| Author | Message | ||
| 0vid
Junior Username: 0vid Post Number: 25 Registered: 4-2003 |
Recently I bid on an Alembic on ebay. I didn't win th eauction but received a second chance offer. This was not a legitimate second chance offer, but scammers looking at expensive products scamming bidders - offering second chances for lower bids for desirable goods. I received two second chance offers from two different scammers for the same product. Beware and make sure that the second chance offer is from the original seller, and that you need not have to supply your ID or password | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 535 Registered: 2-2005 |
This is exactly why I won't use e-bay anymore. Keith | ||
| lothartu
Intermediate Member Username: lothartu Post Number: 171 Registered: 8-2003 |
My point of view has always been that if the seller is willing to settle for a lower price after an auction ended but didn't sell then instead of messing with offering a "second chance" they should just list it again with the new lower reserve / buy it now. I know that's not the real issue since it's scammers offering the second chance and not the original lister but if everyone would just put a clause in their auctions which says "I don't ever do second chance offers, I'll relist instead at a lower price. Any second chance that you get is a scam." then it would go a long way to helping with this issue. That's what I've done in my auctions just because of all the "second chance" troubles. I just list it again then there's no problem. -Jim | ||
| longhorncat
Member Username: longhorncat Post Number: 100 Registered: 8-2005 |
I got FIVE second chance offers from five different people for the same guitar yesterday. | ||
| olieoliver
Senior Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 633 Registered: 2-2006 |
My first Alembic I got from ebay, a burl maple MK 5. I won it, paid for it, got it overnighted to me, had in my hands and was playing it when I received a second chance offer. Go figure.?! | ||
| tubeperson
Junior Username: tubeperson Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2005 |
Legitimate second chance offers only come through an ebay member's My E-bay account, not through a regular e-mail. When I received a second chance e-mail for the Roman Conqueror, I contacted the seller, requested a telephone number to verfiy the seller etc. Of course many people have offered this bass for sale, but I am the only legitimate owner at this point. I would only sell it through the club, since the scammers have really hurt my ability to sell it on e-bay. I hope all of the scammers get what they deserve. | ||
| fc_spoiler
Advanced Member Username: fc_spoiler Post Number: 296 Registered: 5-2006 |
I,m afraid that won't be possible... Look at all the listings from China, ebay don't seem to care or be able to do something about it. Selling through the club seems to be the best option, but doesn't always work (some have sold succesfully on ebay after they were posted here on the club for some time...) I've bought one bass through ebay, no problems at all but I would never do it the same after all I learned till this day... I won an Elan once, this was a scam. Thanks to emails in which I asked for new pictures, phone number, adress etc and with help from Alembic club member Speicky end ultimately the rightfull owner Albrecht I didn't get ripped off. My latest Spoiler was also through a similair site: Marktplaats (The dutch version of ebay) The seller (actually we both were sellers since this was a bass swap) and I met in a pub, and we're both happy now. So it can work, but please be carefull! Cheers, F.C. | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 256 Registered: 4-2005 |
Believe me, Legitimate Second Chance offers through eBay and regular eBay sales are potentially dangerous. While I bought my Mark King 5 through a Second Chance offer on a great price I also lost $2,000 yes Two Thousand Dollars on an eBay auctioned Alembic Series I Bass (billed on eBay as serial number 719) on what was supposed to be a legitimate second chance offer from a REgistered eBay user in Candada. I had communication with the "would be" seller, through eBay, and through her eMail. Ebay did eventually rule in my favor -- which is very difficult to accomplish and I will not even begin to describe all the hoops I had to go through to get that far . (I did get some of my money back, but not all.) And yes, it is still being pursued on my part through the legal system. (So if you are out there watching these Alembic posts, I hope you are ready to try it again with those same pics...)...My scam seller aborted her eBay registration and even moved away from her home in Toronto, Candada to avoid communication...changed phone numbers, etc....Anyway, I digress.....I post this to remind or alert everyone that eBay is a total crap shoot and the legal system is not that eager to take on these "Small Claims"...Use Escrow systems, legitimate music stores, or buy it on the condition that you can come and pick it up yourself. Swap cash for Ax! ......(See Previous Post Here Ebay Horror story in Progress for more details...) This is still difficult to talk about, but I feel it is my duty to help eBay shoppers know of the dangers... | ||
