posted on January 28, 2001 09:07:10 AM new
mattmon---Playstation 2 auctions have been a breeding ground of scams--most happening before Christmas including some companies that sold 1000's of Playstation 2 without delivering a single one.
If you do some research on the some of the units sold --it was also a breeding ground of hundreds of bidders who bid with no intention on buying. Most of this happened before Christmas It appears when you look at the ID's that they are phoney--created just to mess up auctions and not attached to a identifiable person. This is most likely the case with your bidder.
You should take my previous advice--file for fees from EBAY so you get re-imbursed--and then re-list the auction with a little bit more information.
posted on January 28, 2001 01:31:36 PM new
So Mattmon2001, how come you are NARU?,
I started all of my auctions at less than a dollar, which I believe is a fair price for a box
Yes, that is a fair price for a box, a box. Many people begin their auctions at $1.00, but when the bidding (by real bidders) reached levels that were closer to the levels a Playstation rather than a box would reach, it was apparent that the legit bidders did not know they were bidding on a Playstation box and not the actual Playstation. Why didn't it occur to you to let them in on the fact they are bidding on a damn box? Too busy counting your money perhaps???
My first auction... was actually for a real tangible PS2 inside a retail box.
When I read your auction description it sure sounded like you were selling a box, but then I was aware of all the hoopla. I will try to find your exact wording, I cut and pasted it and will try to find it.
The auction I just ended was also for a real PS2 I just did not state it that way,
Okay, to give you the benefit of the doubt lets just say (pretend) that you actually were selling a Playstaion in your first auction. You claim people were calling you a thief or whatever and slammed you in this forum and in your email. You then relist the auction.
Matt, if you were so bothered by people calling you a thief (and much worse I assume), why did you not make it crystal clear exactly what you were selling, by putting the comma where it belonged?? hu? I would think you would go WAY, WAY out of your way to to make sure this kind of a mix-up did not happen again.
The auction I just ended was also for a real PS2 I just did not state it that way,
Both auctions were for boxes and that's it. You were called on your scam. Nice try though.
Just curious, since you are no longer a member of the eBay community, can your high bidder still be required to follow through with the auction he (or she) won?
Edited to add a comma
[ edited by cmbtboots on Jan 28, 2001 01:37 PM ]
posted on January 28, 2001 03:21:13 PM new
Indeed, cmbtboots...
Another seller that I contacted to ask if it was a box or not immediately amended his auction to tell people that it was for a playstation console inside a box, and made reference to scamsters selling only a box.
There is another seller of what appears to be only a box, that I have contacted to ask if it was a console in a box or not, and amazingly, I have had no response. I have reported it to Ebay, but as it ends in less than 2 days, I must consider contacting the bidders to point out the ambiguity of the listing.
posted on January 29, 2001 12:47:35 PM new
Well, Mivona, I emailed the seller of an auction with a description stating: "Brand New PS2 Factory Box" asking for clarification and haven't received an answer. The auction has now been amended to read: (edited to prevent locking of this thread) The auction begins at $10.00 with a reserve price set. I think the stand was added as an inducement to further confuse a potential bidder. Wondering if this one should also be sent to eBay?
Edited to conform to AW policy
[ edited by dogdays on Jan 29, 2001 04:05 PM ]
posted on January 29, 2001 12:53:34 PM new
Why won't eBay stop this?? When bidding is at $350.00 the bidders are not thinking they are bidding on a damn box!
posted on January 29, 2001 01:10:19 PM new
Everyone,
A word of caution. If you post a seller's ID OR a description containing adequate information to readily identify the auction or Seller, the thread must be locked until the CG's are followed.
posted on January 29, 2001 03:51:08 PM new
OMG! The crazy guy has put up his Box with a Buy It Now option... for $400.
I emailed him on Saturday, and have had no response to my question for clarification of whether he was selling a box or a Playstation. Ebay is being slow off the mark too.
It's the official, accept no substitutes.. my bloody bum! I do hope no one gets taked by this slimeball.
posted on January 29, 2001 03:58:37 PM new
Whew! Panic over... Ebay ended it, but it didn't appear so until I tried to bid on it. (or I didn't see it - what is IN this glass of wine?)
posted on January 29, 2001 04:03:52 PM new
Can someone please explain to my why Ebay is doing nothing about the remaning EMPTY BOX auctions?
I really don't understand it. I myself have contacted one of the sellers and asked very kindly if their auction was for a Console or just the box. Gee, guess what? After almost 3 days, no response at all.
Ebay was quick to get rid of the first batch we found and reported....why are they dragging their feet now?
How much money has Ebay spent on their new TV Commercials and other advertising? You would think that they would REALLY like to make Ebay a safe place for the thousands of "new recruits" they are hopefully bringing to the site. When you look at these auctions they are all NEW bidders.
posted on January 29, 2001 04:23:47 PM new
I am worried about the one with very clever wording that is up to $355, with just over 7 hours to go. He got a BOX for x-mas and wants to sell it? Yeah... right....
posted on January 29, 2001 04:31:04 PM new
Please note that I've given the url of this thread to DailyRadar.com and PSMonline.com for them to review.
