[Milsurplus] eBay Hiding IDs does NOT Work

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

John,

I think you're confused.  Although I don't like the bidder ID hiding either, 
as I used to look at who was bidding on something I was interested in and 
often avoided bidding on it if a friend or good customer was at or near the top of 
the bidder list.  But the bidder ID's have never been hidden from the seller. 
 If you look on the bidder screen, it clearly says so.

I do concur that this was a fraudulent auction.  The seller account was set 
up the day that the ad launched.  And there are several other signs if you just 
look for them.  I'll suggest that your friend should have been suspicious 
about the second auction, given all the signs.

However, although I do not like defending eBay as they have done several 
particularly stupid things recently that were deliberately designed to screw 
sellers, they never do anything designed to hurt buyers.  The hidden bidder ID's 
did prevent the crook in London (or wherever he actually is - note the 
translation warning message) from sending 2nd Chance offers to bidders on the original 
auction.  Which is exactly what the hidden bidder ID was intended to prevent.

I've no interest whatsoever in the hardware involved, but if I had, when I 
saw the several warning signs in the second auction, I would have thought up a 
few trick questions to send the seller.  Or just assume it was a scam and gone 
on.

In a message dated 6/15/2008 10:05:57 PM Central Daylight Time, jfor at quik.com 
writes: 
> Here's a a perfect case of why eBay hiding user IDs from other bidders
> does not stop fraudulent "Second Chance" offers:
> 
> The first auction, ending on May 15, 2008 could well have been
> legitimate. The price is high, but not out of the question:
> 
>        Hewlett Packard Laser Calibration System     Item number:
> 300222289987
> 
> Earlier today, a friend emailed me about this auction:
> 
>       Hewlett Pacrkard Laser Calibration System    Item number:
> 250257487810
> 
> He bid on it, but was outbid. Then today he got a Second Chance offer
> from the seller.  There are very few of these systems out there, BTW.
> There is absolutely no question that the sale pics were copied, because
> one of the cases shown is not HP. Also, compare the text. I'll bet all
> the bidders on the latter sale got second chance offers too.
> 
> This is a perfect example that eBay is not really trying to prevent
> fraud, because they apparently make bidder IDs available to sellers.
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
<http://www.wa5cab.com> (Web Store)
MVPA 9480
<wa5cab at cs.com> (Primary email)
<wa5cab at comcast.net> (Backup email)
   
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