Maybe this has been discussed before, but if it hasn't here goes:

A person that's almost certainly a FT reader is selling info on ebay and Yahoo auctions on how to "FLY ON THE CONCORDE ROUND TRIP FOR $1260", to see the ebay auction click here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1354829508 to see the Yahoo auction click here: http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo....2?aucview=0x10

Note that the seller started the bidding at $25 and the ebay auction already has had several bids.

Needless to say these auctions are just for info about buying a bunch of Randy's Inside Flyer subscriptions and getting bonus Starwood points - this been discussed at length in several FT threads in the past few months. Looks like another person has found a way to take ideas that they have gleened from FT and turn them into handsome profits...

Well, I guess this shows that some people will pay for information!

Like the guy who brings his car to the mechanic for engine trouble. The mechanic charges him $50, and he forks it over. Mechanic takes out a hammer, and whacks the engine, now the engine works fine. Guys says, "Hey, give me my $50 bucks back. Even I could have done that." Mechanic: "Yeah, but would you have known where to hit it?"

Regarding the ebay auction, this looks perfectly fine, though a little bit shady for a FTer to sell it to others. Perhaps it's also taking advantage of people who aren't so travel saavy, but selling a legitimate service, right?

After all, it's not illegal to tell someone how to do something. Unless you're a lawyer for Microsoft. :P

[This message has been edited by TA (edited 05-27-2002).]

Yes,m but it may eventually drive Inside Flyer subscriptions and bring more poeple into the know. Imagine if there were another board that we knew nothing of and there was a way to get unlimited miles for a cent each....I would pay to know about it and I think many of us would.

Maybe someone should be nice and tell him where to find the information for free.

Contacting the bidder(s) is in violation of ebay rules against auction interference.

Of course, if someone wanted to set up a $1 dutch auction selling the same info, with the proceeds going to some worthwhile charity, there's no ebay rule against that...

Isn't the sale of flyertalk info against the T&Cs?
Regards,
Alex

Did that already. Charity auction (bidders make a donation to the charity of their choice on the honor system). Sent the InsideFlyer info and a link to FT to over 120 people who bid on the auctions. Put a dent in the mileage sales/price of miles on Ebay for a week and I got allot of nasty e-mails. Cancelled the auctions as I got allot of fake bidders threatening to post negative feedback.

Bravo...good for you!!

Mvic - in the future here is what you can do:
1. Post your auction, I suggest a starting bid of a penny but be sure that it isn't more than $9.99 so you will be charged the minimum listing fee of only 30 cents
2. IMMEDIATELY after starting your auction go to "Bidder Management" (you get there by clicking on "Services" near the top of the page and then click below it where is says "Buying and Selling", Bidder Management will then be near the bottom of the page)
3. In Bidder Management click on the link that says "Add an item to my Pre-approved Bidder List", then enter your auction number. What this does is keeps people from bidding on your auction without being pre-approved by you (and of course you don't want them to bid anyway), when a potential bidder tries to place a bid they see this, "Notice: This listing is restricted to pre-approved bidders only. See if you're allowed to bid on this item"
4. When people email you either with questions or requesting to be added to the pre-approved bidder list just email them the complete info package (for free of course). On top of this you could suggest that if they find the information you send them helpful that they may want to consider making a contribution to the charity of their choice.

The beauty about this is bad eggs CAN'T leave you Neg feedback because they can't bid - as you know the only way a bidder can leave a feedback is if they actually WIN the auction. The total cost to you will be a paltry 30 cents (or 40 cents if you choose a 10 day auction) and you will have done your good deed for the week. Good Luck

The same person with the auction mentioned in the opening post is now selling subscriptions to Inside Flyer Magazine for a starting bid of $29.95, click here to view: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1356281220 .

Weren't people GIVING these away here on FT recently?

If the bidders for his Concorde info also read through the description of his IF auction, they can quickly figure for themselves how to get that info for free.

The whole thing seems quite ridiculous to me.


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Hajo's World

personally I think it is outrageous that someone is selling this info. Probably some lurker here, we'll never know.

The ebay auction describes the situation well. The seller clearly points out that he is selling the magazines at a discount because he is keeping the miles and he provides a pointer to the promotion for those buyers who want to pay full freight and collect miles themselves. He -doesn't- mention that subscriptions are available in Coupon Connection for free

I've been debating this option myself. On one hand I feel that giving the subscriptions away on CC is a fine way to "pay back" the community for the information I've found here, on the other hand a large number of subscriptions adds up to serious $$.

I suspect what I'll do in the end is give the subscriptions away with nothing expected in return, but mention that AA or UA goodies would be appreciated if the recipient is so moved.

birdstrike

WOW. I've been away for awhile, and was surprised to see this. I wish that I had started an ebay auction soon after posting this information on FT. It would have been nice to have enough $$ to actually take advantage of this deal.

I don't have much of a problem with those selling the info. They found a way to make a buck, and everyone comes out ahead. I just wish they would pay me royalties .