Date:         Tue, 8 Jul 2003 09:20:30 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: Are Ebay second chance auctions legit?
In-Reply-To:  <5.2.0.9.0.20030708083729.009f57d0@postoffice.idirect.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Tue, 8 Jul 2003, SStones wrote:

> Ebay states that the seller is obligated to sell the item to the highest
> bidder.  If the seller does not do so they have misused the system.

So if the high bidder backs out or can't be reached, that's the seller's
fault?  Interesting philosophy.  It does happen, for a variety of
reasons, though it's not terribly common.  Bad email addresses, sudden
events that cause the bidder to no longer have the money, cold feet on the
part of the bidder...that's life.

> The Seller is the one who suddenly starts sending unsolicited
> e-mails to the legit bidders. Always be wary of salesmen who have to resort
> to spam mailing to unload their crap.

I don't see how it's spam.  The bidder was obviously interested in the
item.  In a *real* second-chance offer, the email comes from ebay's
system, after being triggered by the seller.  "Second chance" email from
anywhere else is likely to be part of a scam.

I'm not personally that fond of second-chance offers, and would probably
decline one, but I don't agree that they're always fraudulant or that
anyone who uses one is automatically a criminal.


David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 Diesel Westfalia
'94 Honda Civic Si