HP Forum Archive 16

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Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #1 Posted by Mike on 28 Dec 2006, 1:13 p.m. The way I read this auction, it's "guaranteed" to be broken. Kind of reminds me the way Microsoft makes a bug sound like a feature. His wording ---------------- "PLEASE NOTE: This unit is fully function when the the bezel is gently squeezed above the the second and third keys. Whe used in this manner, it passes the self-test and keyboard test, as shown in the photo. Also includes manual still in shrink wrap. Guaranteed to function as described and sold as pictured." ---------------- The guaranteed broken 32sII Edited: 28 Dec 2006, 1:14 p.m.

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #2 Posted by Namir on 28 Dec 2006, 2:00 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mike Mike, Thanks for pointing out this auction. I just installed a super advanced Cray-designed AI chip on my HP41C (which I call now the HP41CAI). The chip gives the 41CAI advanced human-like characteristics. Incredibly, one of the first messages the 41CAI displayed is its feeling of loneliness. The machine wrote that it needed a squeeze (that is a mate). The ad you mention provides MY 41CAI the squeeze it needs. It's a match made in eBay Heaven!!!! :-D) Namir Edited: 28 Dec 2006, 2:01 p.m.

(deleted post) Message #3 Posted by deleted on 28 Dec 2006, 11:06 p.m., in response to message #2 by Namir This Message was deleted. This empty message preserves the threading when a post with followup(s) is deleted. If all followups have been removed, the original poster may delete this post again to make this placeholder disappear.

You are a COWARD!!! Message #4 Posted by Namir on 28 Dec 2006, 11:50 p.m., in response to message #3 by deleted And you are????? I think your beef is with Mike who posted the thread criticizing the auction. I also think you are a COWARD because you hide behind anonymity. My guess is that you have a beef with Hudendai. What did he do to you???? You are out for revenge here like a mad dog. You are trying to manipulate folks in this forum to stir people against Hudendai. Are you not man enough to confront Hudendai directly??? Get a life and leave us out of your petty games!!! Namir Edited: 28 Dec 2006, 11:52 p.m.

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #5 Posted by Thor Lansen on 28 Dec 2006, 3:46 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mike This is a rare HP 32sII, only a few made, is the HP32sII, "Squeez-amative". This is a great buy if you were not able to get a hold of a Tickle Me Elmo for the holidays. Regards, Thor.

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #6 Posted by Steve Borowsky on 28 Dec 2006, 4:38 p.m., in response to message #5 by Thor Lansen At least he's not asking for $800 like some other ebayers would probably do. Actually, it seems to be a reasonable price for the condition it's in. It's probably repairable by a knowledgable person and the description conveys that it could possibly be made to work at some point. Would anyone here who needed/wanted a 32SII NOT pay between $50-$100 for this?

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #7 Posted by Larry Corrado on 28 Dec 2006, 4:33 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mike Deceptive? It looks to me like the seller is just trying to be truthful, honest, and fair about what the buyer would be getting. And as always, if the bidding level or but-it-now price is too high, don't bid on it. Larry

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #8 Posted by RUSUMIT on 28 Dec 2006, 10:34 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mike This is the first time that I am aware of where my ebay listing is the fodder of forum discussions. Larry Corrado hit it on the head. I am trying to be honest and fair about the unit in question. It functions remarkably well when the bezel is gently squeezed or pressed. I have other units of the Pioneer series that do not function as smoothly - some have to be in a vise-like clamp before any buttons would work at all and it was difficult to pass the keyboard test. What the ebay listing should convey to the readers of this forum is that the electronics in the unit in question is fully operational. The screen works. The keyboard works. The printed circuit board works. It's just a matter that a small part of the printed circuit board is not fully contacting the keyboard unless the bezel is gently squeezed. Perhaps to Mike's point this could be considered a security feature. The keyboard will not operate if the bezel is not squeezed. It may ward off potential theft of the unit, and we know that the 32SII has a loyal following. Lastly, the "Guaranteed to function as described" statement is meant convey the notion that if the buyer cannot replicate full functionality of the unit by squeezing the bezel, then I would consider refund or discount discussions. Happy collecting, folks...

Unfair criticism of this auction Message #9 Posted by ebaycalcnut on 28 Dec 2006, 11:05 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mike What do you want from this seller? Price is relatively low and seller is giving honest description. I will ding other sellers on occasion (please see my postings about Hudendai's "Lot" title and, if you really wish to see something, look at Coburlin's "HP branded" case for an 11C which was not an 11c case) This ad is not deceptive so long as people read it before bidding (as anyone should). The title is not even deceptive.

