eBay scam

[michaelw]

was perusing the 'bay & ran across these -
reported them & hope that no one goes through the hassle of wasting their time

615
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990s-Taylor-615-Jumbo-Acoustic-Guitar-Flame-Maple-With-Pickup-/310956413852

the real listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1990s-Taylor-615-Jumbo-Acoustic-Guitar-Flame-Maple-with-pickup-/121318546951?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_udlo%3D%26_udhi%3D%26_ftrt%3D901%26_ftrv%3D1%26_sabdlo%3D%26_sabdhi%3D%26_samilow%3D%26_samihi%3D%26_sadis%3D10%26_fpos%3D%26_fsct%3D%26LH_SALE_CURRENCY%3D0%26_sop%3D12%26_dmd%3D1%26_ipg%3D50%26_nkw%3D121318546951%26_rdc%3D1&nma=true&si=Wg7UP6qBDKW%252FcBlY8viSp62ERmM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

GA6
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-Taylor-GA6-614-Acoustic-Guitar-AAA-Flame-Maple-Sitka-Trans-Orange-Mint-/310957439392

the real listing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-Taylor-GA6-614-Acoustic-Guitar-AAA-Flame-Maple-Sitka-Trans-Orange-Mint-/141259683753?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_udlo%3D%26_udhi%3D%26_ftrt%3D901%26_ftrv%3D1%26_sabdlo%3D%26_sabdhi%3D%26_samilow%3D%26_samihi%3D%26_sadis%3D10%26_fpos%3D%26_fsct%3D%26LH_SALE_CURRENCY%3D0%26_sop%3D12%26_dmd%3D1%26_ipg%3D50%26_nkw%3D141259683753%26_rdc%3D1&nma=true&si=Wg7UP6qBDKW%252FcBlY8viSp62ERmM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

320
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-320-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar-Sapele-Back-Sides-Mahogany-/310957437181

the real listing - still going on
http://www.ebay.com/itm/131175430738?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_udlo%3D%26_udhi%3D%26_ftrt%3D901%26_ftrv%3D1%26_sabdlo%3D%26_sabdhi%3D%26_samilow%3D%26_samihi%3D%26_sadis%3D10%26_fpos%3D%26_fsct%3D%26LH_SALE_CURRENCY%3D0%26_sop%3D12%26_dmd%3D1%26_ipg%3D50%26_nkw%3D131175430738%26_rdc%3D1

if the links are dead, then the listings got pulled & hopefully the "seller" does too

[ctkarslake]

Michael,
I'm not sure how you can link the last two listings together...but I just bought a guitar from these folks, "international liquidatorz" and they are legit!  Guitar was exactly as described, which was very minimally, just like inthe other guitar listings.

How did you come to the conclusion that they are a scam in any way?  I guess I fell for the "scam" and got the guitar I bought regardless.  Not a scam far as I am concerned.

For some reason the "real listings" you post have been removed but not the "scam" listings.

[michaelw]

Michael,
I'm not sure how you can link the last two listings together...but I just bought a guitar from these folks, "international liquidatorz" and they are legit!  Guitar was exactly as described, which was very minimally, just like inthe other guitar listings.

How did you come to the conclusion that they are a scam in any way?  I guess I fell for the "scam" and got the guitar I bought regardless.  Not a scam far as I am concerned.

For some reason the "real listings" you post have been removed but not the "scam" listings.

the title, pictures & descriptions were lifted, in full or in part, from other auctions is what threw a red flag for me

just wondering if this the guitar you purchased
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-712-Grand-Concert-1989-guitar-with-a-carrying-case-/191168161696?nma=true&si=Wg7UP6qBDKW%252FcBlY8viSp62ERmM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

here is a previous listing of what appears to be the same 712
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-712-Grand-Concert-1989-guitar-in-near-mint-condition-/281281990047?pt=Guitar&hash=item417db68d9f&nma=true&si=Wg7UP6qBDKW%252FcBlY8viSp62ERmM%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

apparently there was an issue with eBay's global shipping program
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=jfow6772&&_trksid=p2047675.l2560&rt=nc&iid=281281990047&sspagename=VIP:feedback&ftab=FeedbackAsSeller

both set of listings are still there -
the ones with the lifted pictures & descriptions with what i consider to be "too-good-to-be-true"
buy-it-now pricing & ridiculously low shipping charges & the 2 listings from which the pictures &
descriptions were lifted from that received feedback & the one that is still currently going on

looking at the feedback, there are 37 negatives within the past month, but looking further there is neutral & even
positive feedback where the item was damaged or not as described or the shipper requiring more postage be paid -
i called eBay & the representative agreed  that there is enough going to investigate & there have
been items listed & "sold" that the "seller" did not have, which is what i believe is happening here

if the listings remain, i guess we'll just see what happens

[wooglins]

This sellers feedback is well within acceptable %'s based on their volume of sales in the past year.    As an active seller on Ebay you can expect to receive about 1-2% negative and neutral feedback, this is especially true since ebay removed the ability for sellers to leave feedback which makes it really easy for buyers to leave negative or neutral feedback in an effort to extort a discount (this happens a lot now).   I looked through the sellers feedback and they have a lot of recent positive feedback listings, including many for guitars.

