Read e-bay description FFS!

[jammajup]

http://www.jammajup.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/smilies/dummy.gif
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/08122005/368/ebayer-pays-163-470-photo-xbox-360.html
Surely something can be done about that! http://www.jammajup.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/smilies/soapbox.gif

[njiska]

Something is being done.

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/ebay/help-kotaku-stop-xbox-360-ebay-scams-141940.php

[koster]

Unfortunately, this isn't anything new. I remember seeing similar Ebay auctions for Playstation 2 and Gamecube "actual photo of system" that was just that (a photo of the system) during those system launches.

[Avatard]

All of them that I have seen clearly state the true nature of the object. Why protect the stupid? A fool and his money are soon parted. I don't see anything illegal being done.

[Zigfried]

It's dishonest and intends to trick people out of their money. The auctions I've seen clearly state the nature of the object, but embed the cautionary statement into a huge blurb of text... meaning it's much easier to miss seeing that statement at all.

[Avatard]

Well of course I wouldn't encourage it. But what if I wanted to buy a poster? Should someone have the right to sell it? You can't just ban posters and "anything thats not a XBox 360" from eBay. How many people here buy just boxes for video games? Lots. Its not uncommon.

So, maybe not all of the auctions are ment to decieve. But of course most are.

As far as eBay should be concerned, if someone describes a product, and a buyer buys what is described, what infraction of the rules is there?

[Rev. Link]

I have to agree that this isn't something I have a problem with. The few auctions like this I've personally seen listed have clearly stated that they aren't selling the actual system. If people are stupid enough to jump on an auction without reading the description, that's their problem.

[Ed Oscuro]

All of them that I have seen clearly state the true nature of the object. Why protect the stupid? A fool and his money are soon parted. I don't see anything illegal being done.
I can't count the times I've wasted a good hour drooling over some great title only to discover that the picture is an utter misrepresentation. The latest: Copy of Splatterhouse FM Towns on eBay, going for only $51. Looked complete, until I saw in the description that it "lacked the outer case and manual." Oh, hello.

Once again, there are rules about this: your auction should be descriptive and not misleading. See, Avatard seems to think that real sellers of Xbox posters and press photo kits can't sell their items without resorting to shady methods and illogical naming. If you're selling a photo, put "photo" in the auction title and in a prominent place in the auction text.

This is, of course, all water under the bridge.

[Zigfried]

The picture was deceptive. I have a big problem with that, but unfortunately the auction had already ended (or else I'd have reported it to eBay as fraudulent). Descriptions are tricky grey areas, but photos and auction titles should be clear and representative of what's actually being sold.

[InsaneDavid]

I have a big problem with that, but unfortunately the auction had already ended (or else I'd have reported it to eBay as fraudulent). Descriptions are tricky grey areas, but photos and auction titles should be clear and representative of what's actually being sold.

//Zig

But it WASN'T FRADULENT or it wouldn't say that it lacked the outer case and manual. As for pictures, not everyone owns digital cameras or has the time to post actual item pictures (which sometimes can net you expensive items for cheap). I've picked up Saturn Action Replay 4-in-1 carts for $3 because the seller had the title as "RARE IMPORT ITEM MUST SEE!!" - that was it, nothing about Saturn, a memory cart, anything. Yeah, it's poor salesmanship but as long as the information is there they're in the clear. Besides, it's your responsibility as the buyer to confirm EXACTLY what you are bidding on - it's your dollar, and your fault if you stupidly part with it. Click the "ask the seller a question" link and ASK. Or here's an alternative - don't bid and let them get stuck with relisting fees.

As for the "I'm gonna report you!" crap, I'm sick of the little eBay NARCs going around and ruining the reputations (and getting some of my friends completely banned) of honest sellers just because they don't agree with this and that. Yeah, when shipping for an item weighing 2 pounds is $50 within the same country and the item is listed at a penny, that's BS - but that's one of the ONLY times that eBay should be notified. I don't have much of a life but geez, I still have more than that. :roll:

You know there's one of these people that bid on these auctions without COMPLETELY reading it born every minute. LOL Almost like the same people that win auctions and then complain about the auction terms because they NEVER READ THEM BEFORE BIDDING.

[Zigfried]

If the seller can't scan or snap a picture (or steal a semi-accurate one off a website), and if eBay doesn't have a stock photo (which has a disclaimer attached to it), then the seller shouldn't include a picture at all.