Re: Unfair criticism of this auction Message #10 Posted by Namir on 28 Dec 2006, 11:52 p.m., in response to message #9 by ebaycalcnut So why don't YOU buy the calculator????

(deleted post) Message #11 Posted by deleted on 29 Dec 2006, 6:46 a.m., in response to message #10 by Namir This Message was deleted. This empty message preserves the threading when a post with followup(s) is deleted. If all followups have been removed, the original poster may delete this post again to make this placeholder disappear.

Re: Unfair criticism of this auction Message #12 Posted by Namir on 29 Dec 2006, 7:26 a.m., in response to message #11 by deleted But does your HP32SII operate only when you squeeze it? My guess it does not! So pick up another HP32SII (many collectors have multiple units of the same model ... so no harm in buying another 32SII) ... get one with a twist! While the auction in question is "honest" about the problem with the calculator, it should have been advertised as sold needing repair or to be used for parts, because the machine dos not work in a normal fashion (that is WITHOUT squeezing). I'd do that if it were my HP-32SII and not dance around the issue, trying to sugar coat the problem, as Mike so well pointed out in the head of this message thread. Namir

Re: Unfair criticism of this auction Message #13 Posted by ebaycalcnut on 29 Dec 2006, 8:06 a.m., in response to message #12 by Namir I wonder if Rusumit had more than one; tried to sell it in a multiple item auction; and called it "Lot" if Rusumit would be criticized by you then... :)

Re: Unfair criticism of this auction Message #14 Posted by RUSUMIT on 29 Dec 2006, 8:40 a.m., in response to message #12 by Namir No one is trying to sugar-coat the issue, but you bring up a good point. I revised the listing to indicate that the unit does need repair to functional normally. At 2 O'Clock in the morning, when I started the listing, I forgot to be explicit about the need for repair. I was working on the 3 a.m. deadline for the fixed low-priced listing fee.

Re: Unfair criticism of this auction Message #15 Posted by Namir on 29 Dec 2006, 9:10 a.m., in response to message #14 by RUSUMIT Sounds good. I have sold calculators on eBay that needed repair (which I could not do) for low prices. The folks who bought them were very skilled at hardware repair. Such skilled buyers are happy to buy low-cost calculators and given them a clean bill of health. Namir

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #16 Posted by Howard Owen on 28 Dec 2006, 2:14 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mike The auction text, if read closely, is not as misleading as the included picture! (The photo shows the calculator with the results of a successful self test in the display, and no squeezing fingers in sight.) Regards, Howard

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #17 Posted by Steve Borowsky on 29 Dec 2006, 11:32 a.m., in response to message #16 by Howard Owen Quote: The auction text, if read closely, is not as misleading as the included picture! (The photo shows the calculator with the results of a successful self test in the display, and no squeezing fingers in sight.) Regards, Howard A lot of things are misleading to those willingly mislead. It is usually necessary to apply common sense in dealing with reality to one degree or another. In this case, all of the necessary information is there in the auction to make an informed and intelligent decision as to whether this calculator fits ones needs. There is nothing inherently misleading about it if one uses his intelligence. The picture, when not taken out of context, clearly shows that the calculator is capable of passing the self-tests. If you think that the picture is misleading because it shows the end result of the self-test minus a hand exerting pressure on the bezel, then you are deliberately disregarding information that was previously supplied to you. Why do that? The picture simply provides proof of what the auction description claimed; namely that the calculator was capable of passing the self-tests. If no picture of a successful self-test was shown, it might leave room for doubt as to the accuracy of that claim, and apparently the calculator is capable of at least displaying the results without pressure applied to the bezel. If he had used his hand in the picture it might be incorrectly assumed that the pressure was necessary to read the display at all, which clearly is not the case. What I see here are facts taking a back seat to bias and predjudice, information being deliberately disregarded to support a particular biased point of view, which is an unfortunate and common trait in human naature that on a far greater scale has lead to many of the darker events in our history.

Re: Gotta love creative yet deceptive wording in some auctions Message #18 Posted by Pierre Lallier on 29 Dec 2006, 11:44 a.m., in response to message #17 by Steve Borowsky I have to agree... If there was a hand covering part of the picture, I would assume that it was hiding a big dent or scratch

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