FS: Steve Vai's own Jem VAI2K DNA (on e-bay NOW item# 290029613758)

[MM]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for your concern.

Well, what was shaping up to be a very successful auction designed to HELP SOMEONE IN NEED, has been marred first by a scam artist who gained access to our account and the accounts of high bidders and attempted to defraud them out of money by saying they could buy the guitar outside of **** by sending money to them via Western Union.

As usual, **** were no help at all, and didn't seem to care that the security of their site had been compromised - despite constant attempts by me to have something done.

Then, earlier this evening, someone at **** decided that the auction violated their charity auctions policy, which states that you can't create auctions where the proceeds go to a registered charity, but instead need to go through MissionFish, who then pass the proceeds on. That's fair enough if you're holding an auction on behalf of a registered charity. Trouble is, we did not call this a charity auction on **** - but simply announced that the proceeds of the auction would go to Cliff Cultreri - Steve's friend who is very sick. Cliff is not a charity organization. He's an individual who because of a terrible illness, is need of financial help. Us saying that the proceeds of the auction would be given to Cliff is just the same as saying that the proceeds would go to our back pocket. Who is **** to tell us what we do with the money after we sell the item?

**** jumped to shut our auction, but did nothing to prevent it from being disrupted by a scam artist who is able to gain access to their system.

Of course, since our auction was taken down, a fake auction with our pictures of the guitar has appeared on ****.co.uk. Do you think **** has rushed to take that down? No.

We will be putting the guitar back on **** tomorrow, with the starting bid at the same amount it was when the auction was closed.

It's a sad state of affairs when people try to disrupt any auction by fraudulent means, but when the auction is designed to help someone, it makes the act even lower. As you can imagine, Steve is terribly disappointed.

There are some really despicable people out there, but fortunately people like that are outweighed by generous, decent people who really want to help someone who has contributed in a positive way to the music we all love. We have received many emails from kind folks who have expressed concern for Cliff, and who, though unable to bid on the guitar or come to the benefit show on the 30th, have offered to send personal donations to help Cliff in whatever way they can.

We apologize to the auction's bidders for the inconvenience.

We'll be back tomorrow and I'll post a new link to the auction as son as it goes live..

Mikey
Vai.com

[Ayrton]

WTF??

Maybe Mike will clue us in on the supposed problem.

[spkenn5]

omg wat a nub! stupid *bay =\ ... i started to think they scared that this guitar might overpriced itself..

let us know wit the latest news mike

[phantoms]

I think any charity auctions must first be cleared with evilbay. Don't know whether they did or not.

[cerealk]

Thanks for the update Mikey

I cant believe how lame evilbay is over this!

[Davey]

That knocks me sick!

[JEAPSON]

The scam situation and **** process is really crazy Mikey. We are all supporting the auction because of its cause and purpose and also because of the history of the guitar involved. So I guess that if we can be of any help for the auction, we will all do. Ain't there a way to have **** validate a description before starting such a particular auction so as to prevent an amazing initiative like the one that is now faced ?

[rickcard71]

EVILBAY SUCKS! That pi**es me off, they do nothing about these jackasses that send all of these scam e-mails. They could put some money into prosecuting some of these people, they claim it is too hard to track. Well, probably, but, I'm sure these people can be busted, maybe not all, but some. They are a billion dollar conglomerate, they can spend some money on it. How about starting with eliminating Second Chance Offers, I thought it was a good idea in the beginning, but now too many people are getting ripped, just eliminate that!

[fettouhi]

Originally Posted by Ibanez249

That knocks me sick!

+1

Regards

André

[jwoods986]

Thanks for the explanation MM! I logged on this morning and saw that the auction, and the relisted link, were gone so I was wondering what happened.

[jim777]

Just got this:


Dear James White
You recently had placed a bid on item number(s):

Steve Vai's Prototype Ibanez Jem VAI2K DNA Guitar VAI

which had been removed by *Bay. After review of this listing, we have found that it was removed in error.

As a result, we have informed the seller that they may relist their item if they wish to do so. Please feel free to re-bid on this item under the new item number. To locate the new item number, please check the sellers list of items at:

http://pages.*bay.com/search/items/search_seller.html

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Regards,

*Bay Inc

[dex]

Mikey, if you manage to read this before you relist please consider starting the auction at $0.99 as this way the whole outbidding up to $20,000 will get more people to notcie, bid and consider the guitar.
If you start it with $25,000 chancess are 1 person will bid the starting bid and that will be it.

There's just something about outbidding people.

ilia

[ibanez2005]

Just advertise the guitar for $30'000.

[MM]

and the auction is back up..... NOW.

290029613758

Thanks for your feedback dex, but Steve and I have decided to start the guitar at the high bid it was when the auction was prematurely ended by Bastardbay (which they now tell me was their mistake... )

The auction began at $777 and had jumped to over $20,000 within 48 hours of its original listing, and we're confident that there are still a significant number of people who are still interested in the guitar.

Mikey
vai.com

[rufes]

Originally Posted by MM

....the auction was prematurely ended by Bastardbay (which they now tell me was their mistake... )

So why did you use e-bay again?

I mean, If they are so bad maybe would have been better to look for other options. There was life before e-bay....