Redrumloa and AmiBay - Update

[Darrin]

I wasn't even aware that there was supposed to be a problem.

What was it?  An unfounded accusation by some petty, sulking git because he failed to get an A3000 for $10?

[Darrin]

arkanoid wrote:
Darrin: to understand why his account at AmiBay was called into question, you would have to read this entire thread: http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=39684

Things got a little out of hand (as they often do on internet forums), but I think it basically boils down to the fact that - in that thread - Red made it clear that he was against selling Amiga wares at "community prices". Which lead to the question of exactly why he, as a "professional trader", would have an account over at Amibay. Considering that Amibay was setup largely to counteract Amiga based profiteering by encouraging sane pricing and anti-price hiking practices.

This perhaps got the mods of Amibay thinking (as it should do) and they rightfully investigated the matter. As they would with any other user.

Thankfully the issue is resolved.

Thanks for that link.  I missed that whole thread.

That's a mountain out of a mole hill.  I can see why the person who was buying the card got a bit upset at Red's remarks (There's nothing like trying to pick up a bargain and then having some yell "double the price mate!" over your shoulder.  However the remarks made against Red and the way he does business were totally disgusting.

I've bought many items from him both on eBay and pre-eBay and I've always got A+ service and never felt that I've paid too much.  He's also someone that I know would resolve a problem quickly and that adds an extra level of "value" to whatever he's selling.

It's obvious why Red has an AmiBay account, it's to advertise his pre-eBay items to the community before they end up on eBay and possibly in the hands of collectors who don't even switch on an Amiga these days.  Suggesting that he waits in the shadows looking for bargains to pounce on a resell is a bit low.

As a businessman he's entitled to make as much money as he can on the hardware and when it comes to eBay sales he doesn't set the price, the buyer does.

That whole thread is just plain ugly.  I've got several Amigas and parts that I've been planning to put on eBay for months, but it's reading comments like those that keep them on the shelves gathering dust.

[Darrin]

WotTheFook wrote:
Even if the accusation was unfounded, we felt it was necessary to prove things one way or the other and fortunately this has cleared red's name completely. We just wanted to put a lid on the matter and stop further speculation.

I see.  Good idea, but I could have told you that anyway.  :-D

[Darrin]

arkanoid wrote:
Just in case it's not clear. There were very few people in that thread questioning the quality of Red's service or the prices he chooses to charge. More than anything, that point needs to be clear.

And, tbh, I don't think he was "crucified". It just might appear that way because more people disagreed with what he done than agreed - so with his own responses he was kind of swiming against the tide.

Let's not make him into a martyr. I for one have appologized for letting the discussion escalate into something it shouldn't have and I'm sure many others feel regret. But the sense of responsibility shouldn't be one sided.  

I think you need to read that thread again.  There were quite a few comments aimed directly at him, painting him to be some sort of capitalist monster, bleeding the community dry.  It was way out of line and far from the truth.

[Darrin]

arkanoid wrote:
darrin: Well, to be fare, when you enter a thread shouting "double the price!" and then proceed to mock the idea of fare "community prices", labelling them as "communistic", that's the image you tend to paint for yourself.

I'm not saying the inital post was right, and it was not the sort of thing to do when 2 people have reached an agreement, but mocking the way he makes a living by suggesting he's a crook is far worse.

[Darrin]

pyrre wrote:

I will surely miss the occational "project" treads by red.
Interesting to read about the C128 tower project from a person with knowhow and skills to do so...
Inspiring read i must say.
I really hope he do not leave.

His CD32/Indivision is up for sale too.

[Darrin]

ffastback wrote:

Actually red fired off the word "communist" first in that thread.  And as a fellow American I can tell you that throwing that out at someone else is going to generally be taken as taking the gloves off when you are from the USA.  That was a harsh comparison to make on those who just felt his comment of "waaay too cheap" was inappropriate given his reseller and moderator status.  If you are going to go into hardball mode like that so quickly and easily, wearing "capitalist" as a badge of honor, on a board that has members from all over the world, honestly what do you think is going to happen next?

You don't need to tell me, I live in Louisiana.  :-o

However Red stated that he wasn't a communist in that he wasn't a charity and that this was his business.  He didn't all any of you a "communist", just that he wasn't one.  Then suddenly he's a capitalist and just in case anyone feels there's nothing wrong with being a capitalist, a few people then spell out that he's "gouging the community" and is not doing it any service.  Go back an read the comments, I just did.  Just like a pack of hyenas, about 4 people round on Red and start nipping away, and unfortunately you were one of them.  It was also your initial attack that set the whole tone, although it's also obvious that you were trying to get a point across rather than go on the attack.  Things just got ugly and really out of hand after the "email" incident.

As I said before I think people should have asked him for clarification on his initial comment first before the multi-paragraph upset responses.  But then when he came back as he did as mentioned above it became a given that it would be further discussed.

Yes, you should have.  ;-)

And tons of people keep vouching for him, so why leave?  Its not like he isn't greatly appreciated by a bunch of folks.

Perhaps it's because he has feelings and takes a pride in being an honest eBayer.  You said yourself that he was probably too honest for his own good, but that's Red and that's why we like to do business with him.

While you've had the decency to apologize, these are others involved in that witch-hunt who are probably giggling away at their keyboards and congratulating themselves on a job well done.

I think if it had just been the buyer, seller, you and Red posting in that thread then it would have been cleared up in a civil manner in 1 page.

[Darrin]

ffastback wrote:

Ah, so you are confusing me with arkanoid?

Doh!!! Yes, sorry!!!  It's those bloody blue butterflies!!!   :crazy:

Sorry, sorry, sorry!!!  I need a smilie that sticks its own foot in its mouth.  

[Darrin]

ZeBeeDee wrote:
@ Darrin



 :lol:

ROTFL.  Perfect!  Thanks.   :lol: