Date:         Mon, 3 Dec 2007 11:16:24 -0800
Reply-To:     VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Buying Vans on e-Bay
In-Reply-To:  <004201c835dc$ae593be0$6401a8c0@TOSHIBALAP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

How come everyone blames eBay for the criminal activity?  If you got scammed
from an ad in your local paper, would you go down to the editor's desk a
whine about how life is unfair and they should do something?  Perhaps
stamping your feet and holding your breath would work.

There's no way in the world that eBay can give you more information than
provided for in thier buyer/seller agreements.  The liability involved is
tremendous.  Report the claim to the authorities and let them make legal
inquiries to eBay.  Oh... the authorities aren't really in the position to
help?  Is that eBay's fault?

eBay is a place to place an ad that has the ability to reach millions of
buyers.  If someone is stupid enough to send thousands of dollars to someone
they don't know, have never talked to, for a vehicle they've never seen,
well... that's just economic Darwinism.

I think it is utterly ridiculous that people expect eBay to be responsible
for correctness of the ads placed on thier site.  Does your local paper come
to your house and check the VIN on the car you're selling?  How about The
Samba?  Perhaps craigslist?  Hmmm... seems that many people want to hold
eBay to a much higher standard than the rest of the world.

There are lots of bad people in the world and the internet gives all of us
the opportunity to easily bring them into our lives.

End of rant...

"I'm a little verklempt! Talk amongst yourselves... I'll give you a topic:
Rhode Island, it's not a road, nor an island...discuss!"

Happy Monday...

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Scott Daniel - Shazam
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 10:45 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Buying Vans on e-Bay


The internet is both a wonderful thing, and something that can be very
miss-used, like it's wide open for that.
This is why I never have anything to do with EvilBay basically.
Now there's the really neat deal out of Russia, with a Nigerian tie-in I'd
like you to know about .........

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Etter
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2007 6:31 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Buying Vans on e-Bay

I sat up in bed this morning in horror and turned the radio up..
        The CBC (Cdn. Broadcasting  Corp) aired an article about this
poor man who bought a car through e-Bay but ended up with no car and
was out $20,000.xx, AND he got less than no support from e-Bay
concerning his loss. He reported it to the RCMP who then contacted
e-Bay. The RCMP  representative said that e-Bay refused to talk to
them and refused to acknowledge that "Criminal elements had figured
out a way to highjack e-Bay web-sites". He also said.."I guess they
don't want the public to know this is possible so they won't talk
about it."
        The man in question said that he trys to contact e-Bay then
as soon as he gives them his I.D. name or password, he is
disconnected.. everytime..
        Now, I'm sure that 'criminals' are not going to highjack the
site that sells a 1982 diesel radiator, but it does reinforce my own
experience of getting no support from e-Bay or Pay-Pal for a deal
gone bad even if it was a small transaction. Caveat Emptor !
        I just thank my lucky stars that this VW forum and others
like it have enough savvy members who are aware of what's out there
for sale and whether or not it's a scam.
        Several times I've read where members of our forum have
identified and warned others of a possible scam. I just feel sorry
for the poor fellow who lost $20,000.xx trying to buy a car on e-Bay.
I think every member of the various VW forums should be grateful for
the close support we get from one another. THANK YOU ALL !

                                                David (dsl82westy)

P.S.:
        Does anyone know how it is possible for "The Criminal
Element" to do such a thing. I thought that with a vehicle purchase
on e-Bay a buyer had the "Right" to retract a bid once he found out
that the vehicle wasn't as advertised.