[Gort]

Question: Not that it matters in the least, but why am I seeing so many eBay bidders with names like “k***e” and “p***b” and “t***y”? What’s with the stars???

I swear, in the old days, handles like “gorkey,” tullip8" and “Peedoo” swamped eBay. You'd find them everywhere. Today you can’t find an auction without seeing “***” somewhere in a bidder’s moniker.

Like I said, this doesn’t affect the price of eggs, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense, either. Have old-guard bidders changed their names? Or is the new, rising generation making a statement? Or what?

[Louie]

Hey buddy, the reason is that e-bay is disquising bidders names so they are not given unsolicited offers, do not have thier ID's stolen or misused, and to discourage hostile bidders driving up prices.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Louie

Hey buddy, the reason is that e-bay is disquising bidders names so they are not given unsolicited offers, do not have thier ID's stolen or misused, and to discourage hostile bidders driving up prices.

Boy, if that’s true, Louie, bidding on eBay is becoming a semi-dangerous game. Have people become that loony?

With all this ID theft and whatnot going on, along with rising gas prices, etc., you’ve gotta wonder if eBay’s days are coming to a close. Not to mention they’ve made some whopping changes lately, like you can’t give a buyer negative feedback—even if they desperately deserve it. And selling fees? Through the roof.

I just had to fork over $45.00 for selling some Titanium Star Wars models. In the old days I would have paid $20 or less.

I’ve become a bit paranoid about selling there. Nowadays I accept PayPal only, and I sell only to buyers with “registered” addresses. I’ve bumped into more than my share of deadbeats and swindlers, so I’ve taken steps to reduce the risk. Had to.

In fact, unless I absolutely have to, I avoid eBay altogether.

[Rush104]

Is it really THAT easy to get around the passwords and steal someone else's handle on eBay?