posted on November 28, 1999 12:04:28 PM new
I'm curious about this subject.
Certainly online auctions have been targeted by the "info" seller telling you how to get "free land" or any of a hundred other ways to strike it rich.
On one level, these folks are selling information that does contain truth. For instance by informing folks of "tax sales" and the way to obtain title to property through this method has been documented as one of many paths some folks have taken to wealth. I can think of one such gentleman in the county where I was newspaper editor. His father amassed over 70,000 acres of land in just this manner during the tough 1930's. Today this land is being developed as Atlanta and its suburbs continue to grow. This man is quite wealthy today.
The other side of the issue is that there is no easy get-rich-quick scheme. Every approach requires effort and promises of easy riches is deceiving.
Recognizing that as a believer in the first amendment and the fact that this information is not obscene and assuming the way it is presented is not grossly misleading (truth in advertising), I believe these auctions are allowable.
posted on November 28, 1999 12:07:04 PM new
I'd prefer that tey were not permissable, as they make the venue look kinda like the tabloid press classifieds.
I know what you mean and frankly I'd never send good money after them. Still, you see them all over the media ... particularly the late night television "advotorial" format and Per Inquiry advertising.
For instance, Matthew Lesko?'s book on government programs seems to run and run and I know, since it is a per-inquiry ad, that it must generate calls.
posted on November 28, 1999 12:58:20 PM new
Well, I have to agree that they look really trashy. But I think that so long as they keep them in the "appropriate" category then it isn't too much trouble. Where the trouble comes is when they start spreading like cancer and infecting unrelated categories.
posted on November 28, 1999 01:01:37 PM new
I think one of the real problems with these types of offers ... and one that an auction can and should control ... is the use of "white fonts" or just name lists in the auction so that the items come up in search for any number of things.
I've been noticing this issue on certain travel offerings on auctions.com. While not out of control, this is certainly a related issue that we need to "nip in the bud."
posted on November 28, 1999 01:22:55 PM new
Warn them, give them 24 hours to remedy their error, then cancel the auction in question if it is not fixed. If they repeat the offense, then suspend them.
posted on November 28, 1999 01:25:54 PM new
I find the practice of ghostwords very contemptible, and I believe that the sellers who use them are really outta line, as bidders are very angry when these auctions come up in searches, and then they don't wanna even search the auctions.
I have NO idea why these sellers feel they should be allowed to FOIST their merchadise on people who are trying to use the Search.
I am just so sick of ALL the things online which make ALL online sellers look bad - ya know, guilt by association. Treating the online public like it is gullible and stupid.
I think it should be clearly writing out that such is not allowed, at any time.
There are places where I won't use search for all sortsa keywords, cuz I know what the search will retrieve and it ain't what I'm looking for.
This hasn't been a particular problem on auctions.com until, it seems, about the last week.
My wife has been shopping pokemon cards on auctions.com and it seemed that worked wonderfully until about a week ago.
Now there's a whole block of travel ads that show up.
I checked them out and the bad part is that the part that included pokemon was in what would generally be considered a "reasonable" context. It was the old, "Check my other auctions for items such as .... bla, bla, bla."
I think some other folks are catching on to this, as you call it "contemptable trick" and I think we need to nip this in the bud.
posted on November 28, 1999 01:42:48 PM new
EEEEEYUCK!!!!
Not only does their little package have nothing to do with Pokemon or any of the other keywords they have stacked in their ad, it also has nothing to do with Elvis clothing which is where the one I looked at was placed.
These folks need a pretty stiff talking to by someone. (Not really what I am thinking but I am trying to not violate the TOS)
