What Am I Missing Besides $$$$$$?

[Polly Wilson]

Well, I didn't expect to be adding a coda to this thread, but here goes (what some people will do to extend their 15 minutes fame, eh?):

 

I got an email today, supposedly from eBay:

 

eBay Notice <ebaynotice@ebaysecondchance.com>

Subject: WHEATSTONE CONCERTINA 56 KEY 3735905860

 

Yep, the item number is that of the amboyna concertina.

 

The letter copy, however, refers to an item called "Piano" and later on has a second item number, which is, indeed, for a piano.

 

"Second Chance Offer

 

"Dear eBay Member,

 

"You expressed interest in an item titled Piano by bidding,however the

auction has ended with another member as the high bidder.In compliance

with ebay policy, the seller is making this second chance offer to you

at your bid price.The seller has issued this Second Chance Offer because

either the winning bidder was unable to complete the transaction or the

seller has duplicate items for sale.if you accept this offer, you will

be able to exchange feedback with the seller and will be eligible for

eBay services associated with a transaction,such as fraud protection.

 

"This offer expires Monday, July 19, 2004 19:01:36 PST.For more

informations or to purchase this item,just reply this mail or contact

the seller at: dmundvt@yahoo.com with all info that you want to purchase.Ex (Item number: 3736229184)"

 

So there is something fishy in Denmark, I figured (care to comment, Jim?)

So I emailed the seller of the amboyna concertina saying that I assumed it was a mistake or a scam (or a lovely dream?). Sure enough, the sale had gone through just fine, and the concertina shipped off.

 

I also replyed to the "Second Chance" email, indicating that I was interested in the item, but did not get a reply. The email address given for direct reply was not similar to ebay seller's name.

 

Seems unlikely this very convincing looking document was just an automated eBay glitch, and I will contact eBay about it. I have also emailed the seller of the piano asking if they did, in fact, offer someone a "second chance" on their item.

 

From a novelistic point of view, this is a very unsatisfactory little dangler at the end of the story!

(If the ending were going to be reworked, there are several ways I might change it.)

 

Polly

[Steven]

I got an email today, supposedly from eBay:

....

"This offer expires Monday, July 19, 2004 19:01:36 PST.

Hmm, interesting. It seems they also don't realize what today's date is!

 

Steven

[JimLucas]

"This offer expires Monday, July 19, 2004 19:01:36 PST.

It seems they also don't realize what today's date is!

Even scammers can be careless with cut and paste.

This one seems to be particularly careless. Both the date and the instrument (concertina/piano).

[Michael Reid]

I got an email today, supposedly from eBay:

 

eBay Notice <ebaynotice@ebaysecondchance.com>

Subject: WHEATSTONE CONCERTINA 56 KEY  3735905860

[...]

"This offer expires Monday, July 19, 2004 19:01:36 PST.For more

informations or to purchase this item,just reply this mail or contact

the seller at: dmundvt@yahoo.com with all info that you want  to purchase.Ex (Item number: 3736229184)" 

From reading the eBay help screens, the impression I've gotten is that if a seller wants to extend a "second chance" offer, potential buyers are directed to an eBay web page that is like an auction page with a "buy it now" price. The fact that this person wants you to transact via email is one more indication that this offer is highly suspicious.

 

Interestingly, "ebaysecondchance.com" is a valid domain name ... but it was only created last week via an Australian domain-names registrar. I'm assuming that eBay's legal team will go after it as an infringing name (if they haven't already).