Possible Stolen Alembic on eBay

[valvil]

Now to make things even more confusing somebody in New York state is listing the same bass as a Mark King 5 series II.  
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3750731222&rd=1
Even got 2 bids on it, up to 511$. He obviously lifted the only picture he displays from the other auction; of course his unwillingness to accept bids from outside New York is pretty odd too. Even encourages people to e-mail him their phone number so he can tell them about the bass.  
I despise a crook, but I despise a stupid crook even more.
 
Valentino

[bsee]

Maybe he wants to make sure that once arrested, he doesn't face any federal charges for interstate fraud?  The guy has a few legitimate-looking feedbacks, too, including one from last week.
 
Still, if this guy is willing to sell the same bass for less money, you have to take him seriously!

[poor_nigel]

I was wondering someone to notice this.  I am waiting for pictures and the Buy-It-Now price from the seller.  I thought the whole deal suspicious, and compared the picture shown to those of the pawnshop's auction.  Lordy, but it is the same as one of their pictures - oh shock!  I notified eBay and the pawnshop.  What else can one do?  It is just another ripoff artist trying to con more people on eBay.  eBay will not care until the pawnshop owner gets on em, probably.    
 
I have to disagree with you on the crook/stupid crook issue, Valentino, as I hate a smart crook that gets away with things.  Ones this dumb are mainly just annoying.  If you are going to be a crook, be a good/dumb one, so we can all feed and house you sooner!
 
That's pretty funny Bob!  Got a laugh outta me.
 
(Message edited by poor_nigel on September 24, 2004)

[David Houck]

It's pretty amazing that he would lift the picture from a current auction.

[lbpesq]

I sent the following question through e-bay:
 
What an amazing coincidence!  Your picture is exacly the same as one of the pictures of another Alembic bass currently on e-bay: Alembic 5 string fretless series 2 bass guitar Item number: 3749962310.  Do you have any other pictures of the bass that are exactly the same as this other auction?  Or are you planning to win the other auction while simultaneously reselling it?  Going for the Guiness Book of World Records for owning the best bass for the shortest time?  Just wondering.
 
I'm not holding my breath for a response.
 
Bill, the guitar one

[poor_nigel]

Aw dang.  Now I will never get the pretty pictures he/she promised, nor will I be able to use the Buy-It-Now price to steal it away from everyone.  I wonder if this is a hijacked account.  They do it a lot with RealDolls on eBay.  Hack into an account for the auction.  List a Hotmail type of e-mail to contact them, if you want to settle the auction early.  The auction disappears in a day or two, and then poof, another using exactly the same pics and message is back up, but a new Seller's account and new contact e-mail address is listed.  They always want wire grams for payment.  Hmmm, wonder why?
 
Huh?  What do you mean how come I know about RealDolls???  Well, I am stuck up here in the wasteland, and those silicon babes are startin to look REALLY good compared to the locals . . .

[lothartu]

Maybe the person with the second auction had walked into the pawn shop and been told You walk in with 'x' dollars and it's yours and the person got the bright idea to attempt to try and sell it out from under the pawn shop and make some $$$ on it.  But, I mean, ... Like the pawn shop wouldn't notice?!?!  
 
 
 
 
Ok, I had to go do a search on RealDolls just to see what you were talking about.  
 
well... I can't come up with much to say about that other than, You learn something new every day.  
 
(I think the oddest thing was that they actually sell posters of the dolls, that's just plain weird.)  
 
 
(Message edited by LotharTu on September 24, 2004)

[kmh364]

Why hasn't EBAY pulled these auctions? How can two people auction the same instrument at the same time? Why haven't the cops done anything about this? If the owner has been paid an insurance claim, this is a stolen item and belongs to the insurance company. If not, it belongs to the owner, not Cap'n Pawnshop or Idiot in Tonawanda!
 
This sh*t p*sses me off big time!

[poor_nigel]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1467&item=5523011260&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
 
Above is a link to one of the ripoff artists with a current auction going.
 
Posters of RealDolls?  Replicas of Replicas?  From flesh to silicon to ink?  That sounds a bit weird at that!  Wow, they come in custom colors, too!  I wonder if you can upgrade to ebony lams for a good stiff neck and a great tight bottom end?  OK, OK, enough is enough . . .  This is a family-oriented board.

[poor_nigel]

I am sorry Kevin, by I am forced to believe that eBay does not care in the least.  They have been letting the conperson with that RealDoll auction scam do it over and over for months now.  They have not done a thing to stop them.  If someone threatens to bring suit or get the police involved, then I believe they will do something.  eBay is the largest black market and fence for stolen goods in the world!  As long as eBay is making its billions and profits are going swimmingly, there will be no change in their policies, and hunting down crime messes with their bottom line.
 
My opinion - Life is not fair, nor just.  Too many people are apathetic and most will not even fight for what they believe in anymore, as they firmly believe it will do no good.  And usually they are right.  It is sad, but that is no reason to give up.  We just have to do what we can, and maybe in the long run it will make a difference.

[pace]

>>>>Maybe the person with the second auction had walked into the pawn shop and been told You walk in with 'x' dollars and it's yours

[kmh364]

Man, if that was my bass, I'd be raising the dead (Jerry? LOL!) with the noise that'd come out of my mouth! I hate EBAY and try to avoid it as much as I can. How many people are really getting bargains on there anyway?
 
BTW, Nigel: Considering my experience with my ex-wife and women in general, maybe a RealDoll isn't such a bad alternative, LOL! It would ccertainly allow me to use the HOV lane on the NJTP on the way to work, LOL! JUST KIDDING!

[thebass]

I contacted the guy from the second auction outside ebay just to find out if he would try to sell to Europe. He was responding only minutes after I send my email asking for photos, serial#, owners name etc. I received only the well known auction photos but no serial#. He told me that he is the owner (!) and the bass will come with case and papers. He was asking for $2500 buy-it-now and I should complete the deal notifiying ebay with my ebay email adress. I friendly refused the deal with a vage excuse.
 
(Message edited by thebass on September 25, 2004)

[bsee]

Both auctions now ended.  I guess the insurance company wasn't happy with the numbers, or some other deal was made.  If anyone knows, I'd be interested.  For example, if the insurance company has it now, I'd be interested in hearing what they want for it and how much it would cost to fret the instrument.
 
-Bob

[kmh364]

Poor Nigel must have started some sh*t, LOL! Even the RealDoll auction is mysteriously gone. Did we experience some mystic mass karma and conscience or did Five-O step in and rain on everyone's parade? Inquiring minds wanna know!