The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 13

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Curious auctions on ebay
Message #1 Posted by Emmanuel, France on 23 Nov 2003, 3:03 p.m.

FR E E HP 48GX Graphing Calculator 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3060837530&category=20335

F R E E TI-89_Advanced_Graphing_Calculator
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3060832954&category=20335

Both at $8.99, qty 100.
      
Re: Curious auctions on ebay
Message #2 Posted by Neson M. Sicuro (Brazil) on 23 Nov 2003, 3:06 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Emmanuel, France

I think that it is a good old SCAM.

Nelson

      
Re: Curious auctions on ebay
Message #3 Posted by Namir Shammas on 23 Nov 2003, 3:36 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Emmanuel, France

Emmanuel,

The auction is selling you INFORMATION on how to get these calculators free. I have written the seller many times asking him to send me these calculators (since they cost him nothing anyway!!!!!) and that I'd pay for shipping! Of course I never hear from the seller.

Don't waste your money!!!!!!!!

Namir

      
These are illegal auctions
Message #4 Posted by Mike on 23 Nov 2003, 4:11 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Emmanuel, France

Illegal, in the sense of against ebay policies. eBay will delete any such auction (for info only), when they are reported.

Watch it disappear within 48 hours. Report it to ebay here: ebay policies

There are many reasons why this is against ebay policies. For one, the info stears customers away from ebay. That is a clear violation. Another is that it is a "misleading" title. There really aren't any FREE calculators.

You will also notice that he is spelling FREE with spaces like F R E E so he can avoid ebay catching him. If you report him, they will be deleted.

If everyone would search for these auctions and report them, they would all be removed. They are usually very quickly removed.

These are essentially SCAMS.

Edited: 23 Nov 2003, 4:32 p.m.

      
See... They are gone already
Message #5 Posted by Mike on 23 Nov 2003, 7:10 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Emmanuel, France

They are gone already!

I bookmarked these items, to see how long it would take for them to disappear. They are already gone.

Like I said, report these SCAM auctions and ebay deletes them, as quick as they are reported.

            
Like Arnold, he'll be back
Message #6 Posted by Patrick on 23 Nov 2003, 8:15 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by Mike

I've seen this guy's ads appear on eBay for over a year now. Whether the latest crop has been cut down doesn't mean very much. You watch... he'll be back very soon, and he'll spell "FREE" a different way each time (F R E E, $FR E E, F REE, ....).

BTW... if you look at the guy's eBay feedback you'll find that he has considerable positive feedback. Of course, they could all be his friends for all we know.

                  
So, report him again
Message #7 Posted by Mike on 23 Nov 2003, 8:51 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by Patrick

Just search for his auctions by his name or some other method of spotting these kind of ads.

Report the ad and within 24 hours it will be gone again. Make a game of it.

                        
Re: So, (don't) report him again
Message #8 Posted by Thomas Radtke on 24 Nov 2003, 6:15 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by Mike

There are many ways to waste your time;). Sadly, ebay is in a position where they don't need to protect bidders automatically but sit back and wait for responses. Even then they do not remove aucconts of those who failed to maintain the least possible decency.

Thomas

                              
Re: So, (don't) report him again
Message #9 Posted by TR on 24 Nov 2003, 6:17 a.m.,
in response to message #8 by Thomas Radtke

'aucconts' should be 'accounts', obviously:(.

            
Re: See... They are gone already
Message #10 Posted by Namir Shammas on 23 Nov 2003, 8:22 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by Mike

Mike,

You are very right!! That was fast on eBay's behalf!

Namir

                  
Why won't HP stop the guy on ebay selling PDF of 12c manual?
Message #11 Posted by Gene on 23 Nov 2003, 9:14 p.m.,
in response to message #10 by Namir Shammas

Seems like that is an auction that should be canned.

                        
Re: Why won't HP stop the guy on ebay selling PDF of 12c manual?
Message #12 Posted by Nelson M. Sicuro (Brazil) on 23 Nov 2003, 9:24 p.m.,
in response to message #11 by Gene

Here in Brazil is even worst, they sell the HP-12C simulator for PC/Palm for $1, in the www.mercadolivre.com.br auction site. Is terribly anoying! Dozens of auctions.... Is really a shame! Even the HP-41, 48 and 49 emulators!!!

Just browse it in the "Calculadoras" section (in portuguese, you can use the www.babelfish.altavista.com to translate)

Best regards,

Nelson

                        
Or let's get the Museum to buy it!
Message #13 Posted by Patrick on 24 Nov 2003, 2:53 a.m.,
in response to message #11 by Gene

What if we each contributed a bit to Dave and have him buy it and put it up on this site!

I'm sure there's a hole in this idea somewhere....

                              
Re: Or let's get the Museum to buy it!
Message #14 Posted by Arnaud Amiel on 24 Nov 2003, 4:36 a.m.,
in response to message #13 by Patrick

Actually the PDF manual for the 12C platinum is available on hp's site. I would guess it is quite applicable to the non platinum.

Arnaud

      
Re: Curious auctions on ebay
Message #15 Posted by gifron on 24 Nov 2003, 12:32 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Emmanuel, France

I emailed a buyer once to find out what the scam was. I was told that you are instructed to contact mfrs., representing yourself as a retailer, and stating that you need a sample for evaluation purposes, or some such thing.

I don't know if it was this same seller, as I have seen two or three different ones. I figure they are all selling the same thing.

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