Dearest friends,

First, let me thank you for bidding on my auctions, and/or for entrusting me with your photographic purchases. I most sincerely appreciate your business, and I'll do my very best to deserve your confidence and patronage, now as well as in the future. I try my best to make my photographic auction descriptions as informative, enjoyable, and educational as possible (and a special thanks to those folks who wrote to me with such kind words about my auction descriptions). Again, thanks for your interest, your bids, and your business!

However, this message is being posted because a number of bidders on my current and past auctions have recently complained to me that they have been receiving unsolicited e-mail messages from another seller (and eBay asked me to find out if my other bidders have also been solicited). This practice is in violation of eBay's rules, but what's worse is what the poor bidders receive when they buy from these rip-off artists. Read on.

Unfortunately, lately a certain scoundrel has been e-mailing bidders on my auctions (as well as on other folks' auctions, too!), and offering them photographic products for lower prices! Hey, nothing wrong with saving a few bucks, and if you can get a better deal, why not, right? Well, maybe; but not only is this against eBay's rules, but some of these nasty people are selling unsuspecting buyers equipment that may be used, equipment other buyers have returned as defective, and even items recalled for safety violations, that may be dangerous to use! Of course, these kinds of products are a lot cheaper to acquire, and therefore can be sold at a cheaper price. But is this the kind of equipment you want to buy? And is this the kind of person you'd like to buy from? If so, fine. You have every right to buy whatever you want, from whoever you like, of course. But at the very least, you deserve to be told the truth about what you're buying. Some characters just don't care if they cheat trusting buyers.

Why would someone do such an unscrupulous and unethical thing like this? Well, our first presumption of course, will be greed. He wants your money. But then why wouldn't he just post his own auctions and sell his own merchandise the legitimate and honest way? Well, perhaps he really doesn't know anything about the equipment he's selling. Anyone can claim to be a "photographer" with "100 years experience." But no one who didn't really understand photography and photographic equipment could write the detailed and informative auction descriptions like you see in my auctions. Also, look at the photographs in the auctions of the other character; then look at the photographs in my auctions. Which pictures are clear, sharp, and effectively illustrate the equipment being described? So who do you think is the better photographer? Need I say more?

So what's some greedy scam artist who knows nothing about photography to do? Aha! Let someone else, he figures - someone who really knows what he's talking about - write all the information, make all the photographs, create all the web pages, do all the work, and pay eBay for all the auction listings and promotional extras. Some dummy like me. Then, without doing a minute's worth of work, without knowing a thing about photography, this crook simply waits for honest folks to place bids on my auctions - then he simply takes the bidders' e-mail addresses, and sends them an e-mail either offering to sell them cheaper equipment, or, as he's taken to doing lately, thinking he'll cover his tracks, he simply asks the bidders, in his e-mail messages, to "telephone him" for cheaper prices on (cheaper) equipment!

He then tells the poor, confused, bidders some vile and ugly lies about the guy who really knows photography, and then makes off with the sale without doing a second's work, without paying eBay's fees, and considers himself a genius for letting some poor honest guy do all the work and pay all the bills, while he absconds with all the money! Not a bad way to make a living, is it? And, without even knowing it, the decent folks who bid on the honest sellers' auctions are making a crook rich when they buy from him.

Truly, gentle reader, I don't care where you choose to buy your equipment (of course, I'd prefer to become your beloved supplier:); but there are plenty of people who love photography and want to learn how to use the photographic equipment I carry to make better images. And those of you who have purchased equipment from me know that you get much more than just equipment! You get free educational information, free technical support, and much more than I'll bother with mentioning here. There are enough customers for all of the many suppliers - online as well as in brick and mortar stores! That's all to the benefit of the customers; plenty of sources to choose from, and a lively competition to assure low prices. It's what has made our country great (just don't ask me what I think of politicians, though).

But crooks like this, rather than doing their own work honestly, and instead of working on making their own businesses successful, are instead e-mailing innocent bidders - stealing customers - and then cheating them! This is not only unfair, it's illegal AND against eBay's rules. But the worst part of all is the taking advantage of the innocent customer who has no idea s/he is being used and sometimes receiving defective - or even dangerous - equipment.

Consequently, I would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to send me copies of any e-mail messages (along with the headers) you might have received from others after placing your bids on my auctions (or may receive in the future), so I can forward them to eBay (of course you will remain anonymous). If you do this kindness, I'll give you a brand new pro strobe - FREE! Thank you in advance for your cooperation and help. Certainly, even if you get an e-mail message from this character, if prefer not to respond to this request, I'll understand 100%, and will respect your decision. But put yourself in my place; how would you feel?

You can review eBay's rules on this subject here (and if you like, you can report such activities to eBay yourself, if you prefer).

I vigorously encourage you to get the very best deal on everything you may purchase, and to look carefully at any potential suppliers. But I also hope you won't encourage others who use unscrupulous, devious and illegal means to use you to enrich themselves, by becoming a customer of those who do such things. I can assure you, you'll never catch me doing such immoral and unethical things; I'd rather starve than stoop to such reprehensible actions.

