Dear Uncle Griff and Dear Aunt Flossie

The following information is provided to educate and inform. eBay^TM is not liable or responsible for any type of damage or loss caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information below.

eBay's kindly old Uncle Griff has agreed to answer questions for some of our members. If you have a question you would like to ask him, email him at unclgrff@ebay.com. NOTE: Not one to be left out of anything, Uncle Griff's mother, Aunt Flossie, loves to meddle in her son's business. Aunt Flossie offers "helpful" replies to questions also (email unclgriff@ebay.com). However, neither Uncle Griff nor eBay is responsible for her comments.

Dear Uncle Griff,

What is the proper thing to do when someone has described an item as something it's not? For example, when someone lists a book as a First Edition, and you know that it's 20 or 50 years too late. Or someone lists a book as signed by a famous author, and you know that it's just a printed facsimile. I've often seen items like that, but they usually get no bids so it didn't worry me. But last night a real whopper went through at 100 times its value, and I worry about the effect on the reputation of eBay material. Thanks for any guidance.

-- Friend of Bookbuyers

Dear Friend of Bookbuyers,

You could consider sending a very polite email to the seller expressing your concern and your opinion and it is possible that the seller might be extremely grateful for the unsolicited opinion and respond with a kind note of gratitude for lending your expertise. Then again, it is also possible that the seller would take great offense and send back a scathing reply to basically "mind your own business."

We would suggest that you keep two things in mind before giving out such information to a seller (or bidder for that matter):

1. Buyer beware.
2. No good deed goes unpunished.

Sellers who offer items which are not what they describe, usually find themselves very soon in hot water with their bidders. They need no assistance stepping into the boiling pot.

-- Uncle Griff

Dear Uncle Griff,

When a successful high bidder asks you to commit "customs fraud," and refuses to pay unless you go along, are you obligated to proceed with the sale? As one who sells scores of items on eBay every week, I have a lot more to lose than the buyer does. But a buyer can do me a lot of ongoing harm with just one negative feedback. What should I do?

-- Denny

Dear Denny,

OK, let me get this straight: You have a customer who wants you to break a customs law, placing yourself at risk for legal actions by the U.S. Customs Service. And you would do so out of fear of receiving a negative feedback when you have a current feedback score of 304?

I suppose this decision is yours to make, but really, you might want to rethink your priorities here. "One (possible) negative feedback versus breaking the law...hmmmm...which would I choose...?"

-- Uncle Griff

Dear Aunt Flossie,

My best friend is currently bidding against me for a cast-iron Mickey Mouse bank. She knows I REALLY want this bank for my Disney collection, yet whenever I bid, she bids higher. The auction has 6 days to go. How should I handle this situation?

-- Mad Mouseketeer

Dear Mad Mouseketeer,

So, you are bidding on an old Mickey Mouse bank. Aunt Flossie loves Mickey Mouse collectibles. Aunt Flossie thinks the best way she can help you is for you to email Aunt Flossie immediately with the item number of this auction. And while you're at it, please let Aunt Flossie know what your maximum bid is. Don't you worry dear, Aunt Flossie will see to it that neither you nor your friend will have to worry about bidding against each other on this auction any more!