Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
Posts: 6

somebody should clock this jerk!

Some things are really disgusting. I believe in the capitalist economy and certainly support anyone's legitimate endeavors but this is a little over the top. There is a jerk posting auctions on ebay that will give you a link to the amazon website where you can buy a 270 for $69 w/activation.
What is really sad is people are buying these auctions for $50-$70. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...=ADME:B:SS:US:1

Where is the sense of decency?

Registered: May 2003
Location: CT
Posts: 14

I think this practice is illegal per Ebay rules. You may want to report him to get his scam off of Ebay. This guy will probably sell his sister.

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

I'm having trouble seeing the problem here. If they guy really is providing a location to buy a Treo 270 for $69 w/activation why can he not sell that information? Of course it may be against Ebay's rules, but there is nothing in the auction that makes me believe he is acting unethically. I reserve judgement until you can give me evidence he is misleading people.

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Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
Posts: 6

Your right, what he is doing is not illegal and it is probably not against ebay's rules and the jury is still out on whether or not it is unethical. It is just a little disgusting that someone would stoop to this level, and I know that this is spittle in grand scheme of things but I just happened to run across it and thought I would share. I guess I thought about how I would fee if someone charged me for directions to the bathroom when I was standing in front of it. This guy is giving the perception by selling his info on ebay that he has something that is not publicly available, (I know he does't say that but it is implied). Any google search for treo brings up half dozen links to amazon $69 deal. (stepped down from soapbox)

Just my .02

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: DC Metro
Posts: 16

Wasn't it P.T. Barnum that said "There's a sucker born every minute" ?

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--Inspector Gadget

"Go Go Gadget Treo!!"
Treo 600 CDMA

Palm V-->Palm IIIc-->Visor Prism-->Visor Phone-->Treo 270-->Treo 600

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 10

I don't see what the problem is. The guy explicitly states several times that he is not selling the product, only the location to buy it. Anyone with common sense would just do a search on google or somewhere and find it themselves. That auction isn't misleading at all. He doesn't say he's selling the phone, or even that he has secret privileged information on where to find it. He's just saying he knows where to get if for that price and he's selling the information. How is that unethical?

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Vicinity of the Treo
Posts: 43

Wow... this is wild. Here is another one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...item=3034167898 .

The bids are up to $150.01 for providing the link. Yes, there are people out there who know very little about using the internet, and ebay is one of the few things they know.

For those who see no problems with it, why not join in on this scam^H^H^H^H great business opportunity and start selling URL's?

--
Silverado (who's wondering, given the demographics of this board, how many questions he'll get about the ^H's)

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Vicinity of the Treo
Posts: 43

For kicks, I started emailing the bidders in my free time with the URL for free. I also emailed the person who lost the Treo URL "auction" with the URL and told them they should be happy they "lost".

Do you think this is legal and ethical?

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

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Originally posted by silverado

For those who see no problems with it, why not join in on this scam^H^H^H^H great business opportunity and start selling URL's?

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<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

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Originally posted by silverado

Do you think this is legal and ethical?

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<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Northern woods, sharpening my antlers
Posts: 11

No one said that capitalism is perfect...
m00se

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Vicinity of the Treo
Posts: 43

quote:

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Originally posted by KRamsauer
Because it's something I wouldn't want to be a part of becuase I would feel I was taking advantage of people. Just because someone thinks it's not unethical doesn't mean they think it's a good idea. For instance, I have no problem with smoking (it's people's choice) but that doesn't mean I'm going to become a smoker.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Simsbury, CT
Posts: 40

