How much is one's reputation worth? Once the difference between a person being honorable or dishonorable was clearly defined. Today it is more like a sliding scale. So, sounds like I have a burr under my saddle, eh? Well, let me present you with a situation which took place only a few hours ago. I am curious to hear how others might have dealt with this and was I foolish not to have compromised my ethics.
Two days ago I was on Ebay and casting a wide net in my search for Rg34s. To my surprise was a listing for a "arr43". There were only four photos but I could see the kit was complete and in excellent condition. The oiler was a blued, side-welded, sheet metal one, RGK was twisted wire with swivel-link, HKW was "arr" and could see "43" on it, so am confident it was "arr43" marked and brushes were nice as well. Auction closing was in four days. The current (only bid) was $1.00. I entered a decent bid and it increased to $1.25, with me top bidder. Now comes the dilemma... until someone else either challenged my bid or contacted the seller in an attempt to cancel the auction and sell it offline, I could not raise my bid. Yesterday evening I became concerned some sleazeball was going to try a "reach-around" if they saw the low bid. I could ask any one of a number of people to help me by making a bid to at least pump it up enough to hopefully prevent this. So, this morning I noticed the kit was still at $1.25. However, a few hours later, when I returned from a doctor's appointment, the item number "could not be found" and I have little doubt what occurred. Now, I could have done the same thing one or two days prior, but with a bid on the kit, it would have been both unethical and violate Ebay policy to do so. As for whomever got that kit, hope it gets lost in shipping!
Therefore, would like to hear what others have to say, were they to find themselves in a similar situation. Isn't like I had to have that kit, but was totally correct and original in every respect...
Two days ago I was on Ebay and casting a wide net in my search for Rg34s. To my surprise was a listing for a "arr43". There were only four photos but I could see the kit was complete and in excellent condition. The oiler was a blued, side-welded, sheet metal one, RGK was twisted wire with swivel-link, HKW was "arr" and could see "43" on it, so am confident it was "arr43" marked and brushes were nice as well. Auction closing was in four days. The current (only bid) was $1.00. I entered a decent bid and it increased to $1.25, with me top bidder. Now comes the dilemma... until someone else either challenged my bid or contacted the seller in an attempt to cancel the auction and sell it offline, I could not raise my bid. Yesterday evening I became concerned some sleazeball was going to try a "reach-around" if they saw the low bid. I could ask any one of a number of people to help me by making a bid to at least pump it up enough to hopefully prevent this. So, this morning I noticed the kit was still at $1.25. However, a few hours later, when I returned from a doctor's appointment, the item number "could not be found" and I have little doubt what occurred. Now, I could have done the same thing one or two days prior, but with a bid on the kit, it would have been both unethical and violate Ebay policy to do so. As for whomever got that kit, hope it gets lost in shipping!
Therefore, would like to hear what others have to say, were they to find themselves in a similar situation. Isn't like I had to have that kit, but was totally correct and original in every respect...
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