I hope to say this for the last time but, alas, it won't be so.
None of us admit to reporting anything here. I certainly do not admit to reporting anything. I do not admit to reporting anything because of the over-zealousness on the part of some, who want to defend their right to make money, at the expense of good business ethics. We then get in to arguing about semantics, justifications, worrying about someone's reputation, etc., rather than thinking about the innocent buyer who gets stuck with someone's misrepresented item, because a seller wanted to claim something, that was not true to begin with. Why would I want to be responsible to contact a seller and say; "Excuse me sir/madam, but your watch is not 100% original as you state?" When I did try to do that years ago it was met with varying amounts of success and failure. Most knew what they were doing and tried to attack me for my little three transaction history with E-Bay. Yes folks, three transactions. One, a Tag Heuer Kirium Chronometer, two, a cruise book for a WestPac Cruise that occurred on the USS Ranger in 1976, three, a misrepresented Rolex Explorer that I returned to the seller because it was misrepresented. So, like I have stated many times, I have no conflict of interest in the; "Watch Out" Section. I do not do this volunteer effort to eliminate any sales competition.
E-Bay is a open forum where buyer's and seller's can get together to complete mutually beneficial transactions. It is a volunteer community, that is self-policed, where anyone can file reports against suspect sales. Ultimately, E-Bay is responsible for making the final determination, if an item is removed for any reason whatsoever. To blame people on this forum, because an item was openly discussed in this forum, is ludicrous and dumb, when we are mostly here for educational purposes only. I certainly do not get a dime to be here on this forum, I am not an employee of E-bay, in fact, I have a full-time job to begin with, and look on the forum when I can fit it in to my schedule.
I say passionately what I said before; people who sell on E-Bay are responsible for truth in advertising. If they do not know what they are selling, then they should research it, get it checked by RSC, check it out with other vintage experts, etc., before putting up a listing that they claim is 100% original, when it is not. This is like the tobacco companies claiming, that they are not responsible for marketing a deadly product, that they knew was harmful, for many years prior to the court system, and the country, accepted this as fact.
E-Bay is the final determiner of whether an item gets removed for misrepresentation, being a scam, fake, too-good-to-be-true auction, etc. I lose no sleep over the fact that E-bay is doing their job along the sidelines. I will not condemn their desire to keep E-Bay a safe community where people can come together and complete mutually beneficial transactions. Hurray for E-Bay.
All those who sell on E-Bay, please post truthful descriptions of what you are selling. One could only hope for transparency in the sales listed on E-bay. If someone here wants to be the one who takes it upon themselves to politely send an e-mail to someone and tell them their underwear is showing, please do. I only ask for truth in advertising. If a watch has been serviced, with many a replacement part, say so instead of trying to pass it off as 100% original. Simple solution.
Terry Newton