon as realised they've done this! What about the 600 and some people whom seen the comment and will no longer shop with me as they wholesaler effectively shopped them up by providing direct link to their shop!?

 

[Ozzy]

You could block their socials, so they cannot access your social accounts. Not a foolproof solution, but at least it does something.

Also, check your supply and purchase agreement with them (terms of business) to see if there is anything there that prohibits you from stepping on each others toes.
Nothing in competition law that will help here that I am aware of.

 

[AMKasperek]

You could block their socials, so they cannot access your social accounts. Not a foolproof solution, but at least it does something.

Also, check your supply and purchase agreement with them (terms of business) to see if there is anything there that prohibits you from stepping on each others toes.
Nothing in competition law that will help here that I am aware of.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply. This issue is with my solicitors already but thought I may come across someone who had the same issue to share their experience with me. Thank you again for your time and care

 

[NickGrogan]

How many followers to they have? Post comments on their accounts.

 

[AMKasperek]

How many followers to they have? Post comments on their accounts.

Just few as their socials are quite new, but as a last resort I may just do that! Eye for an eye! Thank you for this great thought best wishes to you and your business

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

What about the 600 and some people whom seen the comment and will no longer shop with me

What makes you think that they would shop with you in the first place?

 

[AMKasperek]

What makes you think that they would shop with you in the first place?

Their my followers who are Clients of my shop do you know how TikTok works at all? As your question suggest otherwise

 

[fisicx]

Social Media works the way it does because there are no restrictions on who can post what and where.

Blocking someone doesn’t stop them creating a new account and posting again. And responding on their sm feed won’t solve anything - you might even get a letter from their solicitor.

If you don’t want these sort of comments close down your tik tok account.

 

[AMKasperek]

Social Media works the way it does because there are no restrictions on who can post what and where.

Blocking someone doesn’t stop them creating a new account and posting again. And responding on their sm feed won’t solve anything - you might even get a letter from their solicitor.

If you don’t want these sort of comments close down your tik tok account.

Thank you for your time and input. Your time is much appreciated as it's your advise It is my company's TikTok where I advertise and it's a great platform for gaining real Clients and I wouldn't ever think of closing it down. To prevent it I may put a restriction on further reposts and comments made to be authorised before coming up on them in the future. Many thanks again and good day wishes to you

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Their my followers who are Clients of my shop do you know how TikTok works at all? As your question suggest otherwise

Oh, so if I am not a client, I can't follow you? I never knew that!

 

[AMKasperek]

Oh, so if I am not a client, I can't follow you? I never knew that!

May I ask, what are you trying to accomplish here with your aggressive comments and opinions? I came here to get help not abuse. Thank you for your time and I am sorry to upset you in any way shape or form.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Sorry, what is aggressive about asking for some clarification on how TT works?

You have not upset me, but you have come onto a public business forum asking for advice and do not appear to like being asked questions.

No, I am not a big TT user and do not have a shop, but I am looking at it at the moment, hence why I asked the question.

Also, it is not uncommon for people to confuse followers with customers - on other platforms anyone can follow you and too many people chase the goal of getting followers, who are worth next to nothing unless they buy from you i.e. are customers. If TT does not let someone follow you unless they are a customer, this is a unique and interesting approach, as well as potentially being more valuable to me.

 

[Ozzy]

Their my followers who are Clients of my shop do you know how TikTok works at all?

What @Paul Kelly ICHYB was referring to is that not every one of your followers will be clients, and equally, may be unlikely to purchase anyway. Generally speaking, only a very small percentage of social media followers convert into paying customers. As an example, I have 45k followers on X and I can guarantee and know only a tiny fraction of them use this site or have purchased from my business. Same goes for my TikTok and others.

 

[Ozzy]

If TT does not let someone follow you unless they are a customer, this is a unique and interesting approach, as well as potentially being more valuable to me.

It doens't; TikTok works the same as other platforms. One thing I have found myself when using TikTok is that it is a lot easier to gain followers on TT than it is for other platforms. It is also an amazing platform for selling gifts and hobby style products, better than Instagram or any other social platform I've dabbled with.

 

[AMKasperek]

Sorry, what is aggressive about asking for some clarification on how TT works?

You have not upset me, but you have come onto a public business forum asking for advice and do not appear to like being asked questions.

No, I am not a big TT user and do not have a shop, but I am looking at it at the moment, hence why I asked the question.

Also, it is not uncommon for people to confuse followers with customers - on other platforms anyone can follow you and too many people chase the goal of getting followers, who are worth next to nothing unless they buy from you i.e. are customers. If TT does not let someone follow you unless they are a customer, this is a unique and interesting approach, as well as potentially being more valuable to me.

There is a whole procedure to get you the following on TT to be able to sell through it, that's a different matter. Everyone can follow you, like on all other platforms

What @Paul Kelly ICHYB was referring to is that not every one of your followers will be clients, and equally, may be unlikely to purchase anyway. Generally speaking, only a very small percentage of social media followers convert into paying customers. As an example, I have 45k followers on X and I can guarantee and know only a tiny fraction of them use this site or have purchased from my business. Same goes for my TikTok and others.

I must duly apologize to @paulkelly. I wasn't in right set of mind replying to his simple question looking for "between lines" that wasn't there. I know which followers are Clients as I keep a close notes to whose where and where from. Thank you for mediating and clarifying here off to apologise now (bad girl!)

