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That's what it's all about

I received an email from another Audiogon member yesterday telling me that he was on Ebay and happened to find a listing for a pair of Kharma Ceramique CE 1.0s that looked suspiciously identical to an ad that I have presently running here on Audiogon. I went to Ebay and sure enough, there was the ad with the exact same pictures and copy from my ad originating from some person in the UK with no feedback. I tried to contact Ebay to let then know what was going on and I even had to register with Ebay to lodge a complaint. They noted that it might be as long as 36 hours before they might be able to respond and by that time the auction for "my" speakers could be over. I guess this kind of thing happens all the time, but I would have never thought much about it or been made aware exept another kind member, Dave Frigo, cared enough to advise me. That's what Audiogon is all about...Thanks Dave... Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!
ucmgr
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I've got to confess in the sin I committed through the ebay selling a few years ago a DJ turntable. Since I didn't have at that time a digital camera, I just copied the picture from the different listing. The main fact is the turntable was mine and real and buyer was satisfied upon the item arrival.
slipknot1
1,433 posts
 
Marakanetz,
The copy from your ad was your own text, correct? A lot of the stock pics attached to listings are images from product web sites and not the seller's own anyway. I have done that myself but made it clear in the ad that actual pics were available on request, and that the text of the ad was clearly my own. I've noticed many listings in which the same stock photo has been used by several sellers. I have talked to the buyer in my case and he is adament that he did not file a complaint.
zenieth
381 posts
 
Slipknot1,

I'm certain that they have gotten plenty of fright mail in the past. They do have some problems but most are generated by corrupt individuals. As always the source is much better than that of secondary involvement. Then again having friends in high places doesn't hurt either. What ever the outcome I'm sure that it's been there more than once before. What caught my eye was that great American threat by law...........simply all American too! cheers!!
justlisten's avatar
justlisten
489 posts
 
if you look around there are several ads like the one for the Kharmas. there was one last week for some Goldmund Dialogues. the seller was in Europe yet they offered "free shipping" within the US. the Minimum bid was $500 and the Goldmunds got up to $800....if you do the math, shipping a pair of 200 lb speakers from Europe to anywhere in the US would cost almost if not more than the highest bid. its kinda scary people are falling for this stuff...

it could be a holdover from the early days of ebay, when there were good deals to be had, traffic was lower, people were still new to the internet buying thing, and sellers at time had little knowledge on what they were selling. i remember Colnago bikes could be had for $800 or so, now the same bike fetches over $1700 consistantly. ...bottom line is, the days where you are gonna find a "steal" on ebay are pretty much over....way to keep an eye out
slipknot1
1,433 posts
 
Zenith,
My threat-to-sue was more or less tongue-in-cheek. Our society is way too litgious in my book. I was just stunned to see such a pre-emptive move on EBay's part without starting a dispute resolution process first, or, even getting some kind of respose from me. Ucmgr's situation and mine should serve as a warning to others that EBay does seem to be rife with rip-off artists. EBay does have a right to protect itself, and try to protect the honest folks who do business there.
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