The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1 · by **Duke of Luns** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:50 am

This auction crazy:

http://cgi.ebay.com/TRANSFORMER-MYSTERY-AUCTION-ENVELOPE-LQQK_W0QQitemZ190107148821QQihZ009QQcategoryZ4696QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

So I would have a 1 in 2500 chance of winning a Megatron. What's not to say the guy won't put the "winning ticket" in the last envelope?

I find it a bit odd personally.

News Credits: 665 · by **Skowl** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:01 pm

Duke of Luns wrote:So I would have a 1 in 2500 chance of winning a Megatron. What's not to say the guy won't put the "winning ticket" in the last envelope?

Exactly, at 2$ an envellope, if he sells every envelloppe he makes 5000$, he puts the winning ticket in the last one, and gives MIB Megatron away, while still making several hundreds of dollars, since a MIB Megatron is not worth 5000$.

News Credits: 1 · by **Duke of Luns** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:07 pm

Skowl wrote:
Duke of Luns wrote:So I would have a 1 in 2500 chance of winning a Megatron. What's not to say the guy won't put the "winning ticket" in the last envelope?

Exactly, at 2$ an envellope, if he sells every envelloppe he makes 5000$, he puts the winning ticket in the last one, and gives MIB Megatron away, while still making several hundreds of dollars, since a MIB Megatron is not worth 5000$.

True. And I re-read the auction(which I should have done in the first place), and saw this:

ATTENTION: THIS IS NOT A LOTTERY, GAME OF CHANCE/SKILL, GIVEAWAY, RAFFLE, LOTERY TICKET, SWEEPSTAKES, POOL, CONTEST/COMPETITION, OR ANY TYPE OF GAMBELING. THIS IS NOT A SCAM OR MISLEADING AUCTION, I AM SELLING ENVELOPES ONLY WITH A FREE GIFT IN ONE OF THE ENVELOPES.

Uh, isn't the randomized sending of a winning item a raffle or game of chance? And get this:

*IF THE ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE FREE GIFT IS NOT PURCHASED, IT WILL BE RELISTED WITH THE SAME STARTING NUMBER ENVELOPES.

That makes me feel so much better. :roll:

News Credits: 2 · by **transmetropolitan** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:14 pm

I saw a lot of sellers doing this for the Wii when it came out. Best Transformer raffle ever was at Botcon in 2001, I believe. Dealer named Hydra was selling 50 tickets at $20. The prize was a cherry MIB unused Grand Maximus. I bought one and just the thought and feeling of me winning it for the next 2 days was worth it. Drawing was held at end of convention on Sun. and you had to be present to win. Only about 30 tickets were sold and 5 or 6 tickets had to be drawn to find a winner.

News Credits: 665 · by **Skowl** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:29 pm

THIS IS A SCAM OR MISLEADING AUCTION, I AM SELLING ENVELOPES ONLY.

Edited to reflect reality.

Like Exulted Unicron on Facebook · by **Exulted Unicron** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:30 pm

wonder what made him decide to randomly put together a 250K envelope raffle for Megatron?

by **Gutter Bunny** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:32 pm

i like the limit *100 tickets per buyer...yeah i'm going to drop $200 on the chance of winning a mib megatron. I wouldnt even do that if it was misb.

News Credits: 665 · by **Skowl** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:41 pm

Gutter Bunny wrote:i like the limit *100 tickets per buyer...yeah i'm going to drop $200 on the chance of winning a mib megatron. I wouldnt even do that if it was misb.

Hey! Gutter Bunny is using my 'ol transforming Soundwave icon! :grin:

But yeah, this auction is seriously F'ed up. He says he's doing it to 'help the collectors', which is step no.1 of a scam: always make it look like you're doing a favour to other people, when in reality you're basically stealing from them.

If he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart, he wouldn't stand to make nearly 5000$ off of people who are putting their complete faith in his honesty.

Like Exulted Unicron on Facebook · by **Exulted Unicron** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:45 pm

that pic in the auction looks like he could have gotten the pic from anywhere...so he may just walk off with five grand

by **Gutter Bunny** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:46 pm

Skowl wrote:
Gutter Bunny wrote:i like the limit *100 tickets per buyer...yeah i'm going to drop $200 on the chance of winning a mib megatron. I wouldnt even do that if it was misb.

Hey! Gutter Bunny is using my 'ol transforming Soundwave icon!

But yeah, this auction is seriously F'ed up. He says he's doing it to 'help the collectors', which is step no.1 of a scam: always make it look like you're doing a favour to other people, when in reality you're basically stealing from them.

If he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart, he wouldn't stand to make nearly 5000$ off of people who are putting their complete faith in his honesty.

Lol is this your old icon? I just logged on one day and the transforming soundwave i had was changed to this one with no explanation...so i left it.

Back to the auction...i also like how he says it would get an AFA grade of such and such, but the item is listed as mib not misb...correct me if i'm wrong but for AFA grading the item has to be sealed, right?

News Credits: 5 · by **decepticonjon** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:46 pm

wow.. what a rube.. that guy should be drug out in the street and shot. in the face.. so there's no open casket.

