posted on November 30, 2001 07:53:37 AM new
At the end of September, I purchased a widget for a friend of mine. It was something he had seen years ago and I told him I might be able to fine it on Ebay. Sure enough, there were plenty of widgets to choose from. I found one at a good price and seller with a good track record. I paid for the auction within two weeks of its closing. It took me setting up a square trade meeting and several emails to get the seller to finally send me the widget after cashing my check. Six weeks from the time he cashed my check, said he sent out one but would send out another. This seller has 1200+ feedback with 34 negs and about the same number of neutral feedback ratings.
Problem: Item is clearly a copy. This widget has a homemade label and clear case. I explained to a friend of mine. He took it anyway but it bothers me it is a copy and no where in the auction does it say it's a copy. I emailed Ebay regarding the other auctions from this seller selling identical widgets. I got a canned response. So I emailed them again explaining I bought a probably pirated widget (the copy is very bad). The item was under $20 and it's too late to file within 60 days.
What should I do? Has anyone had any luck "shutting down" someone for fraud? And are you afraid of retaliation from the seller?
posted on November 30, 2001 08:10:55 AM new
No, I would not fear this seller a bit. But I would not go out of my way to get him/her kicked off eBay either..With that kind I horrible feedback they'll burn out anyway.
Then again, I'd never even bid on this persons auctions...With that many negs, I cannot believe anyone bids at all...
I have 2300+ positives to 9 Negs and I was considering starting over. I'm feeling pretty good about my fb now!
posted on November 30, 2001 08:14:22 AM newI explained to a friend of mine. He took it anyway but it bothers me it is a copy and no where in the auction does it say it's a copy.
By keeping the item and not returning it to the seller you have accepted the sale.
Sorry this happened but it is "buyer beware". What did his negative feedback say and did you read all of the comments before bidding?
Under $20 there is not much to do and ebay probably won't do anything either. It is wrong that he didn't state that it was a copy so give the seller a neg and move on and be happy that you didn't waste more money than you did.
posted on November 30, 2001 08:33:53 AM new
u said you paid for the item within 2 weeks after closing,why does it take so long for you to make payment??
it is hard to understand well when you said it is a widget your friend has been looking for years and there are many widgets on ebay and the seller widget is a copy.
all these widgets widgets dont mean beans when someone tries to understand how serious is the copy issue??
some dealers try to explain that there are just that many original vintage or old or antiques pieces around at mint or very good condition,since everyone wants the original or old or antique and dont want to pay much,dealers are forced to lie and mass produced originals.
this is the only way dealer can keep food on the table,makes customers happy at an affordable price.
i dont know whether this applies to your widget,as we dont know what exactly is your widget and how bad is his copy of widget??
posted on November 30, 2001 08:56:27 AM new
The payment envelope got overlooked for a few days before I mailed it. I did inform the seller of the delay in payment.
The item itself is not sold or available (that I have seen) in mass market retail. A friend mentioned he had seen this item on tv and wondered if an edition was available,, as he had not seen it either. I mentioned I could look on Ebay for him.
I do understand that it is a case of "buyer beware" and believe me, it's a lesson learned. I've already left feedback.
The widget is a copy of a tv program that aired many years ago. I think the production company of this show released its own licensed copies and sold them in mass retail years ago. Some of the auctions for this item have a picture of the item, showing an original case etc.
The picture quality is not very good. The program is viewable but it's comparable to taping a program off a tv show in the 1980s.
posted on November 30, 2001 09:01:26 AM newsince everyone wants the original or old or antique and dont want to pay much,dealers are forced to lie and mass produced originals. this is the only way dealer can keep food on the table,makes customers happy at an affordable price.
Dealers are not forced to lie when they sell repros. Many state right up front that it is a repro and people purchase them for the look and they do it because they can not afford the original or because they do not want to pay the price of an original. These buyers know they are paying for a repro and they are quite content.
I think that any dealer that would lie to keep food on the table would lie for any other reason also.
Some buyers do not do their research. They see all the signs that the deal stinks but they are taken in by the low price and actually convince themselves that they are getting a good deal and then whine after the fact. I am not referring to jojos25 when I say this.
posted on November 30, 2001 09:58:12 AM new
ONE MEMBER SAID-I think that any dealer that would lie to keep food on the table would lie for any other reason also.
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you are damn right,they lie and lie.
when they say they will look into their warehouse ,what they mean is that they will go home and dig up the new repros they buried in the backyard,it takes 3-6 months to make new stuff look old/
posted on November 30, 2001 10:14:58 AM newSome dealers will lie but not all dealers. I would think some of the liars have more than enough food on the table so that is not the excuse.
But some buyers are also clueless when it comes to purchasing items, new or old. Then they blame the dealer afterwards.
Edited to say that it is not news that some dealers bury reproductions and later dig them up. Last one I heard is that they cover it with pig poop first as it ages it the fastest. Not sure if that is true as I have never tried it and don't plan to.
posted on December 1, 2001 08:18:15 AM new
there are all kind of way to make new things look old,or old things look new.
big time profit invites big time efforts,there was a article of a terra cotta pottery from africa auctioned at major ny house for good money.
author travelled to the town and wrote an interesting article-when a site with such pottery is found,usually there are many pieces and 99 % of them are broken in pieces,dealer will take the bigger broken pieces and hire the potter to reconstruct in whole,they also will use other broken pieces and imbedded them in the piece they are authenticating.
npw comes the infamous TL test,these tests are expensive and lab technicians know better not to damage the piece,so he will pick on an obscure area like inside of the hindleg or back of the hoof or underbelly.
the potters and dealers know in advance to imbed the real old pieces found at the site,so if that area is poked,it will pass the tl test.
if it fails the TL test,well,they have a whole pit of broken pieces they can work on.
ever wonder why dealers have broken pieces lying around,??
antique dealers are like stock brokers,if they are honest,they will be in heaven.