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

@Ozzy Thanks for the clarification and @AMKasperek not an issue.

As someone that is not an SM expert, but has helped 1k+ people start and grow their business, chasing likes/followers is an obsession with some - I know one person who spent several thousand pounds on chasing likes/followers, of which they got an awful lot. Their business failed because these were not buyers and they could not convert them. They focussed on vanity, not sanity.

 

[AMKasperek]

Sorry, what is aggressive about asking for some clarification on how TT works?

You have not upset me, but you have come onto a public business forum asking for advice and do not appear to like being asked questions.

No, I am not a big TT user and do not have a shop, but I am looking at it at the moment, hence why I asked the question.

Also, it is not uncommon for people to confuse followers with customers - on other platforms anyone can follow you and too many people chase the goal of getting followers, who are worth next to nothing unless they buy from you i.e. are customers. If TT does not let someone follow you unless they are a customer, this is a unique and interesting approach, as well as potentially being more valuable to me.

Please accept my apologies for being such (an arse!) being in despair and trying to tell you off being patronising wasn't the best approach to take. Thankfully the Greatest Admin understood and hopefully now clarified it for us both bestest of luck on tour journey and please ask away if helps needed. Happy to share what I know with anyone

 

[fisicx]

If you want a TikTok channel you have to accept that you will get adverse comments. It the nature of the beast. If the wholesaler wants to comment with a link to their site there isn’t much you can do.

Maybe focus on the website rather than TikTok. Or look as other sales channels.

Consider also that anyone else selling dog food can comment on your SM pages not just the wholesaler.

 

[antropy]

I run an online shop and purchase via wholesaler who also runs an online shop with same products at retail prices.

That's a d**k move by them. Find a different wholesaler.

Paul.

 

[AMKasperek]

That's a d**k move by them. Find a different wholesaler.

Paul.

Thank you for your sympathy! I feel truly betrayed. Trying to find a company matching the great ingredients in dog food that this one has as they're exclusive, but won't give up. Thank you and have a superb day

 

[antropy]

Thank you for your sympathy! I feel truly betrayed. Trying to find a company matching the great ingredients in dog food that this one has as they're exclusive, but won't give up. Thank you and have a superb day

You're welcome. What they did is a big no-no in business. They won't get far acting like that.

Paul.

 

[Ozzy]

Heh @AMKasperek don't forget to upvote answers, and mark the solution too for your question here.

(because this thread is returning in Google searches for the term 'tiktok' at the moment above some of their own content )

 

[AMKasperek]

Heh @AMKasperek don't forget to upvote answers, and mark the solution too for your question here.

(because this thread is returning in Google searches for the term 'tiktok' at the moment above some of their own content )

Thank you for the info and I've just marked it as solved. Trending I'd love but for any other reasons please what a great bunch of people you've collected here dear Admin. Many thanks to all who made their time to answer and try to help out. I shall update you all on how it finished bestest of luck in your ventures much obliged- yours sincerely- Crazy Dog Lady

 

[antropy]

Thank you for the info and I've just marked it as solved. Trending I'd love but for any other reasons please what a great bunch of people you've collected here dear Admin. Many thanks to all who made their time to answer and try to help out. I shall update you all on how it finished bestest of luck in your ventures much obliged- yours sincerely- Crazy Dog Lady

Best of luck to you too

Paul.

 

[fantheflames]

Sounds like you've got a plan there. Perhaps you could also implement stricter rules on your account and set comments for approval before they're posted? A lot of people do this when they expect to receive negative messages. Or you could address the situation publicly to clarify that you offer more value than the price... I think there's a lot of ways you could resolve the issue. Best of luck to you!

 

[AMKasperek]

Sounds like you've got a plan there. Perhaps you could also implement stricter rules on your account and set comments for approval before they're posted? A lot of people do this when they expect to receive negative messages. Or you could address the situation publicly to clarify that you offer more value than the price... I think there's a lot of ways you could resolve the issue. Best of luck to you!

Thank you. All in progress. Will keep you all updated have a superb week ahead

 

[ecommerce84]

For the second time today I’m agreeing 100% with @antropy

If a wholesaler of mine did that to me, I’d definitely be looking for a new one.

It’s a terrible way to conduct business and if you continue to purchase from them it only validates their actions.

 

[AMKasperek]

For the second time today I’m agreeing 100% with @antropy

If a wholesaler of mine did that to me, I’d definitely be looking for a new one.

It’s a terrible way to conduct business and if you continue to purchase from them it only validates their actions

For the second time today I’m agreeing 100% with @antropy

If a wholesaler of mine did that to me, I’d definitely be looking for a new one.

It’s a terrible way to conduct business and if you continue to purchase from them it only validates their actions.

100% agree, thank you for your opinion. Found a different supplier already and are so tempted to inform their supplier of their conduct too as this brand is exclusively sold by them. My solicitor is working on a proper PreAction letter to them now

 

[NickZ]

Even feeling betrayed should not stop you from asking them directly.
Their boss most likely does not know and should he know and approved you need to look for another supplier.

 

[AMKasperek]

Even feeling betrayed should not stop you from asking them directly.
Their boss most likely does not know and should he know and approved you need to look for another supplier.

That's the thing, I went straight to the top and was told to seek legal advice! Don't think they've fully understand TikTok and other social media Not going back there no way already found a different brand to go with with the nicest customer service and only distribution so should be pretty safe (she hopes!) thank you for your input. I appreciate it loads and bestest of best in your business