Letter To eBay Regarding Frequent Fraud Listings By Our Favorite Seller

MorganFred · 01-31-2005, 01:07 PM

This morning, I sent this email to Lia, the new head of eBays' coins and stamps category. I don't know if I'll receive any response or not, but if I do, I'll post it on this thread. I am also concerned about possible retribution from either or both eBay and the Seller, but I walk into this with eyes wide open and with full personal disclosure. BTW, Lia's email address is posted on the eBay Coins and Paper Money forum as coins@ebay.com. I am also hoping that my status as an eBay shareholder will carry a little weight.

Hi Lia--

I am very concerned that eBay is permitting pjd1966 (Pamela Donnelly, Savannah, GA) to continue to operate her coin auctions when she is in clear violation not only of eBay's policies regarding coin codes of ethics, but also eBay's new Code of Conduct regarding copies and reproductions of coins. She has been reported countless times for fraudulent auctions in the past and most recently for continued fraudulent auctions, to wit: listing obvious copies without having "copy" or "reproduction" in both the title and description. One example is auction number 3954017709 (1884-S "Proof"); another is #3954017546 (1889-CC "Proof"). In neither instance is there such a thing as a Proof in the series, so the auctions are for fakes. Both reproductions clearly have the word "copy" on the reverse, but she does not include a picture of the reverse in her auctions. She sold the 1884-S for $1175 and the 1889-CC for $114.75; both coins can be purchased for less than ten dollars each in standard venues, so the Buyers will have lost a considerable amount of money in addition to purchasing a coin they were led to believe was legitimate. This has been going on for many months, if not for at least a year and she continues to operate these illegal auctions without hindrance.

Further, I reported two fraudulent auctions of a Seller in China this past Saturday at the same time I reported two of pjd1966's fraudulent auctions. The two China auctions were cancelled by eBay within a short period of time while the two pjd1966 auctions were permitted to stand. At the same time, another eBay member also reported pjd1966 for three violations of the Code of Conduct; similarly, no action was taken by eBay.

I am most concerned that these types of auctions are giving eBay coin sales a very bad reputation and are certainly dissuading honest Buyers and Sellers from further sales on eBay, not to mention giving a black eye to coin collecting in general and eBay in particular.

I am also an eBay stockholder and I am even more concerned that if this Seller's action become general knowledge in the press and/or via the court system, the values of my shares will be considerably lowered in the marketplace and in the eyes of the public.

"pjd1966" is ruining coin sales for both myself and other honest Sellers. I am perplexed: why has she been permitted to continue her operations on eBay? I would hope that eBay finally stops her activities and puts her out of the eBay business.

Sincerely,

W. Frederick Stevens
eBay username "thefred2"

ANA member # R-212019
PCGS member # 738791
WINS # 535

Geod · 01-31-2005, 01:20 PM

Great letter. Hope you get some reply and action.

IvanV · 01-31-2005, 02:36 PM

Great Letter Fred, hope you get some fast reply/action from them.

rbm86 · 01-31-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanV

Great Letter Fred, hope you get some fast reply/action from them.

Don't hold your breath. Someone on the PCGS Forum "won" a cheap coin from this seller and left negative feedback to draw attention to the 1889-CC copy that sold for $1,725. Instead of doing something about the scumbag seller, the person who left the neg got NARU'd!!

This is appalling. Frankly, from Ebay's response to this situation, I think they are guilty of aiding and abetting fraud.

Message: Become a Powerseller!!! Then you can screw people all you want. The saying "Powerscrewer" is oh so appropriate.

Come on "Lia"!!! If you exist, get off your fanny and do something about this criminal!!!

Aidan Work · 01-31-2005, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbm86

Don't hold your breath. Someone on the PCGS Forum "won" a cheap coin from this seller and left negative feedback to draw attention to the 1889-CC copy that sold for $1,725. Instead of doing something about the scumbag seller, the person who left the neg got NARU'd!!

This is appalling. Frankly, from Ebay's response to this situation, I think they are guilty of aiding and abetting fraud.

Message: Become a Powerseller!!! Then you can screw people all you want. The saying "Powerscrewer" is oh so appropriate.

Come on "Lia"!!! If you exist, get off your fanny and do something about this criminal!!!

What does getting NARU'd mean? Is it Ebay's way of cancelling a membership?

MorganFred · 01-31-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aidan Work

What does getting NARU'd mean? Is it Ebay's way of cancelling a membership?

Yes, Not A Registered User, meaning s/he is no longer a member. I find it difficult to believe that eBay would be so obtuse and petty as to cancel a membership for criticism. I may find out...

Ciscokid · 01-31-2005, 07:22 PM

(Ebay Reader)----CLICK DELETE

rbm86 · 01-31-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ciscokid

(Ebay Reader)----CLICK DELETE

Huh ???

Ciscokid · 01-31-2005, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbm86

Huh ???

EBAY MANAGEMENT====CLICK DELETE

Aidan Work · 01-31-2005, 08:31 PM

Fred,I hope that you get a positive response to your email to Ebay.

JoeMoney · 01-31-2005, 09:55 PM

Nice work, Interested to know how or if they respond.

pawjtr · 02-02-2005, 12:50 PM

This letter is the best way to get ebay's attention, the tone was right, the facts are all clear, it shows research was done and time was taken. If this does not get a similar response, then i have no hope for change by ebay. I personally love ebay, I have only had 1 small problem with a seller and that seller bent over backwards to correct the error. To hear these other seller out there intentionally defrauding their clients (for lack of a better word) tells me that knowledge is the only way to protect yourself and sometimes even that is not enough. once again, great letter fred.

MorganFred · 02-02-2005, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawjtr

This letter is the best way to get ebay's attention, the tone was right, the facts are all clear, it shows research was done and time was taken. If this does not get a similar response, then i have no hope for change by ebay. I personally love ebay, I have only had 1 small problem with a seller and that seller bent over backwards to correct the error. To hear these other seller out there intentionally defrauding their clients (for lack of a better word) tells me that knowledge is the only way to protect yourself and sometimes even that is not enough. once again, great letter fred.

Thanks. To date, I haven't heard anything back from eBay, but I also haven't been NARU'd. I noticed, however, the Seller (pjd1966) in her most recent swarm of listings did not include any obvious coin copies. I can't speak for her "tokens" nor her other items (I see an awful lot of "slave tags" found in her "estate".). I often wonder just how much of her artwork, jewelry, and other trinkets are, in fact, just stuff she picked up from the toy section of her local Walmart or department store. Looks all good to me.

cwtokenman · 02-03-2005, 12:07 AM

Slave tags are extremely rare. Charleston, SC was the principal slave mart in the South prior to the Civil War, and was by far the largest issueing city of slave tags. In 1751, the City officials of Charleston began the requirement of certain slaves to wear an identification tag. The requirements were expanded to include more and more types of slaves, up to and including free blacks also had to wear a badge at all times. These practices came to an end in 1790. There are NO known badges known to exist dated from 1751-1790!

The practice was instituted once again in 1800 and badges are known up to the year 1864. In the period 1830-1840, Charleston's slave population was around 15,000 to give some idea of the quantity of tags that may have been issued. Only 102 Charleston slave tags are known to have survived, 60 are in museums, 42 are in private hands.

If Pam is selling slave tags, it is a pretty safe bet that they are fakes.

knowtracks · 02-03-2005, 12:30 AM

Thanks Fred, I believe the best way to (police) fraudulent sellers is to have honest people speak up. Dave

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