[R-390] auction scams

[Ed Tanton]

Ken, the article simply isn't so-at least, not within the electronics 
components, baseball card (#2 son), and ham radio sections. The number this 
2nd "vigilante" quotes of "75% scams" is utterly UNTRUE. I have made 
HUNDREDS of purchases over the years through ebay, large and small, and 
have NEVER ONCE been cheated. This includes shipments from Hong Kong, 
Australia, and England. #2 son has made dozens with a similar success rate.

A "person of probable low character" did just show up as the seller of a 
$30 card for a 'winning' $15 recently. EBAY had, however, just canned the 
guy after too many violations. After some period of time, he can come back 
under another name-but I THINK that's like 6 months. That's ONE person over 
whatever the number of years ebay has been around. One.

Yes, I have had some "excellent condition"s arrive 1 level lower. But I've 
had some "very good"s arrive as "excellent"s also. Once again, the media is 
looking to report a story. The fact that I have done well, or all right, or 
whatever, is not news. Only that everybody is getting cheated left and 
right is "news". Only... if it isn't true... then is it "news" or an 
"outright lie" or just an "exaggeration"? Perhaps it's merely sloppy 
journalism?

I think the truth lies a great deal closer to the occasional cheat, than 
with "75%" of all deals being "scams". Part of may stem from the amounts 
involved, and part of may stem from not using USPS MOs (I'd least rather 
have the Postal Inspectors after me than anybody-including the RCMP!) And 
part stems from not using the guy's feedback rating to decide whether to 
risk the deal (BEFORE bidding-not afterwards.)

There are always going to be scam artists. I wouldn't hesitate to go after 
someone who cheated me. They have departments of Consumer Affairs and 
Attournies General in every state. The USPS Postal Inspectors really don't 
like "Mail Fraud" one bit. But for an MSNBC reporter to throw out numbers 
like this is "75% scams" irresponsible, and lazy journalism at best. To 
advocate what amounts to criminal fraud (in reverse) either is-or should 
be-illegal.

Who are these "Consumer Vigilanties" that they presume to make outrageous 
bids on auctions THEY decide are frauds? The act itself, willfully bidding 
in that manner, to prevent me from using the good sense God gave me, to 
decide for myself what looks suspicious-and what is simply a good 'deal' is 
FRAUD in itself. I have to wonder if some of them have either an ax to 
grind, or seek to manage an end-around, when auction(s) got to be more than 
THEY wanted to pay.

EBAY has been finally, begrudgingly accepted by most hams. I don't 
personally care whether anyone buys through it or not. I STILL like to see 
items of interest offered on the various reflectors available to us 
first-but with prices reaching a degree of parity, it doesn't matter nearly 
as much any more. And I really HATE to see inaccurate reporting-and whether 
or not the laptop / computer market has more than its share of fraud going 
on within EBAY, that's NOT what was represented here. EBAY as a whole has 
worked just fine for me.

P.S. And for the record... while I have "hundreds" of purchases over the 
years, I have never sold one single thing via EBAY. I think #2 son has-but 
don't really know that for a fact.

73 Ed Tanton N4XY <n4xy@earthlink.net>

Ed Tanton N4XY
189 Pioneer Trail
Marietta, GA 30068-3466

website: http://www.n4xy.com

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