eBayer Bids £1k for Photo of 42in Plasma, Vigilantes Scupper Sale

After a spate of “photo of Xbox 360″ scams, vigilante guardian angles came to the rescue of an unfortunate eBay buyer who placed a £1000 bid on the auction of a 42inch plasma TV - which he later realised was just a photograph.

After The Register published his story, enraged readers took revenge and placed bogus bids to scupper the sale. When the seller realised he’d been busted, he terminated the auction himself. Final bid: £500,100…

The Register: “He then sent us this explanatory email:

Hi,

I was the seller of this item, I had to bid on the item myself and end the listing early. the price was getting rediculous. There was no way that I was going to allow someone to pay £2000 for a picture. I couldnt live with myself with that. Also an ebay told me that I needed permision from panasonic to sell a picture of their item, which I did not know.

Other than the permision that I needed, there was nothing wrong with what I was selling as far as I can see. It was listed under home and garden: decorative items and there was also another note further down the listing that said ‘note: you are bidding on a picture of the plasma being described and not the actual plasma itself’. And no where on the listing does it say that you the buyer is bidding on a plasma screen. Now as far as I can see, other than needing permission from panasonic there wasnt anything wrong with the listing. But if you know that there was then please tell me. I would be very gratefull to know.

I just thought id let you know that no one has been had.

thanks for your time,

james.

We’re sure Reg readers can tell James what was wrong with the listing. In the meantime, justice has been done.”