Ebay trolling

[Ginger Tea]

Do they refund the stupid?

I've seen in my time links to auctions for empty boxes for hot electronic items (latest was a screen grab of an iPhone) and although it clearly states in the title and description its just the box, would ebay side with the buyer or seller (stupid question I know they always side with the buyer) but if I am selling an empty iPhone box, how am I falsely advertising?

also I was 'inspired' to ask due to this thread
especially

Then you have some companies that sell "photos" of dresses. I was like, wtf? When I was looking for a cheap dress to turn into a zombie.

[Boozy]

The iPhone boxes are kinda cool, and make it really easy to store all your iPeripherals and shit. I'd pay upwards of $10 for one if I lost mine.

Yeah, that's not the point of the thread, I know. Just sayin'.

[siead_lietrathua]

i think the ebay terms tells people to read the auctions and know what you are bidding for. so if you complain to them about what you won and it clearly states that the item is "box only" or "a photo of", then ebay puts the error as the bidders fault.

[HYHYBT]

The iPhone boxes are kinda cool, and make it really easy to store all your iPeripherals and shit. I'd pay upwards of $10 for one if I lost mine.

Yeah, that's not the point of the thread, I know. Just sayin'.

It's highly relevant to the point, though. Somebody MIGHT want these things. So if the description is accurate, how could you prove evil intent? Why would eBay *not* assume, unless proven otherwise which is impossible to do, that the auction was legitimate?

[Andara Bledin]

The sales for empty boxes that clearly state such in the title will side for the seller because the seller did not misrepresent what was being sold. They're still scum for selling a box and then doing their best to try to pretend there's more than air inside, but eBay is still very much a caveat emptor playground. Same with the photos of hot items.

I, honestly, can't really side with a buyer who buys something with a title that notes that it's a box or photo for sale. Any buyer who doesn't do at least a little due diligence before throwing money at what is usually a complete stranger is a fool, and it's no surprise that they get parted from their money.

^-.-^

[bara]

As long as the seller in now way misrepresents the box as being anything other than an empty box.. they yeah the buyer is at fault.
Most importantly in the title.
So you cant say in the title Iphone.. and then some where below in small print put a disclaimer 'its just a box' or 'it doenst work'.
Yes, small print should always be read. But in situations like this the seller would clearly be trying a scam.

Saw something like this on Judge Judy once.

[Mytical]

Judge judy sided with the plaintiff too, and I can't say I blame her. First the picture was going for a couple hundred dollars, and the weight listed was for way more then a photograph would way and only in the most obscure places was 'picture' ever mentioned.

I am all for people being responsible for reading, but there is a difference between not reading and an obvious scam attempt. If the wording is obscure or not clear then I believe ebay should side with the buyer. If it is clear (price, obvious words (preferrably in large letters) etc) then sorry sucka..reading if fundamental..you should try it next time.

[wolfie]

I wonder how this one would go - back in the late '80s/early '90s, IBM introduced a new line of personal computers known as the Personal System 2 line (abbreviated BY IBM as PS/2). More recently (after even the top-of-the-line system in this lineup was grossly obsolete), Sony introduced a (now superceded) game console known as the Playstation 2 (abbreviated by Sony as PS/2). When the Sony machine was the "hot ticket", scammer decides to act.

Someone has (or acquires for the purpose) one of the IBM machines and a few bootable floppies with shareware games, and puts it up for auction (no pictures) with a description along the lines of:

PS/2 model 30, complete with 3 games.

Used it, but got tired of it.

In a case like this ("model 30" was an IBM designation for an ISA bus system with an 8 MHz 8086 processor), would eBay side with the seller or the purchaser?

[jackfaire]

In a case like this ("model 30" was an IBM designation for an ISA bus system with an 8 MHz 8086 processor), would eBay side with the seller or the purchaser?

Purchaser in this one it's a clear case of attempt to mislead or the seller is a moron. Neither of which should be held against the purchaser.

[Andara Bledin]

If the listing is factually accurate then eBay will side with the seller.

^-.-^

[siead_lietrathua]

i wont buy something without an image or without the seller willing to email me a photograph of the image for that reason. if for nothing else than to be able to see if there is any wear and tear.

[protege]

It's highly relevant to the point, though. Somebody MIGHT want these things.

There are people out there, that do want the old boxes. For example, when I build models, I usually trash the kit boxes. I have nowhere to store them, and even if I did...the boxes don't always last very long. Moisture and dirt will destroy them. The exceptions, were several 1960s original-issue kits that I found at a junk sale some years back. Even though the cars were already built, I hung onto the boxes. If I ever sold the models, they'd be worth a bit more...because I kept the original boxes.

With that said, as long as there's a disclaimer reading "auction for the kit BOX only," I don't see how there could be a problem. Of course, not everyone reads such things, buys the items...and then flips out when it's "wrong"