eBay warning, please read

[WILMASBOYL78]

Been thinking this over...Ebay is not to blame..it's really Al's fault....if he didn't invent the internet...we wouldn't have these problems

wilma

[Verne_Frantz]

Give it up Tom. They're all smarter than we are. We just don't know enough not to click on the wrong thing...
BY the way, if ebay isn't doing anything wrong, why do we still see cowl tags, "novelty" build sheets and other "recreated" documents listed?

Could it be that a $3.00 listing fee is more important than preventing a $100.000. fraud???? I guess I have that wrong too...........

[427king]

[ QUOTE ]
BY the way, if ebay isn't doing anything wrong, why do we still see cowl tags, "novelty" build sheets and other "recreated" documents listed?


[/ QUOTE ] We cant really blame ebay for those items as they are legal to sell everywhere else.

[nuch_ss396]

I'm not so sure Chuck. eBay will not allow firearms or
Nazi related items for auction; to name a couple of examples.

Nazi items are available all over the world, so why not eBay? Same holds for guns too. It's a business choice.

Steve

[427king]

I guess its like msnbc firing Don Imus. They are ok with everything until members cancel thier memberships thus costing the venue money. Possibly if a hundred?? or so members cancelled thier ebay accounts and gave their reasons as not agreeing with ebays policy on fake paperwork sales,ebay might finally do something about it.

[Allen]

[ QUOTE ]
Give it up Tom. They're all smarter than we are. We just don't know enough not to click on the wrong thing...
BY the way, if ebay isn't doing anything wrong, why do we still see cowl tags, "novelty" build sheets and other "recreated" documents listed?

Could it be that a $3.00 listing fee is more important than preventing a $100.000. fraud???? I guess I have that wrong too...........

[/ QUOTE ]

No one is talking about who's smarter and who isn't. It's more about an educational process of learning how to protect yourself and avoid situations that aren't legitimate and are scams. In the real world (not internet), it's called street smarts and applies to your safety and finances and everything else. I have no doubt that most everyone on here all ready knows that.

While the internet is a new area to learn about, the same principles apply. Use your knowledge and apply them. If something doesn't feel right about a situation, don't do it.

Regarding Ebay, both Mr70 and Charley spelled it out. They offered up direct tips in a couple of areas. Type "how to avoid Ebay fraud" in Google and read a little. Ebay isn't scamming you (except for maybe their fees ). It's either a few users of Ebay, or more often, people sending FAKE emails PRETENDING to be from Ebay when they're really not.

As far as cowl tags and build sheets and restamped stuff and whatever else that people try to sell on there, it's all available on other websites too. You can also buy them at swap meets. Plus sellers of stuff like that also advertise in Hemmings! Does Hemmings police their ads? They're selling an ad for the same almighty dollar that everyone else wants, just like Ebay sells an auction for one, and just like some website hosts allows server space to someone selling things that most car folks don't agree with (such as Trim Tags).

Ebay is probably run by a bunch of computer system and marketing gurus, not classic car enthusiasts. They also have millions of auctions run through their system and pretty much aren't experts in anything except trying to keep that system running to generate revenue. They won't ever be able to effectively police what people are selling, and I don't ever expect them too. They provide a forum for trading - just like the Flea Market and Swap Meet and junk yard and anywhere else - and people need to approach all with the same degree of caution and common sense.

[SuperNovaSS]

Well said Allen.


Jason

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Well said Allen.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll second that.

[Verne_Frantz]

Well Allen, everything you said makes sense, but I still wonder if ebay could put some software security in place that would prevent someone from copying a listing, etc. I'm so leary about messages I receive that I actually reported an email that turned out to really be from ebay....!

As for cowl tags and the like, I just don't see it as black and white due to the legality of it. I see it as an ethical issue. One can buy firearms and tobacco in every state, however ebay bans those listings, so they can pick and chose what they ban. Yes, yes, I know they are being sold elsewhere, but no where with the audience of buyers that ebay has. I'm very concerned about the ethics (or lack thereof) in our hobby today, and I feel that ebay is turning their back on the problem. And it's not like they haven't received letters from me and many others who have tried to get them to ban the listings of cowl tags. There is currently legislation going through Oklahoma that will make their sale illegal. Maybe once that passes, ebay will have to comply.

Verne

[olredalert]

-----Verne,,,I understand what you and others say about cowl tags but in the interests of fairness, they do deteriorate (corrosion and simple damage) and sometimes it would seem that a repro would be in order. Also, well meaning owners that have either started or completed restos that have removed their cowl tags to paint their cars (I know, I know, a mistake but frequently done) and then misplaced the tags need some way to rectify their problem. There was a cowl tag pictured on this sight just the other day that had eroded badly, and the rivets were also in horrible shape. What happens to the guy who wants to do a complete and correct resto on that car??? If the cowl tag rivets and cowl tags are banned I guess honest guys are just out of luck??? Seems to me that we would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. Obviously, not everyone is honest but why should honest guys loose out???
-------You may have read between the lines and noticed that I dont mention redone serial # tags. I do agree with everyone that those have no place on a car unless totally done legally and with legal supervision but we know that just doesnt happen.........Bill S