kahml
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posted on January 31, 2002 02:57:40 PM
I checked my account this afternoon and found an image hosting fee. I shouldn't have any, so I investigated.
Someone stole one picture. But after no sale, actually relisted the item, so I'm gonna get hit twice!
So - I got 'em good!
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1069476134
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peiklk
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posted on January 31, 2002 03:08:02 PM
Good job!!!!
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trai
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posted on January 31, 2002 03:25:35 PM
LOL, you would think that someone with that amount of feedback would know better.
Just another lazy dork. Report him to aw and ebay.
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kahml
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posted on January 31, 2002 03:33:17 PM
This just in from the offender:
My apologies...a temp we hired to handle our ebay accounts seemed to cut corners.
We have removed the link to your auction picture.
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Question for seller -- Item #1069476134
>Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2002 14:22:18 PST
>
>I see that you have used an image from my collection for these auctions : 1066619150 and 1069476134
>
>What you have done is illegal and has cost me money. I am going to file a report about your actions to SafeHarbor.
>
>Do not consider doing this again!
>--------------------
And he seems to be good to his word...
It only took a few minutes
[ edited by kahml on Jan 31, 2002 03:38 PM ]
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kahml
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posted on January 31, 2002 03:43:21 PM
Ah, heck, here's the original auction (with the stolen image), just for those of you who like to ROTFL...
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=1066619150
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LaneFamily
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posted on January 31, 2002 10:37:03 PM
What a rookie. At least when I steal something I take a copy and put on my own server.
Jim
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twinsoft
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posted on January 31, 2002 11:45:18 PM
It happened to me. I replaced the image with the most offensive XXX pic I could find, then notified eBay. eBay moved the auction to the adult category. Sweet....
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kahml
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posted on February 1, 2002 06:09:38 AM
I really thought that after the dude apologized, he would have gone through his listings to make sure that no other images were involved.
NOT! What an idiot I am... Here's the latest version...
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=1067177109
And the one that is currently running:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1069503612
[ edited by kahml on Feb 1, 2002 08:10 AM ]
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REAMOND
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posted on February 1, 2002 08:03:50 AM
I just checked another picture on one of their auctions and it is hosted at mycomics.com - a site that sells comics.
Now I wonder if that is his site or if he found another place to parasite hosted pictures from ?
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REAMOND
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posted on February 1, 2002 08:06:26 AM
Just looked at a couple other pictures on his auctions - they are hosted all over the place. I don't think you're the only victim.
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twinsoft
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posted on February 1, 2002 08:11:51 AM
You can join eBay's VeRO program, then all you need to do is send eBay an email and they will end the auction immediately.
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kahml
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posted on February 1, 2002 08:13:52 AM
Yeah, I looked. I don't think more than 10% of this guy's images have come from his scanner.
Not only is he directly linking, he's right-clicking and copying (some of the others were mine also)
So basically, he is a thief and a liar.
I've reported him to eBay - again - and did not mince any words.
I really don't want to resort to "Property of KAHML" statements on all of my JPEGS - but if that's what it takes, I'll eat up another two hours per week signing my work...
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REAMOND
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posted on February 1, 2002 08:49:05 AM
Signing your pics won't do alot of good- I can remove a signature in a matter of seconds with basic image software.
Pics of common objects can make it tough to use Vero. All the accused has to say is that it is their pic and you stole it. How do you prove otherwise through the Vero system ?
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technerd
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posted on February 1, 2002 09:32:25 AM
Just for fun, I bid on the comic. However, if I win, I plan to demand that he mail me the comic first, since I cannot otherwise be sure he has it, since he is using a stolen image.
If he calls my bluff, I guess I bought a comic.
If someone stole one of my images, I wouldn't be as nice as you. I would have put, "Proceeds go to Al-Queda defense fund."
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kahml
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posted on February 1, 2002 10:00:52 AM
Hey technerd - thanks! Now I can be sure that AW is going to charge me for that one. But at least he won't be able to relist it. 
I was going to say something about the merchandise, but figured enough is enough. Although, I can't wait to hear what eBay has to say...
Stupid Scenario: Whoops, my scanner just broke, and darn it, I have 50 auctions to launch. Let's see, I'll search through eBay for matching items and see if the pics are any good. Yeah, it's time to go copy some images.
WAFI! (Unfortunately, this acronym is not translatable on this - or any other - public forum.)
