I didn't get it.. WHO deleted your post?

I got someone to do this without your permission:

http://search.ebay.in/search/search.dll?sofocus=unknown&sbrftog=1&frpp=25&from=R10&satitle=scam&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fpaym=1&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&sadis=200&fsct=&seller=1&sass=retailsavings&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

HubbleMart wrote (View Post): › I didn't get it.. WHO deleted your post?

I have some 1GB and 2GB MP4 Chipod players listed on Ebay. I posted a link here to my store, with the point that some of the small proceeds would go towards relisting the 4GB SCAM auctions. The post was deleted, as this one probably will be as well.

Quote: › I got someone to do this without your permission: http://search.ebay.in/search/search.dll?sofocus=unknown&sbrftog=1&frpp=25&from=R10&satitle=scam&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fpaym=1&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&sadis=200&fsct=&seller=1&sass=retailsavings&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=

That's great, but they left in the links to pictures hosted on my server. They should be hosting them themselves. Better have them change it. I don't mind for a little while, but if they don't change it then I will have to remove the pictures off my server.

ok.. well I guess it's understandable. One can't make commercial use of this place.. even if for a good cause!

I see you changed your "BEWARE SCAM" listing to "software download" .. why's that?

Too bad we couldn't start a class-action against Ebay. It seems that if they are aware of this (hard to believe they aren't), it would be pretty easy for them to be at fault.

Post negative feedback
Find out where the item shipped from (Return Address), if it's in the US there is a good chance you can contact the State office for consumer affairs and report the person or business and the alleged fraud. This will probably do more to affect the listings than anything else. Chances are even this won't do much, but they will not like answering questions from a governmental office. If they have a US postal box (blown-z), then this may be reported to their local postmaster as well. Lastly I don't think that filing a police report in their home town would be accepted, but it would be kinda fun just to see if you could. After all, FRAUD is still illegal in the USA isn't it? If they live here, let's stick 'em!

Don't just call, send copies of the evidence and cc: the crooks...

most of them are in Hong Kong.
a few are in mainland China.

My latest version of my 4GB Scam Warning auction. Posted a link to the "77 eBay traders known to sell hacked players". Let's see how long eBay allows it...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270089124904

@AlbertaSatellite & michiganjfrog:

haven't seen your comments on this thread:
http://www.mympxplayer.org/mympxplayerorg-certification-vt3509.html

Here are my latest auctions:
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZmp4_scam_busterQQhtZ-1

Also, I have come up with some new tactics to fight these scammers

1) Hacked sellers auctions showing item is located in USA or Canada, but actually ships from Hong Kong - check the feedback, people will complain about this if item shipped from Hong Kong. Report all their auctions, select Report This Item, then Listing Policy Violations, then Item Location Misrepresentation. Click Continue, then click Email us. You can report up to 10 auctions per email, but keep reporting 10 a time to report all their auctions. You can quickly go through all their auctions, copy the item number to notepad.

2) Hacked sellers auctions starting at .01 cents, and FREE shipping - bid a $1 on all their auctions. Worst case is you get a bunch of players for $1. And they can't just relist the item if it doesn't sell. Plus you can leave negative feedback.

Here is an email from a "concerned" seller. I had a question for this seller, about whether or not they were selling hacked players:

I am well aware of who you are. I think you enjoy stirring the pot for those of us who sell legitimate merchandise. Read my feedback. We have never had a problem with our players. I think you need to find a new quest, and quit bothering good businesses, and putting fear in everyone's minds.
I do my very best to raise funding for our projects in Africa to help the poor, and you come along and tell everyone that ALL 4GB players are garbage. Thanks a lot! How many lives have YOU saved lately. You need to find something more constructive to do with your time.

My reply:
You, sir or madam, are an ass.

Have a look at all the 4GB players that you and I both know are hacked that are sold every day, every goddam minute on eBay. Think about how many thousands and thousands of dollars are going to these scammers and eBay every day.

I know what these players cost, I import them myself. The price on a TRUE 4GB player is almost double what a 1GB player costs. So do you like trying to compete with these goddam scammers, selling a hacked $20 player for 1/2 of what you have yours listed for? You better be blaming them if you aren't selling many.

I'll make you a deal - you send me a picture of the inside of one of your "true" 4GB players, showing the flash chip(s), so I can confirm it is really 4GB. If it is really 4GB, I will be more than happy to list you as a Recommended Seller in every one of my auctions. I will also add you to the "white list" of good sellers listed at http://www.mympxplayer.org

BTW - I volunteer at a local homeless shelter, so don't be throwing the good samaritan B.S. at me.

Thanks for the update AlbertaSatellite.

Keep up your good work and your quest.

It's going to be more difficult now that some are starting to actually be 4GB in size now.

admin wrote (View Post): › Thanks for the update AlbertaSatellite. Keep up your good work and your quest. It's going to be more difficult now that some are starting to actually be 4GB in size now.

Hey thanks. It is actually kind of funny, the guys claiming NOT HACKED in their auctions didn't start adding that until I started running my auctions. Which actually backfires on them - people will see that and go "hacked? What does this seller mean, HACKED? I ain't buying this s**t if they are hacked!"

THIS is why I am doing this:
"Thanks much for saving me from being ripped off. You are providing a vaulable service to eBayers with this info. I suspect that these MP3 players are only the tip of the iceberg with scam consumer electronic products."

Surely the most efficient solution is "direct marketing"?! Each auction gives the identity of the current highest bidder - who can be contacted by any EBay registered third party using that ID. Why not send the info you were broadcasting to a selection of the highest bidders on a regular basis? Sure, it'll take a little time... but not nearly as much time as it'll cost the crooked vendor when would-be purchasers start asking difficult questions (Like "why is your name on a blacklist?" "Why are you listed XYZ times ona petition against selling players with faked memory capacity?" "What guarantee do I have that the player you'll ship ME isn't a fake?") It also makes it more likely that pre-warned purchasers leave BAD feedback if/when they do get scammed.

@ BigRonW
Life is really not that simple - First, there is an auction ending almost every minute by the scammers.
Second - Send too many emails & ebay WILL suspend you.

I bid on & won a couple of 'scam-buster' listings from AlbertaSatellite with the intent of contributing some money towards relisting it. My account was promptly suspended on grounds of 'abusing ebay', without any specific reason.
I'm guessing it could be because -
- ebay saw that transaction as maybe a move to gather easy feedback.
- I made the big mistake of replying to alberta through the ebay system where I mentioned that I know him from mympxplayer forum.

But this isn't a NEW suggestion - you'll find it repeated several times on this forum as it has occurred (independently) to a number of posters. And as one of them points out... there are a LOT of members of this forum. If just a couple of dozen of us contacted say five buyers each, once a week... then another couple of dozen took over... Problem is, it's always so damned EASY to find reasons for inactivity - and to forget that if something similar had happened earlier, maybe you, and I and hundreds of others might have avoided being scammed.

When the isue was being discussed before, one mischevious poster pointed out that all you need to register with Ebay (as a purchaser) is an email address. SO... they ban you. But... which you? The persona you use to buy and sell... or the "spare" identity you created merely to protest through?! You really need to be more imaginative!

There are other avenues to be explored also, although picking the right time is important. In summer, when the politicians aren't legislating, everyone's on holiday, the print media are starved for things to cover - here in the UK we call it the "Silly Season". It's a good tije to start a media campaign. The summer's a way off though: Local radio stations seem an easier bet: many of them (again, here in the UK) run "consumer protection" programing - it's a cheap way to fill airtime and such shows are popular. There would be a fairly good chance to get coverage and publicity.