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Disreputable Seller
Hi Fellow Ebayers,
Very recently, I spotted a seller who is dishonest, and who is trying to take advantage of some unsuspecting buyer. This seller is selling a 1902-3 U.S. stamp on an envelope for $15000! He is advertising the stamp as being from 1706-1790. The stamp, in its present condition, is worth less than one dollar.
So not only is he misrepresenting the age of the stamp, he is also claiming that it is extremely rare, and is charging thousands of times what it is worth.
Please let me know if you think I should report him to ebay.
Thanks.
Henry
3 comments
gator08041971
Mentor2 years ago@henrhaverstoc_0
You have the option to report a seller here:
https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/resolving-issues-sellers/report-issue-seller?id=4022&st=3&pos=1&query=Report%20an%20issue%20with%20a%20seller&intent=reporting%20a%20seller&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1299
However in this case, I don't think you are going to have a valid reason.
A seller that has mistakenly (purposefully or not) listed an item with incorrect details is not normally a reason to report them. Not only that, eBay tends to view these types of reports as one seller trying to close down another seller. Yes, this is a thing.
So unless they are violating one of eBay's policies with that listing, they are free to ask whatever they want for whatever they list.
You can report the listing itself as well. I will agree, it sounds like a bad thing, but it doesn't mean its malicious.
henrhaverstoc_0
OP2 years agoHi gator08041971,
Thank you for your reply.
I am not at all trying to shut down the seller. However, I am trying to compel them to be honest and at least nominally accountable for their listings.
I definitely do not know anywhere near all of the ebay policies. However, I thought that material misrepresentation of an item for sale would be considered at the very least to be somewhat unethical. If the seller honestly does not know the age of the stamp then they should not advertise it as being from 1706-1790. Also, they should not refer to it as being extremely rare - especially, if they have no knowledge of it.
It sure seems like false advertising. It would be tantamount to me selling a lock of my hair for $20K because I am 500 years old, and it is extremely rare. Would anyone take me seriously? (I hope not.)
I realize that "Let the buyer beware" is often the cry these days. However, when I observe either an intentional or an unintentional disregard for the truth it bothers me. I am not yet a seller of stamps, but when I am I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
If one does not know anything about the object they are selling then they should not speak as though they do. It seems as simple as that to me.
Perhaps my sensitivity to this is due to the fact that I have experienced a "bait and switch" on an 1869 stamp, an instance where a seller advertised 100+ old U.S. stamps, and then sent me 20 U.S. stamps from 2007, and a few other mini-scams.
I have decided not to report the seller.
Thanks again for your thoughts on this matter.
Henry
gator08041971
Mentor2 years ago@henrhaverstoc_0
Oh, I agree with you. I also sell here on eBay and I am very straight-forward with my listings. I take care of my buyers directly, promptly and with good service.
But not all sellers do that. And again, this seller could very well be trying something bad. But if I cannot prove it, its hard to make that assumption is all.