Just A Precaution...Please Watch Out For This.

smokeybear · Jan 31, 2014

I dont know what to think of this and i certainly don't wanna jump to conclusions but i came across an ebay ad that is Using one of my pictures to sell a pipe i recently sold. Now If it turns out its someone i sold the pipe to i want them to know that if its the pipe they are not pleased with i will gladly take it back for a full refund upon receiving it.
on the other hand is someone trying to scam buyers using my pictures that would be bad for me. I messaged the seller saying that they need to take new pictures or take the ad down or i will report it and they seem to have gotten the hint but i still am feeling odd about it. No reply yet from the seller just the action of ending the ad.
I have asked if he purchased the pipe from me and still have not received a reply so i am compelled to mention this on here to cover my ass, if it is someone on here please contact me through PM and we can resolve this or i will post the ad to warn others at which point i would have no choice but to treat it as a scam.

smokeybear · Jan 31, 2014

The Ad
Just Got Reply

It was a random google pic, it was my first post on ebay. I deleted the picture, sorry for the inconvenience of you and your customers

Well i guess they wont be using my Pics anymore, was thinking i should do something significant in my pictures, like maybe ad some sort of Prop.

smokeybear · Jan 31, 2014

I got to protect you guys from possible scams especially when they make it look like me lol. I wasn't having none of that no thank you. First post or not they got to learn somehow at least now they got the idea.

branzig · Jan 31, 2014

Well i guess they wont be using my Pics anymore, was thinking i should do something significant in my pictures, like maybe ad some sort of Prop.

Just stamp your username in the picture. That is the best means of stopping it I would say.

anthonyrosenthal74 · Jan 31, 2014

A random google photo? So did the guy even have the pipe he was trying to sell?

smokeybear · Feb 1, 2014

That's what I'm wondering lol
Oh this looks nice let me try and sell this today lol

taerin · Feb 1, 2014

It's probably a seller thinking he can just take a pic off the net to sell the pipe, he's probably not a pipe smoker and using the same tactic someone might use to sell something generic where the pic doesn't really matter and applying it to a pipe. The guy is either too lazy to take a picture or does not own a camera.

smokeybear · Feb 1, 2014

..nipped in the bud on the first sell.

:rofl: oh man that made me laugh I didn't think of that.

dd50 · Feb 1, 2014

Nice catch Smokey....I want to see the three items he received positive feedback for.

smokeybear · Feb 1, 2014

Ok he's good posted new pics the one was being honest.

pipestud · Feb 1, 2014

Hi smokeybear,
I was having that problem on occasion with my photos. I now use a watermark for all of my pics and that ended the problem. Every once in awhile I am sent links to auctions by good folks who give me a heads up whenever someone uses my photos and now all I have to do is send the link to eBay and they will immediately end the perps auction.
Pipestud

ravkesef · Feb 1, 2014

It still comes down to this: he was making an attempt to sell something he didn't have. That's fraud, and should be reported to eBay.

timely · Feb 1, 2014

Glad you straightened the guy out, smokey.!!!!!

cortezattic · Feb 1, 2014

For your diligence you are hereby awarded the

Official PipesMagazine.com Propeller Beanie! :clap:

smokeybear · Feb 1, 2014

Omg I finally got the Beanie thanks Cortez lol I've after it for so long.
Also thanks for the tips regarding watermarks I'm sure that would help but it will take me that much longer to post an ad I probably won't do it. Also I deleted CS4 off my laptop cause it was taking up to much space and I never really use it anymore since I no longer design my on web pages for my varies companies.

numbersix · Feb 1, 2014

I think you were right to tell him smokey. It was probably just laziness on his part, but still...

i should do something significant in my pictures, like maybe ad some sort of Prop.

+1

moses · Feb 1, 2014

Interestingly enough, none of the pipes he's selling look even remotely close to the picture he nicked lol. Not a bent pipe among them. :crazy:

msandoval858 · Feb 1, 2014

I have had this problem quite a bit, particularly with shaving brushes and razors that I've taken photos of for a friend of mine who owns an online store. Within days they started showing up not only on ebay but on other online store dealers as well.
Now I watermark everything and that has seemed to help. Honestly I don't even mind someone using one of my photos if they at least took the courtesy to e-mail me and ask me for permission. On the flip side, I have made a little pocket change off of dealers who wanted me to shoot products for their online stores

foggymountain · Feb 5, 2014

There are a lot of interesting scams on Ebay. I had a camera store there for many years. Once, I started getting emails asking questions about some cameras that I did not have listed. On investigating I discovered that my ID had been stolen and someone had set up a store to sell stuff he did not have in my name.

oldmannk · Feb 6, 2014

The moral of the story folks is don't mess with Smokeybear he's got your number. I glade it all worked out for you. Thanks for looking out for us and the heads up.

Just A Precaution...Please Watch Out For This.

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Site Sponsors

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Starting to Get Obsessed

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Might Stick Around

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Part of the Furniture Now

Lifer

Lifer

Lifer

Part of the Furniture Now

Part of the Furniture Now

Lifer

Starting to Get Obsessed