posted on August 30, 2000 06:45:39 PM new
I know it sounds weird, but how much stuff on eBay do you think might be stolen goods? I wonder because I had a seller a while back I'd bought a fairly expensive book from, brand new as well, well under cost; he'd said he might be able to get other similar items for me. When I e-mailed him a few weeks later to see about that, he said he'd been fired from the job he'd been getting the stuff at and would not be able to get anything else!!!
…Makes you wonder. I'm not talking about getting stuff at yard sales and turning around and making money off of them, but rather, an employee at a shop or somesuch actually stealing merchandise and selling it. An oblivious supervisor might never know. Do you think this happens a lot? Heck, I'd be tempted myself if I worked at an antique store or something, having no overhead and making full profit... Of course, you would get caught eventually I'm quite sure (and maybe this guy didn't steal the book he sold me, but it just got me thinking). Crime do not pay.
What do you think? This happen a lot? Or is there any way to tell?
And to get REALLY paranoid, could a store owner charge YOU for receiving stolen goods if he found out you'd gotten something from an ex-employee that was stolen and sold? Eeeep!
Food for thought, anyhow...
[ edited by Prometheus11 on Aug 30, 2000 06:47 PM ]
posted on August 30, 2000 06:57:27 PM new
It is not a big deal, but I got a laugh out of a paperback book I bought in an auction - complete with library stamps and all. They were even from one of my local libraries! Think of all of the trouble I could have avoided by just walking a few blocks!
posted on August 30, 2000 06:57:53 PM new
You have just opened a whole new world for me. I teach-just think of the used undies I could steal from the gym! Deflated footballs, bent cleats, used erasers, computers with filters on them, biology books with all the dirty pictures marked! Cafeteria plates with those cute little divided sections,
giant toilet paper holders for the man who hates to replace the empty roll, right side car brakes from driver's ed for the woman who likes to backseat drive!
Sorry, gotta go now, before the security alarms are set for the night!
posted on August 30, 2000 07:01:40 PM new
All joking aside, a person in a thread the other day told about their brother buying a computer off ebay. Police came to the door and took the computer. Stolen goods. yes the buyer can be arrested for possession of stolen property.
posted on August 30, 2000 07:06:47 PM new
This sort of thing is a sad fact of life.
For all the baloney one hears about people being inherently good; I don't believe it for one second. People are inherently bad and have an awfully hard time trying to cover up this fact. The more they try to cover it up, the deeper a hole they dig for themselves. The only difference between the saints and the sinners is that the saints admit they screw up.
I would suspect that a certain amount of stuff sold on auction is possibly stolen. Another portion is gray market (imported through channels other than an official importer and is unlikely to be warranteed by them), yet another comes as promo material (not for resale), and so forth. None of this stuff is meant for retail and stolen stuff is off-limits everywhere. The other is on a buyer beware basis.
If you really think someone is genuinely stealing and selling it on eBay, and have evidence to support it, I 'd report it to eBay and perhaps the local authorites of their community. Make sure it is more than a hunch. For example people get review copies of books legitimately as part of their jobs.
I got many books that way some time ago.
I wouldn't necessarily worry about a buyer unknowingly receiving stolen goods. One can't possibly know that it's stolen without more evidence than is usually given in a description.
posted on August 30, 2000 07:28:44 PM new
I hate to generalize about people's being dishonest. To this point, I have to say that about 99% of my buyers and sellers have been honest and upfront with me. There have been about 4 buyers who just refused to answer my e-mail. I negged them.
posted on August 30, 2000 07:45:09 PM new
To follow up on what macandjan said regarding Library books ~ most of the time they are stamped discard but not always. Unless you call the Library that the book is from there is no way to tell if it was stolen or discarded by the Library.
posted on August 30, 2000 07:52:19 PM new
This particular library book I purchased was just a couple months old and in great shape - I don't think it was a library sale book!
posted on August 30, 2000 07:53:29 PM new
Also, in our area they do paperbacks on a honor system - no checkout needed, just bring it back when you are done (in theory of course!)
posted on August 30, 2000 08:06:36 PM new
The condition of a library book is no indication of whether it was a library sale book or stolen. I sold a legitimate BEAUTIFUL library sale book on eBay not too long ago. It cost me $.25 and sold for $32.
posted on August 30, 2000 08:15:20 PM new
mballai, I am so sorry you feel that way about people. It must make for a miserable existence to feel that way.
I believe everyone is good until I find out differently. Stupid? Maybe, but a lot easier and more pleasant than assuming everyone is evil.
posted on August 30, 2000 08:30:34 PM new
I seem to recall an article around a year ago about a theft ring in some big city that's primary purpose was to steal clothing & items from big stores for resale on ebay.
Regarding Library books, in our area, the libraries use a "discarded by XYZ Library" stamp in them.
posted on August 30, 2000 08:46:48 PM new
In the grand scheme of things it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of stolen goods were fenced via ebay sales. However, with so much going on in my life, I hardly give it a second thought.
But if you happen to come across a Compaq Armada 4120 being sold from Chicago. If you buy it and its etched Property of Reed Anderson Limited on the bottom. Please drop me an email, I really want that laptop back.
posted on August 30, 2000 09:16:16 PM new
I was at a garage sale not long ago and there were several very new library books for sale! Looks like the folks just cleaned out what they didn't want, including their library books! I mentioned this to the girl selling -- or standing, selling is too strong a word -- and she just shrugged. So I bought the library books and took them to the library. The women behind the counter were totally bemused at first when I tried to explain I had bought these library books at a garage sale, the books were not mine, but I wanted to return them. It took a few minutes for it to sink in, then they scanned the books, which yes, were new and belonged to them, and they did say thank you, but they still looked a bit confused. I guess this was a new one on them - LOL!
posted on August 31, 2000 02:51:45 AM new
They even sell non-discarded (in the official sense) library books at the booksales. Every sale I've attended at our library, I have found them and made sure they got back to the collection.
What happens is this: a patron drops off a bag of donated books for the Friends sale, and has their library book they checked out in the lot. Eventually they get an overdue notice and tell the library "I returned that" and the library marks their record "claims returned". The Friends, assuming all library books were properly discarded (removed from the database), just put them out.
Not likely that the new paperback was one of these, but it does happen.
posted on August 31, 2000 04:58:03 AM new
I know a German woman who calls herself a nurse in this town. She only cares for old rich and alone seniors. She cons them into giving her all sorts of things which I am certain end up on Ebay. If in fact there are no heirs, I guess its all their own business.
What a way to make a living, eh?
posted on August 31, 2000 05:28:39 AM new
There was a story in the news here last year about a family operation - husband did the stealing, wife sold the stuff on ebay.
Shouldn't be a surprise - I am sure plenty of stolen stuff shows up at flea markets as well. There was a large theft at a New England antique shop a few years back. Stuff was found at the flea market 2 miles down the road. Thief was a drug user, and apparently would steal in New England and sel in Florida (and vice versa). Apparently he got confused as to where he was, and the dealers from the shop saw their stuff for sale down the street.
As far as new stuff, well, I was wondering where they get all these new, unopened $400 software packages they can sell for $150.
