Another auction ripoff?

Jibber · Jul 17, 2004

Here is another too good to be true ebay listing.. a Kubota L35 with just a few hours for $2700 bucks (buy-it-now).

L35 Ripoff?

BillG_in_TX · Jul 17, 2004

Boy, that sure looks a lot like this tractor, which had a BIN price of $28k. And the seller was going to charge $1/mi for delivery from Pine Bluff, AR.

This one is a lot better deal! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 17, 2004

It's already over - Auction ended early because the item is no longer available. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JimR · Jul 17, 2004

The scumbags out there have found a way to link their email to ebay users names. They post the auction under another name and link their email to it. They use a linkup so that if you ask a question it gets directed to their email address. I have turned in quite a few complaints in the last year to Ebay for this reason. They have yet to stop it and probably do not care either.

KiotiJohn · Jul 17, 2004

( It's already over - Auction ended early because the item is no longer available. )
It's been relisted, and now has a private buyer only clause! I just reported it to Ebay. John

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 17, 2004

"a private buyer only clause!" 

That is always the red flag on these scams. You have to email them and they then try to 'sell' to you directly off your email correspondence.

KiotiJohn · Jul 18, 2004

( It's been relisted, and now has a private buyer only clause! )
Well the relist is now an invalid item! Ebay worked quickly on that one. John

Jibber · Jul 18, 2004

Well, the good news bottom line to all of this is.. No one bid on the thing.

Gary_in_Indiana · Jul 18, 2004

"Well, the good news bottom line to all of this is.. No one bid on the thing."

OF COURSE no one bid. No one COULD bid. That's how this scam works. You have to email the seller to be approved as a bidder. Typically, anyone doing so will tell the seller they'll buy the thing for the 'Buy it now' price.

At that point, the seller tries to make arrangements for a down payment or deposit or even a full payment to be sent. Even if the potential buyer sees the 'Item is no longer available' notation, the seller can simply say they removed the auction because you're buying it.

Credit where credit is due here. It's a pretty slick deal that isn't short-circuited even when Ebay pulls the listing.

Jeff396 · Jul 19, 2004

I was listening to Bob Brinkers Moneytalk yesterday on the radio. He said that there was a report that Americans were being taken by these email type scams to the tune of $200,000,000 per year! He sited the Nigerian scam where a supposed royal person asks for help moving money out of the country and you get a huge sum just for helping. If it looks too good to be true.....most like it is too good to be true.

Jeff