| tubeperson
Junior Username: tubeperson Post Number: 18 Registered: 5-2005 |
I would agree with dealing with Escrow services, that is how I acquired the Roman Conqueror. Anyone willing to even consider the Chinese Ebay ads is not thinking straight. A few dollars ($5.82 I've seen) for a Rickenbacker or Alembic bass? We each have a responsibility to THINK! When in doubt, see if the tranaction feels legit. Even then, problems do occur. Remeber Sgt. Esterhaus - Let's be careful out there! | ||
| crgaston
Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 254 Registered: 11-2005 |
One thing that always makes me feel a little bit better is using US Postal Money Orders and U.S. Mail instead of a commercial carrier. Then if somebody does something dishonest, it's Mail Fraud, and the USPIS should be all over them. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1571 Registered: 7-2004 |
Charles: Committing fraud using paypal and UPS or Fedex is equally illegal. However, as pointed out above, given the relatively small amount of $ being ripped off, and the inherent difficulties in tracking down the perpetrator, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the criminal justice system to recompense you for your losses, postal or not. Bill, tgo | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 257 Registered: 4-2005 |
Mine were USPS Postal money orders... Also, I talked with the thief via telephone prior to the transaction | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 258 Registered: 4-2005 |
Believe me, the U.S. Postal Service does not care...and they really don't care if it's an international theft....and that includes Canada...I repeated my story to, it seems, 80 different postal employees at all levels about 500 times...they wear you down until you don't care because you just don't want to talk about it. any more.... | ||
| crgaston
Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 255 Registered: 11-2005 |
Dang. That burst my little bubble. Thanks for the warning. | ||
| 57basstra
Advanced Member Username: 57basstra Post Number: 259 Registered: 4-2005 |
I would also like to say that I had some very positive experiences from that horror story. Primarily in that the response from the fellow members here was terrific. I had several members email me personally and talk about the situation and even share some similar stories. (Not necessarily about getting ripped on ebay, but having basses or guitars, or amps, etc., stolen, broken.) One member assisted me in gathering information on the perp. Another offered me a really, really great deal on another Alembic because he said someone had been kind to him when he'd had a bass stolen years ago. So, all in all, it proved to be something of a positive experience, thanks in no small part to the members here. (The staff has also been very kind). I look forward to reading the posts here and like a lot of folks, this is kinda one of my primary social networks. I stayed away several months following the ebay ordeal, but since coming back it has been a great pleasure....I think we have all become more diligent in keeping track of scams and in warning our fellow musicians..... | ||
| series_iii
Member Username: series_iii Post Number: 65 Registered: 8-2005 |
i probably wouldn't buy an alembic off of ebay unless the seller was either an established club member or reputable dealer. | ||
| trekster
Intermediate Member Username: trekster Post Number: 122 Registered: 7-2004 |
Last one I sold on ebay the buyer checked here! And he still got a second chance offer after he bought and received it!!! LOL --T | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1574 Registered: 7-2004 |
I bought my 1976 Series I guitar on ebay. I even broke my own rule and sent money orders because the seller didn't take paypal. And this was by far the most expensive item I've ever purchased on the 'bay. Of course this was after having a lot of back and forth communication with the seller who also had a lot of feedback and lots of previous instrument sales. Nevertheless, I was holding my breath and second-guessing myself the whole time until it arrived. Luckily, everything was kosher and had a happy ending. I still feel a little like I dodged a bullet on that one. A few months later I saw my guitar come up for sale on ebay again (not by me)! Ebay can be a scary place. Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on August 25, 2006) |
