In article .com,
"Too_Many_Tools" wrote:

Yes Ebay has changed the way pawn shops operate....forever.

Here in Oregon there is an ongoing story about pawn shops, stolen goods
and eBay. It appears the Portland police were not looking very closely
at a number of pawn shops which were getting new-in-the-box (NIB) items
which had been stolen from retailers. (There's a picture of a
half-dozenish NIB Husqvarna chainsaws from one of the pawn shops.) Well,
the FBI ended up taking on the issue and doing a 20 month investigation
and crackdown.

In Sunday's Oregonian, there's a front page article about how eBay has
transformed the pawn industry and the shoplifter's selling risk. This
stuff doesn't sit around long as it goes on eBay ASAP. SInce sellers are
faceless and without a store that a customer might judge by looks to
determine acceptability, they can rack up great and glowing reviews as
long as they answer emails and ship promptly.

One woman who bought a Brita water filter seemed disturbed and somewhat
surprised at never having considered the possiblity that it was likely
stolen. A farmer from S. Dakota seemed almost unmoved by the knowledge
the merchandise could well be stolen - just as long as he got a bargain.

Here's the article:
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...ews/1134798908
252870.xml&coll=7

Oh yes, one more thing, eBay's spokesperson doesn't come off sounding
very supportive of law enforcement.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05