Wow, this is a great one. It gets me thinking in a lot of different ways. When I read the first post, I tended to agree with all of you, and I still do feel that this seems rather lame. Nevertheless, a couple of thoughts for discussion:
1) My wife once told me that I should become a consultant who basically equips folks with technology. I'd find out what they want/need and do a bunch of research so that I could get the necessary items for the best value (best price from a reputable store). I guess I'd either mark up the final price, charge some flat %, some flat fee, or perhaps they'd pay me for my time (all those unanswered questions and the fact that I'm not sure how I'd get the word out about my services is part of why I haven't done this yet). So, they'd be getting a good product at a good price with all of my technical wisdom steering them in the right direction. I don't think most of you would think that this would be a scam. So what's different with this eBay auction? Well, he's not really offering his "wisdom" in terms of steering people towards products that meet their needs, as anyone bidding would already feel that the Treo 270 is the product that they need/want. Still, he's offering a service to a degree. What if the "deal" he knew about wasn't the $69 Amazon deal but rather was selling info about a little-known local place that was selling it for $25 and which didn't have an internet presence? Would it still be a scam then?

2) What about sites like techbargains.com? What if they decided they were going to start charging a subscription charge (say $25/year) in order to have access to all their deals? Would that be a scam?

Scott

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- news and commentary on the tech industry -

Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 13

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Scott R
1) My wife once told me that I should become a consultant who basically equips folks with technology. I'd find out what they want/need and do a bunch of research so that I could get the necessary items for the best value (best price from a reputable store).

No, this would not be a scam and differs from the situation in question because the service being offered would be analysis and research, unlike providing only information about how/where to purchase a product.

2) What about sites like techbargains.com? What if they decided they were going to start charging a subscription charge (say $25/year) in order to have access to all their deals? Would that be a scam?

Nope. You've heard of Costco and Sam's Club, right? Same idea.

Now, I agree with Silverado that taking advantage of people is unethical. That said, I think it's equally disappointing that there are people out there who will fall for this kind of a scheme.

Geoffrey

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

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Originally posted by silverado

I rarely get involved in such hair-splitting "Clintonisms", but this one irks me a bit too much. I happen to think that blatantly taking advantage of ignorant people is unethical. It might be technically legal, but ethical is a stretch, IMO.

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Vicinity of the Treo
Posts: 43

quote:

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Originally posted by KRamsauer
At the risk of turning this into a thread much longer than it should be....

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I think we are are beyond that point, unfortunately

quote:

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...
"taking advantage" is a purely subjective term. The manufacturing company that sells widgets for $10 though the marginal cost to them is 50 cents isn't taking advantage of anyone. A consultant who sees the obvious and charges outrageously for it isn't taking advantage of anyone. If this ebay person were to actively limit bidder's other routes to the information, that would be taking advantage. As it is, he's allowing people a method of obtaining information which they can take or leave. He is not forcing them to do anything. Unfortunately this is one of those times when jealousy warps itself into some kind of higher-moral-ground argument. But again, this is a subjective stance and I completely understand your point, I just don't agree with it.

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I was following your argument until you mentioned jealousy. Who do you think is jealous of whom in this situation?

Other than that, we agree to disagree.

If I was hiring sales people and had a candidate who did such "selling" I would never hire them. IMO, these are dirty street tactics that reflect badly on someone's character.

Last edited by silverado on 07-09-2003 at 08:45 PM

Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 13

quote:

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Originally posted by silverado
If I was hiring sales people and had a candidate who did such "selling" I would never hire them. IMO, these are dirty street tactics that reflect badly on someone's character.

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

quote:

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Originally posted by silverado



If I was hiring sales people and had a candidate who did such "selling" I would never hire them. IMO, these are dirty street tactics that reflect badly on someone's character.

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<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 734

Oh, and might I add the urging of violence against this person is completely wrong and though it may be hyperbole, I find disturbing.

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<a href="http://www.kurtramsauer.com">KurtRamsauer.com</a>

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: at work...
Posts: 736

quote:

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Originally posted by KRamsauer
he's allowing people a method of obtaining information which they can take or leave. He is not forcing them to do anything. Unfortunately this is one of those times when jealousy warps itself into some kind of higher-moral-ground argument. But again, this is a subjective stance and I completely understand your point, I just don't agree with it.

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