Ebay Scam - Here Is Another

[carlosR]

Yes, this is interesting.

[Marc Walker]

I didn't take the time to check all the listings this guy has in his store, but I did notice that the couple I looked at on Peters site are consignment items.

That of course means that Peter doesn't own them and whoever does, is probably able to do other things to try to sell them.

Then again.......... maybe Peter's really from Puerto Rico..

[Dan P]

Then again.......... maybe Peter's really from Puerto Rico..

Of course, don't you know there's a large contingent of Swedes located in Little Sweden, just outside San Juan. I thought that was common knowledge.

Dan

[Paul G]

Very good point! I bought a wool luftwaffe cockade from e-bay for $10, and later that day saw the same cockade on the dealers site for $5. Thats a 50% e-bay markup The sellers site and the e-bay seller were the same person. Just another way to make a few more bucks I guess?

Paul G

With the amount of positive sales it's possible that the seller is Peter. A tangled web people weave.

[Charlie_Vaughn]

I think either way you look at this, you have to wonder why anyone would go to a large public auction and sell something they don't have in their inventory.

I understand the concept of arbitrage, but thats done under legal terms. In this case, the guy is still just listing a bunch of photos from someone else's site that he doctored up a bit to try to make them look different.

He's selling them with the false pretense of making people think he has them to sell. No where has he said the buyer will get the item as soon as he himself buys it from his source after the sale.

I think its pretty unethical to sell something you don't have.-C

[Paul Jones]

I think either way you look at this, you have to wonder why anyone would go to a large public auction and sell something they don't have in their inventory.

I understand the concept of arbitrage, but thats done under legal terms. In this case, the guy is still just listing a bunch of photos from someone else's site that he doctored up a bit to try to make them look different.

He's selling them with the false pretense of making people think he has them to sell. No where has he said the buyer will get the item as soon as he himself buys it from his source after the sale.

I think its pretty unethical to sell something you don't have.-C

The word ethical is rarely used in the Concise Ebay Dictionary

[kennethc]

I don't see anything wrong with it... As long as people paid the auction price and receive the item as described.
In business terminology, it's called "drop shipping"

* Drop shipping activity must receive the consent/permission from the original seller. Hopefully, PeterVL awares of this guy.

[Lignemaginot]

I think either way you look at this, you have to wonder why anyone would go to a large public auction and sell something they don't have in their inventory.

I understand the concept of arbitrage, but thats done under legal terms. In this case, the guy is still just listing a bunch of photos from someone else's site that he doctored up a bit to try to make them look different.

He's selling them with the false pretense of making people think he has them to sell. No where has he said the buyer will get the item as soon as he himself buys it from his source after the sale.

I think its pretty unethical to sell something you don't have.-C

If we were talking about books or body cream, I wouldn't disagree, but when it comes to selling antiques (and assuming that Peter VL does not have a reseller agreement with the guy) I can only totally agree with you - I wonder if calebd ever received a response to his request for another photo....

[sscrooge]

scam

this was bid on ,on ebay by fellow member simon102nd the seller posted a couple of pics to him,but always sent the same couple of pics no matter what angle he, wanted,he won helmet a couple of months ago and paid for it he is still waiting for it to appear but the seller turned out to be a scammer who posts pics hes obviously seen on sites then sells these on ebay,then rips every1 then changes his name again,and gets away with it,he will be out there now awaiting his next victim

[kennethc]

Is this angle look better for you?


It look slightly different than the above.

[sscrooge]

scam

yes thats all he sent, now hes a couple of hundred quid light from buying it, and the scammer tornadoterror is having a few beers on him and his victims, am i glad i was put off this helmet when i posted the pics on here as i may have been the victim,so i thank this site greatly

[Dan P]

All I can say is, if someone knows how ADG Militaria (aka azul210) operates, can't locate the original seller/dealer (person who actually has the item) to buy it directly from them, and STILL buys from this guy, they seriously need professional help

The only exception would be if someone has already had dealings with him and everything worked out fine

Dan

[sscrooge]

scam

the scammer builds up a good feedback selling penny items and buys cheap items,he also has accomplices buying ficticious items from him giving good feedback then he starts selling swords ,helmets etc for big bucks then strikes, fobs people off when they ask where item is saying ,its been returned to po etc and plays for time so he can grab some more victims,i have told simon to go to the police as he has done a lot of homework on this guy,but has not yet been

[Paul Jones]

Dealers should consider embossing their photographs with the company name. It doesn't have to impair the content of the photo. Subtlety is the key, but having the helmets owner marked would aid in the repetive trait of scammers using collectors photographs to sell phantom helmets.

As I said yesterday, this would help. And always ask for a photo to be taken with a copy of a current newspaper next to the helmet if you have any doubt. Jobs a good un!!

[Charlie_Vaughn]

I think Paul's idea is a great one - if in doubt, prove with a photo and a current newspaper that the helmet (or item) is truly in your possession.

As a counter to the "drop ship" and "arbitrage" comments - lets look at it this way:

1) Would you take a photo of a car sitting on a used car dealer's lot, post it on ebay auto without his permission, and list it for $5,000 more in the hope of selling it for profit? Probably not. You don't legally own the car. Ask your state vehicle department if its legal to sell cars you don't own.

2) Would you go down the street and take a photo of your neighbor's house and list it on ebay's real estate section thinking you could sell it for $10,000 more than list price.? Probably not - you don't own your neighbor's house. Ask a real estate autorny or your local real estate company if its Ok for you to sell their properties without their permission.

So - why is it then OK to sell helmets in this manner?