posted on August 4, 2001 12:25:36 PM
I know many do not believe in playing net-cop or e-Bay watchdog, but this really does push my buttons!
I have a search I use quite a bit. I started getting auctions come up that were not related to my search. This particular seller has a black backgrounded template and so I figured it had embedded keywords. I ran my curser all over the add, but really couldn't see anything. I didn't find it until I checked their source code. Once I knew where it was located in the code I went back and checked the auction and sure enough I found it. It was very tiny and it was well hidden. Then, I noticed they have a powerseller logo! Now, I know that you can be a powerseller based soley on $$ amounts, but I do not honestly believe this guy is truly a PS! He doesn't list much, he doesn't sell much and he doesn't seem to close his auctions for much! I figure if he's not above hiding keywords, he's probably not above lifting a logo either!
I feel sorry for the little guy trying to get something started on eBay. I'm there myself. However, I reaallly don't like deceit in any form and this sort just really bothers me!
OK, I ranted now I'll be quite and behave myself.....
I know I said I'd be quite, but I did want to add that visible keyword spamming doesn't really bother me...I find it mildly annoying, but it doesn't "offend" my sense of fairplay
posted on August 4, 2001 12:55:50 PM
'Cause that upsets my sense of "fairplay" also. Who knows, maybe the "offender" visits AW and will have an attack of guilt and remove the "offending" code themselves! You think?????
posted on August 4, 2001 04:45:28 PM
Well, I really haven't had to be on meds since finding AW!
This board is cheaper than a paid shrink too!
I have used the "ask seller a question" and sent the seller an email. I asked him to please change his template and if he really is a PS he should know better than to embed keywords and if he wasn't he might think about removing the logo too.
This satisfies my sense of fairplay and I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he just didn't know better or perhaps he wasn't aware it bothers some folks...well, me at least..
What I do next will depend on what he does. I have no desire to interfer with his current auctions (that's against rules too), so I will not report him until the current auctions are a done deal. Afterall, he is not listing illegal items nor is what he is doing likely to "defraud" anyone. However, I will watch for his new listings and if the problem is not corrected, I will report it to eBay.
posted on August 5, 2001 09:51:57 PM
It would certainly be interesting to be the fly on the wall when he opens your email - especially if he is not a PowerSeller
posted on August 5, 2001 11:13:24 PM
I am loving the instant email feature.
I will email a seller directly and tell them they are spamming, starting an auction out too high, or that I think that the photo stinks.
It's another adjunct to stress management when I get bamboozled into clicking an auction that has NOTHING to do with what I am looking for.
