Slightly OT: Ebay and Bid tampering

[Sizzler]

Originally posted by Doug I


I see your thinking. Now imagine those Chevy dealers coming onto the Ford lot and into the showroom and trying to sell their cars directly from the factory. Same thing with MrM. He set up his car lot and he has interested ppl "on the lot". Along comes someone else (without a car lot) and attempts to poach customers. If he wants to sell his car then he should set up his own 'lot' I think it is unethical in the least.

ebay's name comes from 'electronic bay', as in the booths or bays in Antique Malls you find along most interstates nowadays.

Go into one of those, and if any dealers are on the premises, though not necessarily in their little booth areas, they'll ask you what you're looking for and if they've got it, lead you from whatever booth you might be in, past any other booths that might have something closer or more reasonably priced for what you're looking for, right to their own personal selling space. Is that unethical?

Ditto the old Maxwell Street Market here. Looking at mats at one table and you'll find some little kid telling you "mister there's mats down there, follow me and see".

Ditto the old Produce market on Water Street. A produce dealer hears you're looking for Gala's, and suddenly such a deal just for you right down here, and they'll pull you out of wherever you are and out down to their space.

Ditto trade shows. Companies pay for floor space in a convention center, selling distribution software. Multiple vendors all in one aisle. They see you looking in a booth across the aisle and suddenly they're the one and only solution for whatever problem you're looking to solve.

Like I said. Free market economy, the American way.

Don't know about ebay rules, not an ebay lawyer. But I don't know how closely some people's ethical behaviour on ebay auctions who've posted here could stand to be examined. I seem to remember a Kirkham auction a few months ago when even I was surprised at the brazen way some people seemed to be saying "I put my bid in, where's yours?" on a no-reserve auction.

Anyway, good luck on your sale. But whether "Eric's" behaviour is truly ethical or not according the to standards of ebay, I haven't seen any actual facts or more importantly, any actual distortments of facts, from him. It would be that simple in my mind. Is he truly selling a Cobra? Is it comparable to the one in the auction? Is he willing to sell it for whatever (apparently) low price he's asking?

Again, good luck.