[meteorite-list] LETTER FROM EBAY

From: Marc D. Fries <m.fries_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Jul 26 10:19:27 2004
Message-ID: <1113.10.17.14.1.1090851561.squirrel_at_webmail.ciw.edu>

Greetings

   I have a similar story - about a year ago I came across someone selling
"AZTEC TEMPLE ARTIFACTS" that the seller claimed he had pocketed while
no one was looking on a trip to Chichzen Itza (sp??) in Mexico. I
contacted ebay on their "theft, fraud, abuse, or what-not" page and
received a very similar email in response.
   How much more blatant can one get? "Aztec temple artifacts" lifted,
transported back to the States, and posted on ebay??? I was shocked to
watch the auction go all the way to its posted finish.
   Don't count on these yahoos to do any policing of meteorite, or any
other, sales.

Cheers,
MDF


> After reporting to ebay an obvious fake listed on ebay
> I get this response. Thought that some of you might
> be interested. There is no doubt whatsoever that what
> I was reporting was a fake. Read em and weep.
> Cheers
> DEAN
> _____________________________________________________
>
> Hello,
>
> Thank you for taking the time to write us. We know
> your time is
> valuable
> and we appreciate your taking a moment to express
> concern over this
> particular item.
>
> Since eBay does not possess or examine the items that
> are listed on our
> site, we are not in the best position to judge the
> legality or
> authorized nature of the item for auction. This means
> that we cannot
> remove items, such as the one you have reported. Of
> course there may be
> occasions where we do act on items such as these, but
> only in extreme
> circumstances.
>
> We truly appreciate your knowledge about these types
> of items, however,
> we often cannot remove items based on representations
> of third parties.
> The reason for this is because we can not
> independently verify the
> credentials and accuracy of the information that is
> provided by third
> parties. As a result of this, unless the item is, in
> our judgement,
> plainly prohibited by law or by our own rules, we
> instead rely on help
> from government agencies for an authoritative view on
> the legality of a
> particular auction.
>
> However, I can suggest, if you would like, you can
> contact the
> appropriate government or law enforcement agency
> regarding this issue.
> eBay has a longstanding policy of providing full
> cooperation with law
> enforcement agencies and we will gladly assist them in
> an investigation
> of unlawful conduct.
>
> Again, thank you for your report. We appreciate your
> help in keeping
> eBay a safe and reputable forum to conduct business.
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage!
> http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>

-- 
Marc D. Fries, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Geophysical Laboratory
5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW
Washington, DC 20015
PH:  202 478 7970
FAX: 202 478 8901

Received on Mon 26 Jul 2004 10:19:21 AM PDT