# The joys of eBay bidders.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 23, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797 "2006-06-23T00:30:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2006, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797/1 "2006-06-23T00:30:49Z")
No, this is not about my own experiences. I’ve never sold anything on eBay, nor purchased anything. And after reading about some of the stuff that goes on there, i can’t say i’m too eager to start.
I especially love [this listing](http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4633452260) from the UK. Scroll about one third of the way down the page, just below the red text, and read the additional information the seller gives in response to questions from potential bidders.
One of my favorites:
> [@](#):
>
> Yes it runs on petrol, I am tempted to say I’ve tried gin and tonics but someone will actually think I mean it. I now understand why car adverts have to include warnings like ‘Does not include people and scenery’ in them. How do such people get by in life? Do they buy a ticket for the train and think they have a share in the rolling stock??
While he obviously received some genuine and reasonable questions, some people are obviously just morons. But it makes for pretty funny reading.
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### Author:  [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797/2 "2006-06-23T01:11:10Z")
Well, I like the guy’s style and most of it is pretty funny. The idiots asking if the car was new, when he _had_ said it had 67, 000 miles on the clock were morons and probably should not be allowed near a car, but surely asking whether it runs on petrol is perfectly reasonable if someone has a prejudice against diesel cars?
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797/3 "2006-06-23T05:39:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Well stuff me sideways with a large mexican cactus…
Not just any cactus, but a _Mexican_ cactus.
For all that, it’s too bad he only got £3,800.00
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### Author:  [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2006, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797/4 "2006-06-23T05:49:25Z")
I particularly liked this one:
> [@](#):
>
> No I don’t think that I’m your long lost husband George from Arbroath regardless of how sarcastic I appear to be. It’s called humour where I’m from. Personally I think George did the right thing where ever he is.
😃
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2006, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797/5 "2006-06-23T08:48:41Z")
> [@Celyn](#):
>
> Well, I like the guy’s style and most of it is pretty funny. The idiots asking if the car was new, when he _had_ said it had 67, 000 miles on the clock were morons and probably should not be allowed near a car, but surely asking whether it runs on petrol is perfectly reasonable if someone has a prejudice against diesel cars?
Yes but the description said petrol.
Mind you, once there’s people who don’t realize it’s silver until they see it in person, I’m not surprised by anybody who didn’t read the description.
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### Author:  [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2006, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-joys-of-ebay-bidders/361797/6 "2006-06-23T16:57:40Z")
> [@Celyn](#):
>
> Well, I like the guy’s style and most of it is pretty funny. The idiots asking if the car was new, when he _had_ said it had 67, 000 miles on the clock were morons and probably should not be allowed near a car, but surely asking whether it runs on petrol is perfectly reasonable if someone has a prejudice against diesel cars?
Sure it is. Except that, as **Nava** said, the fact that the van runs on petrol is stated in bold letters right there in the description.
Not sure about those eBay bidders, but if i were thinking of spending thousands of dollars (or, in this case, pounds) on an internet auction item, i’d read the description pretty closely to work out whether it was what i wanted.
**Monstre** , i liked that bit too, and also the sentence underneath it:
> [@](#):
>
> The only finance is: you pay me I give you the car, I’m not a bank!