Question
Coveted BBC Badges Trafficked On Whitman's EBay
Parmy Olson, 03.27.06, 2:24 PM ET
London - EBay Chief Executive Meg Whitman would be forgiven for feeling blue if she flicked through any U.K. papers today: "We may as well discover that the ravens have fled the Tower of London or that cricket was invented by the Belgians," cried one broadsheet in one of its main editorials, for "a little piece of Britain has died."
That "little piece of Britain" is the Blue Peter badge, a coveted pin given away by the long-running BBC children's television program Blue Peter to 10,000 lucky viewers each year. Sending in an exemplary drawing, story idea or performing an act of extreme bravery are all qualifications for receiving the white enamel button with a blue stamp, and a handful of auspicious Forbes Celebrity 100 members including Madonna and David Beckham along with Queen Elizabeth II are honorary holders.
As it happens over 40 of the pins are currently being peddled on the online auction site eBay (nasdaq: EBAY - news - people ), with sellers touting that their "genuine" items will give free access to hundreds of attractions including zoos, museums and stately homes. The claim is true, and with the badge's free-entry status now being exploited by a growing number of families across the U.K., the BBC is now tackling the ruse head on. "Large numbers of badges" have now been taken off eBay as a result of the public service broadcaster's intervention, the BBC's says, adding that Its investigations unit has been monitoring the situation for the past few months.
The sheer size of Whitman's company makes it vulnerable perhaps to problem sellers: This year alone, they have tried to proffer the likes of human souls (with 13 bids having driven the "being" up to $47), and a 405-foot yacht that allegedly had the interest of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
The BBC meanwhile, says its is doing its best to "ensure that this long-standing Blue Peter institution is not undermined," and is now looking at ways that it can verify that a badge belonged to its rightful owner. Of course if program makers wants to get viewers to submit suggestions on that one, we all know the perfect incentive.
Answer
Who is at fault here? Ebay, Ebay sellers or the BBC for assigning special rights to a badge instead of the individual who "won" it?
Does this mean that if a badge turns up in an estate that I am being unethical for selling the badge? (I would not sell any other rights associated with it, but buyers may try to assume those rights if they are aware of them).
I have sold BBC sports reporters badges in the past which would undoubtedly be much rarer BBC memorabilia. I would treat a Blue Peter badge in exactly the same way if it were to turn up in an estate lot.
If the BBC has created a faulty promotion which allows special rights to be transferred with the sale of a badge, does Ebay deserve this type of criticism?
Am I viewing this wrongly?
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
Nope
Originally Posted by Kevin_T
Am I viewing this wrongly?
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
Publicity quadruples values:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ort=8&rows=200
His current badge is at GBP 127.00 and has had 45,543 hits!!!! The two closed auctions sold at 25.00 and 31.00 (in case any of these these get cancelled by Ebay)
The questions from other members include:
"Q: for this unholy act you will surely burn in hell - along with the people who desecrated the blue peter garden in the 1980's.
A: Hi I am retired i started of at 99p to win some money to help out with my life, is that wrong."
This auction is specifically quoted in this article:
http://smallscreen.monstersandcritic..._badge_auction
George, who goes by the username Kizzyrabbit, advertises the badge as 'genuine', and 'won in 2004', and boasts that it 'will gain free entry for badge holders under 16 into many places such as museums, stately homes and exhibitions'.
This sales pitch has been met with an angry backlash from the programme's producers, celebrities and eBay customers, with one irate user telling George: 'For this unholy act you will surely burn in hell.'Joining in the middle-class revolt, Blue Peter editor Richard Marson also condemned the sale of the badges and stressed that he was monitoring the situation.
What an incredible storm in a tea cup.
Kevin
Answer
high bidder cocktwat 0
hmm cock twat what makes me think hes bing set up for a NPB here
Answer
Ewwwww-name I'd block from bidding if I ever saw it as a legitimate user. Very few I've ever done that with, but there have been a few that just because of the name I've blocked-one was something like "wifebeater" or some such.
Originally Posted by mango man
high bidder cocktwat 0
hmm cock twat what makes me think hes bing set up for a NPB here
Answer
Q: People on eBay sell pornograhpy, pirate DVD's and even the war medals that good soldiers died for, but no one pesters them about it! It's a disgrace that...more
Mar-27-06
A: thank you george
kind of says it all...
Answer
So, I guess if I were to auction off my Mouseketeer ears from the early sixties that used to gain me entry into Disneyland I'll burn in heII also?
Geez, the carp that sets people off these days is un-friggin-believable... I mean, no one bats an eye when the Grill Cheese Virgin Mary sells at auction, but somehow this pin is viewed as the Holy Grail.
Answer
Originally Posted by thebeesknees
So, I guess if I were to auction off my Mouseketeer ears from the early sixties that used to gain me entry into Disneyland I'll burn in heII also?
Geez, the carp that sets people off these days is un-friggin-believable... I mean, no one bats an eye when the Grill Cheese Virgin Mary sells at auction, but somehow this pin is viewed as the Holy Grail.
Blue Peter badges are not some holy relic as these tosers might have you believe. They are simply the UK equivalent of your Mouseketeer Club ears. There are loads in circulation as they have been issued (albeit in limited numbers) for years, but most are kept as fond reminders of childhood. They do get children in to a few places for free or at discount but they aren't anything special. I think the BBC is trying to preserve them as they were intended to be - a gift to special children, rahter than as a devalued trinket for sale on eBay.
Answer
Problem is solved.
An 11-year-old has been awarded a silver Blue Peter badge for an idea that will allow half a million children to start using their badges again to get into tourist attractions around Britain.
The long-running BBC children's show was forced in March to suspend its scheme allowing badge-winners free entry to 200 attractions after it emerged that parents were snapping up second-hand badges on the eBay auction website. The badges, giving access to places such as London Zoo, Legoland and the Eden Project, fetched as much as £100.
The BBC announced today that it was introducing ID cards to stop people "defrauding the system". The cards will feature the badge-winner's name and a Blue Peter ship hologram and will expire on the badge-holder's 16th birthday.
The cards were the idea of Helen Jenkins, an 11-year-old Blue Peter fan who wrote to the show. Richard Marson, the Blue Peter editor, said: "On Blue Peter many of the best ideas come directly from the audience and this was no exception. After we broke news of the suspension, Helen wrote to us suggesting a card and even included a prototype design.
"As a result, she has won her silver badge and really helped all the genuine Blue Peter badge winners out there who have been so upset at the suspension."
New recipients will automatically be sent a card. Previous badge holders will have to fill in a form on the Blue Peter website.
Blue Peter also announced the introduction of a new purple badge which will be introduced in September. Each month 12 young viewers will be chosen as "Team Players" and will have the chance to spend a day with the Blue Peter team, testing ideas and giving their opinions on the content of the show.