Yeah, I thought eBay did an escrow type thing on certain items... though I may be thinking about PayPal. I'm pretty sure one of them used to do that. Either way, it's the same company now. I don't know, I just feel the impulse very strongly to do anything I can to keep any kind of injustice at bay. It makes MY world a better place, and I can't help but think the state of collecting would be improved on a number of levels. Every person who bites a fraud auction is one more would-be collector who will end up withdrawing from collecting, and we could use the additional numbers, frankly.
I think Loran has it exactly -- on auctions with bids above a certain dollar amount, a Report This Auction button would be great, even if just for the deterrent factor. Yes, frauds will find other avenues, but none so visible as eBay since eBay probably makes up a full 85% of online auctions or something! And then, every purchase through PayPal (which generates income for eBay) should have an escrow service, again, above a certain amount. Once eBay/PayPal became liable for refunding folks who bit the frauds, they would have to develop investigative resources to keep their refunding at a minimum. I know I'd certainly pay $5 on a $500 item for escrow! What did eBay say, people are generally honest?? Put your money where your mouth is, folks! If 90% of the auctions go smoothly, that's enough cash surplus to refund the 10% that makes up the fraud victims. And at least someone would be looking (aside from us). I wouldn't trade the education I've gotten from surfing eBay, nor the window into what all is out there waiting to be purchased, to eliminate the injustices of eBay fraud, however. It ain't perfect, but that don't means I don't still likes it. Researching his online purchases for at least a month prior to buying or bidding for years now, Robert PS - Great article, Dan -- thanks for that. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Back" <[email protected]> > I remembered seeing something about esrow on ebay a > few years ago. I googled and found an escrow service > that sellers can link their items to. Their name is > www.escrow.com (what else?) <g> > > Dennis
