The idiocy of eBay- not even pre-war collectors are exempt

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Posted By: tbob

You have probably all seen the numerous Fro-Joy reprints which have sold on eBay over the past few years, some for as much as $500. I finally decided enough is enough, and I listed (for a dollar) a sharp looking black and white Fro-Joy Ruth reprint sheet on eBay, clearly stating in the title and in the description that it was a reprint and then in the description enumerating how you can spot fakes and reprints in eBay auctions. The next day I got a nasty email from eBay telling me the listing was removed for "trademark violation" (I guess Alice and Fred Fro-Joy objected!) and threatened to suspend my account if I ever did this again.
This reminds me of the numerous collectors on this board who got in trouble with eBay when they notified unwary buyers of items which were obvious fakes. I believe at least one even got suspended for "doing the right thing" and being a good guy.
Ebay is just unbelievable. Although I would hate to see eBay ended for selfish reasons as I have picked up a number of cards I would never have had access to without it, I would still love to see eBay get drilled in the law suit presently against them which has been mentioned previously on the board.

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Posted By: Joann

Hee. Maybe we should rotate the auction around. So if Bob got a warning and it was taken down, have it reappear on ebay from someone else as seller.

I'd be willing to take a turn and a handslap from ebay to keep it out there for my few days.

I live to agitate! lol

Joann

Oh... and if ebay seemed to find that one right away, it makes you wonder who put them onto it!! Probably a seller of legit Fro-Joys I'd imagine. sheesh. So now ebay is the sic-dog for the dishonest sellers. Wow.

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Posted By: Daniel Bretta

Ebay relies on fake items and uneducated bidders for a signifigant portion of their revenues and will do anything to make sure the two continue in harmony in their marketplace. How do you explain the number of fake items on ebay??? There are tons of notorious sellers who continually get turned into ebay and nothing ever happens. I hope Tiffany and Co. win their lawsuit.

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Posted By: Steve M.

Received an email from eBay that Paypal had refused to pay my eBay seller's invoice. I, of course have it set up that way. EBay threatened to suspend my privledges to list and bid. Quite a nasty tone to the email. Hope someone gets in their face. Just wanted to vent Bob. Thanks. P.S. Your cards are all packed up. Will go out Tuesday since there is no mail tomorrow.

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Posted By: cmoking

if ebay loses the Tiffany lawsuit, users are the ones that will pay for it in the long run.

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Posted By: ramram

Hey Steve M. -

Are you sure that wasn't a phisher email that you received?

Rob M.

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Posted By: Daniel Bretta

So you're saying that moral, ethical ebay sellers are the ones who will have to make up for Ebay's lost revenue if they are forced to clean up their marketplace?

You're probably right and that sucks.

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Posted By: barrysloate

So what Bob is saying is you can sell a fake Fro-Joy as real and get away with it, but if you sell a fake Fro-Joy and admit it is fake you have to remove it? That makes perfect sense.

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Posted By: Steve M.

Rob: My first thought. So I went to my ebay account and verified the email. I am very, very careful about phishing. Thanks for the comment though.

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Posted By: Paul

This is an amazing story, but also a little puzzling. T206 Wagner reprints are routinely sold as reprints (and sometimes as real of course), and ebay never objects. I've also seen millions of DeLong reprints and Goudey reprints and others sold as reprints.

I assume the Fro Joy company is out of business and no one purchased its rights to those Ruth pictures, so I can't imagine that any legitimate owner of the rights to those photos actually complained to ebay.