Movie Prop Collecting with Jason DeBord's Original Prop Blog Film & TV Prop, Costume, Hollywood Memorablia Pop Culture Resource

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eBay Pulls Authentic Prop from Charity Auction; Unlicensed Replicas of Same Prop Okay…

As noted last month (see The X-Files: “Gillian’s Charity Auction”), Gillian Anderson has offered a great number of memorabilia items and “event/experiences” for auction on eBay, with all proceeds benefiting a number of excellent charity causes.  The highlight of these auctions is a set of the FBI credentials used by Ms. Anderson in her role of Dana Scully in the television series, The X-Files.  Yesterday, eBay canceled this auction due to a violation of policy…  yet today, as well as historically, unlicensed and copyright infringing copies of this authentic prop are freely listed and sold on the auction service website. [Read more…]

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kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props: Update 5 – “item no longer available for sale”

This is a follow-up to previous articles (see kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props…, Update 1, Update 2, Update 3) in which original prop auctions by “kellysheroesmilitaria” on eBay were compared with matching items available for sale from online retailers, as well as non-movie prop purchases made on eBay by “kellysheroesmilitaria” and items that appear to match being offered for sale as original props under the same eBay account.  The subject eBay listing of the Update 4 article has been canceled by the seller for the following stated reason:

[Read more…]

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kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props: Update 4, eBay Third Party Reporting Case Study

This is a follow-up to previous articles (see kellysheroesmilitaria Original Props…, Update 1, Update 2, Update 3) in which original prop auctions by “kellysheroesmilitaria” on eBay were compared with matching items available for sale from online retailers, as well as non-movie prop purchases made on eBay by “kellysheroesmilitaria” and items that appear to match being offered for sale as original props under the same eBay account.  A reader drew my attention to a new set of auctions, which is followed by a note about eBay third party reporting in practice. [Read more…]

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More eBay/PayPal Integration Via Dispute & Resolution Processes

Per “The Chatter – eBay’s Blog About The Company and the Community”, changes have been made to eBay’s “Resolution Center” and PayPal’s “Dispute Console” that integrates the two dispute processes for those applicable transactions.  PayPal policy changes also offer buyers more incentives to use PayPal for payment on eBay.  This is further evidence of ongoing efforts and trends in which PayPal as a method of payment is becoming ubiquitous with transactions made on eBay, PayPal’s parent company. [Read more…]

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More From the Los Angeles Times: “Scammers Exploit Online Trust Factor”

David Colker of the Los Angeles Times has written a follow-up story to Harriet Ryan’s piece published on the front page Wednesday (see Los Angeles Times Feature on Global Antiques, Thoughts on Los Angeles Times “Global Antiques” Feature).  The new article, “Scammers exploit online trust factor“, opens quoting the core value that eBay was founded on – “people are basically good” – and laments the “good old days”. [Read more…]

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Thoughts on Los Angeles Times “Global Antiques” Feature

I wanted to share some thoughts and reactions to this week’s feature in the Los Angeles Times about the “Global Antiques” auctions on eBay.  Overall, I am very pleased to see the issue presented to a huge audience, and I think the reporter, Ms. Ryan, did an excellent job of giving voice and perspective to a wide array of principals and relevant third parties.  My interest is to look at each of those contributions and responses (or lack thereof) to determine outstanding questions. [Read more…]

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eBay & Third Party Reporting (Fraud, Violations of Policy)

One of the most frequent topics that original prop collectors bring up with me is with regard to fraud on eBay.  This is often coupled with expressions of frustration by collectors who have found that they do not understand how to report fraud and violations of eBay policy with eBay directly, when they are not party to any transaction.  Though eBay has a number of appropriate policies in place, it is challenging for eBay members to find the appropriate method by which these experts in the field can share material information directly with eBay in an effort to help them to enforce their own policies. [Read more…]

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eBay’s “PayPal Only” Debate Framed: Anti-Competition vs. Anti-Consumer Protection

eBay has published a statement on its Australian auction site (ebay.com.au) and e-mailed those members with a policy update in response to the ACCC actions reported on last week. It appears that the debate has now been framed as “anti-competitive” by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, with eBay’s retort to the ACCC’s objection as one that “undermines online consumer protection”. eBay has delayed it’s previously announced plans by one month. [Read more…]