Maybe eBay needs a wake-up call from Sony and the Gaming Industry on this matter. And, I know a ton of Gamers will be talking about this one for ages..
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on January 29, 2001 04:43:18 PM new
How do you email SafeHarbor? The PS2 box I have been watching has now met the reserve. It's odd that the bidder raised it to the reserve bid, and since the bidder ID was opened 2 days ago (and is ironically similiar to a defensive box seller posting here) I'd like to see if SafeHarbour can verify it isn't himself bidding on his own auction using a different ID. I would think that it would be outright fraud to raise the level of bidding to the $100.00 reserve (on a box!) This would allow potential bidders to make the assumption that the auction is for the system and not a box, regardless of the wording.
posted on January 29, 2001 07:31:22 PM new
Dogdays, the auction with the stand is still live and I have received response from seller. It is only for the box, but if you look at the description it seems to say that it's for a original playstation box. Did it get revised? Still looks like an attempt to catch some people that don't read very carefully, but may be just across the line where it won't be closed.
posted on January 30, 2001 10:11:29 AM new
Well, Congratulations EBAY!
You have most likely helped a Scammer sell his Empty box for $XXX.XX.
Since the auction is over, can I post the link here now? I'll happily invite the seller.
Everyone but ONE bidder that was originally bidding in the auction retracted their bids because the could not get an answer from this seller as to WHAT EXACTLY he was selling.
May I presume that he did Respond to Ebay, and that they will hold themselves responsible to the high bidder if this is indeed an EMPTY BOX??
posted on January 30, 2001 10:28:11 AM new
sophie89,
Even when an auction has closed, there are certain guildelines that must be followed before you can post identifying information (including auction numbers, IDs, email addresses etc).
A quick summation of the requirements (you can find more details in the Community Guidelines, linked below):
1. You need to invite the Seller, giving them a link to this thread and the CGs (and encourage them to read them). The invite must also be CC'd to [email protected]
2. If you provide any information that can ID the Seller (including description searches), this thread must be locked for 24 hours to allow them the opportunity to receive the invite and decide if they want to participate. After 24 hours, the thread will be unlocked.
3. You must register your full name, address and telephone number with AW by forwarding them to [email protected].
posted on January 30, 2001 06:45:44 PM new
Cool! Ebay blasted the auction that I was keeping an eye on. It is completely gone, so It really won't do any good for me to post the auction # tomorrow.
I would like to hear from the seller though. Hopefull he/she will still show up.
Good Job Ebay! (& I'm not being sarcastic this time)
posted on January 31, 2001 11:39:34 AM new
Woo hoo! The infamous Playstation box auction that started this thread made it into the London Metro today, with a small report on page 3.
At least it might help people wake up to the deceitful sellers. I got slapped by Ebay this morning for bid retractions - which, coupled with fake IDs purposefully for high bids, seems to be the only effective way of ensuring that bidders are warned about the box auctions.
I bid, and retracted on one box auction which Ebay then ended. I also bid, and retracted on another, where the seller TOLD me it was not a box, stating this so that high bidders would have this info if they were later sent an empty box. I don't understand the problem, unless the seller didn't want people to know it was "an actual playstation"??
I was also told by Ebay this morning, in response to an auction that they ended : "Thank you for writing eBay. Unfortunately, eBay doesn't actually handle the merchandise that is offered for auction. Without firsthand knowledge of the item, we are unable to guarantee the accuracy of the listing information. We encourage members who are interested in bidding on an
item to email the seller for additional information. Be sure to ask the seller specific questions regarding age, authenticity and condition of the item before bidding. In the unlikely event that the seller doesn't respond, you may want to reconsider your bidding decision."
So, from what I understand, they are saying, it is up to the bidder to determine what they are bidding on, even when the auction is written in such a way as to make you THINK you are getting something different. Thank you, Ebay, for letting us all know how seriously you take this problem!
As evidenced by another auction that I reported getting on for 2 days ago - currently up to $346, with a brave new ID who obviously wants a box (Good on you! whoever you are!).
posted on January 31, 2001 11:58:42 AM new
Back to the Buyer Beware, I guess.
Washed my hair this morning. I read the shampoo bottle to be a smart consumer: "Wet hair. Lather. Rinse. Repeat."
Nowhere does it say to actually put the shampoo on your hair. It also never tells you when to stop repeating. So I'm still in the shower trying to wet hair, lather and rinse. Repeat. Wet hair, lather and rinse. Repeat....
Between talking to my attorney and running auctions, does anyone know of a waterproof CPU and cordless phone? (wet hair, lather, rinse, repeat)
BTW,ROXANNE, add defamation of character to the list. Keep that harassment coming, darling.
posted on January 31, 2001 12:20:50 PM new
chepistar ~ I've read your thread in this forum and the on in RT. I'm a little confused. Someone's emailing your bidders and you consider this harassment.. right? So what mivona is doing *purposeful bid retractions, fake ID's, considering contacting bidders on these auctions* is not harassment? I guess that's why I'm confused.
Do love your shampoo example
