Selling URL Address for free download

[mikdibattist_0]

Is it permissable to sell a postcard containing the URL address to a web page offering a free media download? It appears Ebay policy would make it impossible to send the link via email to the the buyer. Therefore, I would like to sell a post card with the address and send it snail mail to the buyer.

[chrysylys]

What are you going to do about returns, refund requests, or complaints the link didn't work, or they just didn't receive the card?

Best not to try to skirt policy to begin with.

Do you even have the legal rights to distribute whatever content you're tring to do this with?

[mikdibattist_0]

The media is in the Public Domain and offered free of charge at the site.
No returns. No refunds. (though if the issue were pushed, I suppose I'd grant the minor cost)
You raise a good point about complaints of the link not working. (though it would be no different than going to any other website...I'll have to ponder that one). The card could be sent registered mail with signature request and mailing costs added to the price. Still would be worth the vast savings over the going rate for the media.

[chrysylys]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:
The media is in the Public Domain and offered free of charge at the site.

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Then you have no business selling it or access to it.

[luckythewinner]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:

Is it permissable to sell a postcard containing the URL address to a web page offering a free media download? It appears Ebay policy would make it impossible to send the link via email to the the buyer. Therefore, I would like to sell a post card with the address and send it snail mail to the buyer.

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You can sell digitally delivered content as long as you follow the rules: 

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/downloadable.html

You can sell a postcard with handwritten information on it.

But in either case, when buyers realize they paid you for something that is available for free I would be prepared for a string of retaliatory SNAD disputes. 

[mikdibattist_0]

I am selling what I know. Not what I have. I am not taking someone else's copyrighted material and reselling it. I am not selling media at all. I am selling information. Surely that is legal in all it's forms. I know where a person can download media for free that is sold elsewhere for over $40.00. And for a minute fraction of the cost. If they knew where to get it, they would not buy the information from me.

Because items are in the Public Domain, is the very reason you SHOULD sell them. That is, if you have an ounce of creativity and drive. Media in the public domain is bought and sold regularly in every avenue of business.

[southern*sweet*tea]

To put it bluntly, there are many buyers here who expect to get something for nothing. When they find out they pay- no matter how little- for something they can truly get for nothing, they tend to become a bit testy and do things like file SNADS and leave really nasty feedback.

[kensgiftshop]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:
The media is in the Public Domain and offered free of charge at the site.

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You go trying to sell something that is Public Domain and they can get for free, you will end up with a lot of unhappy customers and a lot of refunds.

[thallidguy]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:


Because items are in the Public Domain, is the very reason you SHOULD sell them. That is, if you have an ounce of creativity and drive. Media in the public domain is bought and sold regularly in every avenue of business.

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And it seems like an ounce is about what you have here.

Yes, I could take the plays of Shakespeare, which are in the public domain, and publish my own edition. But if I had real creativity and drive, I would figure out how to add value for the buyer — add my own set of footnotes and an introduction that would help readers understand the contents — so that the buyer would feel like they got something that made my edition unique. Value added.

In the absence of adding that kind of value, what you're proposing sounds a lot like those sellers who sold lists of where you could buy an iPhone. Yes, those guys made money from the unwary, but they also had a lot of buyers who figured it out too late and wanted to burn them at the stake.

You're getting good advice that what you propose is a recipe for buyer dissatisfaction. If you ignore it, all I can say is that I hope you taste good with bbq sauce, because you're gonna get torched.

[mikdibattist_0]

Thank you all for your insights. I can see the consensus is to step back. However, again I will state, I am in no way selling the media. I feel if the buyer is told up front that what they are purchasing is the information where they can get the free media, they have no cause to come back to me. It would be perfectly clear that I am not trying to swindle or get over on them. I would think $2.00 for a postcard that would save them $35.00 if they went out and bought it through other means would be agreeable to them.
Guess I'll have to put more thought into it.
P.S....Why all the dissention?

[kensgiftshop]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:
 I would think $2.00 for a postcard that would save them $35.00 if they went out and bought it through other means would be agreeable to them.

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If people can find the information for free, why would they pay to get a link for it.

If it's something they are looking for, Google would be their friend.

I remember an auction a few years back, the guy was auctioning some expensive computer with pictures and all the information about it.

In the description, in small print, he says they are only bidding on a link where they could go buy the computer.

I think the bids were up to a couple thousand, but it got pulled pretty quick.

[emerald40]

Google is your friend.

If you were able to find out how to do it, I am sure others will be able to do so as well.

And as far as the others, after they pay for it, once they realize it was free, you will get a lot of retaliation.

[thallidguy]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:

P.S....Why all the dissention?

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Probably because, as I pointed out, what you propose sounds an awful lot like a semi-scam that left a lot buyers feeling cheated (they came to the boards to complain about it) and was a real blight on eBay for a while.

You may view it as a simple exercise in free enterprise. But if you're smart, you'll realize that you're just asking for trouble unless you offer buyers something of real value, so they feel like they got their money's worth. You'e much better off in the long run thinking in those terms, instead of figuring out how to make money for nothing.

[missjen831]

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@mikdibattist_0wrote:
P.S....Why all the dissention?

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Because we’ve been here long enough to know that if you go through with this and sell the postcards  it’s going to end up very badly for you and we will have to say “we told you so” and “you are screwed” when you come back here complaining about “scammers filing false cases” and asking how to fight said cases. There are some things that shouldn’t be listed on eBay. It’s the opinion of the majority here that what you want to sell is one of those things. 

[janet9988]

  Your current  business writing listing violates more than 1 of ebay's policies and you should cancel that listing. 

I think you need to read this.

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/compilation-informational-items-polic...

• Listings for compilation or informational items containing any cross-category information
• Combining a compilation or informational item as a bonus item with any other listing
• Listings containing any specific brand names or keywords unless the listing is offering the brand-name product. (See also our search and browse manipulation policy)
• Listings containing excessive keywords to describe the contents of a compilation or informational item
• Offering information on how to either purchase specific items or receive them for free outside of eBay
• Listings which include web addresses or links (for example, www.gotomyownwebsite.com) that enable buyers to purchase items outside of eBay. (See also our links policy)