Strange offering on eBay...

[snowleopard]

Take a look at this They say "You are bidding to purchase joining instructions for a place on a RYA Day Skipper Practical Course" then later "The Cost of the course is discounted to £750.00" so it sounds as though all you get for the winning bid is the right to pay another £750 though anyone not reading the small print would think from the heading that they were getting the actual course. Does anyone else smell fish or am I just an old sceptic?

 

[Guest]

Yep! you is just an old septic! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BrendanS]

I've sent them a question asking for clarification.

 

[Stemar]

IMHO, it's cheap advertising for them. If someone really wants to pay £750 plus flights for a January course, the pound isn't really an issue

 

[AlJones]

Mmmmmmm!

Curious!

Plus flights and Food!

Bargain eh?

 

[BrendanS]

Received a reply. It is indeed solely joining instructions, and course 750 on top.

"Hi

The item is the joining instructions you would need to purchase the course to have something to join! "

 

[bedouin]

I don't think you're expected actually to bid - it is just there to give contact details so you know they exist - as someone else has said it's cheap advertising.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Why would I need "joining instructions" if I'm going to be met at the airport???

 

[BrendanS]

Why would I need to pay to get instructions on how to join a course I've had to pay for? Not normal business practice in training schools. Hope they get slated and anyone on here asking questions about them in future get warned off.

 

[Danny Jo]

Isn't this just a strategm for flogging places on a course without having to pay commission on the full £750? You bid, say, £1.10, and you get a place on the course. Various manifestations of it are (bid for a test drive in a car for sale, etc), I am told, quite common. Unless you are looking at it from the point of view of an eBay shareholder, there is nothing particular sinister about it.

Mark

 

[Sans Bateau]

Do you realy think people will be impressed with this? It would put me right off, I wouldnt go anywhere near it on principle.

When I do my YM practical later this year I will go for one of those local friendly schools, Portsmouth or Gosport based, any ideas?

 

[oldharry]

I agree. There are a range of dodges in use to avoid paying Ebays quite hefty selling fees. Ebay watch for this sort of thing, and cancelled the auction on the guy who put his Yacht up: "Buy It Now" for £5.00 + delivery £64,955!

 

[Searush]

You could always report them if you don't like it. Saves E-bay a fortune in staff to monitor all those illegal ads. If they get pulled up for it a few times they will probably get banned.

Do you feel like being a Stool Pidgeon? I did an ad once and link to my charity web site for more pics of the item & a map of my location. I got pulled for illegal advertising! The rules are there but are generally applied inconsistently.

 

[Steve Clayton]

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't this just a strategm for flogging places.......there is nothing particular sinister about it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Hmm. I must admit that I had thought of using eBay to sell bums on seats for a particular event taking place in Valencia later this year. So look ahead say 10 days and see what spare occupation we have and then "auction/buy it now price" on a 3 or 5 day sale. So if I end up doing this then please don't shoot me down!!!

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