[Rockitman]

This is great info...thanks for posting.

[JConnerly]

I just bought a GS Mini 2013 fall LTD from this seller and it was just as advertised and arrived in perfect shape. Best mini I have played. Just sayin.

[michaelw]

This sellers feedback is well within acceptable %'s based on their volume of sales in the past year.    As an active seller on Ebay you can expect to receive about 1-2% negative and neutral feedback, this is especially true since ebay removed the ability for sellers to leave feedback which makes it really easy for buyers to leave negative or neutral feedback in an effort to extort a discount (this happens a lot now).   I looked through the sellers feedback and they have a lot of recent positive feedback listings, including many for guitars.

1 - 2% negative feedback is considered excessive with a very high volume seller & there has been feedback left where
the comments were not positive & more common is an item being sold that the seller does not have, undisclosed shipping
charges which were passed on to the buyer, along with a lack of communication after which funds were usually refunded

lifting pics & the description directly off of someone else's auction does not instill a sense of confidence or trustworthiness with me
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-614-CE-Acoustic-Electric-guitar-/111443405241?pt=Guitar&hash=item19f28b69b9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-614-CE-/171383874723?pt=Guitar&hash=item27e74664a3&nma=true&si=eDyj7waJqC5qH2YZMbMFpVp3P7c%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

receiving the correct item as described should not be hit-or-miss, especially if the seller
knows the outcome in advance (if there is an item available), but every dog has his day

[Jbrowland]

Kind of off topic but I noticed two popular and national online retailers who are one in the same (no names mentioned) have the same Taylor guitars listed in different auctions on eBay, same pics, serial number etc... BUT the price is over 100 clams different between the listings.  Annoying.  Is this alloweable on eBay?

[wooglins]

This sellers feedback is well within acceptable %'s based on their volume of sales in the past year.    As an active seller on Ebay you can expect to receive about 1-2% negative and neutral feedback, this is especially true since ebay removed the ability for sellers to leave feedback which makes it really easy for buyers to leave negative or neutral feedback in an effort to extort a discount (this happens a lot now).   I looked through the sellers feedback and they have a lot of recent positive feedback listings, including many for guitars.

1 - 2% negative feedback is considered excessive with a very high volume seller & there has been feedback left where
the comments were not positive & more common is an item being sold that the seller does not have, undisclosed shipping
charges which were passed on to the buyer, along with a lack of communication after which funds were usually refunded

lifting pics & the description directly off of someone else's auction does not instill a sense of confidence or trustworthiness with me
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-614-CE-Acoustic-Electric-guitar-/111443405241?pt=Guitar&hash=item19f28b69b9

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Taylor-614-CE-/171383874723?pt=Guitar&hash=item27e74664a3&nma=true&si=eDyj7waJqC5qH2YZMbMFpVp3P7c%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

receiving the correct item as described should not be hit-or-miss, especially if the seller
knows the outcome in advance (if there is an item available), but every dog has his day

If you sell 1000 guitars on ebay and just 20 people leave negative feedback that is 2%.  It is difficult to stay above 99% once you reach a high volume of sales.  The seller international_liquidatorz has 13,205 postive comments and 237 negative for the 12 month period. This is crazy low.

[JosephKim]

Just bought a guitar from them no problems

[karaterick]

I have seen several of their listings as was concerned enough not buy what seemed like great deals. Glad to hear that guys here are getting what they paid for though.

[Ironhead1977]

Thanks guys for being on the look out for sellers that are scammers,but remember, buyers are scammers also and there are more buyers than sellers.
I have owned a local parts business for a long time and would never think of doing anything that was not totally in my customers best interest going above and beyond to make their experience perfect as not only is this the correct way to do business but repeat customers is how we stay in business, but I have learned, the hard way over the years ,do not take a check from someone you do not know very well as it will more than likely be a scam and bounce, if a buyer you do not know has a credit card that will not swipe, the card could possibly be a stolen remake and always check Cash, it is always subject to counterfeit issues. Do you ever notice if you pay for an item at a store with a bill over 20.00 they use the marker to make sure it is real.
Although, there are a few unscrupulous sellers out there, We could really use your detective skills to go after the larger and more wide spread problem of buyers that are scammers.