sg52
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posted on October 25, 2000 01:50:20 PM
In the TOS.
A requirement to log on to a web site where donations to Planned Parenthood can be made, and donate at least $5, as a stated term to complete the transaction.
Legal by eBay rules?
sg52
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on October 25, 2000 02:11:05 PM
Geez, I don't even know if ebay contemplated something like that.
Truly bizarre - and talk about inviting controversy - not to mention chasing away bids in a buyer's market. I support PP and *I* wouldn't bid on this seller's stuff - I'm not particularly fond of strong-arm political tactics. What's next - seller demands that the high bidder contribute to one or another presidential campaign?
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njrazd
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posted on October 25, 2000 02:23:04 PM
I guess your TOS could say anything you wanted it to, but how would the seller know about the donation? What if you already donate to PP on a regular basis? Why would you restrict ANY bidder by placing such an unusual demand?
Has eBay come to be such a political forum?
**********************
That's Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
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lotsafuzz
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posted on October 25, 2000 03:18:13 PM
Is the seller doing benifit auctions for Planned Parenthood?
Is the 5 bucks on top of the final bid?
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sg52
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posted on October 25, 2000 03:32:24 PM
Is the 5 bucks on top of the final bid?
Yes, in the sense that it's not deducted from the purchase price.
Anyone know an eBay rule which precludes (or might preclude) this?
I agree, it would seem to be a very poor business decision.
sg52
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sg52
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posted on October 25, 2000 03:35:38 PM
I guess your TOS could say anything you wanted it to
For example, it cannot say "credit card buyers must pay a charge of $1.50 to cover credit card processing".
sg52
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njrazd
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:15:46 PM
sg52...well, it COULD say that, but that would be illegal and would probably get you shut down pretty quick. BUT, I have seen that more than once before it got reported.
*********************
That's Flunky Gerbiltush to you!
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dman3
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posted on October 25, 2000 04:48:40 PM
Im not sure there is any rule on Ebay for this type of thing but I assure you there are many local state and fedral ruleing on this type of thing.
there is no proof as to weather your $5 actually goes to the organization. I beleave with this type of sale the donations would have to come from the sale of the Items and that ebay would have to collect such donation and garentee the funds get where they belong.
This is solicitation out side of the ebays auction format and they might treat it the same as pointing someone to a yahoo auction.
WWW.dman-n-company.com
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hammerchick
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:26:26 PM
I go to Ebay to sell things and to buy things. I do not go there to look at pictures of other people's dogs, listen to their favorite song, or to donate money to their favorite charity. Not that I have anything against these things!!! But I believe there is a time and place for everything. I am not opposed to someone saying, "Visit my About Me page to see a picture of my dog and to read about my favorite charities". But please let me choose.
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mballai
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posted on October 25, 2000 06:49:38 PM
I'd report that to Safeharbor in a heartbeat. I don't care who it is or what it is for. If I want to make a donation, I'll do it off eBay.
Can you say back button?
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sg52
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:19:55 PM
I go to Ebay to sell things and to buy things.
I'm with you, hammerchick. But the question isn't whether it's pleasant, or good business, but whether it violates any eBay rule. We'll agree, most people, you, me, and everyone else here included, don't like it.
sg52
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kellyb1
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:26:07 PM
Strange one. It would be one thing to say, "10% of the bid will be donated to Planned Parenthood," but another to require a person to go to the site and make a donation.
I myself would not do it. While I have very strong (GORE) beliefs, both political (GORE) as well as moral, I myself (GORE) would never resort to such tactics (GORE) in my auctions. This type of advertising (GORE) is just wrong.
 Kelly
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macandjan
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posted on October 25, 2000 07:32:34 PM
I have had the same thing with United fund.
I would not contribute when the boss was gung -ho on 100%n participation. He wanted to know which organizations I would not support and I named 4 or 5 I did not want to have my money.
He said straight out that it would be easier to just fire me than argue. I invited him to go ahead. I had a micro recorfer running in my pocket the whole conversation - which was pretty ugly.
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lotsafuzz
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:19:08 PM
sg52: Has the auction you mention here been pulled by ebay?
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traceyg
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:22:41 PM
Well, I just searched ebay and I couldn't find the auction you were talking about but I for one would scream so loud at ebay that they would have to do something. It should never be a requirement to give money for any cause just because you want to buy something. If someone donates a part of their profits that is different.
I myself am against abortion so I certainly wouldn't be donating ANY money to planned parenthood and would be very ticked of if I wanted to bid on something and couldn't because of some stupid TOS saying I had to donate so and so to get this rare item that had nothing to do with the organization.
Ebay as of now may not have rules against that kind of thing, but they would stop it very quickly. Actaully they do in not allowed to advertise sites not related to the auction. The same would be true say it was a requirement to pay 5.00 for (making up a name)Mary's shelter for life. If it wasn't a hot issue and wasn't a requirement maybe one could get away with it, but I doubt it.
There are rules against advertising outside sites that have nothing to do with the actual action. That is repeated over and over again in Ebay's here are the guidlines pages.
Let them the seller give a donation out of their profits. After all its their money and they have the right do with it as the please but not the right to tell others.
Tracey
Remember the, USS Cole.
http://members.tripod.com/Setonspath/usscole.html
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lotsafuzz
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:25:52 PM
Well, you could get all pissed off about it, or you could just not bid.
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traceyg
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:31:49 PM
Well, you could get all pissed off about it, or you could just not bid.>>
To much of the world does that today. They get pissed and do nothing or they just do nothing. I am always kind of a action girl myself guess that is why they call me a left over from the 60s. I love a person with convictions even if they dont' agree with me. Sadly they are hard to find today because most people are to lazy. Ahh but the ones that do have convicts are the reason that Ebay wouldn't let this hot topic and forced donations if you want to bid happen.
