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Once a knife is sold, it is the property of the purchaser and they can do what they please with it.
Can you imagine if people complained about how you dealt with your private property?
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All For Sale threads must have a pic showing the knife being sold with written date listed, your username & Bladeforums or BFC to prevent photo harvesting from elsewhere - scammers hate this one trick! The rules for The Exchange can be found here. Please read and follow them. Stop using Paypal Friends & Family and follow our best practices to prevent getting ripped off or having a bad deal.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Current Ebay Flipper
- Thread starter draggat
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Once a knife is sold, it is the property of the purchaser and they can do what they please with it.
Can you imagine if people complained about how you dealt with your private property?
Peter Hartwig
Gold Member
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I don't know about legality, but it has always been considered wrong (on the forums) to use others photo's without permission and credit given.
Your own photo's are also an indication that you actually have the knife, rather than just grabbed some photo's off the net.
Your own photo's are also an indication that you actually have the knife, rather than just grabbed some photo's off the net.
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Interesting, I did not know that...it seems fair use is a pretty nebulous term when applied to the Internet but it is probably not in your best interests to use a photo without permission. I still don't see the issue, it seems kind of crappy to me to cry about someone else using your pic of a unique item sold, but it is the law so it's probably better to take your own pics.
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As a long time member who considers BF a community, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth when a buyer buys from a seller who is selling at a reasonable price as part of the community then turns around to sell the knife at an inflated price. It is not against the rules, but I consider it tacky. The buyer who does that is not part of the community, and likely does not care.
Those who care about BF as a community are advised of this buyers's behavior. Those philistines who do not, pass this thread by.
Those who care about BF as a community are advised of this buyers's behavior. Those philistines who do not, pass this thread by.
Aww, geeze… I could turn that around to say that your post is a fraud against anyone relying on your post for the truth. Words have meanings.
Listen, folks, the OP went on at great length about the flipping flipper on eBay. The buyer didn't contact him when he received the knife, the absurd price he's listed, and a massive screen shot dump of the listing, and appropriation of his name dropping. Buried in the middle of this mass was a short phrase saying that he could forgive all those transgressions had the flipper not used his photos and prose.
That's called burying the lead.
It's not necessary to exhaustively address every point in a post. The post that started this silly interlude addressed ownership of property, and hit the nail squarely on the head as far as I'm concerned. Whether the fellow who wrote that post was simply addressing one point, or he missed the photo / prose point is immaterial. His point was as valid as anyone else's post, as long as he is following the forum rules.
I understand the point you guys are making, I really do. But when you're using terms like fraud and prerequisite incorrectly, you're elevating this silly episode way beyond any reason. This is just one more eBay goofball doing what eBay goofballs do. The OP has made his money and delivered the knife. He's made his concerns known to the goofball and eBay. That's the end of the story.
I've devoted far more time to the subject than is sensible. I've got knives to buy.
Valued price is based on what someone will pay, correct? Once the said item is sold to somebody for what the seller asked, it is no longer that ex-sellers concern. Now, I definitely do not condone ridiculous inflation. But if it's something that I can't live without, then..... The picture/description issue is a little more serious to me. It is very deceptive to future buyers. The new seller (i.e. Ebay turd) could be using the crap out of the item, and the new buyer is none the wiser to it's existing condition. Not to mention it's just plain lazy and distasteful. Thank you OP for the heads up of the intentional deception and lackluster business practices of this flipper.
P.S. I can honestly say that I have never made a profit on a knife sale
P.S. I can honestly say that I have never made a profit on a knife sale
Vaporstang
Gold Member
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I guess I need to be more careful with other's pictures. I have used only my own pictures when selling here with a couple of exceptions where I used a photo from the previous owner. This was when I could not capture lock-up or blade centering as well (and possibly scratches, but I don't think so) as the previous owner did. I always labeled them as the previous owner's picture, without naming them. But I did not get permission. All the other pictures in the listing were mine.
Where I am more guilty is when I have something on order and post the seller's pictures in the "Watcha Got On Order" threads. Again, I state that they are not my pictures, but also do not get permission and do not name the seller. [I definitely would not name the seller without permission, as some like to stay discrete. I remember a GB&U thread several years ago were the seller named the buyer in the sales thread, and the buyer was upset about it.]
Peter Hartwig
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I don't know exactly where the line in the sand is on this, and as you said you don't want to name someone without their permission. I know some of those that take great photo's are touchy about their use. No one steals, borrows or anything else, my crappy photo's
Well, I looked at the eBay seller's auctions and of the 37 knives he currently has listed, 6 have come from me recently (5 Lionsteels and 1 GEC). I know what he paid for them, I know what the eBay costs are (~10%), add PayPal fees (~3%) and then add the cost of shipping, there is a very small profit level on 4 of those 6 knives... If he wants to wait forever to sell them on eBay, that is his prerogative, but at least he was smart enough not to use my crappy pictures!
If he wants to buy on here and then flip on eBay for a higher price, that's his prerogative... personally I don't care for it, I'm not much on flippers regardless of what website they use.
Using another members pictures and or description though, makes him a lazy seller at best. If he's to lazy to take his own pictures and do an accurate description then how can one trust that he would take the time to properly package the knife once he resells it and it's time to ship.
The biggest issue I have with the buyer in question is this, about a week ago I was contacted by another member (not the OP of this thread) basically about the same issue... knife was bought on BF's and flipped on eBay for an $80 mark up using the sellers pictures.
