Is there anyway a mod can make it a forum rule that you can’t post ebay links unless the item you’re posting a link to is an item YOU (the poster) are selling?
I know I personally (and I am sure many of the rest of you) search ebay for HOURS upon HOURS trying to find hidden gems.
Well in the past week I’ve been watching four things and they were pretty well hidden with limited (under 10) views and 0 bids - until someone posted a “HEY LOOKY HERE” post and the prices tripled within the hour.
I just think that it’s unfair to people who put in the time searching for ever, to have people hand it over to other people who aren’t even trying.
Sorry for ranting if I’m the only one who feels that way.
I’ve seen both practices accepted and frowned upon depending upon where you are.
The one Star Wars board I’m a member of really gets ticked when someone “outs” an auction. As DarXide stated, if someone did the legwork to find it, then why should anyone else get wind of it that wouldn’t have otherwise?
Oftentimes items are listed in the wrong category, misspelled, or otherwise neglected for whatever reason. Having it brought out in the public can sour an impending good deal.
Generally when someone breaks the news that a certain item is in stock at a certain retailer, they either already purchased it beforehand, already have the item in their collection, or don’t have any interest in it. Specific eBay auctions are “one of a kind”, so to speak.
If you were bidding on something on eBay would you post a link to it here for other people to bid too? That is basically what is happening. Every time an eBay auction link is posted, if there is someone here who was bidding on it, their chances of winning go down considerably, or else they will end up having to pay a lot more for the item. Remember, many people browse these forums without ever contributing anything, and they can see those auction links too.
I’m sure one’s perspective is going to be directly related to whether or not it hurts or benefits them specifically.
What if no one on the forum knew about it, and by posting it, one of the forum members wins it? Bingo!
What if several forum members are bidding on it? Who’s to say someone “deserves” it over the other?
If it was something I really wanted, I’d be grateful someone posted it. Really it’s 6 of one, half-a-dozen of the other. It just depends how it impacts you directly.
Are you talking about just the Toy Story forum? Ken is the only biggie here, although a couple collectables from ‘95 have come up. It’s not really that excessive, however, I’m guessing that you were personally outbid on something. I don’t know what to say, since it would be very hard to regulate. To top that off, there people who aren’t even in favor of it to begin with. For now, you could ask that people not post links for Animal Lovin’ Kens (since that appears to be the source of the problem), and I’m sure it would help a little.
In all honesty when I post the links I find on Ebay for Ken it’s because I’m searching for one myself and when the doll hasn’t passed my inspection I send the link here. Just trying to help other people who have the means to buy the doll.
I could see how it would bother certain people who are constantly bidding on a Ken doll and always being outbid by someone who has seen the link here. But I’m kind of in the position where I’m happy that they are buying the doll to help complete their TS collection. I’d only be upset if someone was outbidding other people with the intention to resell the doll on ebay.