Unscrupulous people

[VENOM]

Since we are showing them off here is mine before it was framed. It even looks better in person.

[Thomas Froehling]

Hello,
it seems that the comicmonster has hit again:

eBay Auction

I have sent the seller the following email:

Hello,
you are repeatedly selling personalized convention sketches of Stan Sakai and other comic artists. This is annoying:
Stan Sakai does these sketches for free for his fans. So, by selling them you are exploiting his kindness and make a fast buck out of it.
You’ve taken up Stan Sakai’s time for your own profit, posing as an admirer of his art while you are just taking advantage of him. I don’t know the English word to describe your behaviour properly, but it won’t be a nice one.
Stan Sakai and other artists consider to change their policy about doing sketches: rather than have their gifts being sold on ebay, they would not do them anymore. This might hurt the relationship between artist and fan. Sakai's real Original Art is far more elaborate, so a potential buyer might have a false perception of what Stan Sakai is able to do.
So, think about what you are going!
Please be informed that your actions are being watched with concern.
Thomas

It was pretty hard to express my anger in polite 1000 keys, but I tried my best...

I hope that bugging them repeatedly might (over some time) convince them that they can't get away with it.

I'm thinking about sending a second email to the bidder, telling him about our thread here, so he knows about our concern.

What do you guys think?

[Todd Shogun]

That's what I had proposed we do early on, but wasn't sure how eBay would take it. Maybe set up an alternate user ID?

[Treadwell]

Guaranteed this is not something eBay is going to care about. It's hard enough getting them to discipline or deactivate scammers and cheats. eBay would ask "he's selling what he says he's selling, right? Does he deliver the item?". With "yes" to both questions, it'll be a non-issue with them.

What he's doing is rude, discourteous and disrespectful...but not really unlawful or illicit. People have the freedom to be rude, discourteous and disrespectful.

...and we have the freedom to spread the word about them and hopefully reduce their sales. But interfering via eBay is an improper escalation, IMO.

[shaxper]

Guaranteed this is not something eBay is going to care about. It's hard enough getting them to discipline or deactivate scammers and cheats. eBay would ask "he's selling what he says he's selling, right? Does he deliver the item?". With "yes" to both questions, it'll be a non-issue with them

ebay doesn't care when they have no fear of being sued. With the actual creator and copyright holder involved, I think they'd feel far more motivated to investigate a clear violation of their rules (see the other thread for more info on this). As long as Stan's involved in the complaint, I think it would carry water. True, Stan isn't the suing type, but ebay doesn't know that.

[Treadwell]

The other thread is about a seller (same one?) altering the artwork to cover a personalization and not divulging it. That is not what this thread is about. In this case he isn't breaking eBay rules. What he's selling is as described.

I agree that it's a different game in that other situation.

[VENOM]

As long as people buy them they will continue to sell them. At least none of the members here support this conduct and buy the items. Ebay probably won't care, its not illegal or breaking any rules (the altered pictures may be against rules without informing the buyers) so as long as ebay are getting paid the fees they will let it go especially on a big seller.

If we all keep emailing the seller about the items he/she may stop selling them, it may be more trouble then the few dollars is worth to them.