Question
I am not familiar with the history or function of Ebay's Community Watch Team. I had never noticed them before, but they are apparently currently involved in closing down book auctions which, per example, list the names of artists that are in the actual book, err, because that interferes with the Ebay search of buyers who may be, umm, searching for information on that artist.
I just did a search on here for "Community Watch", and one of the 2 hits indicated that they also deemed that SMX was at fault last year when he listed the wick of an as new Zippo cigarette lighter as being snow white (apparently Walt Disney assumed the copyright of the colour concept as well as the cartoon Character)........
So, please, fill me in - what is Ebay's "Community Watch".
Curious, Kevin
Edited to add: P.S. Please do not let my cynical sarcasm above discourage a serious description of their role. I am asking a serious genuine question.
Answer
Hi Kevin:
You can check out the eBay Workshop: Stamps Community Watch Program - Monday, August 23rd (2004) HERE.
It is really quite funny. It appears that they are looking for a sheriff but no one wants to pin on the badge.
In an article about Tiffany's lawsuit against eBay it was stated:
EBay also says that it employs a team of around 800 people to monitor improper behaviour on the site. However, with around 21 million items being offered for sale at any one time, that could mean that each team member is responsible for overseeing 26,000 different lots.
Consequently, the company says that the volume of goods traded online is so huge, it cannot be expected, as a middle man, to vouch for each transaction. Instead, it says the eBay community effectively polices itself, primarily through the star-rating system where users grade each other's behaviour.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/ar...154187,00.html
There was also an online article where ebay's Dan Neary was interviewed that makes reference to the Stamps Community Watch program. This is on Page 2 of the article.
An example of how the Community Watch program works when properly applied can be found at EBay Changes Artifacts Policy To Help Protect Speleothems
Answer
I also found this explanation:
“Safe Harbor” is eBay’s in-house safety team that, similar to an eBay “law enforcement”, investigates user complaints, issues warnings to users, or suspends users from bidding or listing items for sale. The safety team, known as Safe Harbor, is organized into 3 sub-areas: Investigations, Community Watch, and Fraud Prevention.
The Investigations team addresses trading infractions and misuse; however, eBay focuses resources on trading offenses that “undermine the integrity of the system” – for example, shilling bidding, demonstrating a strong interest-based rather than rights-based orientation. The Fraud Prevention team provides information on disputes over the quality of goods, as well as processes and responds to claims of fraud by suspending members.
The Community Watch team investigates listing of illegal, infringing or inappropriate items. EBay members are encouraged to report potential conflicts on the auction site, even when they are merely third party observers, to Safe Harbor.
From EBAY: MANAGING CONFLICT IN AN ONLINE COMMUNITY
Answer
G'day Corrdogg,
That stamp watch thread is hilarious. "Do people collect foodstamps?"
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The two searches on here that yield "Community Watch" are also enlightening as to how effective this posse is.
This was the thread where SMX1313 had a Zippo cigarette lighter auction kicked for containing the sentence "Lighter is brand new, wick is snow white".
In his attempts to remedy the situation he received this reply:
Thank you for writing to eBay's Community Watch and giving me the chanceto answer your question. I understand that you have a question about ourlisting policies.
Firstly, please remember that when we review a reported auction for listings violations, we must look at it at face value. That being said, your listing "XXXXXXX Zippo" Item #XXXXXXXXX was found to be in violation of Keyword Spamming policy for the words "snow white." And as per guidelines for the policy, you were warned when it was reported.
So, Ebay's “law enforcement” can not determine that snow white is an actual colour, and that in this case it was used to confirm that the wick was in mint condition.
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The second thread involved NotMe requesting information about listing an item. The supplier required that they be credited along with their website URL, and NotMe wanted to find out whether it was legal to list in this way.
This is the response that she received was:
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to write eBay with your concerns. I'm
happy to help you further.
eBay members are not permitted to use images or text from other sellers'
listings without consent. For more information on this subject, please
look at:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community...nd-images.html
In order to make sure that you are permitted to use the materal in your
listings, please contact the original owner of the graphics to provide
clarification. Once you confirm that the images are permitted for use
from the original owner, please feel free to use them. Please note that
linking directly to the website may not be permitted so please be clear
in your communication with this person.
It is my pleasure to assist you. Thank you for choosing eBay.
Regards,
Claude
eBay Community Watch
So, if this is the Sherriff, are you filled with confidence?????
To steal a phrase from Commentary - "Idiots"
Kevin
Answer
To steal a phrase from Commentary - "Idiots"
Darn it, I knew I should had vero that word.