Like Exulted Unicron on Facebook · by **Exulted Unicron** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:50 pm

Gutter Bunny wrote:
Skowl wrote:
Gutter Bunny wrote:i like the limit *100 tickets per buyer...yeah i'm going to drop $200 on the chance of winning a mib megatron. I wouldnt even do that if it was misb.

Hey! Gutter Bunny is using my 'ol transforming Soundwave icon!

But yeah, this auction is seriously F'ed up. He says he's doing it to 'help the collectors', which is step no.1 of a scam: always make it look like you're doing a favour to other people, when in reality you're basically stealing from them.

If he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart, he wouldn't stand to make nearly 5000$ off of people who are putting their complete faith in his honesty.

Lol is this your old icon? I just logged on one day and the transforming soundwave i had was changed to this one with no explanation...so i left it.

Back to the auction...i also like how he says it would get an AFA grade of such and such, but the item is listed as mib not misb...correct me if i'm wrong but for AFA grading the item has to be sealed, right?

Nope, since AFA also grade loose figures and toys as well as boxed

by **Gutter Bunny** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:32 pm

Exulted Unicron wrote:
Gutter Bunny wrote:
Skowl wrote:
Gutter Bunny wrote:i like the limit *100 tickets per buyer...yeah i'm going to drop $200 on the chance of winning a mib megatron. I wouldnt even do that if it was misb.

Hey! Gutter Bunny is using my 'ol transforming Soundwave icon!

But yeah, this auction is seriously F'ed up. He says he's doing it to 'help the collectors', which is step no.1 of a scam: always make it look like you're doing a favour to other people, when in reality you're basically stealing from them.

If he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart, he wouldn't stand to make nearly 5000$ off of people who are putting their complete faith in his honesty.

Lol is this your old icon? I just logged on one day and the transforming soundwave i had was changed to this one with no explanation...so i left it.

Back to the auction...i also like how he says it would get an AFA grade of such and such, but the item is listed as mib not misb...correct me if i'm wrong but for AFA grading the item has to be sealed, right?

Nope, since AFA also grade loose figures and toys as well as boxed

well alright then, i learned somethin new today.yipee :DANCE:

News Credits: 5 · by **decepticonjon** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:41 pm

i've never had avatars miraculously change.. must be a sign of the apocalypse

News Credits: 3 · by **Collector Maximus** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:57 pm

Well at least he has a good picture of the item... :roll:

News Credits: 1 · by **Brakethrough** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:43 pm

Exulted Unicron wrote:wonder what made him decide to randomly put together a 250K envelope raffle for Megatron?

Sportscar? Mortgage? Plastic surgery?

by **JBrock** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:31 pm

As to the AFA question they will NOT grade an opened Megatron. The only Transformers they will grade opened are the ons with a sealed inner bubble and sealed paperwork.

This guy is a crook pure and simple.

News Credits: 1 · by **Leonardo** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:46 am

As Ebay scams go, this is one of the most entertaining I've seen for a while. It's even funnier than the chap who tried to sell his junker Wheeljack (with Prime fists) as a "Genuine 1986 Wheeljack As Seen Dead In The Movie".

by **Bonger** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:43 am

Leonardo wrote:As Ebay scams go, this is one of the most entertaining I've seen for a while. It's even funnier than the chap who tried to sell his junker Wheeljack (with Prime fists) as a "Genuine 1986 Wheeljack As Seen Dead In The Movie".

ROFL

Like Exulted Unicron on Facebook · by **Exulted Unicron** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:45 am

Leonardo wrote:As Ebay scams go, this is one of the most entertaining I've seen for a while. It's even funnier than the chap who tried to sell his junker Wheeljack (with Prime fists) as a "Genuine 1986 Wheeljack As Seen Dead In The Movie".

thats a nice scam...love it

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:59 am

The picture the Seller listed is terribly small and makes me doubt if he is legit.

by **soundwavegt** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:39 am

Stormrider wrote:The picture the Seller listed is terribly small and makes me doubt if he is legit.

I agree, this doesn't smell right. A mint in box G1 Megatron, on a "lottery" type of auction? The picture could have been taken from anywhere on the web, and as far as I know, that particular Megatron would currently only be worth a couple of hundred dollars at the most. It seems a bit suspicious in my opinion.

by **Gutter Bunny** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:53 am

If anybody really cared, they could report him for selling a prohibited megatron...or atleast having one pictured from the rules outlined in the other thread. That is IF anybody really cares. I personally want to see it continue just to see if anybody actually buys into it.

by **Dagon** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:40 am

Leonardo wrote:As Ebay scams go, this is one of the most entertaining I've seen for a while. It's even funnier than the chap who tried to sell his junker Wheeljack (with Prime fists) as a "Genuine 1986 Wheeljack As Seen Dead In The Movie".

That's an awesome 'custom' auction. I like that one......

Really though, if you bought a ticket for 2 bucks and won a MISB Megatron, assuming that all of this is legit, how cool would that be? If he sold 100 'tickets' and then chose a winner from just those 100 then I'd think this a cooler idea. But if no one wins and he just reshuffles the deck so to say, then this could go on for years.