New Zealand Vintage Computer Forums

Just a quick observation for anybody who's seen this listing:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/vintage/auction-855640072.htm

Does anybody know this seller?

I'm a little dubious - the seller joined Trademe last month (and has one feedback, which was a message about a tracking number from a seller) and both his photo's are taken from different online websites and not of his actual machine. (http://www.vintagesynth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=72882 and https://coronax.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/trivial-communications/) Whether this means its just that he just needed some general piccies, or that there's something else going on... Or perhaps original photo's would indicate stolen goods. I shouldn't make assumptions on this person, but it is suspicious and I'd hate to think someone's had their gear stolen and its being listed on TM.

In fact, I found out that ALL of his listings are using photo's from other websites. That's kinda concerning...

Is this something worth bringing up with Trademe?

That is a little odd indeed. I saw a listing for a cinema far north, using pictures from my local rock climbing place. Seems to be a somewhat common thing. I'd just inquire about an inconsistency in the picture. Like the extreme yellowing in one, but not the other maybe.

Clym5 wrote:That is a little odd indeed. I saw a listing for a cinema far north, using pictures from my local rock climbing place. Seems to be a somewhat common thing. I'd just inquire about an inconsistency in the picture. Like the extreme yellowing in one, but not the other maybe.

I saw that and wondered why the cinema was selling caribinas, helmets and rope!

His name is Jason, he's been on this forum before and actually been to my house
He filled my fridge with beer when I helped fix a couple of his Commodore 64's.

I'm not sure why he's been selling his kit the last few weeks, but he is a genuine guy and only lives a few blocks from me.

Edit: I just noticed he said it had a faulty power switch - I'm surprised he hasn't text me to sort it out - one of his units was in perfect working order but the power switch was a dud, I unsoldered it and fitted a couple of wire jumpers (to test the unit worked) and ran the machine for a few hours - playing games etc. But while playing with the switch in my hands for a few minutes it eventually started working correctly - so I soldered it back in to the unit (not the tidiest of jobs - I wish I spent more time on it) and it was running fine. Perhaps it failed again?

SpidersWeb wrote:His name is Jason, he's been on this forum before and actually been to my house
He filled my fridge with beer when I helped fix a couple of his Commodore 64's.

I'm not sure why he's been selling his kit the last few weeks, but he is a genuine guy and only lives a few blocks from me.

Ah, that's sweet...

However - why are all of his photo's not of the actual gear being sold? That C64 image is of someone's Arduino keyboard project, the SD card is from a vintage computing forum and all of the other listings are also taken from other people's websites - noting that the names on one of photo's had been cropped off/painted out. That's what made me concerned really, and you can imagine that it would raise a red flag if someone else wondered why.

kevman3d wrote:However - why are all of his photo's not of the actual gear being sold? That C64 image is of someone's Arduino keyboard project, the SD card is from a vintage computing forum and all of the other listings are also taken from other people's websites - noting that the names on one of photo's had been cropped off/painted out. That's what made me concerned really, and you can imagine that it would raise a red flag if someone else wondered why.

Yes, that is usual. I wonder if it's just a case of laziness, where he can't be bothered to take photos? Either way using a borrowed photo without explanation or referencing is not a good look and is bound to raise suspicion in peoples' minds.

Yeah, that is weird? Look at his reply to Swivel's comment.

LilJoe wrote:Yeah, that is weird? Look at his reply to Swivel's comment.

Yeh, that is a strange response regarding the images.
That said, someone's now asked if the Arduino is included...

Either way using a borrowed photo without explanation or referencing is not a good look and is bound to raise suspicion in peoples' minds.

I agree - I could understand one or two, but every listing on his trademe account is kinda pushing it a little too much. When you see a C64 in its packaging you would expect to see a piccy of the actual packaging to see if its damaged or ripped, not be show a picture of someone else's from the internet.

However all of his listings (apart from the C64) are no longer on TM. Whether they sold, or they were removed I don't know. As Jono knows him, I'm sure that he's a legit collector and this has just been a case of a first time seller on Trademe. (since his account is just recent).

Interesting reply regarding the photos, but that said if this was bogus it wouldn't be pickup only.

My first thoughts were he wasn't able to get photos of his own gear and is new to trademe/standard procedures. I don't think he's a very technical type of person and quite easy going in nature.
He was very excited to be able to play games with his C64/SD setup - so it's a shame to see it being up for auction.

SpidersWeb wrote:My first thoughts were he wasn't able to get photos of his own gear and is new to trademe/standard procedures. I don't think he's a very technical type of person and quite easy going in nature.

Yeh, I was starting to wonder if this was the case the more this thread goes on... And as acsi says, it was a pickup and he had mentioned that people can check it out before handing over the dosh. So I guess we'll wrack it up to simply a lack of initial experience with TM.

He was very excited to be able to play games with his C64/SD setup - so it's a shame to see it being up for auction.

I always feel bad when I see people selling their gear, but that's because I tend to hoard and don't want to let stuff go.

I saw that he was also selling a couple of other C64's, though I think those listings have closed already (I do know one last night had less then 12 hours left). I guess he may have been getting rid of gear that perhaps had that initial nostalgia rush, but quickly faded once you recall that the games perhaps were 'better' before we had anything to compare them to.

Anyway, should go do some actual work now... Using modern computers.

Hmm out of curiosity I had a look to see how this went and it looks like the account is now disabled.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listings.aspx?member=5369382

Hopefully no one lost out.

I thought I'd check - while his accounts no longer there, the last two responses to his auction raise concerns. Very unfortunate...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/vintage/auction-855640072.htm