Have a great evening all
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jwpc
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:32:35 PM
Where is this thing?
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lotsafuzz
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:37:54 PM
It's only a forced donation if you bid, and no one is forced to bid.
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jwpc
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posted on October 25, 2000 08:38:30 PM
I'm afraid I would be terribly offended, and extremely upset should I encounter such......
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HartCottageQuilts
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posted on October 26, 2000 04:05:27 AM
So this "donation" is on top of the high bid and shipping charges? Does seller say how bidder is supposed to demonstrate that the "contribution" has been made?
C'mon, email me ([email protected]) with the auction #!! Pleeeeeeeeeze.....
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macandjan
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posted on October 26, 2000 04:36:49 AM
We had a restaurant near here that failed.
It was vegetarian and the owners put religeous tracts at each table and little notes through the menu about christian religion. They even had the nerve to offer a prayer in the menu as if you were too simple to make your own. They failed rather quickly.
People went there to eat. Usually once.
It really did not go over with the Indian population here that would have supported a good veg. restaurant.
If you have to make a big show of your pet causes in your business don't expect the paying customer to appreciate being talked down to as unenlightened.
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nnt
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posted on October 26, 2000 04:39:56 AM
Way to go Tracyq!!!!! I am a little old for the 60's (just barely), but I believe things are in this condition because no one speaks out. It is a real fear that you will be attacked personally (not the opinion), or bullied. This seems especially true if your opinion is conservative. But that needs to change. So folks, don't point me to that auction, because I, too, will report it. My newest resolution is to speak out at every opportunity - speaking with respect--but speaking. Trixie
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mballai
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posted on October 26, 2000 06:11:36 AM
I always make it a point to discuss religion and politics when the opportunity arises, but I don't force it on anyone.
Expecting a bidder to send money to an organization whose founder promoted the genocide of Afro-Americans and who now condones sticking a pair of scissors into a newborn infant's skull would not get my bid if they were the only seller on eBay.
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jwpc
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posted on October 26, 2000 07:14:34 AM
mballai
It is interesting, even thought asked, no one has posted the link to this supposed auction - where is it, or is it merely an illusion of someone's imagination?
REGARDING you point I TOTALLY agree - asking me to donate to promote murder, as a buyer, would enrage me greatly.
macandjan
I imagine the restaurant you refer to failed not because of their religious statements/tracts, (unless they were involved with a cult) etc., but because of either bad business practices or poor food.
We have 2 highly successful businesses, and although we don't have tracts all over our antiques, there is a rack of them when you first enter the door; you see on the door a notice that a Bible class is held in our shop weekly on a given evening - you also see a rack of Christian movies which are available to our customers for FREE rental - we live in a rather rural area, where people know us by sight, and we publicly demonstrate in anti-abortion marches and protests, and it hasn't effected our business at all - in fact if anything it has brought in more business - often even if someone disagrees with us they respect the fact that we are committed to our beliefs enough to make a public stand.
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psalms139
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posted on October 26, 2000 07:58:15 AM
traceyg & nnt: I agree with you!!!!
JWPC: I love the fact that you take a stand for what (& Whom) you believe in! 
Sg52: I would first have to send that seller an email and let them know (respectfully) exactly how I feel...and why. I would also let them know that I would be sending an email to the appropriate channels and try to have that removed from their TOS....and PRAY no one else would send money to an organization that condones murder.
[ edited by psalms139 on Oct 26, 2000 08:00 AM ]
[ edited by psalms139 on Oct 26, 2000 08:09 AM ]
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LindaAW
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posted on October 26, 2000 09:00:49 AM
jwpc,
You said "It is interesting, even thought asked, no one has posted the link to this supposed auction - where is it, or is it merely an illusion of someone's imagination?"
A link (or url) was not posted as it is prohibited in the CG's.
You cannot:
Post the identities and/or auction numbers, or any other material identifying persons involved in a situation that may be of interest to the AuctionWatch.com community, unless the following steps are taken. The procedure for inviting the seller/bidder follows.
http://www.auctionwatch.com/company/terms.html#mesg
I hope this answers your question.
Linda
Moderator
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joyz412e
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posted on October 26, 2000 10:36:11 AM
Sounds like somebody here needs to take the bull by the horns and tell that Seller HOW TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS!!
This upfront honesty crap turns bidders off. They should just tack on a handling fee and submit your donation without your knowing! That would remove any stain from your hands, no? Even though it is the same $5?
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jamesoblivion
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posted on October 26, 2000 10:41:28 AM
Sounds like somebody here needs to take the bull by the horns and tell that Seller HOW TO RUN THEIR BUSINESS!!
Are you joking? No one should tell anyone how to run their business.
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joyz412e
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posted on October 26, 2000 11:37:45 AM
I knew you would get the point jamesoblivion! Doesn't anyone remember that thread called "Can I only Sell to Good Christians?" or Buddhist monks or reformed Jews, or some such nonsense?
I see several auctions that state a part of the proceeds will go to (fill in the blank), but they don't give a link to the charity directly (so the bidder gets a tax deduction), they just say they will donate. In essence, you AGREE to donate when you bid on the item. If you do not agree, DO NOT BID.
But to hunt the Seller down just to try to get eBay to shut it down seems a bit much. Just think, you may have already donated to organizations (albeit in a roundabout way)such as Catholic Charities, the NAACP, the NRA, or the Neo Nazi's! Who KNOWS!!!
The Seller in this case has no doubt already answered a lot of e-mails, but has decided to TAKE A STAND on what he/she believes in, and is doing it in an up front way.
Buyers/sellers that only want to deal with people exactly like themselves need to find a private auction venue, where they can exclude whoever they want, not eBay (marketplace to the WORLD).
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