The problem arises in the description... the seller on BF's clearly stated that the knife had been sharpened by the previous owner, however the eBay description says the knife is NEW. I don't care how good the knife looks, if you're the third owner and it's been sharpened, it's not new.
Using another members pictures and or description though, makes him a lazy seller at best. If he's to lazy to take his own pictures and do an accurate description then how can one trust that he would take the time to properly package the knife once he resells it and it's time to ship.
The biggest issue I have with the buyer in question is this, about a week ago I was contacted by another member (not the OP of this thread) basically about the same issue... knife was bought on BF's and flipped on eBay for an $80 mark up using the sellers pictures.
The problem arises in the description... the seller on BF's clearly stated that the knife had been sharpened by the previous owner, however the eBay description says the knife is NEW. I don't care how good the knife looks, if you're the third owner and it's been sharpened, it's not new.
And I got a kick out of reading these posts. I spent 26 years in USARMY to defend your rights to freedom of speech and certainly don't intend to curtail it now, By the same rights i have the same . If you have a problem, especially with an ew guy like myself, if I'm breaking the rules, let me know, I'm a rule follower from way back. But I can find nothing here that says I have to keep knife I buy forever. Most of these posts are from people looking to sell knives they bought some where. At least if it goes to me a wider group will be exposed to the deal/knife. Ebay doesn't make knives, all knives on ebay came from somewhere, Guess some of the guys thought the knife fairy dropped them off. I've bought over 100 knives, 20 went into my collection, the rest are selling to support my knife habit, just as the sales of other members. If you have a problem with me, please address it to me, you don't have to go back to the lower 40 and whisper about it, be men next time, Mac
Peter Hartwig
Gold Member
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But did you get the part on using sellers text and photo's?
There is no rule against flipping (but as noted by craytab-it could put you in a dealer category in some cases)and thus you are not breaking a rule, however that doesn't mean you won't offend someone by doing it and it could result in them not wanting to do business with you. I don't happen to be one, but recognize this happens(others will be offended). If I were to give you some sort of great deal(for whatever reason) and you just flipped it for a profit, it is very unlikely I would give you another such deal-but still not offended. Just my mistake.
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NOTE: Whatever your feelings on the matter. All comments belong in this thread only. Do not post commentary in sales threads. Doing so will get you an infraction with points.
Flipping knives is frowned upon here. There is in fact a rule about it. If you do it enough here you will be asked to pay for a dealer membership, as you would be a dealer. What you are doing is not against the rules but most will see it as uncouth and that reputation will follow you in this community.
Next, using someone else's photos and descriptions is a scummy move, especially when used to flip a knife elsewhere. Again, while not against the rules, it is the reputation you are building for yourself here and it is not a good one.
Last, I thank you for your service. That said, there is no freedom of speach here. We all get to speak here at the grace of the forum owner. The 1st ammendment has absolutely nothing to do with our ability to discuss knives on a privately owned forum. Please understand the difference.
Sorry- I was not aware of this thread before I saw the comments in last nights knife listing on the exchange. I’m still getting used to things here concerning the rules. I’m glad I got the information I did, but sorry again for breaking the rules.
Anyway- I lost out a few times on hard to find folders to
MP95B20
. But hey- I know I’ve done the same to people too... it’s the name of the game on the exchange. That is, until last night it was brought to my attention that he buys and re-sells on eBay for hundred(s) more. That irks me. And
MP95B20
, the beer scout you snagged I’ve been hunting for years- all you had to do was message me and I would have bought it from you for even more than you paid. Instead you listed it on eBay, and as a long time eBayer (not so much anymore) I know the fees are killer now. You prob didn't even make that much more money doing this, but you did it. And you’ve done it with a lot of knives. And now people are finding out which means many will not sell to you anymore.
All photos are automatically copyright'ed in the US. Using somebody else's photos as your own (without at least a reference) is IP theft, much like copying a knife design. Same holds true for written text. Some sites (like Facebook) force you to abandon your copyright, but I don't think BF does.
By your point I should be just as aggravated that my ebay pics /listings were used here. In fact ebay does have a rule against it, I suppose it's only enforcable on ebay, but the gist is the same.And he used pics of knives he had no connection to, I used his pics in error. It's the only time I've made that mistake, I have a new tablet and posted from it while at VA DR. I picked up his pics from here when I added my own to ebay. His were not the only ones in the ebay listing. No One has mentioned that, but it seems a big to do about nothing, if you want a knife here buy it, if you don't , please don't bash the guy who did. I'll gladly follow the rules posted, any rules. Just don't see any posted about how long a knife must be held, catch and release, whatever you want to call it. And last night , hours after I purchased a couple from another member, Jeffrey Schmall? posted in the sales thread," Well I missed the 85 to MP95B20, I can wait a few days and buy it for a $100 more on ebay". I responded, and both our comments were removed. I realize my action was childish and shouldn't have allowed myself to be baited, but same guy bought a knife from me on ebay, after purchase he tried to leave me negative feedback, said all my knives were overpriced, i sell buy it now, if you don't like it, move on. But he bought then wanted his say, after I offered to buy it back if he wasn't satisfied, ebay removed the feedback, in 9 years I've never had a negative, in 900 transactions, so I did get a little hot, If you don't like somebodies business then leave it alone, don't try to mess with it, all uncalled for, Now I've got to buy some knives, I appreciate a forum to respond, Mac Mac
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