U.K. Teen Buys $735 Photo of Xbox One on eBay
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
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The situations are, basically, the same. You're preying on someone's weakness/trust. And that's never right. Scamming actually IS a crime itself. Conmen get sent to prison same as rapists, and on some level, they both do the same thing. They take advantage of someone, and forever make them more wary of the world around them.Dimitriov said:
Besides, you said it yourself. The intention WAS to scam someone. Being slightly more up front about your slimyness does not preclude the disgusting nature of it. The fact that SOMEwhere in the product description was a note saying that it was actually a photo doesn't mean anything. It could have been edited later, it could have been worded in a confusing manner that meant it could have been interpreted as not saying, specifically "This is actually a photo that you are paying for." Or it could have been tucked away in the recesses of the product description so as to "hide" it. I'm betting it was a combination of the 2nd and 3rd. The guy DID check the seller's rating, so it's not like he lacked common sense, and he probably thought that no one would actually be cruel enough to play that kind of scam, which he was wrong about. Fact of the matter is, this just SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. No one should EVER be misleading as the scammer was. The asshole scammer is completely in the wrong here, just as a rapist or any other conman is completely in the wrong.
How can any sane person with any level of empathy even BEGIN to sit there and defend the criminal/perpetrator/scammer? The facts of the case are: A person made a listing on ebay that was clearly meant to mislead someone and con money out of them, it happened, the scammer got banned. Why in the hell is anyone defending the scammer?
Yes, yes. But there is a difference. It's a difference of degree if nothing else, but that can be an important difference. Poking someone on the chin or punching them and dislocating their jaw is also a difference of degree, but it's a big difference.Azaraxzealot said:
So yes scamming someone and rape are perhaps on a continuum of preying on other people, but the difference is so great that to speak of them in that sense is utterly ridiculous.
Also neither I, nor any of the posters I've read, have defended the scammer. We simply recognize that some blame belongs to the idiot that fell for it. Believe me I am well aware that anyone who posts a scam like that is an asshole and deserves to reap an appropriate punishment for his own actions as well.
But that's the point: people should be expected to suffer the consequences of their own actions. So yes the scammer should be punished, but no I don't think this idiot should have gotten his money back.
Setting aside the having a child at fifteen thing, who the fuck buys a gaming system for a four year old???
I mean, I am glad the guy got his money back since he had been clearly conned, but it seems he's missing a few -or few thousand- brain cells!
I mean, I am glad the guy got his money back since he had been clearly conned, but it seems he's missing a few -or few thousand- brain cells!
Clearly a con. I was expecting more empathy in a gaming community thread, but oh well. Good that he got his money back, as he should.
There's a good chance that the listing was deliberately misleading. These things happen fairly regularly, and it's not terribly difficult to see why someone might fall for:
There's a good chance that the listing was deliberately misleading. These things happen fairly regularly, and it's not terribly difficult to see why someone might fall for:
http://consumerist.com/2007/05/15/ebay-scam-people-still-trying-to-sell-pictures-of-things/
Again, how do you know just how misleading the original listing was? Were you there? Did you see it? This guy said he checked the seller's profile to see if they checked out, and he said that they did (that in and of itself proves that he had some common sense/smarts). And ebay at LEAST requires that you put the correct condition, components, and the shipping information. We also know that it was listed in the correct category. Other than that, details are just being extrapolated. Details that just... aren't there. Like the guy is an idiot (the "evidence" provided is that he had a 4 year old and is 19. My grandfather was 19 and my dad was at least 8 at the time. My grandfather also owns his own construction company and took third place in a national martial arts contest while also going to college, so that's hardly good evidence). He deserved his money back. He was taken advantage of, and he deserves restitution.Dimitriov said:
Glad SOMEone has some empathy in this thread.Caiphus said:
I don't know why people are using the whole "15 year old dad" angle to say he's an idiot. That strikes me as awfully judgmental and unfair. No, the thing that proves he's an idiot is that he KNEW the description stated that it was just a picture, and bought it anyway, somehow thinking it would be an Xbox.
Also, the fact that he was paying more then the console usually costs, and thought it was a "great deal".
Also, the fact that he was paying more then the console usually costs, and thought it was a "great deal".
Someone earlier explained that the whole price discrepancy thing was due to the same reason why games are so expensive in australia and PS4's are so expensive in Brazil.Robot Number V said:
He wasn't. He paid 450 pounds, which is exactly how much a Fifa 14 bundle is going for in the UK:Robot Number V said:
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-11/13/console-roundup-xbox-one
Edit: See? You didn't check. You were ignorant of the proper price. Does this make you an idiot? No. Of course not. This also doesn't mean it's now okay for me to take $700 of your money.
Wait... the guy bought a PICTURE of an item, instead of the actual item? As in, the postal scam that's been going on for almost as long as the post-office itself has? And people still fall for that?
