Recent Cartel Example

Attractive unused-appearing used Scott #24 offered by the tongue-in-cheeky named tenshillings "sells" for $133.50:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-Type-V-S...p=true&rt=nc

Then appears on offer by superdeal5:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18208532753...RK:MEBIDX:IT

I love how the description "feintly cancelled" is repeated in both cases.

I'm just amazed how they continue this game. Anyway, the PF cert is a little odd, no? It says,

"Unused, no gum. ... we are of the opinion that it is genuine, faintly cancelled at top left."

If it is Unused, how can it be faintly cancelled?

That means it was described by the submitter as Unused, NG.

I notice that he has the same ad back up and certificate has the same number. Something is odd there.

I'm refraining from discussing this stamp's transaction history. I comment to discuss the right hand vertical perforations (East perfs). They seem much more uniform than the other three sides.

The Institute for Analytical Philately (IAP) recently published their last symposium's papers. Regardless of this stamp's perforation inconsistencies, this presentation on perforation analysis over time is relevant and worth reading: http://analyticalphilately.org/wp-c...tacich_1.pdf

All of the 2015 symposium is available here: http://analyticalphilately.org/?page_id=381

From the public record... a few days ago (April 5) this seller pled not guilty to Escaping Lawful Custody (Bristol preliminary hearing case #T20167109) and has a full trial scheduled for July 5th. I am hoping that justice will prevail.

Of course this has no impact on ebay, they welcome convicted felons. Neither ebay or PayPal makes any effort to research public legal records when granting accounts. Yet they promote their various 'protection' policies? How is anyone 'protected' when they allow those with criminal records to have accounts? Does a high seller rating or large number of positive feedbacks trump a felony conviction? In my opinion they ought to display this icon in the account profile when the person is a known criminal.
(I bet some people would still buy from a seller with this icon as long as it was a 'good deal'.!)

Stealing from people on ebay is far less risky and has a much greater upside then robbing a local store. Even more so when obfuscating the situation with international boundaries. Is it any wonder why they may attract a criminal element?

Another reason why buying from only known and reputable people is the best idea.
Don
APS #094826

Convicted felons are allowed to incorporate and manage companies and employment discrimination against felons has been illegal since 1964. I see no reason why ebay should do background checks for convicted felons. They've been convicted and presumably punished. Let them integrate into society.

Well .... ebay isn't society, nor is it an employer. It is a free marketplace that operates on trust. That trust includes the trust of ebay users that they will not be deliberately exposed to fraud and theft on the part of crooks who have track records of doing just that. Convicted? Maybe. Punished? Probably not, in any meaningful way. Reformed? Not a chance.

Hungry,
True enough and frankly if it was a simple case of a person who misstep once as a young person then I wouldn't have heartburn. But in this case we are talking about a person who has a 25 years history of felons, multiple deportations, and multiple imprisonments. When it is a life long trend, well... that isn't a person I would want to do business with.

Lastly, I would not think it so bad on ebay's part if they didn't act like their rating system was meaningful or that they are offering any kind of protection. It has gotten to the point where there are now books, websites, and other resources which direct criminals to become ebay sellers after their incarnation.

http://www.hirefelons.org/entrepren...-for-felons/

http://www.felon-jobs.org/

ebay wants everyone to have a high level of confidence in buying things sight unseen. My level of confidence is inversely proportional to the level that they vet new accounts. ( ebay rating system and feedback means little to me when a malicious person can simply buy an existing account with 10,000 feedbacks and 100% rating.)

All that being said, there are many good people on ebay. I buy from those who I know and/or have good reputations.
Don
APS #094826

Whaddaya know?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scott-24-US...82085327533?

I complained about the cartel myself when I purchased a blue paper variety without a certificate that was not blue paper. The late Bill Weiss told me to be careful. The cartel folks read this forum and black listed me from bidding on their ebay lots. That's actually a win-win. Dan, I appreciate what you post and how you assist us in making sure we deal with honest dealers.

They do indeed read this forum. The example used in this thread is back up, this time with "feintly" corrected to "faintly":

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scott-24-US...AOSw3mpXDhRL

Now being offered by bargaindiscountsales. No doubt acquired via private treaty with superdeal5.....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/US-1c-Type-...AOSwkEVXGiZ6

It would be fascinating to track the journey of one particular item through this labyrinth.

Note 'bargaindiscountsales' ebay name history



If this person combined all his other seller's names, ebay would take action against him due to the total number of negative feedbacks. And when a seller changes names you can no longer search on that name to see previous listings.

Some sellers also take advantage of marking some names as 'Private feedback' which means you can not read the negative feedbacks. Unfortunately there are many ways to manipulate the ebay system if you are seeking to take advantage of other people.