walmart gift card *PROCEEDS TO WOUNDED WARRIORS* - Question regarding charity purchases

[brads_ann]

I've been looking to find some Walmart gift cards to use my Ebay Bucks on and while searching I kept seeing all these "Walmart gift cards "Proceeds to Wounded Warriors" listings. There were different amounts in the different listings.

How would one know that the money was actually going to the Wounded Warriors? What is to stop someone from making a bunch of listings and just keeping the money? If I were going to give to a charity I personally wouldn't do it via a seller on Ebay. That just seems odd but maybe I'm missing something.

Is this common for sellers to do on Ebay?

[lex-talon]

I would be careful whom you buy those Walmart-Wounded Warriors gift cards from. There are some sellers who just pocket the money and have nothing to do with the Wounded Warrior foundation. Donate directly to them instead.

[brads_ann]

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@lex-talon wrote:

I would be careful whom you buy those Walmart-Wounded Warriors gift cards from. There are some sellers who just pocket the money and have nothing to do with the Wounded Warrior foundation. Donate directly to them instead.

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Exactly. That's my point. Why would anyone donate via Ebay. I'd donate to the charity directly. My question was what is to stop anyone from making these listings and keeping the money.

You don't actually get the Walmart gift card. You are just donating the money. The description in the listing for the Walmart gift cards states:

THERE IS NO BALANCE IN THE GIFT CARD. It's in brand new condition and not activated. You can take it to a store to activate it and make a deposit into it and use it. All proceeds from this auction will go to help wounded warriors. Thank you

It seems like anyone could make a bunch of listings for different charities and just keep the money.  Is this type thing even allowed on Ebay?

[slippinjimmy]

If the listings have the eBay for Charity and/or Giving Works logo then they are legit, if not they are either a scam or a well intentioned person who didn't read up on the proper procedure for legitimate charity listings.

The logo should not be in the description area of the listing page it should be in part of the page fully controlled by eBay.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/buying-nonprofit.html

[brads_ann]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

If the listings have the eBay for Charity and/or Giving Works logo then they are legit, if not they are either a scam or a well intentioned person who didn't read up on the proper procedure for legitimate charity listings.

The logo should not be in the description area of the listing page it should be in part of the page fully controlled by eBay.

http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/buying-nonprofit.html

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Thanks for the link. There is no logo in their listings. I could understand maybe if you are buying a Walmart gift card and actually get the Walmart gift card and the seller takes it upon themselves to donate some of their profit but odd to sell items on Ebay and tell the buyer they won't actually get the item but the money you pay for the item you won't be getting will be sent to a charity. That just seems odd.

[shipscript]

@brads_ann

It is actually against eBay policy to offer a "charity" listing without going through the proper channels on eBay.

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

Because of the enormous opportunity for scams, the above policy should be followed for such listings.

If the listing violates the above policy, it can be reported.

When reporting a listing, select these options:
1. Listing practices
2. Other listing practices
3. Charity and fundraising

[the_fancy_fox]

Obvious scam.

Walmart just doesn't give brand new, unloaded gift cards away. 

Most likely stolen cards. Think the person will be honest with donating the proceeds of their listing?

[hotspotauctions]

Just do a quick search and you will find the Wounded Warrior Project spend lavishly on itself. There are much better charities for wounded veterans that spend very little on overhead, with the lions share of donations going to the soldiers. The Semper Fi Fund is one that comes to mind. Anything on eBay is probably a scam. 

[castlemagicmemories]

Ebay Giving is something seller's can use to designate a charity to give proceeds to.

Some seller honestly want to do good, and it can give their listing an advantage as people may feel good about buying something for themselves while also helping others.

The whole listing you outline sounds questionable to me.

[brads_ann]

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@shipscript wrote:

@brads_ann

It is actually against eBay policy to offer a "charity" listing without going through the proper channels on eBay.

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

Because of the enormous opportunity for scams, the above policy should be followed for such listings.

If the listing violates the above policy, it can be reported.

When reporting a listing, select these options:
1. Listing practices
2. Other listing practices
3. Charity and fundraising

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Shortly after I posted my question here, I did report the seller. It just didn't sit right with me. The listings are still all there.

Maybe if others here would report it also. Just google Walmart gift card wounded.... and y'all can see the listings. Maybe if more report, they will take them down.

[brads_ann]

This seller has sold a few of these already. I've reported the seller to Ebay but Ebay is leaving the listings up. I guess It's ok to do this. Heck, I guess I can make a listhing like that and go to Walmart and get a bunch of blank Walmart cards and tell people to send me money and I'll send them an empty Walmart gift card.

I just hate to see people get scammed. How does this seller think this is right to do? Oh well, I'll leave it be and not care then.

[dhbookds]

I reported the fixed price one......so many of these are auctions and conclude probably before ebay gets to the complaint.

That said, perhaps Trinton can look into this........and tell us if we are wrong.......

@Anonymous

[Anonymous]

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@dhbookds wrote:

I reported the fixed price one......so many of these are auctions and conclude probably before ebay gets to the complaint.

That said, perhaps Trinton can look into this........and tell us if we are wrong.......

@Anonymous

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Thanks for getting these reported! Our teams will investigate for appropriate action. While I can't say for certain, based on the information shared here it sounds like these listings are violating our policies on charity listings. Additionally, unloaded gift cards are not typically available so this raises some concerns as well. I can't give an update on the investigation, but assure you that we will review the report and take steps to keep our Community safe.

[emerald40]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

I reported the fixed price one......so many of these are auctions and conclude probably before ebay gets to the complaint.

That said, perhaps Trinton can look into this........and tell us if we are wrong.......

@Anonymous

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Thanks for getting these reported! Our teams will investigate for appropriate action. While I can't say for certain, based on the information shared here it sounds like these listings are violating our policies on charity listings. Additionally, unloaded gift cards are not typically available so this raises some concerns as well. I can't give an update on the investigation, but assure you that we will review the report and take steps to keep our Community safe.

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The only way to get unloaded gift cards is to take them off the racks and put them in your pocket.

If you take them through the check out lane they ask you how much money you want to put on them and collect the funds.

Also agree about Wounded Warrier and getting busted for having lavish mettings at exotic locations.  There are better charities to give to.  Always check first to see how much of your donation actually goes to the cause rather than fundraisers oadministrative costs.

[brads_ann]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@dhbookds wrote:

I reported the fixed price one......so many of these are auctions and conclude probably before ebay gets to the complaint.

That said, perhaps Trinton can look into this........and tell us if we are wrong.......

@Anonymous

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Thanks for getting these reported! Our teams will investigate for appropriate action. While I can't say for certain, based on the information shared here it sounds like these listings are violating our policies on charity listings. Additionally, unloaded gift cards are not typically available so this raises some concerns as well. I can't give an update on the investigation, but assure you that we will review the report and take steps to keep our Community safe.

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Hi Trent. I tried to send you a private message but unable to. Says it's not enabled.

This is the message I attempted to send:

I had started a thread in the Ebay forum asking about this person selling empty Walmart gift cards for 12-20.00 saying proceeds go to Wounded Warriors. You were going to look into. I just happen to notice this person's listings are still up. Is this ok to sell empty Walmart gift cards for money that she states she'll put toward charity? How does a buyer know this to be the case. Is seller scamming? I'd think so.

Just curious how buyer is able to keep thses listings up.

Thanks in advance for checking on.