Ebay dodginess?
Discussion
I've been trying to buy a DVD of an old film, that was unfortunately never released on DVD or video. Spied some bloke selling it on ebay (God knows where he's got a copy from!), and stuck a bid in. Went rather high, and got outbid at the last moment.
Ah well, c'est la vie. Except withing 5 minutes of the end I get an email offering me a "2nd chance" to buy it. Presumably the seller has emailed all the bidders offering them this to offload a few silly priced DVD copies (I noticed he had a similar auction a few days ago!). Decide to opt out as it seems a bit crafty - by all means sell them at a sensible price where people know what they are getting, but pretending to auction 1 and then running off copies seems a bit rude.
The dodginess comes where I was looking in more detail - the winning bidder has been left positive feedback about 2 hours after the end of the auction! How can it have been completed in this time!? I thought it was standard practice to wait until all monies and items were received safely?
Ah well, c'est la vie. Except withing 5 minutes of the end I get an email offering me a "2nd chance" to buy it. Presumably the seller has emailed all the bidders offering them this to offload a few silly priced DVD copies (I noticed he had a similar auction a few days ago!). Decide to opt out as it seems a bit crafty - by all means sell them at a sensible price where people know what they are getting, but pretending to auction 1 and then running off copies seems a bit rude.
The dodginess comes where I was looking in more detail - the winning bidder has been left positive feedback about 2 hours after the end of the auction! How can it have been completed in this time!? I thought it was standard practice to wait until all monies and items were received safely?
He's been on a couple of years, plenty of feedback. Didn't occur to me that he might do it just after receiving the money.
Is he a bit cheeky running off copies like that? I assume it's illegal. But then if the studios won't release the film what can you do? Just think he should have been a bit more open about it - I do want the film but I won't be taking him up on his offer.
Item #:6468077836
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Yellow-Rolls-Royce-Rex-Har
PS - I guess he could use an alternative account to outbid me and then offer it to me and my max bid, but seems a bit long winded when it was only a few quid more than the price it was on before...
>> Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Wednesday 4th January 00:40
Is he a bit cheeky running off copies like that? I assume it's illegal. But then if the studios won't release the film what can you do? Just think he should have been a bit more open about it - I do want the film but I won't be taking him up on his offer.
Item #:6468077836
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/The-Yellow-Rolls-Royce-Rex-Har
PS - I guess he could use an alternative account to outbid me and then offer it to me and my max bid, but seems a bit long winded when it was only a few quid more than the price it was on before...
>> Edited by NiceCupOfTea on Wednesday 4th January 00:40
Patience. Add the seller to your favourites list and wait until he re-auctions another copy. Place a lowish bid, then. If you loose the item, chances are you'll get the "Second Chance" offer and be able to buy at lower price than now.
Ebay items are like buses. If you miss one, there'll always be another along later.
Ebay items are like buses. If you miss one, there'll always be another along later.
NiceCupOfTea said:
PS - I guess he could use an alternative account to outbid me and then offer it to me and my max bid, but seems a bit long winded when it was only a few quid more than the price it was on before...
I've had a couple of second chance offers on stuff within minutes of the auction closing, a bit too soon for buyers remorse to set in with the original winning bidder.. I always thought that was what they were doing, making sure they sold the item for the highest possible amount.
if it was a film i really wanted i'd email him and ask if its a real genuine copy, not just a home made copy.
if its a real film and you really want it, you have to say to yourself "how much would i pay if i saw it for sale in a shop" , if the answer is £25-£30, just go ahead and buy it.
if you like it, but aren't all that fussed, just leave it, and wait for another copy to come along.
if its a real film and you really want it, you have to say to yourself "how much would i pay if i saw it for sale in a shop" , if the answer is £25-£30, just go ahead and buy it.
if you like it, but aren't all that fussed, just leave it, and wait for another copy to come along.
I bought an rare original video for £65 a few months back ,ive had people in touch ASKING me to run off some copies at a decent price,not that i did 
The way i look at it,you will pay good money for the original but if you want a copy then not so much.
In the end if you decide to pay for a copy,you get the film and he makes some £££'s on the side ,,no harm done,some time youve got to "Duck'n'dive" to get what you want and if the guy values his feedback then do a deal.
The way i look at it,you will pay good money for the original but if you want a copy then not so much.
In the end if you decide to pay for a copy,you get the film and he makes some £££'s on the side ,,no harm done,some time youve got to "Duck'n'dive" to get what you want and if the guy values his feedback then do a deal.
Its a copy of a DVD produced for screening and pre-distribution purposes.
If you look at the screen shot about a 1/5 of the way up there is a blurred out name of who the DVD was originally sent to (i.e. Blockbuster Video Group) to stop it being distributed by the shops/cinema's/airlines who received a preview copy.
You will not receive a genuine DVD, but a copy.
Its a lot of money for something he is just running copies off of mate
If you look at the screen shot about a 1/5 of the way up there is a blurred out name of who the DVD was originally sent to (i.e. Blockbuster Video Group) to stop it being distributed by the shops/cinema's/airlines who received a preview copy.
You will not receive a genuine DVD, but a copy.
Its a lot of money for something he is just running copies off of mate
wtd said:
Its a copy of a DVD produced for screening and pre-distribution purposes.
If you look at the screen shot about a 1/5 of the way up there is a blurred out name of who the DVD was originally sent to (i.e. Blockbuster Video Group) to stop it being distributed by the shops/cinema's/airlines who received a preview copy.
You will not receive a genuine DVD, but a copy.
Its a lot of money for something he is just running copies off of mate
Just seen that blurred out bit - I assume that is present all the way through the film and not blurred out! As you say, it's a lot of cash for a copy!
I was looking at getting Gunball rally from ebay. I got out bit at the last minute as well and then I also had a second chance to get the film?
There was only 1 of them for sale but sold for 20 quid. I bought it else ware for 9.99 from US direct. fre del when you order 3 movies which i did.
and replyed to the person selling saying I got it cheaper else ware
there loss my gain
There was only 1 of them for sale but sold for 20 quid. I bought it else ware for 9.99 from US direct. fre del when you order 3 movies which i did.
and replyed to the person selling saying I got it cheaper else ware
there loss my gain
If you read the listing carefully, you will see that he is not really hiding anything:
If it's commerically unavailable, has a logo on the screen and has 'custom artwork' then you can be fairly sure it's not a legitimate copy.
Listing said:
Very Rare import DVD,picture quality is exellent,This film is commercially unavailable,like some of the other movies i sell,they come from various sources,collectors etc,this film is complete with custom artwork and disc
This film is in Widescreen,and it does have a small logo on the right of the screen,which does not affect the quality of the film
If it's commerically unavailable, has a logo on the screen and has 'custom artwork' then you can be fairly sure it's not a legitimate copy.
tallbloke said:
Some keen new sellers give feedback as soon as the punter has paid. If they use paypal, this could be within a few minutes. How long has the buyer been an ebay member? I was in an auction recently against two zero feedback bidders who both joined on the same day!
I did this, once they had made contact and said they were coming to get it.
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