Explain Your Disdain For "eBay People"

[GNTLGNT]

...listen Choot-Loo, I am an Ebay Person...but I go on to buy things unavailable to me in the area where I reside, or for a better price...that's all...I firmly believe in what Ms. Mod is saying though-and furthermore...stop bein' an asshat, ain't nobody impressed by your continuing attempts to flog a dead dog...

[dsurrett]

I think it comes down to motive. If I go to a book signing and later have to sell the book on ebay or elsewhere due to needing the money and not having any other way to raise it, that's one thing. If I go to the book signing with the thoughts of "I'm gonna sell this sucker and score some cash," well, that's another thing, at least in my mind. And even though a true fan might purchase it from me, I've taken the spot of a true fan at the book signing.
It's not anti-capitalism. It's SK fans trying to watch each others' backs. We're pretty good about that, too.

[Lily Sawyer]

One of the reasons I joined this forum to get more information on Stephen King book signing events. Reading through some of the related threads, I noticed many posts from forum members that seemed to convey a dislike for what they called "eBay people".

So, just who are these "eBay people" and why all the hate for them?

Discuss...

...for the reasons Ms. Mod gave you.

I don't think it's a "service" that someone has done for me on Ebay, this business of turning book signings INTO a business.

I am in total agreement with Ms. Mod. The Ebayers who couldn't care less about Mr. King's works and stand in line at a book signing, KNOWING there are time and space limits (due to firecodes, etc.) only rob the real King fans of the experience of meeting him.

It's not capitalism at work; it's insensitivity and flat-out greed. I'm convinced there's a special place in Hell reserved for Ebayers who engage in this most despicable practice.

[Grrl]

So, just who are these "eBay people" and why all the hate for them?

Discuss...

I absolutely don't get this. I recently ordered some people on e-bay; they seem like nice enough folks, even if they do expect me to feed 'em...

[~Ally~]

I absolutely don't get this. I recently ordered some people on e-bay; they seem like nice enough folks, even if they do expect me to feed 'em...

Damn, I remember a time when I would have responded like that! You make me proud; young grasshopper!

[~Ally~]

I just think if they were "true fans" they would have made the arrangements to attend the event

Err I think yer telling porkie pies cos your earlier post, which I quoted, contradicts this remark. Don't go backtracking now, ya just may stumble and fall. Tsk tsk.

I'm not being argumentative nor trying to impress anyone. I realize this message board likes to all join hands around the campfire and sing 'Kumbaya', but I assumed there would be room here for dissension or topics that not everyone can agree on. Are different ideas not welcome here?

We do not sing Kumbaya, we tell stories about what we all got up to at bandcamp. Pay attention!

[CarrieJo]

I just think if they were "true fans" they would have made the arrangements to attend the event.

*Ahem* Excuse me, but I am quite the "true fan" myself and would love to be able to "make arrangements" to attend any event that Stephen King would be at. But I cannot. As far as I've been able to tell, these signings don't happen to often anymore and the last go'round didn't offer anything anywhere near where I am. And since I'm not, as they say, rolling in it, there's no way in hell I would be able to go anywhere over an hour away to attend anything anyway.

But I do agree with Ms. Mod on the subject. Anyone who wants to take away an opportunity from a fan just to try and make a buck is quite the beret wearing donkey. To me that's like going to a sold out concert and spending the whole time texting or talking to your friend. Guaranteed SOMEONE is sitting at home that would have done anything to get their hands on some and actually enjoyed themselves.
If, however, they have been to a signing years ago and just don't feel the same about SK as they once did and want to get their signed copy of whatever to someone that would be delighted to have it, then that's just fine.

[Connie Reader]

We do not sing Kumbaya, we tell stories about what we all got up to at bandcamp. Pay attention! [/QUOTE]

[Cthulhu]

I absolutely don't get this. I recently ordered some people on e-bay; they seem like nice enough folks, even if they do expect me to feed 'em...

*rim-shot*

Pure comedic genius.

It's not capitalism at work; it's insensitivity and flat-out greed. I'm convinced there's a special place in Hell reserved for Ebayers who engage in this most despicable practice.

LMAO! I'm sure that autograph hounds burn right next to tinpot dictators, Lawrence Welk, and J.F.K.

I think it comes down to motive. If I go to a book signing and later have to sell the book on ebay or elsewhere due to needing the money and not having any other way to raise it, that's one thing. If I go to the book signing with the thoughts of "I'm gonna sell this sucker and score some cash," well, that's another thing, at least in my mind. And even though a true fan might purchase it from me, I've taken the spot of a true fan at the book signing.

It's not anti-capitalism. It's SK fans trying to watch each others' backs. We're pretty good about that, too.

Here we go again with the "true fan" stuff. Like I stated earlier, if "true fans" are "true fans" they will be on the ball and make arrangements to appear at the event.

Is it possible to like both Stephen King and money? Is that OK with the many incarnations of Annie Wilkes here?

Err I think yer telling porkie pies cos your earlier post, which I quoted, contradicts this remark. Don't go backtracking now, ya just may stumble and fall. Tsk tsk.

I think you are just confused over semantics. It's OK. Nothing to be ashamed of. It happens.

stop bein' an asshat, ain't nobody impressed by your continuing attempts to flog a dead dog...

Not here to impress. I appreciate your input and overused insult though.

[bobledrew]

Cthulhu, I don't really have any strong feelings about "ebay people." I hadn't noticed anything on here, either. But a few comments.

I consider myself a "true fan." I haven't been to a signing. As far as I can tell, King does a few signings per book tour, let's say 15. I live in Ottawa. If I wanted to get to the most recent one (Dallas), it would have cost me about 12 hours of travel time and about $1000 for airfare and hotel.

I suppose the argument could be made that even spending $200 on a signed copy of a book is cheaper than going to the signing.

I believe a couple things about this:

1. I don't want to get an anonymously signed book. For me, the only signed book I want is one that either I got to hand to SK or that someone I know gave to him to sign as a gift to me. It would be the experience. There's not much of a story in "I bought this on eBay from someone..."

2. I think it's unfortunate that things such as signed books can turn into fetish items to the point that their values get grossly inflated. I can't imagine having so much money that I would pay $5225.85 for a signed first edition of The Shining, which is on eBay right now. I couldn't justify it.

3. For me, the value is in the story. I derive the joy from reading the books. A signature doesn't add that much for me.

I'm trying to put myself in the position of two people:

1. Ms. Mod spends a lot of time here, with people who for one reason or another have a great appreciation of the work of her boss. She's also likely seen a lot more of the "King business" than any of us. She seems to find it irritating that people who don't give a crap about SK books, other than as a way to generate money quickly.

2. It doesn't surprise me that people "scalp" King books. People scalp concert tickets for inflated prices. It's economics. But it does seem (to me) kind of ... sleazy.

My two cents.