capyoda
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posted on May 1, 2003 11:52:26 AM new
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3256&item=2172769622&rd=1
so er...
I was thinking its too good to be true.
thoughts?
I dont see too many warning signs, 'cept for the low feedback.. and it doesn't seem like people got their tickets yet? They just "haven't try it yet?"
I'm not sure.
I need some 2nd opinions.
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capyoda
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posted on May 1, 2003 11:55:54 AM new
well there is a lot of warning sign.
all sells within few days. so they can't possibly got the tickets yet... well, maybe not.
and the seller is a recent member.
eh. I dont know.
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:03:09 PM new
I'm not too sure about this either. I always wonder about the SquareTrade seal of approval. "Verified Seller, Safe and Honest" it says.
Yet they have barely been registered a month and have 7 feedback and have never left any. They haven't proven how safe and honest they are yet, have they?
We all know the travel industry is suffering but.....
Bottom line, I would look around and see what others are offering before I bid on this one.
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zoomin
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:07:25 PM new
hey capyoda!
I took a peek at the FB to poke around a bit.
Your seller hasn't left any yet ~ kinda curious for a supposed 'new' seller ~ they usually post FB fast to build up their own.
Their 1st FB was left by a private prfile who has -zero- FB.
curious.
other strange issues on the seller's FB profile ~
many are posted with no time for receiving the item.
that erriiinn has received multiple FB on HER profile, yet the only FB she has left is for THIS seller.
I could go on but my Sherlock Holmes hat is giving me a bit of a headache today.
basically ~
there MAY be shill action going on here
possibly a returning scammer reincarnated
or
are we just paranoid today?????
I'd stay away, but that's just me 
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neglus
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:09:30 PM new
If this is fraud aren't buyer's protected under eBay's fraud program? Gee..very tempting to bid..I NEED A VACATION!!!!!
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:13:30 PM new
Each bid is for 2 (two) round trip airline tickets to Rome, Italy. That one was sold for $59.00.
zoomin, I just noticed the same thing you did. Things that make you go Hmmmmm..... ??
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zoomin
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:17:24 PM new
kiara:
we've been around too long!
Auction starts 4-30 ~ item was (1)shipped (2)received and (3) FB posted on 5-1??
not!
none of the bidder have very high FB ~ the ID with 77 hasn't been active in the past 6 mos.
Bidders either leave FB or they dont leave FB ~
why leave it for just one seller and not the others?
doesn't happen.
It's a shame that there is no 'red flag' software for seller's like this ~
I hope too many people don't bid ~
it looks like a good deal to the untrained eye.
*wish I were still as naive, though *
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neglus
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:18:34 PM new
I couldnt find a web listing for "american travel"
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tradersjones
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:41:12 PM new
It also says the ticket can be used at any MAINLAND airport, but the ticket is to Hawaii? I "asked seller a question" on that one and will post his reply.
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trai
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:53:25 PM new
If it sounds to be too good to be true........you know the rest of this line.
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 12:59:24 PM new
This explains it further. Another (perhaps the same) seller.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2172625711&category=3256
Check their feedback and some of the bidders aren't too happy about the "extra requirements". And it looks like they only leave negative feedback for their bidders.
[ edited by kiara on May 1, 2003 01:03 PM ]
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capotasto
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:00:35 PM new
"It's a shame that there is no 'red flag' software for seller's like this ~"
There could be, but ebay is too busy paying its officers high salaries to pay a few bucks to develop it....
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akmcmc1
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:04:58 PM new
The feedback seems "staged" also. They all seem to say something different. My feedback all reads the generic responses of things like "quick shipping", "great ebayer", etc. Maybe it's just me, but it does seem like someone tried really hard to think of things to put in the feedback?????
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tomwiii
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:08:36 PM new
Tis a common ploy -- cheap tickets, but smack ya over the head with required rack-rated hotel stays!
http://tinyurl.com/arpm
If it be too good....
Ralphie loves Mr Blonde:
"Are you gonna bark all day little doggie, or are you gonna bite?"
http://tinyurl.com/5duz
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neglus
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:09:16 PM new
BINGO! Kiara's got it! It's the undiclosed hotel requirement... probably costs $1000/night or something like that..and NO DOUBT it's the same seller! Oh well...no vacation for me then 
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zoomin
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:09:58 PM new
ooohhh....kiara.....you're good!
definitely the same seller ~
same feedback MO, too!
More of those 'feedback only left for this seller' stuff going on.
How many shill id's and selling id's does this guy have?????
and these are just the recent one's!this is another newbie selling id!!
he makes an ID,
joins square trade,
waits til the shades fall off,
hits the ground running.
sometimes eBay really sucks at catching these a*holes, don't they?
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sparkz
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:26:22 PM new
Seller has been registered 30 days. Has listed 45 of these auctions. Each auction has 20 - 25 of these tickets available. Do the math. Either American Travel has deep pockets to subsidize these packages, or a lot of people are going to be surprised when they show up at the airport and try to use these tickets.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 01:43:10 PM new
About 100 auctions on both IDs that registered the same time. Let's say 23 packages on each @$59.00. So far that would be about $135,000.00 or so since Apr 20th. Is my math correct? If so, not bad for less than two week's work.