Dude, 1908 called... and it wants its rocket scientist back!
Dude, 1908 called... and it wants its rocket scientist back!
To be fair to the buyer, ebay is full of scammers.
I remember back when there was a discounter who had a lottery to win cars if you collected stickers, and ebay'd be full of offers for "winning stickers" and whatnot, only to have - in very small font - disclaimers along the lines of "you're purchasing information about winning stickers, not winning stickers themselves" or "this package of stickers is unopened so who the fuck knows what's inside but I'm still going to advertise them like they're part of winning a car". Yes, they always include disclaimers, but they make sure to make them as inconspicuous as possible, trying to trick people.
Usually, such things are prevented through consumer protections, but apparently not on ebay; they need to get their shit together. But at least in this case - probably because of the publicity of the case and the amount of money involved - they set things right afterwards.
I don't quite get the dislike many in this thread have for the buyer. Do you just hate having consumer protections? What's this "you got fucked over because you were stupid, therefore it's your problem for being scammed"-sentiment?
This kind of misleading advertising and scamming is illegal, regardless whether you do it to somebody who sees through it or somebody who does not.
I remember back when there was a discounter who had a lottery to win cars if you collected stickers, and ebay'd be full of offers for "winning stickers" and whatnot, only to have - in very small font - disclaimers along the lines of "you're purchasing information about winning stickers, not winning stickers themselves" or "this package of stickers is unopened so who the fuck knows what's inside but I'm still going to advertise them like they're part of winning a car". Yes, they always include disclaimers, but they make sure to make them as inconspicuous as possible, trying to trick people.
Usually, such things are prevented through consumer protections, but apparently not on ebay; they need to get their shit together. But at least in this case - probably because of the publicity of the case and the amount of money involved - they set things right afterwards.
I don't quite get the dislike many in this thread have for the buyer. Do you just hate having consumer protections? What's this "you got fucked over because you were stupid, therefore it's your problem for being scammed"-sentiment?
This kind of misleading advertising and scamming is illegal, regardless whether you do it to somebody who sees through it or somebody who does not.
How peculiar! It's not like you're speaking the same language. ;Perttheking said:
We got it in Sweden too. They're called "tonåringar" here since we end 13-19 with ton. Danish and Noweigan ends them with ten, so in Norway they say tenåringar and in Denmark... teenager/teen, apparently. Any Danes here who want to explain?
OT: Sucks to be scammed, but I'm sure as fuck he wasn't buying it for his four year old kid. Won't get a sympathy vote from me.
Actually I thought that too when I read that part, then I went to check and it turns out that the cheapest on Amazon is £429 which clocks in at about $700. Checking further the cheapest available is $950. It's a shame because I really wanted to call this guy stupid, but compared to the prices listed it's actually a good deal.SilverUchiha said:
OT: It's hard to side with this guy. He was tricked, but it's not like the seller lied in his listing. He said he was selling a picture of an Xbox One and that he did. Still, it was deliberate to fool him.
I completely disagree with the cornholing this guy seems to be getting in this thread but that's probably the funniest thing I've read all week.mysecondlife said:
OT: The guy was scammed. We don't side with the scammers when people get scammed if we have a shred of decency. It's a jerk move to pull and even if "TECHNICALLY" the scammer put it out there that he was selling a picture, that doesn't make it an okay thing to do to trick someone, and he was clearly trying to trick them.
PayPal and eBay both side against scammers. They're not looking at this guy as some sort of villain that's playing the system and should have read the fine print. That's not the sort of situation we should strive to.
As for him having a kid at 15, that's unfortunate, but it happened. What's he supposed to do? Flush the kid down the toilet? I mean, maybe I just didn't get my time machine in the mail, but mistakes happen and considering he's a college student, I think he's on the right track and should be applauded for that much at least.
I'm sure I'll get tarred and feathered for siding with the guy but whatev.
Sheesh, so many people coming down on the guy for having a kid at fifteen. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I think it's really none of our business to judge him on that. Those without sin casting the first stone and all that. At least he's still around for his kid instead of being a deadbeat dad.
I agree with everything you said. But if I can have a laugh at anyone's expense (especially since its on the internet), I'll do it. I'm skimming through the thread right now, and wow.. he's getting a lot of flak for having a kid. Of course.. he could be lying about it. Who knows?Altorin said:
Anyways, thanks for laughing with me.
oh, don't get me wrong, I wasn't really calling you out.. it seemed like a good natured poke and I thought it was greatmysecondlife said:
I have a better question though... who cares if he's lying about getting it for his kid? like who's business is that of anyone? Even if eBay hadn't covered him, PayPal would have, and i'd be freaking furious too, even if it was just for me... if it really was for my kid? I'd be doubly furious, but really what does it matter?This thread just makes me sad to be a human.
