petpost
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posted on January 24, 2001 04:08:51 PM
I go this EMAIL today...
"VOYAGE INTO SPACE - VHS - Godzilla
Item #xxxxxxxx
Hi. I was looking at completed items for this movie and ran across your old
auction. Do you still have it and want to sell it? How is the picture
quality?
I loved this movie growing up.
Please let me know what you'd like to do."
=============
I replied that this would be considered "fee avoidance" by eBay and she was trying to entrap me. Then I said if she was legit, that the item has been listedon Lycos Auctions. Given the amount of traffic there, she should have no problem winning it.
pet post
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on January 24, 2001 04:16:08 PM
I replied that this would be considered "fee avoidance" by eBay
How is selling it through Lycos any less "eBay fee avoidance" than just selling it outright? In either case, eBay is receiving no fees.
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isworeiwouldneverdothis
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posted on January 24, 2001 04:21:28 PM
Oh, that's an excellent idea! Refer them to a new auction site! LOL!
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reddeer
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posted on January 24, 2001 04:23:54 PM
Geeeeeeeeeesh
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amy
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posted on January 24, 2001 05:23:17 PM
I think that if a seller suggested I was trying to "entrap" them when I offered to buy an unsold item...and then suggested I buy it at their auction at another site...
I would say..uhhh, nooo thanks!
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Lisa_B
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posted on January 24, 2001 05:47:45 PM
Yes, those eBay people are sly ones. Why just today I heard their secret messages through my refrigerator. They were trying to disguise their voices but they couldn't fool me.
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Meya
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posted on January 24, 2001 05:55:31 PM
OMG! Maybe that is why my cats keep staring at my refrigerator! I thought I was hearing my sons radio!
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mauimoods
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posted on January 24, 2001 06:03:18 PM
I guess we scared ol petpost, eh? LOL at the voices in the fridge
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petpost
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posted on January 24, 2001 07:21:35 PM
I remember reading a prior thread about eBay entrapping users using this very same technique. I guess I would be darned if I do and darned if I don't.
pet post
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mauimoods
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posted on January 24, 2001 07:24:05 PM
petpost, we are funnin' with ya. I am, anyway. Dont feel bad...I have been reamed once in awhile myself. After awhile, one begins to feel downright neglected if one isnt poked with a stick on occassion
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Lisa_B
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posted on January 24, 2001 10:12:13 PM
Petpost, you read about someone who SUSPECTED eBay of trying to entrap him.
The thing is, SafeHarbor is not an effective investigative or enforcement tool. It is nothing more than a group of customer service reps, with perhaps SOME investigative assistance supervising them. Not that I wouldn't put it past eBay to further piss off their community by such "entrapment" schemes, but I seriously doubt that they have the manpower or investigative acumen to go after any but the most egregious offenders.
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katiyana
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posted on January 25, 2001 08:53:24 AM
Official Ebay may not have the time or resources to do this sort of thing, but I can just imagine some Ebay Net-Cop users who would LOVE to play this kind of game in hopes of getting some people in trouble - because that's how they get their kicks.
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RB
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posted on January 25, 2001 08:58:10 AM
Lisa ...
LOL ...
Next time hold a glass to your refrigerator. I want to know if the light really goes off when the door is closed - if it gets dark in there, you'll probably hear some complaints!
As to eBay entrapment, fee avoidance, or any of that other nonsense, tell eBay to take a hike. They cannot tell you who to sell your items to, or how you wish to market them.
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mballai
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posted on January 25, 2001 09:45:34 AM
I thankfully have far fewer after auction inquiries than I used to, and most of my stuff is so small ticket that I can't imagine why eBay would care especially that they already made money on the insertion fee and most of my items get relisted at least once when they don't sell.
I just wish eBay would refund the insertion fee if a bidder deadbeats the auction (and bill the deadbeat--if they don't pay the fee they shouldn't be able to bid anymore)
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dogdays
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posted on January 25, 2001 09:51:03 AM
If someone contacted me regarding an item that didn't sell I'd simply sell the thing to that person. Then I'd email eBay customer service and advise them that I had completed the auction, provide them with the sale amount and leave the rest to them to figure out how to charge my account. You'd probably find that your email to eBay would be totally ignored, as are most.
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dogdays
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posted on January 25, 2001 09:57:42 AM
mballai: "I just wish eBay would refund the insertion fee if a bidder deadbeats the auction (and bill the deadbeat--if they don't pay the fee they shouldn't be able to bid anymore"
EXCELLENT IDEA! Wonder if it would be worth while if everyone here bombarded eBay with this suggestion via email?
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twinsoft
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:02:42 AM
"As to eBay entrapment, fee avoidance, or any of that other nonsense, tell eBay to take a hike."
RB, please don't post advice that will get a user suspended. That's not what these forums are for.
"I can just imagine some Ebay Net-Cop users who would LOVE to play this kind of game in hopes of getting some people in trouble - because that's how they get their kicks."
It is a violation of eBay policy for the user to contact you this way. Since it's a new rule, the user is probably unaware. I would gently inform them of eBay's policy, and then (if you feel you are being set up by a competitor), forward the email to SafeHarbor. Then forget about it.
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RB
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:03:27 AM
"Then I'd email eBay customer service and advise them that I had completed the auction, provide them with the sale amount ..."
Yeah, right eh ...!!
I cannot believe that some people are so afraid of eBay that they would be willing to go this far.
btw, send ME those eBay fees and I will ensure they get to the right person ... honest
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godzillatemple
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:06:46 AM
Just wanted to point out that "Voyage Into Space", while a fine movie, has absolutely NOTHING to do with Godzilla....
---
The opinions expressed above are for comparison purposes only. Your mileage may vary....
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dogdays
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:10:03 AM
Karma, RB, karma. Got that old honesty thing going on and just can't shake it.
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mballai
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:10:55 AM
dogdays
I agree! Maybe if enough sellers suggested this idea to eBay, it would catch on. If there was an actual penalty, I'm sure the deadbeat ratio would plummet. Neither sellers nor eBay should be out of pocket for the dishonesty of bidders who are not adhering to honoring their bids.
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dogdays
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:14:56 AM
I'll do my part, mballai. Off to compose a "suggestion" to eBay...
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RB
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posted on January 25, 2001 10:21:29 AM
"RB, please don't post advice that will get a user suspended. That's not what these forums are for"
Give me a break ... please!
Do you mean to tell me that if I listed something on eBay last year and it didn't sell, and if you happened to come across it in the completed auctions one day, I would not be "allowed" to sell it to you directly?
If you honestly believe that eBay is so powerful that they can control your business and right to make a living just because you happen to sell a few things on their venue, then all I can do is pity you.
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booksbooksbooks
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posted on January 25, 2001 12:49:09 PM
My plan is to sell the item for five bucks, then send a 25 cent Paypal payment to [email protected]. If they want the FVF, all eBay has to do is open a Paypal account. If not, they can't say I didn't try to pay them. 
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RM
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posted on January 25, 2001 01:39:42 PM
Hey, wouldn't the ultimate form of fee avoidance be to de-register from eBay?
Seems like a capital offense like that could land you a life sentence in Lisa's vegetable crisper.
Ray
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