[ForSale-Swap] Re: ForSale-Swap Digest, Vol 39, Issue 13

[Frank]

Robert Nickels wrote:
> Radioman390 at cs.com wrote:
>> Been there. Don't dabble in EBay unless you can afford
>> to lose. Or at least be very careful. Post:
>> mailto:ForSale-Swap at mailman.qth.net
>> 
>> 
> I think that's good advice, Matt, based on my experience.
> Bear in mind that eBay has a 30 day time window for
> filing a complaint - read the site for full info but I
> found this out the hard way.  If you smell a rat, at
> least get the process started so you don't loose whatever
>  protection they do provide (which ain't much, I agree).
> 
> Matt has outlined a pattern to look for that may
> indicative of a seller that is fraudulent or at least
> iffy.  Why hasn't eBay put software filters in place to
> detect these patterns in the same way that the credit
> card companies have?  Simple answer is because it's you
> and I that are at risk, they've already made their money.
> Something I'd like to see them get pressure to change.
> It will never be 100% risk-free, but they could be doing
> a lot more to protect their customers, especially since
> they control both the sales channel (eBay) and the 
> payment process (PayPal).
> 

That is exactly why I don't use ebay or paypal.  I used to 
use ebay (never paypal), but thankfully I don't need to use 
it anymore to sell stuff.  Listings and risks both are up in 
cost, making other options more economical.

Both of these outfits are the biggest fraud magnets in the 
history of civilized commerce.  I know it is not their fault 
directly, but I also know they are not doing enough to 
discourage it.  In my mind that makes them as much of the 
problem as the scammers.  I prefer not to support either one 
now that I have other options.

Regards,
Frank Kamp