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UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45

Potential eBay scam?

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SputnikSputnik Frets: 48
in Help & Feedback
I wondered if anyone else has experience of this situation or could offer any thoughts?

The advert for my Pete Beer Concert Classical guitar has been replicated and now appears on eBay at a vastly inflated price.  The person who placed the advert only joined eBay four days ago and has no history of selling anything else, or of pulling this particular stunt with anyone else's property.

So should I consider this nothing more than an opportunistic "agency sale" and do nothing, accepting the additional exposure?  Should I contact eBay and let them know they are likely to have a vendor selling product that is not in their ownership or possession? What if the vendor sells the guitar, takes the money and disappears? I surely run the risk of a very angry buyer tracking me down from adverts elsewhere and pursuing me as a criminal scammer?

Any thoughts, experiences, or other sage wisdom will be very gratefully received.  Thank you so much.

Keith
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Comments

  • JAYJOJAYJO Frets: 1470
    I would report to ebay. Just for the info should they get back to you.
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  • HattigolHattigol Frets: 8170
    I think the word 'potential' was probably unnecessary.

    Report the advert. 
    "Anybody can play. The note is only 20%. The attitude of the motherf*cker who plays it is  80%" - Miles Davis
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  • ICBMICBM Frets: 69426
    Report to Ebay immediately.

    At best, this person is planning to "sell" the guitar on Ebay when they don't actually own it - which is illegal - then try to buy it from you for the lower price, and pocket the difference.

    At worst, it's an outright scam and they intend to defraud the buyer.

    "Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski

    "Just because I don't care, doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson

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  • John_PJohn_P Frets: 2725
    Indeed a scam and the only reason it looks like they haven't done it before is because next week it will be done with a different account.   Report before people suspect your ad is the scam.  
    my trading feedback

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  • hollywoodroxhollywoodrox Frets: 3605
    Report the mofo
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  • SputnikSputnik Frets: 48
    Thanks to you all for taking the time to offer advice and support.  What a truly fabulous parish this is.

    I have reported the seller to eBay and explained the situation fully, so I assume that at some point within the next few weeks the spurious advert will be taken down or, as @John_P suggests, reappear on eBay in a different town with a new vendor's account details ...

    Thanks again for all your kindness.

    Keith   
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  • prowlaprowla Frets: 4680
    Yep - reporting to ebay and letting them sort it is the way.
    Auctioning something you don't have is a clear breach.
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  • SputnikSputnik Frets: 48
    I reported this definition of audacity to eBay's seller scams department last Wednesday.  

    It's now Sunday afternoon and the scammer's copy of my Pete Beer Concert Classical advert is still live on their site and has now acquired 7 watchers. My legitimate, genuine bargain advert at less than 80% of the scammer's asking price has attracted 130 views, but no firm interest.  Is there no justice?  Hey ho ...
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  • vizviz Frets: 10211
    Sputnik said:
    I reported this definition of audacity to eBay's seller scams department last Wednesday.  

    It's now Sunday afternoon and the scammer's copy of my Pete Beer Concert Classical advert is still live on their site and has now acquired 7 watchers. My legitimate, genuine bargain advert at less than 80% of the scammer's asking price has attracted 130 views, but no firm interest.  Is there no justice?  Hey ho ...
    Those watchers are probably just us, watching what happens :)
    Paul_C said: People never read the signature bit.
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  • HaychHaych Frets: 5218
    If you report anything to eBay, if possible, try to report it under a category that suggests to eBay they will lose money from the listing you're reporting.

    From experience their reaction to reporting fraudulent listing practices is much slower, if they act at all, than reporting under contact information in description or photos.

    Just a thought.

    I meant April. ~ Simon Weir

    Bit of trading feedback here.

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  • SputnikSputnik Frets: 48
    Thanks for the wisdom, @Haych.  I have certainly had no reaction whatsoever from the complaint I raised last week, so I suspect your perceptive take on eBay's priorities does set out the path I should have followed.

    Absurdly, in the meantime, I might just have rediscovered my love for Pete Beer's craftsmanship after all.  Mmmm ...
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