Uneducated Buyers Meet Lindascards2005

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Posted By: T206Collector

What I find most frightening about reviewing Lindascards2005's feedback on eBay is the number of people that report a successful transaction and give her positive feedback after spending good money on obvious reprints, that -- in the seller's defense -- are actually being sold as reprints. Then the buyers leave positive feedback after spending $25, $50, $100+ on worthless glossy cardboard that's been soaked in tea.

$77.00 -- 19 bids -- 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth
Positive Feedback Comment: "thanks,very pleased with purchase"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86847&item=5203148136

$45.13 -- 11 bids -- 1940 Play Ball Joe Jackson
Positive Feedback Comment: "Great card, fast shipment - Recommended to All !!!"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86851&item=5203747227

$41.00 -- 15 bids -- 1933 Sports King Gum Ty Cobb
Positive Feedback Comment: "good seller, AA++ quality cards, smooth transaction"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86847&item=5202553402

$42.00 -- 8 bids -- ANOTHER 1933 SPORTS KING GUM TY COBB!
Positive Feedback Comment: "Nice Card A+++++++++++++++++++"
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86847&item=5186072059

(I could go on all night, but this makes my head hurt...)

Time and time again we've posted on this board about such sellers, but the real problem, in my opinion, is the number of uneducated buyers out there, leaving positive feedback as a trail of poison bread crumbs for other unsuspecting buyers.

One buyer that left a negative feedback stated, "not real reprint picture over cardboard buyer beware do not buy not worth it," to which Lindascards2005 stated what is the obvious answer to me: "he spend $22.00 on a 1951 Willie Mays and thought it was real ?? sold as a copy." BUT EVEN AFTER THIS FEEDBACK WAS LEFT, people are STILL shelling out money!!!!

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=lindascards2005

With all of the above, is there anything to be done about this? Ebay cannot police this, and given the true statements in the item descriptions there is nothing they really should do anyway. But it makes me sick to see Lindascards2005 just making a bank based on counterfeit cards being sold as artificially aged reprints that trick people into thinking they won the genuine article at a rock bottom price.

Here are some options:

(1) E-mail to seller. "Notwithstanding your note that your cards are being sold as reprints, buyers are obviously shelling out real cash in the hope that you are wrong in your item description. You are taking advantage of a hope that you know does not exist. That is unethical and borderline illegal. I will be reporting your business practices to eBay and the IRS."

(2) E-mail to all bidders. "This is an auction for an artificially aged reprint. This reprint card is available in mint condition through various sources on ebay for under $10. Why are you wasting your money here?"

(3) E-mail to bidders after they win the auction. "Congratulations, you just spent good cash on a complete fake."

(4) Post to the Network54 board about frustrations with sneaky sellers and uneducated buyers.

I chose option 4, as I don't really think it's my place to do 1-3. But gracious, it's frustrating. And now, I'm done venting. Thanks for indulging me in my lengthy rant.......