Misleading ebay

[expatpipe]

Ok, I saw something on ebay that I thought was misleadig or confusing for a potential pipe buyer. Out of curiosity alone, I contacted the seller, which it seems is the actual pipe maker. He sent me a message back stating it is for "images" of him making a pipe. Tell you what, I would not smoke one of his pipes if someone had a gun to my head. No matter how nice they are.. You can check it out yourself.

 

[wallbright]

Very misleading and ridiculous. However, he does not state that it is for the pictures of the pipe only and as it is listed under the pipes section and has the description of the pipe I believe if someone bid on it they would have just cause to get a refund once they found out it was a scam. Just my two cents though.

 

[simpledesign]

States it's an un-smoked briar pipe....he would indeed lose that battle

 

[unclearthur]

I hope someone with an attitude as evil as mine buys that! There would surely be hell to pay at that price.

 

[pstlpkr]

The page seems to be gone now.

 

[expatpipe]

I sent a mail back to him. I was calm and polite, (though not on the inside..) I realise he is a much respected pipe maker and his pipes fetch sickly high prices etc. Maybe it was just bad English, for the benifit of the doubt. But, I took it as arrogance at the highest caliber. I mean, I can look at pics of pipe babes here for free. He's so important that a picture of him is selling for over 200usd???
Yes, after I replied it seems he withdrew the auction. (nope, checked again and it's still up)

 

[bubbadreier]

I actually reported that auction about an hour ago! Had a guy from my local B&M ask me if the pipe was worth the money. Him being much older and not ebay savvy or internet savvy for that matter, I took a look. He didn't realize it wasn't for an actual pipe, and it took me almost a minute to figure out that it wasn't for a pipe also...
I hope it was an honest mistake, but I doubt it!

 

[expatpipe]

I needed to post this because in all due fairness it seems to have been based upon confusing english combined with the pictures he has posted. Like Bubba, I was concerned that some innocent person was going to be swindled.. Looks like that is not the case. ( I would not rule out the possibility that Bubba's reporting of the matter did'nt change things to a more positive light..
received second message from seller:
Hallo my friend
not the images ,

the pipe is

available !

its perhaps my not perfect english that causes

confusion.
Best greetings XXXXX.

 

[lonestar]

Wow, hope it was just a language barrier, and not a sneaky little scam.

 

[schmitzbitz]

Yeah, as someone who makes a living dealing with people fro whom English is usually a third or fourth language, the first thing I thought was he was probably trying to say that the pictures were to show that he actually made the pipe, its not some questionable low end factory pipe with a high price-tag that some unscrupulous bastard had put up for unsuspecting folk.

 

[collindow]

It looks to me as if he is in fact selling the pipe. I don't know if he had all the pictures of the pipe up before, but there are a whole bunch now.

 

[kcvet67]

Comparing the orignal German text on his website with the English version, I'd say he's not as comfortable with English as most younger Swiss.
http://www.alexkappeler.ch/index.php?kapitel=16&seite=seiten/pfeifen.php&frame=1
I'm sure it's a matter of miscommunication, not a scam.

 

[wallbright]

I am relieved to hear that! I am glad the world isn't full of commies and liars after all....or maybe it is..... 8)

 

[pipevilleworld]

I'm confused as to what the confusion was about; to be honest. Were you guys confused as to whether the pipemaker was being honest about the actual pipe being smoked... or unsmoked... because of the picture of the gentleman posing with it in his mouth?

 

[marmal4de]

Sounds like he should just get the google translate app for his iPhone.

 

[expatpipe]

pipeville, your confused because the seller changed the words in the add to make sense now..
Easy to get lost in translation. )