Robert Harrop Buyers Beware Pg Tips Chimps Scam

Over the last six to twelve months, I have reported dozens of occurrences of shill bidding on Robert Harrop Figures, namely PG Tips Chimps. The latest occasion was 12/04/2008 when a seller used one ID to shill bid on all of their listings and ended up winning them all, the genuine members who bid were all conned and no one got what was rightly theirs.

I have also had a lot of members contacting me, informing me of other alleged scams concerning this individual.

A lot of these members are also a member of the Robert Harrop Collectors Society.

As eBay prevents me placing a link outside of their site in to this guide, please go to the Robert Harrop website and read the following post: robertharrop.com/harrop_forum/showthread.php?t=2420 or when arriving at the Robert Harrop home page, go into the Forums: General Discussions: Pg Tips Buyers Beware.

Please read all of the comments that have been posted on the Robert Harrop website.

Remember this individual didn't sell any of the Robert Harrop Chimps and other items they had listed, I'm certain they will be relisted under yet another new ID.

When the items get relisted, remember that the seller will have little or no feedback. If there is feedback check it carefully, check the times and dates. For example I wasn’t aware that Royal Mail deliver on Sundays?

The following feedback was left after one listing finished on a Saturday 12/04/2008

Smooth transaction, excellent e bayer , well packed Buyer -------------------- 13-Apr-08 16:05 -- -- Private

This individual has listed them using at least ten different ID’s, all of which have been reported.

The list of ID’s below are no longer registered, therefore this is about illustrating the extremes that some eBayers will go to, it is not intended to list current shillers. However this is about visibility of the issues and illustrates that all is never what it seems.

Loader1957

Robert2007.123

BoingBoing2007

Yorkiebar-2007

Dunc23757

Blackcountryman57

Bigbell-2008

Robscollectables_123 Un - Registered 12/04/08

These ID’s can no longer traced using the advanced search feature provided by eBay. However if you use GOOFBAY.COM you can trace all of the items listed within the last 120 days, by using the seller history search.

I’m certain that the same Individual is responsible when these items appear on eBay, as the item location is normally one of the following Birmingham, Dudley, Wrens Nest, Harebell or West Midlands.

They are now listing items with the location: England

The photo’s used are normally identical in every listing, irrespective of who the seller is and they sometimes have the sellers ID on them to make them look genuine, the item description is normally done in very large word format and often states sorry no PayPal.

They have tried selling them individually without a reserve starting at 0.99p also individually with a reserve. The figures are all limited edition models.

The biggest problem you are faced with, is when they are listed with a reserve, which hides the bidders details (only shows a feedback star rating) or as private listings as this prevents you seeing information an totally prevents you from doing any searches on any bidders.

If they list them as private listings YOU WILL BE SHILLED and you CAN NOT check the other bidders ID's.

This individual has also listed other items including Guinness Memorabilia, Beswick Alice In Wonderland Figures, Royal Worcester, Carlton Ware, Royal Doulton Laurel & Hardy and other Beswick Pieces.

This persons trades anywhere from one to five months and normally has three ID’s on the go at anyone time, they do purchase items to gain positive feedback, but they also bid and don’t pay.

After receiving a few negatives they normally become unregistered and set up another new account.

All of the ID’s they have used have all received negative feedback’s for selling fakes, damaged goods, and high postage charges.

I have put this guide together to try and prevent you from been duped. If you read this information and take the time to investigate the evidence I have provided you will definitely benefit from it. So make a difference by voting YES below and help others to see this advice by making it visible to others, which will hopefully make eBay a safer place to buy and sell.