I wish you the very best in your photographic pursuits, and, as always, feel free to contact me at any time, if I can be of any help in any photographic way. Take care, and take (or better yet, "make") lots of great pictures!

Sincerely,
Richard
"thesource3" on eBay

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that there are many honest and ethical sellers of photographic equipment doing business on eBay and elsewhere. I don't mean to suggest that any of these good folks are anything other than decent suppliers, and I encourage you to view their auctions and web sites, and choose your suppliers wisely. But those scoundrels who, in violation of eBay's rules - as well as the rules of common decency - steal your e-mail address from someone else's auctions, and send you contemptible, mean-spirited, unfair, Machiavellian, and blatantly untrue messages in an attempt to enrich themselves by harming another innocent person, are beneath contempt, and should be avoided at all costs. Of course, that's just my opinion; I could be wrong. :)

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HOWEVER, please be careful about the unethical sellers who have been scamming eBay bidders lately! It seems that there are some unscrupulous people who have been e-mailing bidders on my auctions (and other seller's auctions, too), and offering them similar equipment at cheaper prices. Hey, nothing wrong with saving a few bucks, but not only is this against eBay's rules, but some of these nasty people are selling unsuspecting buyers equipment that may be used, equipment someone else has returned as defective (and maybe repaired - maybe not!), or even items recalled for safety violations, that may be dangerous to use! Some characters just don't care if they cheat trusting buyers. It is unfortunate that scam artists have invaded cyberspace, and are taking advantage of decent folks. If you should be unlucky enough to receive such an offer from one of these crooks, please report it to eBay immediately! I'd also appreciate it if you'd send a copy of the message you received to me, too (if it was related to any of my auctions; you can e-mail me here). Always remember, if someone offers you a "deal" that's just "too good to be true," then chances are, it is too good to be true! Please help keep eBay the wonderful place it is for all of us to trade safely and enjoyably. Report any solicitation you might receive to eBay immediately! It will make eBay a better and safer place for us all. As you know, I vigorously encourage you to find the very best deal you possibly can on every purchase (heck, that's why I'm here-to save you money), and patronize the supplier who gives you the best deal, no matter who it is! But be very careful whenever someone violates eBay's safety rules, and the rules of good sense, by contacting you outside of the auction venue with a "special" opportunity. If you buy from a legitimate auction, your purchase is guaranteed by eBay protections (if you pay and never receive the merchandise, or if you receive less than what was described - you're covered - automatically and at no cost to you), and doubly-guaranteed by my PayPal "verified seller" status. But if you buy something from someone (other than the auction's legitimate seller) who e-mailed you, and get screwed by them - you're out of luck. Say "bye-bye" to your hard-earned money. Buy from whomever you like, of course - but be careful and use your head! Thank you again for viewing my auction, and good luck bidding. Take care, and, as always, take (or better yet, "make") lots of great pictures!
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BTW, I may occasionally e-mail my auction's bidders with some new information, updates, or opportunities, as may other sellers, too. Just make sure the person e-mailing you is the auction's legitimate seller - with the SAME e-mail address! If the e-mail addresses match, then you'll know for sure. Otherwise, be careful!

P.S. 100% Low Price Guarantee! If you bid on my auctions, and then are contacted by anyone who offers to sell you the same equipment you bid on for a lower price, I'll beat the scoundrel's price (even if I have to lose money)! If you'll send me the copy of any e-mail messages you receive with such an offer (along with the headers), I'll provide you with the same equipment you were offered (but I'll guarantee it to be 100% brand new and absolutely perfect) for LESS than the price you were offered! After all, it's only fair to compensate you for doing the right thing, and helping to keep eBay a safe and enjoyable place for us all to trade. Thank you in advance for your kindness and cooperation.

If you are unfortunate enough to be contacted after you have placed a bid on any of my auctions, by someone offering you similar equipment, PLEASE save the e-mail message! It was likely sent by an unethical individual such as the one who has contacted many of my other bidders (maybe you already have been contacted; or maybe you will be, in the near future), I sincerely request that you send me a copy of these e-mail messages, along with their attached headers (or at least report this to eBay; follow the links below). Sometimes these unethical folks make you their offers in the e-mail message; other times, they're sneaky enough to just ask you to call them about photographic equipment (thinking this way they won't get caught); but simply contacting you by getting your e-mail address from another person's auctions is a violation. If you send me copies of these messages (with the headers), I will simply forward them to eBay, as they requested me to do, and will assure that you remain 100% anonymous to the malefactor.

If you would be honest and considerate enough to do this kindness, I will send you a brand new 125WS Pro Studio Strobe Light (see one here) as a token of my appreciation. After all, none of these things are your fault, and by sending me copies of these e-mails, you'll be helping to keep eBay a safe, reliable, and fun place for us all to trade. You will deserve a token of appreciation. The strobe will be 100% free, and I'll even pay the shipping charges, too! It won't cost you a cent.

Again, thank you for your bids, good luck in your online ventures, and, of course, best of luck in your photography as well! As always, feel free to contact me at any time, if I can be of any help in any photographic way.

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