Borderline Scammers on eBoy

[doubs43]

Oddly enough I've just received a Pentacon right-angle finder in like-new condition from World Trade Camera at an excellent price. I've just won a set of new original extension tubes for the "electric" models of the Praktica and should receive those Saturday or early next week.... again at a very good price. A couple of months back I bought new, in-the-box, TX & T4 adapters for Vivitar and Soligor lenses that were a fraction of the cost elsewhere.

I agree that the ad Bill has the problem with is misleading and should be worded differently. It's a perfect illustration of why a buyer needs to do their homework first. The items I've purchased were because I know what they are. I've passed on other of WTC's auctions for exactly the same reason Bill cites; misleading information.

It's unfortunate that some of the photo dealers in NYC are not as honest as they could be and I learned years ago to be wary of them. They are good at stripping factory packs and selling each accessory alone. They'll strip out the case, batteries, straps, caps etc. from a new camera and the body with instructions is ALL you'll get. ALWAYS check to make sure the item you are buying INCLUDES everything the factory says it should. The already mentioned Cambridge Camera was guilty of it but so were others.

I really don't have an answer for the problem except the old Roman saying "Caveat emptor" or buyer beware.

Walker

 

[ch1]

Caveat Emptor, indeed. Having a real storefront, of course, doesn't prevent a store from being "scammy". The worldtradecamera "about me" ebay page has a photo inside the store that gives you a feel for its size. The left wall pictured probably shows about 2/3 its length, and the store is approximately square. The "World Trade Camera Ltd." sign is in large letters on the front. It is, however, relatively new in this location. They moved in _after_ 9/11. I'm guessing it was some time in 2002 that they opened -- the ebay account dates from that time. From what little I can find on the web, it appears that this store is basically Wall Street Camera in a new location with a new name (same people, etc.). I'm not sure when Wall Street Camera closed.

Scott

Not sure either, but I think Wall Street Camera closed in 2000 or so (i.e. before 9/11). I used to work d/town (including a WTC) but now in midtown. I only get down to that block a couple of times a year now when I go to CLE classes at the County Lawyers Assn.

Nothing planned right now - but I'll try to remember to check this place out more thoroughly next time I get down there.

Actually, I'm surprised a B&M store would "play" scammy games on eBoy - they are liable to get a visit from a very angry and "unforgiving" customer some day. 😡

 

[RJBender]

Send a message to the bidders on the auction. I'll bet a lot of them retract their bids. Obviously you keep and eye on this guy.

Is this another "Cambridge Camera" seller?

Not a good idea, Brian. EBay calls that "transaction interference."

Members are not permitted to email buyers in an open or completed transaction to warn them away from a seller or item. If you have a problem with a transaction, please use the feedback forum and review our Fraud Protection Program.

Violations of this policy may result in a range of actions, including:
Listing cancellation
Limits on account privileges
Account suspension
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Loss of PowerSeller status​

( http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/transaction-interference.html )

R.J.

 

[sf]

hmm

hmm

I don't like the username that person uses. Extremely tacky. The eboy user, of course.

 

[Poptart]

I would personally not worry so much about the mote in thine brother's eye, if you get my drift. I hate to get corrective emails from non-bidders. I'm surprised he hasn't filtered you out; that's what I'd do.

 

[bmattock]

I would personally not worry so much about the mote in thine brother's eye, if you get my drift. I hate to get corrective emails from non-bidders. I'm surprised he hasn't filtered you out; that's what I'd do.

I could be cynical and note that unethical people often object to being told they're unethical. Ethical people who made an honest mistake might be grateful that someone took the time to let them know so they could avoid misleading a buyer.

But let's examine your statement. I'll use your biblical reference, since it works so well.

If I were writing to my brother (the seller) because I was concerned with the mote in his eye (sin), then yes, I'd be better advised to first look to the beam in my own eye (my even greater sin) first. There are certainly people who get a charge out of running around and letting others know what sinners they are - what punishment awaits them - and those are indeed the ones who were meant.

The Bible indeed teaches us to look to our own sin before worrying too much about the sins of others. However, the Bible does not teach us that we have no responsibility to others, but only to ourselves. Indeed, we are instructed again and again that we are to help our brothers (the potential buyers in this case) whenever we can.

My concern then, is not for the 'sin' of the seller, but rather for potential damage to the buyer. I leave the seller to look to his own conscience. I am hardly without sin, and don't I know it.

If the seller chooses to 'filter' me out, that's his business. I note that he can hardly complain to eBoy, because he has no ethical leg to stand on. Rather like complaining to the police that the neighbors report him for speeding - if he IS speeding, good on the neighbors.

I do not fashion myself the eBoy Police, nor do I generally run around correcting sellers - I have a life and a lot more interesting things to do. I happen to be an SME on Braun Paxettes and I hate to see people misled into buying a lens that I know for a fact will not work as they would intend it if they believe the seller's shading of the truth that it works on a Leica. If my email offends the seller, well so mote it be. I will sleep well regardless.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Poptart]

My only example to offer is that some nosy parker emailed me that Ouija boards aren't necessarily from the date they're copyrighted on, according to him. I'm not sure why he cared or what he meant but whatever--it was annoying.

 

[RJBender]

My only example to offer is that some nosy parker emailed me that Ouija boards aren't necessarily from the date they're copyrighted on, according to him. I'm not sure why he cared or what he meant but whatever--it was annoying.

It couldn't be more annoying than a Ouija board that actually spells this out for you! 😱

R.J.

 

[bmattock]

My only example to offer is that some nosy parker emailed me that Ouija boards aren't necessarily from the date they're copyrighted on, according to him. I'm not sure why he cared or what he meant but whatever--it was annoying.

I am far from an expert on Ouija boards - but I would suppose that there are people out there who collect them - people will collect anything. To them, the date a oija board was made would probably be important, and if it was listed as having been made on the date it was copyrighted, those collectors might care. Just a guess.

As a person who sold a oija board but who is not expert in them - you can hardly be expected to know that. I suppose that Nosy Parker was trying to let you know as an FYI - but perhaps not.

If I'm a collector of widget X, and the seller says it is a 1941 Widget X, and I bid and buy it based on that information, and then I get it and it was made in 1971 but copyrighted in 1941, I might feel cheated. I might want my money back. I might feel that as a seller, you're obligated to educate yourself on what you're selling enough to know what make a Widget X valuable or not valuable to collectors. Unreasonable expectation? Perhaps, but I'm just trying to identify with the imaginary buyer.

By the same token, the seller I've listed might not be an expert on camera lenses and what cameras they fit - but wait. They run a camera store in NYC. They sell only cameras and camera accessories. They modified their ads for Paxette lenses after I started emailing them - so instead of claiming that the lens is 'for' a Leica/Canon LTM, they now state only that it 'fits' a Canon/Leica LTM.

I've only sold a few things on eBoy. When I did, I got all kinds of questions and weird emails, so I guess I can sympathize with your annoyance. I stated in one ad that I only wanted PayPal - and I got a 1,000 word essay from some guy on why America was going to hell in a handcart because I would not take his money order.

You may have seen the recent thread about the guy selling two vintage light meters as 'radios'. At least he said he didn't know if they worked - but I imagine that anyone buying them thinking that they WERE radios would be unhappy to discover that they weren't. In his case - an honest mistake, he didn't know they werent' radios, and they had dials on them, so hey, radios.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks