So, I (have this friend who) got blocked because he sold some stuff that some folks didn’t seeing sold (insert min-copyright rant here).
He thinks about getting re-instated, and contacts them.
They say: First, pay us a bunch of money, THEN we’ll think about letting you back in…
Q: has anyone had experience in this? Did you actually get re-instated, or did they just take your money and said “thanks, sucker!”?
I’ve never bought or sold anything on Ebay, but I’m interested in this nonetheless. One question: Could you re-type your first line? Doesn’t make much sense to me. 
Aside from your first sentence being unintelligible, this story doesn’t make sense. E-bay wouldn’t ask for money unless, possibly, they felt that your “friend” defrauded someone and they want restitution.
Haj
OK, ignore the parenthesis in the first sentence (lame attempt at humor, sorry), and make that “mini-rant”. Better?
The money demanded represents (according to ebay) delinquent listing and/or commission fees.
What EXACTLY did he try to sell? Depending on what it is, that could be a factor, I would imagine.
Bootlegs of oop videos (stuff that is/was on TV).
No moral turptitude, alas…
So, it sounds like there are two issues here:
You(r friend) was caught selling unauthorized videotape copies on eBay, which is against eBay’s policies and can result in suspension, as you(r friend) found out.
You(r friend) owes them money, and eBay seems willing to reopen your (friend’s) account once it’s paid up, which sounds quite reasonable and magnanimous of them.
FWIW, speaking in the general sense, I find it despicable when people try and make a buck off of selling copies of videos & such. Doesn’t matter if it’s OOP or not; it’s still wrong. Get on the trading circuit instead.
Trading circuit? What is a “trading circuit”?
btw, I’m looking for actual experiences, not conjecture.
Thanks
I don’t find it despicable, I don’t think–but I agree with your overall sentiment. Aboslutely.
Extraneous, a trading circuit is a group of people who trade bootlegs (videos, audio tracks, photos, etc) of a certain topic (or not, but usually) between one another. I, for example, belong to several Ozzy trading circuits, which has allowed me to get some pretty awesome things that I could not get otherwise. There’s never a monetary profit to be made–the most you’d charge someone is the shipping fees and that’s usually only if they live in Boomtown, South Wales and you’re in, say, Florida–instead, you square trade. My video for your compilation CD, etc.
As for the OP, yes, I know several people who have been suspended from eBay for selling bootlegs. Pay up what you owe and you’ll get your account back.
I agreed so much that I was too excited to spell correctly. That should say absolutely.
:smack:
“They say: First, pay us a bunch of money”
You didn’t say how much that is…
Sounds to me as if your friend sold bootlegs & didn’t want to pay ebay their fees too? I can see why they aren’t too hot for this idea.
I know someone who was selling a bootleg CD on ebay. All they did the first and only time she did it was send her a warning e-mail. They only un-register you if you do it again.
" They only un-register you if you do it again."
I think there is something called ‘NARU-ed’ but I forgot what it stands for, perhaps someone can remind me.
NARU=Not a Registered User.
So, in a trading circuit, since both are equally guilty, it’s a moral wash, right? hummm…
Have you known any who weren’t re-instated? (the stuff sold really, really annoys the Powers That Be - they have been suppressing it since 1968.)
Which reminds me - anyone got a lead on a 16mm or 35mm print of Fantasia with the Pastoral Scene intact? Disney is really against anyone seeing that one - I’ve heard that even the print given to the Smithsonian is cut.
Um, did you even READ the user agreement?
Even if you take the parenthetical phrase out of the first sentence of the OP, it still doesn’t make sense. Did you mean to type “like” between “didn’t” and “seeing”?
What is the friggin’ MATERIAL? Is it just out-of-print movies or is it Oswald’s confession that the Cubian mafia put him up to it, or what?
eBay doesn’t allow advertising of bootleg tapes in there User Agreement, but if you start searching for out-of-print movies, you’ll find hundreds of bootlegs there. Some places have continous ads for there whole catalog of copyright free films. It was explaned to me here once that even if the copyright on a film has lapsed, YOU still don’t own it, and aren’t legally suppose to sell it. For some reason, this has no effect on companies like Sinister Cinema to continue to operate (thank goodness) and provide film buffs with access to old obscure stuff. eBay only suspends a listing if someone complains. They can’t monitor thousands of listings. So some busy-body probably ratted on you.
That’s where I would focus my ultimate revenge.
Was this friend suspended for repeated listing offenses (selling bootlegs or otherwise violating the copyright of VERO members), or for selling misrepresented items–meaning the bidders may not have realised it was bootleg material until it arrived in their mailbox? The latter is a fraud issue and the only way to get back on in that case is to prove that every single complaint has been resolved with the bidder. Usually that means giving them a refund.
In any case, if he also owes Ebay delinquent seller’s fees, simply paying them will not grant you automatic reinstatement. There are a number of variables involved here. If he was booted for listing violations then he should have got a letter which stated the length of his suspension (30, 60 or more days), after which he is eligible to appeal. Fraud suspensions, OTOH, are indefinite and wholly dependent on the seller making amends with the people he ripped off.
I can’t think of any reasons to leave this open. Check with ebay or an ebay user community.