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bidsbids
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posted on February 1, 2002 10:37:44 AM
That is incredible that AW is charging you for someone stealing your AW hosted image.
[ edited by bidsbids on Feb 2, 2002 11:26 AM ]
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kahml
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posted on February 1, 2002 11:08:24 AM
bidsbids - AW doesn't know if someone is stealing the image or if I launched an auction directly from eBay. It has >>nothing<< to do with them being a bad venue for auction management.
If an image from my AW Image Hosting folder is detected on eBay without the corresponding/matching AW flag (and I'm determined to find out what that is one of these days), then a charge is issued against my account.
I have applied for a refund in each instance and will continue to do so as long as this character relists my pics.
Eventually, he might catch on - but I doubt it. He's claiming, "we hired a temp to handle posting our accounts. We have no idea what he has done."
My response: "TFB, YOU are still responsible!"
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bidsbids
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posted on February 1, 2002 01:09:59 PM
Doesn't that leave you or others in your same position open for mischief manipulation of your AW hosted images. I can think of a variety of ways this could be done. Can't AW close the loophole or whatever it is that detects AW images? Why does eBay care about your AW images? I'm confused by this billing thing.
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rarriffle
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posted on February 1, 2002 01:20:20 PM
bidsbids, what IS your problem? it seems that everytime you make a commment, it is a negative one.
if you don't like the service, what are you doing here? just to knock everyone and everything?
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bidsbids
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posted on February 1, 2002 02:09:14 PM
I love the boards here. I can not for the life of me understand why people PAY AW to list an auction. Do these same people complain about eBay fee increases? I hope not. It's like renedial math in school, why not learn math and get in a regular class?
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kahml
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posted on February 1, 2002 02:27:29 PM
bidsbids - the fees that AW charges for stand-alone use of an image are what started this thread.
The idiot that stole my images from AW ALSO stole other images from other people on other sites. He was not particular about AW. Those folks will probably find extra charges in their accounts if they look.
That's really the only thread that should be going on here.
But to answer your question: I use AW to list auctions because it is relatively easy and is still one of the least expensive auction management sites on the web.
It doesn't have everything I want (there is a list of about 20 enhancement requests that I've made in just the past year), but then neither do any of the others that I have spent time researching and testing.
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bidsbids
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posted on February 1, 2002 04:13:33 PM
I have never heard of eBay charging sellers because someone else is using their image in an auction. Wouldn't the seller that is actually using the extra photo have to pay the extra photo cost to eBay? Something isn't right and I sense that AW listings may have this problen unique to them. It's not really AW's fault because eBay does everything in their power to constantly change their system to make third party providers have to jump through hoops to drive them out of business. Sadly, it gets to the point where you gotta say "if you can't beat em, join em".
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rarriffle
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posted on February 1, 2002 04:36:59 PM
bidsbids, ebay charges the seller on every auction where they have more than one picture
when I list using AW, I can have as many pictures in my auction as I want with no additional charge.
if someone else uses one of my pictures that is hosted at AW, then they charge me for that picture unless the auction is launched from AW.
AW auction management has ebay beat to death!
it is simpler and much more professional looking than anything ebay has come up with.
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bidsbids
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posted on February 1, 2002 04:49:37 PM
Doesn't that seem like a pretty bad glitch to anyone else? As soon as AW fixes it eBay will undoubtedly throw them another curve.
Okay, I'm thinking about using AW to list auctions. How does AW handle the new 5 cent fee on the BIN option?
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kahml
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posted on February 1, 2002 05:44:08 PM
AW handles it by ignoring it because it is an eBay only fee.
Similarly, the 10 cents I've been charge for the image stealing is an AW only fee; it has nothing to do with eBay (that's only where the "crime" took place).
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REAMOND
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posted on February 1, 2002 07:28:55 PM
You don't have to look on eBay to "borrow" pics and hosting.
Anywhere you find the picture on the net, the picture and the hosting can be pirated.
Selling a comic book ? Just go to any site that has pictures of the comic book, get the pic URL address and key it into your auction- that appears to be what some sellers do.
Selling a hard drive, DVD, CD, WHS movie, BOOK ? Go to BestBuy, Amazon or Comp USA or any other sites and find a pic of the item, right click the pic, look at properties and copy the URL and key it into the auction listing.
