What moron pays $485 for a PS3 controller?
So here's an eBay auction. The ad clearly states it's for a "Sony Playstation 3 - Controller". The description states it's a Game Controller. There is even a picture that is captioned "Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) Controller". The only deceiving part of this auction, if you can even call it deceiving is the actual product picture. One that portrays a PS3 box, a couple games and two controllers in a bundle type setting. I suppose if your desperate enough, one might misunderstand this ad to be for the picture and not what's described in the auction title and description.
So who is desperate enough to pay $485 for a PS3 controller. That would be the same eBayer that recently paid $100 to win this auction, "Sony PlayStation 3 - Game console Mystery Auction" where it also clearly states:
All Bidder ENVELOPES will be sent once the auction has ended and final payment is received with feedback.I WILL SEND ONE LUCKY PERSON A BRAND NEW PS3 60 GB WITH A THREE YEAR WARRANTY AND A FREE BLUE RAY MOVIE.RICKY BOBBY TALLADEGA NIGHTS.I HAVE ALREADY SOLD ONE ENVELOPE IN A PREVIOUS LISTING SO I ONLY HAVE 24 LEFT.IF I SELL 11 MORE BY THE TIME THIS AUCTION ENDS I WILL GIVE AWAY A PS3 GUARANTEED.IF NOT YOU WILL TAKE YOUR CHANCES IF I SELL ONLY 1 MORE AND EITHER ONE WHO HAS BOUGHT AN ENVELOPE GETS THE LUCKY ENVELOPE I HAVE MARKED I WILL STILL SEND THE PS3.
I suppose one could argue that both the ads are deceiving in their own right but all the prospective bidder has to do is read them. As it is, this eBayer, assuming they pay the $485, is in the hole for $585 about half what Amazon currently retails a PS3 for. Have things gotten so bad that people out to make a quick buck don't even have to try very hard now to get us to part with our money? Some people apparently feel this is a bad marketing tactic, that it's unfair to the potential buyer. Personally, I say if the person bidding is stupid enough to actually bid on a cleverly written auction, and actually pays up, well, how does it go? A fool and his money are soon parted? What do you think? Should eBay do something about this type of auction or not?
Playstation 3 on Amazon.com
Pingback by What moron pays $485 for a PS3 controller? « Universe_JDJ’s News Blog on 26 December 2006:
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Comment by Geoff on 27 December 2006:
And what person (I wont say moron, but, come on…) bothers to get so worked up over what idiots do on ebay?
Comment by Tarun on 27 December 2006:
Well, I sold the email address ‘youwinps3premium@yahoo.com’ for $146.something after seeing the same address with a gmail domain going for over $400… I’m a nice enough guy so I returned the money, but its amazing how much dough is being wasted on silly things like this.
Comment by Trevor on 27 December 2006:
if your desperate enough –>
if you’re desperate enough