EBAY quickly stopped the auction. They don't stop much and they aren't quick about any "report item" violations that YOU might report. This thing was GONE FAST.
EBAY has a lot of rules and a lot of reasons for stopping the sale of everything from chlorform to used panties. They stop things because the feel it's "offensive materials" (like Nazi and KKK memorabilia). They stop things that are obviously dangerous and illegal. Why was THIS auction of Trump debris stopped?
ACCORDING TO EBAY, it violates Terms of Service because it was considered among “items that encourage, promote, facilitate, or instruct others to engage in illegal activities.”
Meaning, if you make money by destroying Trump's star, it might encourage others to commit the illegal act of messing with private property.
Meanwhile, at the same time, several sellers are offering Charlize Theron nude photos. It's "offensive" to Photoshop nude images, and it involves STEALING copyrighted photos and intellectual property. It's also against Federal Law, as one must have a SIGNED MODEL RELEASE OF AGE AND CONSENT in order to offer explicit nude images.
And yet, eBAY's response when these items are reported (every auction has a "report item" link) is usually to ignore it. Submit it to "offensive materials" or "Adult: not allowed at all") and MAYBE it will be stopped. Maybe not.
Unlike the Trump crumbs.
Call up eBay and a woman somewhere in the world will answer the phone and say "Yes, that is a violation. This behavior is not allowed on our site. Not to worry. I will report it for you." And once again, you STILL only ave a 50-50 chance it will be stopped.
Sellers who get warned, restricted and even suspended...can come back under another name, or plead to get off suspension (and do it again).
These are among the milder items. Where is Charlize Theron's "VeRO" rep? She may not have one. She may not know what's going on behind her back, and wouldn't know because celebs are wrapped in cotton and secretaries handle a Twitter account and there might not even be an official website.
She may have a greedy lawyer or manager who wants to charge her $200 an hour for takedowns, when anyone (even a friend or a fan) can be appointed as her EBAY rep for these things.
ALL women should be protected against the woman-haters and parasites who get a kick out of pretending fake photos are real, and by duplicating (this in itself is illegal on eBAY) material they don't own.
EBAY, a shady Scientology-like outfit that doesn't like to be contacted, doesn't give out a phone number, and whose employees will NOT give out more than a first name and do NOT give a follow-up email account or any way to get back in touch with them...passes the buck constantly, and ignores common sense and dignity.
Here's a seller of a "PHOTOE" that will be sent in a time "SENSATIVE" way. This weasel debases women for nickels and dimes, making about five bucks a picture. But since he is a woman hater, he's OK with eBay. If he sold autopsy photo copies, or KKK or Nazi memorabilia, he'd be suspended. Blacks and Jews and dead people are respected. WOMEN ARE NOT.
Here's a seller of a "PHOTOE" that will be sent in a time "SENSATIVE" way. This weasel debases women for nickels and dimes, making about five bucks a picture. But since he is a woman hater, he's OK with eBay. If he sold autopsy photo copies, or KKK or Nazi memorabilia, he'd be suspended. Blacks and Jews and dead people are respected. WOMEN ARE NOT.
EBAY has several buck-passing departments. They have a main phone number that gets you an idiot. The idiot is instructed to say "not to worry" and "I will take care of this" and get rid of you. And usually do nothing. The idiot may, if pressed, put you through to some other division like "RISK MANAGEMENT" or "TRUST AND SAFETY." You might get somebody who is actually sympathetic, or somebody who will keep repeating, "The appropriate action will be taken." Sometimes, despite all logic and their own Terms of Service, they'll say, "We have our procedure. We warn sellers. We may restrict them for a day, then a week, then a month. We may suspend them temporarily. This is all confidential and we can't tell you what we will do with your complaint."
The auctions are also in violation of PAYPAL's similar TERMS OF SERVICE, and they have similar buck-passers, woman-haters and arrogant jerks who enjoy the power of being able to simply say "We wlll take the appropriate action" and then stop answering any more questions.
An auction for a bunch of cement crumbs swept off the sidewalk...ENDED.
Sellers who routinely exploit hundreds of women, famous or not, with dupe photos for which they have NO SIGNED MODEL RELEASE OF AGE AND CONSENT? The abuse goes on.