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 02:44:31 PM new
Yes, some of the feedback is linked. Here is another seller that looks to be the same one and they have listed 60 of these in less than a month. Same MO, they only leave negatives also.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3253&item=2172770200
[ edited by kiara on May 1, 2003 02:45 PM ]
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max40
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posted on May 1, 2003 02:45:40 PM new
Yes Kara, your math is wrong. Doesn't change the fact that these sellers are making 100% pure profit on the auctions. There have been "deals" like these for years. I've seen them advertised in newspapers, telemarketed, and boxes of brochures on restaurant counters. The gimick is that you must purchase hotel/resort reservations thru them. What you end up paying for your trip is more than if you had gone to your local travel agent.
There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
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horsey88
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posted on May 1, 2003 03:04:04 PM new
Travel club memberships and "choice travel" certificates
eBay will not permit listings of travel club memberships or "choice travel certificates" or similar items by any user. Travel club memberships include any service, cards, or identification number that purports to give the holder the right to free or discounted travel, that is, certificates that entitle the holder to some travel related benefit (such as free or low cost hotel stays) with a variety of travel providers.
eBay does not permit listings of "choice" travel certificates by any user. Choice travel certificates are documents that are not issued directly by a single provider of travel, but by travel wholesalers, consolidators, or other middleman travel sellers. These certificates generally offer the holder free or low-cost travel services with a choice of multiple hotel chains, resorts or airlines, the exact location often being at the choice of the buyer or seller. Such certificates are highly regulated in many US states and in many cases require additional purchases that violate eBay's fee circumvention policies. They may not be listed on eBay by any user.
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fetish128
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posted on May 1, 2003 03:44:01 PM new
(and now in the all famaliar T.V. Announcer voice) Live at 6 on the Channel 0 @y@witness News.
Good evening folks, This just in, Kiara, hi folks. Can you believe it? Capyoda almost got ripped off. we sent our investigative team out into the field. Neglus,Akmcmc1,Tom,sparkz and trai too. Great job guys and hmmm, maybe gals too!
Great Reporting Zoomin.
And the Sad but true Commentary left by horsey88.
That's a wrap. Lunch?
We only report the News.
Our cameras will be poised and ready for the kick down the boiler room doors scenes. Stay tuned for more detailsand updates.
F.B.I. OPEN UP!
Whhhhhhiiiip It! Snnnnaaaap IT! Snap! snap! snap! ooooo!
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neglus
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posted on May 1, 2003 08:16:21 PM new
I don't know how to do links ..found two more sellers with same deal:
tem # 2172771509
Item # 2172863381
How can they all have eBay verified ID'S? Just shows how worthless that and square trade are!!!!
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 09:18:42 PM new
Good work, neglus. Looks to be the same seller.
Here is another one that is NARU now. I wonder how many are out there?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2168491629
And another NARU.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2170309612&category=3256
Another NARU
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2170353968&category=3256
They just keep coming up with new IDs? They take the money and run and ebay never checks for listings again? Guess not! And the people keep bidding.....
[ edited by kiara on May 1, 2003 09:29 PM ]
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sparkz
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posted on May 1, 2003 09:37:07 PM new
Kiara...Calculating all of the above auctions with the formula you used for the first 2 of these sellers, I come up with a figure that could easily reach $500,000.00. I'm wondering if Ebay is aware of this, or are they waiting to read about it in the San Jose Mercury before they do anything about it?
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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kiara
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posted on May 1, 2003 11:06:15 PM new
sparkz, I was using the formula you gave about the 45 auctions where each has 20 to 25 tickets.
I just did a check of completed roundtrip tickets that did sell for $59.00 that are still in the 30 day search and I count 801. 801 X $59.00 = $47,259.00 sold if I have that right.
Then add all the new auctions still running and we don't know yet how many tickets will sell on those.
Not sure if ebay is aware of this but it should be easy enough for them to do some research on. That's if anyone there cares. I doubt Meg is looking for a travel ticket on these auctions.
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auctionace
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posted on May 1, 2003 11:45:02 PM new
Ebay is full of bad auctions and ebay will not do a thing to stop them unless notified though their arcane and difficult reporting system.
The other day I was looking at the Iraqi deck of card auctions and there are MANY that are only a penny and only give you a link of where to buy the cards. What percentage of the 9.5 million current ebay auctions are totally illegal? At least 5% in my estimation. Bootleg videos, signpost auctions, choice auctions, etc. Couldn't ebay assign a dozen employees to go out and find these auctions as a permanent assignment?
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neglus
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posted on May 2, 2003 12:44:57 AM new
eBay knows about this..now whether they will do anything about it is another story...kind of puts their travel certification thing in a bad light..WHAT A JOKE!
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kiara
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posted on May 2, 2003 12:48:53 AM new
Couldn't ebay assign a dozen employees to go out and find these auctions as a permanent assignment?
ebay wouldn't even have to do that because they could just read this board. Look how many posters have brought scams to these boards in the past few years. How about the big one a couple of months ago and it was allowed to go on for awhile before anything was done about it?
What incentive is there to report anything to ebay when you see the scammers start up again with a new ID or just get their hands slapped a bit? I wonder if ebay thanks anyone that uncovers major fraud, do they offer them free listings for awhile?
While I've said before that I believe that most sellers are honest and most sales go well I believe that ebay makes a very weak attempt to monitor their site for fraud.
But for all I know they may have a huge fraud squad on steady alert. 
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neglus
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posted on May 2, 2003 01:05:05 AM new
Glad you are still up too Kiara...listing late at night can get kind of lonely...what makes me mad about all of this is that it reflects on ALL eBay sellers! I hate the slogan "buyer beware"...most of us, as you mention, go out of way to fully describe our items and point out any defects in our listings...but it's scum bags like this that get the press and form the public's idea of eBay sellers!
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