OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping For Sale ONLINE AUCTIONS – Caveat Emptor

Hello ODK auction lovers
Most collectors now use on-line sites to make bids on items.

A recent online auction has, yet again, alerted me to the problems of
auction listing descriptions and auction house’s contactability about them.

Consider this: -
In early 2020 a listing appeared for a ‘VICTA ROTOMO BOOK’ …

The seller’s description [from a purported online ‘antiques’ dealer] said
that this was a ‘Book’. Of course, that was a mis-description.

This was visually presented as Victa brochure from the mid-1950s.

The condition was described as ‘Used’ and in “VERY GOOD CONDITION”.

Yes, the condition was as described, but the item was a clear fake –
a reproduction using a cheap colour photocopier and the ‘book’
was poorly cropped and presented.

Note that there were 14 bids made by 3 bidders.
Three folks fell for this… One lucky bidder ‘won’ the privilege of owning it.




The gallery of images is below.
However, the story is more complex.

This is a story about the thriving industry of seller mis-description and auction houses making it very difficult to report this issue.

TO BE CONTINUED …

Hi Jack,
The buyer can lodge a complaint to Paypal and they are fairly good if the item is not as described or is a fake they will get the money back from the seller. I have found in this situation that you have to ring Paypal directly, using their resolution center is a complete roundabout designed to make you give up

G'day Norm
Yeah, good point mate.

But ... the buyer is unlikely to ever know it is a fake!
I mean, they bid on it.

Cheers
------------------------
Jack

The seller should be prosecuted. Merely being made to refund is not much of a consequence to fear. They aren't losing anything even if the item doesn't get returned. If the item is returned though, doesn't the buyer have to pay and therefore be out of pocket and lost time for his troubles?

This is fraud and the seller (criminal) seemingly has carte Blanche to fish for another sucker who won't pursue redress.

G'day Norm and Mowerfreak.
MF, this is the issue and why the 'system' makes this unlikely ...

I contacted the seller well before the end of the auction to point
out this was a poor reproduction.

The reply was prompt and short: - “thanks for th [sic] info”.



Of course, my advice was not followed ...
The auction proceeded to its conclusion of 14 bids.

I emailed and said that I was disappointed. The reply speaks for itself: -



TO BE CONTINUED …

In isolation of course it won't make him rich, but if he's doing this scamming all the time, it will add up.
His shouting in print with capitals shows he's feeling cornered. "I'M HONEST" he says. Self recommendation is no praise at all MATE!!

G'day Mowerfreak

That nicely sums up the issue here.
I might add that the seemingly poor literacy of the seller
could well be a disguise.

I do want to point out the problems in reporting mis-description.
This was always a part of my intention here.

Note the impossibility of informing this auction
house of the issue ...



Clearly, vested profit interests reign supreme!

Hello guys,

Just out of interest, does the seller have a large catalogue of such things for sale? Or previously sold?

G'day Jack, Norm, Mf, Sapper,

I agree the seller did the wrong thing by not listing the Victa brochure as a reproduction.

It's just not in some people's interest to tell the truth.



Cheers
Max.

Gday all con haters

Max, I love your visual metaphors. Thank you.

Sapper, the seller presents as selling a number of Victa items.
Currently, they form about one half of the seller's current 28 listings.

I do not feel my advice was not followed out of ignorance.
Folks can make up their own mind, but not-nice sellers
are not uncommon on auction sites.

Some clever sellers might present as ignorant ...
"I'm just a poor boy from a poor family".

I do not feel they should be allowed to easy come, nor easy go.

Cheers
-------------------
Jack

He is probably thinking "Mama Mia Let me go!"

I detest people like this, you just have to be aware that these dogs are out there. As Jack stated "Caveat Emptor" but sometimes this still doesn't help.
The other thing you can do is ring Ebay, and lodge a complaint and they will listen, much the same as with Paypal, if you talk to them they will act on it, unlike trying to use the resolution center that just spins you round in circles, I think deliberately in the hope you just give up. And as I follow the Paypal forum over this sort of thing it is obvious around the world

Hi Jack ,Norm ,Mf ,Sapper and all

I think this photocopy should have been reported to eBay because it would come under the Counterfeit item policy
that eBay has.

I was looking into how to report this and it's fairly straight forward once you know what policy is being
broken and where the reporting options are.


Cheers
Max

Brilliant Maxwell!

That's interesting, but I could not find these options using
the actual listing page in question.

I also have an issue with the policy grabs you present.I'm guessing that
listings described as 'reproductions' when there is no copyright must be legal
and permitted on auction sites.

All I requested of the seller was that he list item as a reproduction.

The menus available to me did not permit me to
articulate my concerns accurately. I gave up.

Many thanks for following this through.
You have helped me and others, I'm sure!

Cheers
Jack

Hi CJ,

After requesting the seller list the item as a reproduction and he refused we would
only conclude that this listing was made with the intention to deceive or defraud the buyer.

Yes reporting an eBay seller would be easier with a drop down menu on the listing page except
eBay aren't going to make it too easy for complaints .Designed so people give up.

Cheers
MW

BTW, getting off topic CJ and Maxwell just remind me of more mower brands,.