<br />
The only pic you have to host is one you can not find on the net - at least that's how it works for some people.<br />
[ edited by REAMOND on Feb 1, 2002 07:34 PM ]
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comiccollection
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posted on February 1, 2002 09:13:13 PM
Hello...I am the seller in question you people have been discussing. One of your fellow members was kind enough to inform me of what was going on and I decided to sign up so I might set a few things straight.
First..I would like to apologize to lkahm
and any other sellers for the trouble they has been caused. I have already spoken with the temp we hired. He thought he was helping us out and he ended up causing mounds of trouble.
Second...I understand why there was initial anomosity, but I replied to lkahm and explained the situation. I offered to refund any fees he may have incured and told him I would remove the pictures that were stolen from his site. I have no doubt that there are many more pictures and I have started
personally removing them and replacing them with stuff I'm scanning. I have nearly 300 auctions up. I seriously doubt my employee
only grabbed lkahm's pics. Which is why I'm
surprised that people are so shocked to see
that many pics may have been taken. The employee was responsible for the ebay listings. However, I am responsible for my employees. I do accept the blame for his mistake, but I have also stated that I am
attempting to rectify the situation. The fact that some of you are placing me in some 'evil doer' position is unjust.
A mistake was made...an apology given..rectification initiated.
Finally, I am really annoyed with
lkahm's position. I'm not going to mince words. I think he is being unfair by notifying ebay yet again after retracting his complaint. I explained what happened and he..like many of you..went and checked and no doubt found more auctions with stolen images. How can you possibly be surprised and how can lkahm expect me to fix them all overnight? I don't even know which belong to me. However, I am plodding along. I will no doubt recieve a message from ebay and they will no doubt close all my auctions..if not outright suspend me. I said before..I accept responsability for what has occurred. I just feel that lkahm...and some of you other members could have been a bit more undestanding about the matter. I have over 300 posotive feedbacks after years on ebay. You don't get that for nothing and quite
frankly I stand to lose it now. However, it
is now in the hands of ebay. I merely wished to apologize for what happened and to express my displeasure at the general additude that was taken.
lkahm , instaid of freaking out..you could have come to me and simply asked what was going on. The situation could have been
rectifyed without my account's possible suspension. However, if you and some of the others here wanted a pound of flesh..I have no doubt you will get it.
reguards
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REAMOND
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posted on February 1, 2002 10:01:28 PM
Integrity is the cornerstone of the internet.
Harvesting the truth regarding who or what happened on the other side of an internet connection is nearly impossible.
Eventhough my cat died, my parents both have cancer, my 14 year old daughter is pregnant, my spouse left me, and my Aunt's next door neighbor has been doing my auction listings for me, I haven't stolen someone else's images.
Kahml has a right to be mad, and should report your actions at every opportunity.
It is not only theft of the fee from AW members, theft of hosted images is also a theft of bandwidth - which those who host pay for.
There is no way to prove on a BB that an erstwhile "employee" did the deed, but it was shown and by your own admission that you were using images without permission. But even if it was an employee, it is no excuse and offers no mitigation.
The "pound of flesh" should be had. I have watched for months as AW members have wailed about the work they put into their images, the time and money spent hosting them, and how a competitor then steals them, and in many cases they have little or no recourse.
Well, it looks like recourse may be had this time. Good riddance !!
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comiccollection
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posted on February 1, 2002 10:29:37 PM
Please don't speak to me of integrity..you have individuals in this very message board that had the audacity to chastise me and say in the same breath how they steal pictures..DELIBERATLY...and disguise them
as their own. A mistake is made by me and mine and I am called foul by those most foul?
As for the pound of flesh...lets hope you and yours are not around in the next evolutionary push. Perhaps the drive for vengence will wane a bit and the desire for understanding and clear thinking will
prevail.
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REAMOND
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posted on February 1, 2002 11:42:04 PM
It is irrelevant that another poster admits stealing pics and upbraids you at the same time. It doesn't change any facts.
Understanding and clear thinking are called for.
It is easy to understand that you were using other people's work and resources without their permission.
It is clear thinking that doing this is wrong.
It is also clear thinking and understanding that people should take responsibility for their decisions and actions, which includes suffering the consequences.
A "mistake" is defined as 'An error or fault in judgement, perception, understanding'.
If you made a "mistake", it could have only been that in your perception, judgement, understanding, and actions, it is OK to take dominion over other people's property and resources without their permission.
Perhaps it is YOU that should develope some understanding and clear thinking, and catch-up with foregone evolution.
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