# SodaPeak removed 378 unauthorized listings in one month after finding 498 counterfeit sellers *Marketplace audit shows physical brands can reclaim revenue by systematically hunting gray-market resellers.* By **Jenny Huang Goodman MPA MSc MHSA, Principal** — The Stash Edge, Hako Shikin LLC. Published 2026-10-10. Canonical: https://www.pops4.com/stash/articles/sodapeak-2026-10-10t09-6 Subject: SodaPeak Tags: marketplace enforcement, counterfeit removal, unauthorized sellers, brand protection, distribution control --- SodaPeak conducted a marketplace legitimacy review in September 2026 and identified **498 unauthorized listings** for its products, according to reports in USA Today and the Kitsap Sun. The brand successfully removed **378 of those listings** within the same month. The enforcement operation addressed counterfeit goods and unauthorized third-party sellers who were intercepting customer purchases and generating support cases the brand never authorized. SodaPeak ran a systematic audit across major marketplaces, cross-referencing listing data against its authorized distributor roster. When the brand found sellers it had never contracted, it filed removal requests using platform IP enforcement tools. The **378 removals** represent sellers who listed SodaPeak products without permission, often at prices that undercut the brand's own retail channel or shipped counterfeits that triggered quality complaints routed back to SodaPeak's support desk. The mechanism works because most physical-product brands never audit who is actually selling under their name. Unauthorized resellers acquire inventory through liquidation channels, gray-market importers, or outright counterfeiting, then list on Amazon, eBay, Walmart Marketplace, and niche platforms. Each unauthorized listing splits revenue the brand could capture directly, and every counterfeit unit that breaks or disappoints a customer damages the brand's reputation without the brand ever seeing the transaction. SodaPeak's audit made the invisible visible, then used platform enforcement to cut off the bleed. The **498 unauthorized cases** also tied to support volume. According to USA Today, SodaPeak traced support complaints in September 2026 back to unauthorized sellers, meaning customers bought what they thought was a legitimate SodaPeak product, encountered a problem, then contacted SodaPeak for help. The brand was spending support labor on transactions it never captured revenue from. Removing unauthorized sellers doesn't just reclaim margin — it eliminates phantom support costs. A small physical-product brand can run the same play without hiring a law firm. Start with a marketplace crawl: search your brand name on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, and any category-specific platforms where your product might appear. Download the seller name for every listing. Cross-check that list against your authorized distributor and retailer contracts. Any seller not on your list is unauthorized until proven otherwise. Amazon's Brand Registry and eBay's Verified Rights Owner Program both provide free takedown tools if you own a registered trademark. File a test-buy order from a suspicious seller, photograph the shipment and compare it to your production specs, then submit the evidence with your removal request. Most platforms process documented claims within **7-14 days**. Budget **4-6 hours per month** for ongoing monitoring if you sell a product with steady demand. The cost is your time; the return is every sale you reclaim and every support ticket you prevent. SodaPeak's operation demonstrates that enforcement is not a one-time project. The brand found **498 listings** and removed **378**, meaning **120 remained** at month-end — either in appeal, outside the platform's takedown scope, or still being documented. Sustainable enforcement requires a monthly audit cadence and a documented process for each platform's IP tools. The brands that win marketplace control treat it like inventory management: measure, act, repeat. ## The takeaway Audit your brand name monthly on every marketplace, cross-check sellers against your authorized list, and file takedown requests for the rest. --- ## Publisher **Hako Shikin LLC** — Virginia Beach, Virginia. Founded 1997. ASI 217876 · DUNS 18-204-6339. Principal and author: **Jenny Huang Goodman MPA MSc MHSA**. - Author: https://www.huanggoodman.com/about - LLM context: https://www.pops4.com/stash/llms.txt - MCP endpoint, for AI agents: https://mcp.pops4.com/mcp - Client dashboard: https://dashboard.pops4.com/ - Catalogue: 70,000+ products, 200+ brands