Re: Major eBay mistake, was (Re: FA: Reference books, Salvation Supreme)

["Shawn B." <leabre@html.com>]

I know we're offtopic here but I thought I'd chime in:

I'm a guitarist.  I was looking for some Tablature (or specialized Sheet
Music) just to see what is available and whether I have interest (I never
know until I see it).

I stumbled across a page of listings for various musicians that I had
interst in each.  Mind you, I think I'm purchasing a physcial out-of-print
book.  Nope.  These are in PDF format on a CD-ROM (never officially
released).

here's a sample of more current listings (exact same merchandise, different
seller name)...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2575520735&category=38104

It clearly states it is in Acrobat PDF (not printed).  It is also entered in
using a popular freeware guitar tab software package called PowerTab, which
also plays back the music through a MIDI sound card.  But he doesn't provide
the original PowerTab files, just PDF printed versions of the Tab files that
*he* or *someone else* entered in.

I sent an email asking if he had written concent of the copyright holders to
reproduce their material but I have not received an answer.

What is so frustrating is that there was a time last month when almost all
the listings were PDF copies (that undoudtedly he can reproduce as much as
he wishes, but there is only one listing of the same item in bid at any
given time until the bid ends and a new listing is produced) when I'm
expecting to be purchasing a physical book.  It cost more money for me to
print my own copy than a book would cost on EBay with shipping.

Sure you'd think Ebay would do something about it.  I haven't complained,
but I'm getting sick of these fakes clogging up the search results when I'm
looking for something legitimate.

Thanks,
Shawn


"Donald Lee" <coach41@pacbell.net> wrote in message
3FC11757.148F7E68@pacbell.net">news:3FC11757.148F7E68@pacbell.net...
> Ebay is full of crap sometime.  Take a look at this:
>
>
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3363132240&category=41646
>
> Looks relatively legit right?  Well, this video was being sold with the
> same exact wording earlier this year.  I think it is the same "person"
> selling it, but just under a different user name.
>
> Being a Knight Rider fan, I was foolish enough to buy it as it two of my
> favorite episodes were on the tape.
>
> Well, I received it, I knew something was wrong right away.  The box
> didn't have any copyright information on it.  The videotape label was
> handmade.
>
> Then the shows themselves.....the first episode showed "Columbia House"
> copyrights on it.  Columbia House has released certain episodes to be
> sold through their club.  The second episode was WORST.  The quality of
> the video sucked, it looked like it had been actually recorded from 1984
> when the episode originally broadcasted.  The transitions when the show
> went to commerical were cut so that should have given me a clue.  But
> the final kicker?  As the episode ended and rolled to the closing
> credits.....an voice over from NBC was promoting the next show coming
> up...which was quickly muted.
>
> So much for Ebay's "policy" of not selling shows copied from TV!!!  The
> seller was initially a bit "rude" when I pressed about the quality of
> the tape and the so called promises that had been made.  However, I
> gleamed their personal contact info (address/phone number) and I was all
> about to contact them when the seller suddenly became nice and said I
> could get a refund.
>
> I haven't had many problems with Ebay except for this one incident.  But
> they are woefully inconsistent if they are giving problems over software
> that may be legit when tapes like the one I bought are still being sold.
>
> Donald
>
>
>
> Sandra Warnken wrote:
> >
> > a2@wilserv.com (Willi Kusche) wrote in message
news:<5e7193b4.0311220933.3735ed75@posting.google.com>...
> > > Hi, y'all!
> > >
> > > warnken@mother.com (Sandra Warnken) wrote in message
news:<97885148.0311141048.13868c4d@posting.google.com>...
> > > > Apple IIGS Firmware Reference
> > > >  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2766165857
> > > >
> > > > Apple IIGS Technical Reference
> > > > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2766168650
> > > >
> > > > Salvation Supreme for Apple IIGS
> > > >  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2766157966
> > >
> > >     Looks to me as if Sandra has gotten a raw deal from eBay.  The
> > > description for the "Salvation Supreme" item has been removed by eBay
> > > so the evidence of the foul deed is no longer available.  I saw the
> > > pictures of the software that Sandra posted, before the item
> > > description was deleted.  The disks appeared to me to be original
> > > copies of the software.
> > >
> > >     But eBay cancelled the auction claiming that the disks were
> > > copies.  The worst part is that Sandra was threatened with being
> > > kicked off eBay if it happened again.
> > >
> > >     Sandra hasn't been able to convince eBay that the software is
> > > legit.  I've dealt with her before and found her to be an excellent
> > > seller.
> > >
> > >     Just had to comment about this situation.
> > >
> > > Willi
> >
> > Hi Willi,
> >
> > I had another go around with eBay's customer no-service Jack.  Today
> > he told me today he is tired of dealing with me.
> >
> > The portion of policy the notice cited is
> > http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/software-backup-faq.html    It's
> > now clear he doesn't know the policy he was exhorting me to follow.
> >
> > Last night I mucked around the rabbit warren of links on eBay to find
> > the policy.  I can't believe how difficult it is to find things. I
> > finally found the following.  The last sentence is the critical one
> > which I sent Jack.
> >
> > "As a matter of eBay policy "backup" or "archival" copies of any
> > software may not be listed on eBay (including games software, whether
> > on disk, console or cartridge). eBay is aware that sometimes you may
> > lawfully make a backup copy of software, and in some rare instances,
> > even lawfully sell that backup copy. However, even legally permissible
> > copies of "backup" or "archival" software are not permitted on eBay.
> > The policy does not affect the offering of original authentic copies
> > of software."
> >
> > I said in the very first letter to Jack the back ups were original
> > disks from the manufacture.  I sent him the jpg I used which clearly
> > shows the disks are original.  He did not respond to the picture.
> >
> > Today he backed down a little, but still said don't do it again.  I
> > have no idea how the threat to be kicked off if I do it again is
> > handled.  I wrote in the customer survey that I feel less safe with
> > this experience.  I work hard to maintain a good reputation by selling
> > things that are accurately described.  I have been rewarded with
> > customers who do their part as well.  We both have a good experience.
> > Of course, I have to say that I've never had a problem dealing with an
> > A2 fan found on any internet connection.  This sort of thing sours it
> > with eBay.  I'll get over it.
> >
> > Sandy