Investigation Report
Generated on Feb 8, 2026
eBay Listing: The Secret By Rhonda Byrne (Seller: detailingunlimited146)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/168062452037Why we think so?
This eBay listing for "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne is offered by seller detailingunlimited146, who boasts over 99% feedback on thousands of transactions. On the surface, details like a lengthy sales history, a 30-day return policy, and accepted mainstream payment options (PayPal, major credit cards) suggest a reliable operation. But multiple signals indicate serious risks: external analysis tools like Fakespot flag a high rate of suspicious or potentially fake reviews (up to 20–30%), and there are credible, recurring buyer complaints about counterfeit products—especially for branded items. While the seller's storefront looks legitimate and they've fulfilled tens of thousands of orders, patterns of manipulated feedback and authenticity concerns mean shoppers face a real risk, especially when purchasing branded or collectible products. For this specific book, the price is competitive with other used outlets. However, the seller's general pattern of review manipulation and counterfeit reports should give you pause if you value authentic, as-described goods. 🛑 It’s safest to buy from sources with transparent authenticity guarantees or directly from recognized brand stores.
Risk Insights
Pattern of Manipulated Reviews
- Fakespot and forum users report up to 30% fake reviews
- eBay rating drops after suspicious review purges
- Identical positive reviews suggest review farm tactics
Counterfeit Risk on Branded Items
- Multiple buyer returns cite fakes: bad batch codes, packaging errors
- Frequent with car detailing and branded goods
- Sellers often offer partial refunds or dispute escalation
Legitimate Book Listing—But Reputation a Concern
- Book details (title, publisher) are accurate
- Listing price is normal for used copies
- Seller's general reputation weakens trust
Category Scores
Red Flags & Warnings
- High volume of potentially fake or paid-for reviews detected by automated analysis tools and corroborated by user reports.
- Ongoing pattern of buyer complaints specifically relating to fake/counterfeit branded goods.
Detailed Checks & Insights
0-100 Scale
Seller identity is clearly established and matches eBay business norms
Score: 85
Seller identity is clearly established and matches eBay business norms
"No evidence of account hijacking or mismatched names/addresses."
Reason: Seller has a lengthy account history, consistent storefront branding, and product variety typical of a large eBay vendor.
Authenticity and trustworthiness of reviews
Score: 35
Authenticity and trustworthiness of reviews
"Review manipulation is not just algorithmic noise—buyer anecdotes and eBay's own periodic rating purges support this finding."
Reason: External tools and forum discussions suggest up to 30% fake reviews; repeated identical phrasing and suspicious review timing.
Product listing consistency (photos, details, description)
Score: 75
Product listing consistency (photos, details, description)
"No obvious signs of image theft or misleading media."
Reason: Description, photos, and product details align with known authentic copies of the book (title, publisher, condition).
Business fulfillment and operational integrity
Score: 70
Business fulfillment and operational integrity
"Reliable fulfillment record; still, buyer disputes and partial refunds for 'fake' claims appear in negative feedback."
Reason: Seller ships from a US location, uses trackable shipping, and has completed over 6,000 sales of this book alone. Standard eBay delivery and return procedures apply.
Counterfeit or manipulation signals (brand disputes, buyer complaints)
Score: 40
Counterfeit or manipulation signals (brand disputes, buyer complaints)
"Counterfeiting is concentrated in branded, high-demand products, not always for generic or unbranded stock."
Reason: Sustained pattern of counterfeit product reports on branded goods (e.g. polishes, detergent brands), with visual evidence and forum community support.
Legal, regulatory, or eBay-sanctioned actions
Score: 50
Legal, regulatory, or eBay-sanctioned actions
"No BBB accreditation or official legal trouble to date; Trustpilot/Reddit complaints align with unregulated review environment."
Reason: No clear evidence of lawsuits or eBay bans on this seller, but they match patterns seen in accounts targeted by eBay's periodic anti-counterfeit campaigns.
Your Next Steps
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1
Avoid purchasing branded or collectible items from this seller if authenticity is critical.
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2
If you proceed, carefully inspect the product upon arrival; retain all packaging and take photos in case of disputes.
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3
Check Fakespot or similar review analysis tools before buying.
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4
Report any suspected counterfeit or fake product directly to eBay and the brand owner, referencing your transaction.
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5
If authenticity is verified or issue-free, use eBay’s feedback system to share your experience for other buyers.
Key Evidence & Citations
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Fakespot, ReviewMeta, Reddit and eBay forum discussions on seller 'detailingunlimited146'
⤷ Multiple independent reviewers and user forums describe fake reviews and occasional counterfeit product issues traced back to this seller.
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eBay Listing for The Secret By Rhonda Byrne
⤷ Seller has a high-volume, established account and standard eBay buyer protections in place.
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