Thursday, February 03, 2005

Bamboozled by eBay?

There was an article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle about the alarming growth in internet fraud. Of course, much of this fraud surfaces as identity theft. But some of it takes place on eBay. Apparently hundreds of thousands of people worldwide haven't heard the phrase "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

The story went on to quote people who lost thousands of dollars attempting to buy large screen TVs, computers, alleged collector's items, and other expensive merchandise on eBay for outrageously low prices.

Excuse me, but are these people all a few fries short of a Happy Meal? Who in their right mind buys an expensive piece of equipment on eBay? A few CDs or DVDs, some jeans, a toy, maybe a book or two - yeah. But a $5,000 TV for only $200? George Harrison's first guitar from a guy in Iowa with a feedback rating of 2? A diamond tiara worn by the Queen of Nigeria?

I am happy to say that in the three years I've used eBay (to both buy and sell stuff), I have never been ripped off. And that's because I don't use eBay as a recreational drug.

I believe that most people in the world are honest. But when it comes to eBay, you might have better luck talking to that guy on the corner selling Gucci handbags out of the trunk of his car. At least you could figure out where your big brother should go later to beat him.

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