Anyone recall this movie?
I vaguely recall a movie were the protagonist lists an old typewriter on eBay and describes it as a "word processor", cementing eBay's reputation in the public's eye at the time. Was it 2007 Transformers?
9 comments
I vaguely recall a movie were the protagonist lists an old typewriter on eBay and describes it as a "word processor", cementing eBay's reputation in the public's eye at the time. Was it 2007 Transformers?
mudshark61369
·8 months ago@ccomic ,
"I have soured a bit on eBay since coming here, mostly because of these forums".
The forums may seem scary, but do keep in mind that less than 1% of ebay members ever come to them, and if you read all of the replies we post to the topics, you may find that many of the issues were easily solved by having the original poster read the money back guarantee or other policies.
Granted the fake tracking scam is a big problem, but it too can be resolved in some instances. The best way to avoid it is not to buy from China based sellers, who are responsible for 90% of them.
ccomic
OP8 months agoThat was the answer I found too, but unfortunately I couldn't find an ad subsidized streaming platform that had it, and none of the ones I subscribe to have it.
It just stuck in my head for years, what is funny is it shows what the movie's target audience thought of eBay and selling on eBay. I thought of it earlier today and just couldn't recall anything about what movie it was except for that scene 🙂 . In the scene (as I recall it) he originally writes "used typewriter" and then changes it to "word processor", so it actually highlights the intentional deception, not terminology misuse.
mudshark61369
·8 months ago@ccomic ,
"I vaguely recall a movie were the protagonist lists an old typewriter on eBay and describes it as a "word processor", cementing eBay's reputation in the public's eye at the time... In the scene (as I recall it) he originally writes "used typewriter" and then changes it to "word processor", so it actually highlights the intentional deception, not terminology misuse".
The scene you're describing is from the 2007 Transformer movie. It took place when Sam the son who was 16 at the time in the movie, is having his Father list items for him on ebay, because he is too young to have his own selling account, he was trying to raise $2,000 which his father was going to match so he could buy a car. Sam suggests listing the typewriter it as a word processor, but his father lists it as a used typewriter. No sign of Intentional deception there, just an over anxious kid hoping to raise enough money by any means to buy a car.
FYI, It was Sam's grandfather's snow goggles listed on eBay, that caught the transformers/decepticons attention that started the adventure.
For the last two months you've been on the boards finding fault with ebay. If you are willing to buy items for 25% more on the smiley site, as you wrote in one of your first posts, why don't you stick to doing that? There are many more honest sellers on this site than there are scammers.
ccomic
OP8 months agoOh wow. Selective memory on my part I guess because that is not how I recall it at all. It's been 18 years I guess, but still. Memory is a crazy thing ...
And yes, I have soured a bit on eBay since coming here, mostly because of these forums. I'm sure there are vastly more honest sellers (and buyers) than scammers, but the stories I read here are pretty darn scary. There are things on eBay that I can't purchase elsewhere, but I do indeed plan to stick with the "smiley site".
bonjourami
·8 months ago"And yes, I have soured a bit on eBay since coming here, mostly because of these forums. I'm sure there are vastly more honest sellers (and buyers) than scammers, but the stories I read here are pretty darn scary. There are things on eBay that I can't purchase elsewhere, but I do indeed plan to stick with the "smiley site"."
With 135 million active members, 30 million sellers, and 2.5 billion listings, the complaints you see on the boards are but a drop in the bucket. Most transactions go off without a hitch.
wri-8727
·8 months agoIt may have been a insider YTMND reference also.
 
Very popular website
eburtonlab
·8 months agoAccording to Google:
"Based on discussions regarding early eBay, this scenario likely refers to a scene in the 2007 film
Transformers. The character Ron Witwicky (played by Kevin Dunn) sells his son Sam's belongings, including a typewriter listed on eBay as a "word processor," highlighting the comedic misuse of technical terminology."
grann-4629
·8 months agoI think it may have been in one of the versions of "The Shining".
😎
bonjourami
·8 months ago'The Shining' was made in 1980, Ebay began in 1995.