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Automated Scripts Overrun eBay Holiday Contest

Posted by kdawson on from the dollar-for-this-dollar-for-that dept.

turnkeylinux writes "TechCrunch is reporting that eBay is under fire from users because of a holiday giveaway contest gone awry. On Tuesday Nov. 25, eBay announced its $1 Holiday Doorbusters deals promotion, giving away 100 gifts on a daily basis, all for a $1 fixed price. The gifts ranged from jewelry, clothing, digital cameras, and GPS devices to a brand-new Chevrolet Corvette. The only catch is that there's no announcement on when these items are released or in which category they will be. But cheaters came up with a clever way of winning deals on an automated basis by continuously running scripts to bid on items for $1."

10 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Time to offload some crap by hansamurai · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Are these scripts still running. Seems like it's time to list a ton of stuff for a buck that wouldn't even sell at a garage sale. I wonder if they check the shipping price... could really nail them then.

    --
    Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
    1. Re:Time to offload some crap by nizo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Your life won't be complete until you augment your iPhone with a new postcard! Bidding starts at only $1!!

      --
      I Am My Own Worst Enemy
    2. Re:Time to offload some crap by tlhIngan · · Score: 5, Informative

      Really? You can't leave negative feedback for buyers?

      What is the point of feedback?

      Because a good chunk of sellers won't leave feedback until the buyers leave them positive feedback. It became a tit-for-tat system, where sellers could get 100% feedback ratings because buyers who got scammed refused to leave neutral or negative feedback. There were even lawsuits threatened (and maybe even launched) because sellers took negative feedback as libel.

      Buyers have few recourses if scammed by a bad seller. Sellers who have a non-paying bidder though, should file a complaint with eBay (who is supposed to refund all fees due, and mark the buyer, I don't know if this happens).

      Feedback is supposed to rate the trustworthiness of buyers and (especially) sellers. It's a bit more important for a seller because buyers use that to determine if they should bid since once payment is sent, recourse is limited. Pretty much the worst that can happen for a seller who has a bad buyer is they don't pay. (Of course, there is the issue with sellers claiming they didn't receive it or it was damaged, which is why there's tracking information and insurance, all of which a seller can mandate).

      I will agree though that eBay's system is horribly screwed up (as a buyer). Some sellers have gone to use the (neg) in the comments to mean negative feedback. A system where feedback is kept hidden until both parties have sent it in (keeping tit-for-tat at bay) would work better.

    3. Re:Time to offload some crap by bev_tech_rob · · Score: 5, Funny
      Here is a quote from the MSNBC article about the same issue...pretty funny :P

      "This is picture I took of my cat with my Cannon Powershot Camera after she overheard that people where using scripting to purchase HOLIDAY DOORBUSTERS items on eBay. Not responsible for poor scripting techniques."

      --
      You're messin' with my Zen Thing, man.....
  2. Re:The internet is full of assholes... by orthancstone · · Score: 5, Funny

    When griefing gets boring in online games, take it to the next best place: Ebay!

  3. Re:The internet is full of assholes... by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 5, Insightful

    World is full of Assholes ... And Assholes use the law to continue to be assholes.

    Everyone knows an asshole. You know, the guy/gal who sits on the fence of the law, skirting around the edges, being an asshole and taking every advantage to be one.

    We all know we want to punch the asshole in the face, because they definitely deserve it, but we also know that the Asshole will sue and so we don't.

    We're in the age of the "legal asshole", the asshole that never breaks any law, but abuses the gray areas simply because they can.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  4. Re:The internet is full of assholes... by DRue · · Score: 5, Funny

    /me hurridly begins posting his "ebook" on ebay for $1 each.

  5. Re:The internet is full of assholes... by jhRisk · · Score: 5, Funny

    More assholes need to get fucked.

    --
    That's just my POV... no more, no less.
  6. Re:The internet is full of assholes... by bberens · · Score: 5, Funny

    By using that logic no company should ever advertise because it raises the base cost of doing business... which is bad for their customers. The reality is that advertising increases market share which generally lowers the per transaction cost and saves customers money. If we all thought your way there'd be no such thing as marketing. Wait.. maybe you're on to something...

    --
    Check out my lame java blog at www.javachopshop.com
  7. Re:The internet is full of assholes... by coopaq · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Buyers have no incentive to pay anymore, but you always pay to list the item.

    Feedback has been removed so shill bidding is easy.