Reselling items not in your possession

[Takuleechch]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

[QUOTE=emann;342797]I have no idea if it is illegal, but the risk taken by the "seller" certainly makes it more than possible that the buyer won't receive an item. If you're offering something for sale you don't own, how can you be sure it will still be available when you find a buyer? It only works if the original seller knows you're doing this—then you're brokering a transaction. What has been described isn't that...]/QUOTE]


If it isn't available then you send a refund right? Cause if you keep it then that's illegal.
I'm sure this happens quite frequently.

[emann]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

Just to be clear, the typical scenario we are discussing is when the "broker" has the consent of the seller. I would NEVER enter into a transaction when the seller is offering an item they do not own nor does the owner know the seller is offering the item.

If you can look back, I do not believe the above is not what the deleted "fraud" post referenced... The thing here Chris is how would you ever know that the seller doesn't own the item?

What was essentially being described was say: seller 1 (the owner of the actual item) lists if for $500, then seller 2 just takes photos from that listing, without consent, and offers that same item, without taking possession or with consent, for $700. If he sells it for $700, he buys it from seller 1 for $500. Quick $200 profit without the risk of his own cash in a flip.

[Takuleechch]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

If you can look back, I do not believe the above is not what the deleted "fraud" post referenced... The thing here Chris is how would you ever know that the seller doesn't own the item?

What was essentially being described was say: seller 1 (the owner of the actual item) lists if for $500, then seller 2 just takes photos from that listing, without consent, and offers that same item, without taking possession or with consent, for $700. If he sells it for $700, he buys it from seller 1 for $500. Quick $200 profit without the risk of his own cash in a flip.

There is nothing illegal in that.

[emann]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

If it isn't available then you send a refund right? Cause if you keep it then that's illegal. I'm sure this happens quite frequently.

Right, they just tell you the item isn't available and refund the money.

BTW: Chris, this is why I expressed surprise and asked for additional occurrences in that original thread. I'd only heard of this happening once before and the person doing it was caught in mid-transaction (and it was a slightly altered scam).

It is unfortunate that the original thread degraded to the point you needed to remove it (understandably so).

[EricTheRed44]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

Look, if I say hey guys I'm looking for a Lebron jersey and get a message saying "hey I can get you this Lebron jersey. Send me this much and I'll send you the jersey" as long as I get the jersey there's nothing illegal. The seller got his money, the "broker"/finder got his and I get the jersey.
The only time it becomes a legal issue is if I don't get the jersey.
People aka the seller may not like it if they find out but it's not illegal

From what it sounds like, people are talking about people who post photos claiming it is theirs to sell. If someone says I can get this for you its different. When you post photos or send photos to someone saying I have this and will sell it to you for 1400 AND they do not have it, that is lying. Dishonest. I have no issue if someone is up front and says they can get it for me, etc. But if you claim to have something in your possession and sell it to me WHILE you do not even own it, thats not something I believe should be done unless the buyer is aware.

[Takuleechch]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

From what it sounds like, people are talking about people who post photos claiming it is theirs to sell. If someone says I can get this for you its different. When you post photos or send photos to someone saying I have this and will sell it to you for 1400 AND they do not have it, that is lying. Dishonest. I have no issue if someone is up front and says they can get it for me, etc. But if you claim to have something in your possession and sell it to me WHILE you do not even own it, thats not something I believe should be done unless the buyer is aware.

Yea I get it I think people are just oblivious to this happening as often as it does. I mean I've never asked the seller if they actually physical have the item in their possession at this present time before I've purchased something. I know that I've been offered things the person doesn't have and I know people have offered others things I have.
It may be wrong, dishonest, shady but at it's not illegal.

[EricTheRed44]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

So you think that when given the chance to get a $20 finders fee or being a middle man and getting a 200$ cut people are taking the $20?

This only becomes illegal when the buyer doesn't receive the item.

I have no isse with someone buying something and flipping it. Thats business. But claiming you have an item and offering it for sale is a ____ move. If you want to make money more power to you, but if you're a dishonest prick who says you have something when you dont, I want nothing to do with you.

[EricTheRed44]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

Yea I get it I think people are just oblivious to this happening as often as it does. I mean I've never asked the seller if they actually physical have the item in their possession at this present time before I've purchased something. I know that I've been offered things the person doesn't have and I know people have offered others things I have.
It may be wrong, dishonest, shady but at it's not illegal.

Agreed. I guess I'm just always aware or it is stated that the person has the item when they sell it to me. Too many mistakes can happen when multiple people are involved.

[PAC]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

So I buy a high end jersey from you for a large sum of money...

You had spent several hours taking pictures, listing it on eBay, answering emails, carefully packaging it, driving to the post office, etc.

I receive the jersey exactly as described. I try my damnedest to flip it for a profit, after a couple weeks I can't find any takers, so I resort to lying a filing a PayPal claim, because I have buyer's remorse.

But that's a perfectly fine thing to do, and you wouldn't mind it at all, because it's not "illegal."

Got it. *rolls eyes*

[EricTheRed44]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

So I buy a high end jersey from you for a large sum of money...

You had spent several hours taking pictures, listing it on eBay, answering emails, carefully packaging it, driving to the post office, etc.

I receive the jersey exactly as described. I try my damnedest to flip it for a profit, after a couple weeks I can't find any takers, so I resort to lying a filing a PayPal claim, because I have buyer's remorse.

But that's a perfectly fine thing to do, and you wouldn't mind it at all, because it's not "illegal."

Got it. *rolls eyes*

What he says.

[Takuleechch]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

So I buy a high end jersey from you for a large sum of money...

You had spent several hours taking pictures, listing it on eBay, answering emails, carefully packaging it, driving to the post office, etc.

I receive the jersey exactly as described. I try my damnedest to flip it for a profit, after a couple weeks I can't find any takers, so I resort to lying a filing a PayPal claim, because I have buyer's remorse.

But that's a perfectly fine thing to do, and you wouldn't mind it at all, because it's not "illegal."

Got it. *rolls eyes*

Well first off - it's not illegal
Secondly - that's not what this thread is about

[Takuleechch]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

If that is the scenario you are proposing then the lying to paypal part is fraud and illegal.
I think if you buy something to flip then you are responsible for the purchase you made and should man up and deal with it. But that scenario is not what this thread is about. So please don't insinuate that I'm ok with people lying to paypal because they couldn't flip an item

[emann]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

Here is a posting from another forum (non-game used) outlining a similar scenario:

http://ask.metafilter.com/159556/Is-it-against-eBay-guidelines-to-sell-an-item-you-do-not-possess

[anythingdish]

Re: Reselling items not in your possession

Just wanted to say that on the last post someone used my name and I am not involved with who you are talking about. I did have the Murray jersey but people should not call out other people nor say anything about seeing a price somewhere else. If the person knew how much I paid they should have bought and profited. Im here to enjoy this great forum Chris has brought to us and Chris and I have talked numous time about me putting my stuff in his auctions. At the end of the day we all should respect what Chris has brought to us and not act like children. Thanks Chris for all you do. Michael

[1970REDS]

Re: Reselling items not in your possessions a

I remember the day when it was a good feeling to put a friend that wanted to sell in touch with a friend that wanted to buy with no monetary gain and you always knew your friends would do the same for you. If your friends are always looking for a way to make money off you they are not your friends . It is not illegal (against the law ) to sell something you do not own . I would bet the person doing it has very few friends that would help him. Greed is ugly ............ If something is not in your possession you need to be upfront about it and then the buyer can decide if the reward is worth the risk .