Not thrilled with Ebay

[veinglory]

My complaint to Ebay recently was:

My item purchased from [vendor name] was sent with material that
denigrates atheists and promotes Christianity--I find this highly
objectionable. I also think there is implied racism and anti-semitism
in the materials as the people shown being 'saved' look black and
Jewish. I would like to know whether this behaviour (sending materials
that denigrate my belief system when all I wanted was to buy scissors)
is against Ebay's terms of service--if so how I could request he be
directed to cease this activity.

They sent a rote response in no way related to my question. I replied asking for a relevant reply and to have my message forwarded to s surpervisor and received another rote and even less relevant reply. So I am going to stop banging my head against the wall. I would be interested in whether you think it is in over-reaction to object to a 'see the light' pamphlet where a (black) atheist is shown as a fool who refuses to even look at a literally depicted light but finally is converted.

Is this seriously disrespectful or just trivial 'God spam'?

[snook]

God spam. There is always someone somewhere trying to force a belief system on you, whether that be atheism, christianity, islam or satansim.

[Keyan]

Why don't you just use the feedback system to complain directly about the vendor? That's what it's for. Ebay's just a Mall. Your problem is with an individual shop.

My complaint to Ebay recently was:

My item purchased from [vendor name] was sent with material that
denigrates atheists and promotes Christianity--I find this highly
objectionable. I also think there is implied racism and anti-semitism
in the materials as the people shown being 'saved' look black and
Jewish. I would like to know whether this behaviour (sending materials
that denigrate my belief system when all I wanted was to buy scissors)
is against Ebay's terms of service--if so how I could request he be
directed to cease this activity.

They sent a rote response in no way related to my question. I replied asking for a relevant reply and to have my message forwarded to s surpervisor and received another rote and even less relevant reply. So I am going to stop banging my head against the wall. I would be interested in whether you think it is in over-reaction to object to a 'see the light' pamphlet where a (black) atheist is shown as a fool who refuses to even look at a literally depicted light but finally is converted.

Is this seriously disrespectful or just trivial 'God spam'?

[Inky]

I'd rip it up and walk away.
To react is to feed into their need.
We have two very high profiled religions; superpowers, if you will, that have been at war for thousands of years.
They'll simply thump their chest and yell: it is my right...and the will of >>insert their god here<<<.

You would do best to not bother doing business with this vendor again, perhaps place a negative commentary--they still have that option, yes?, and then move on.
Why?
You'll only get yourself ill with fury, and these cram religion down your throat fanatics aren't worth a persons health.

Religion is personal. Private. If I have questions, I'll ask. Stop pimping it to me.
*shrug* That's how I feel. If God, Buddah are all knowing, they know my mind.
Those who choose not to believe, who the hell are we to put them in a stranglehold, and cram ANY of OUR beliefs down their throat?
What if WE'RE wrong?
Again...my mantra: Religion is private. No, this company didn't have the right to do this simply because they could...but what the anger does to you physically...NEVER give anyone that power over you.
Hell, bitch that I am...I'd return the bloody scissors...er...don't take that literally...no blood.

[veinglory]

I objected. But I don't think you could say I was angry. I also take steps against other spam like reporting it to their webhosts.

My reason for approach Ebay is because if it is against their ToS they can enforce that and the vendor will probably listen.

[roncouch]

I would probably have just ignored the literature, but that's me. Aside from what you have done, there's little else to do. Don't buy from the seller again. Or, if you do, specify, in an e-mail, for him/her not to include any religious material with your order.

[DeleyanLee]

I got the same kind of pamphlet the last time I got something off of ebay. It was rather surprising, since I'd been doing busines there for many years and had never run into it before.

I sent a note to ebay with the same kind of response. I also lowered my rating of the seller, stating the objection. Don't know what good it did, but *shrug* I also emailed the seller with the objection. That got a response. Turns out that the seller had someone doing the shipping for them and at least got an apology and offer of a refund of my shipping.

This is a business deal, even if ebay is a mall. Perhaps I'm old-fashioned in thinking that that should carry a certain level of conduct.

[Ruv Draba]

I get irritated when vendors put product catalogs in their shipment (since when did I agree to bear the cost of disposing of their advertising?), so I would share your irritation if a vendor of scissors were to package unrelated promotional material. My irritation would be at the act of selling B while delivering A though -- not specifically at the content.

If the content is offensive by ordinary social standards then there should be legal action you can take (in Australia we have anti-vilification laws). If it is sent repeatedly after requests to desist then that could be construed as harrasment. If it is sent in lieu of the advertised product then that would be a breach of agreement.

But alas, if vendors want to shape your thoughts and beliefs with unsolicited promotional material while delivering a product or service, society presently views this as acceptable, and there's not much that you can do other than a stiff letter to the vendor.

I personally disagree with society on this one though. I'm fine to get advertised at if I agree to it; I don't like getting advertised at when I haven't agreed.

[Medievalist]

This is obscenely disrespectful.

I'm going to go look at my address book and see if I still know anyone at Ebay with influence.

[snook]

I'm not an Atheist, I believe in a God, but I've evolved into more of a Deist. I draw the line at foisting my beliefs on anyone. I guess that I would just throw the stuff away and not let it bother me, they are just fishing.

As far as eBay, they won't do anything about it, as far as they are concerned it's between you and the seller. The seller probably thinks that they are doing you a favor. I know that you don't see it that way and neither do I, but I'm sure that's what they thought. Some people are just zealots.

My ex-wife hates my guts as my son has come to believe much the same as me; she holds me responsible, but my son has come to his own conclusions based on a logic that we share. I've always encouraged an open dialog with my kids about belief systems, whether they be God based, nature based or lack thereof. Of course my ex thinks that we are all doomed to everlasting damnation. That's the controlling side that is a common thread among fanatics and zealots of any religion or philosophy.

What people believe is what they believe. It's not my job, your job or the person that filled your package with religious literature's job to try and convert you or anyone else. If someone comes to you for direction, that's another story.

People have the right to believe and live the way they want as long as it does not physically adversely affect anyone else.

If everyone had a dog, they wouldn't be so evil towards one another. Hah! More quote stuff for the book!

[Don Allen]

Wow! I usually stay off this subject because as much as I love god, I hate religion, and its exactly for stuff like this, people are constantly trying to shove "Their religion" down your throat, or strut around with self righteous indignation because they attend a church or whatever that you don't. IMO....please I don't need to be kittied for this, but I can't help but think whatever God there is out there, if you have one,,, condones all the bullshit pulpit heaving rhetoric that flows from the mouths of people who use church to advance some agenda, whether it be Gay marriage, abortion, infidelity, or plain old racial hatred. I don't get it, quite frankly.

[Don Allen]

I should have said anti-gay marriage.....

[Queen of Swords]

My suitcases were held and searched at the airport when I went to the States for a holiday before coming to Canada. I had a copy of All the questions you ever wanted to ask American Atheists in one suitcase. When I got my luggage back, there was an official card inside to say that the cases had been inspected, but along the side of the card, someone had written, "I belive (sic) in Jesus."

I sent an email about this to the transportation control authorities, but didn't get any response.

[benbradley]

Can you take a photo or scan it? I'd be interested in seeing it, and I think a lot of others would too. I keep a collection of just about any tract (whether religious or a "business opportunity") left on my door or car or whatever. I've still got this big postcard a church sent out in 1999 about Revelations and Y2K and stuff (and I would have thought SOMEONE would have said something about the "New Millenium that started January 1, 2001... ahem). But I digress.

You could post this on one of the eBay boards such as Seller Central:
http://forums.ebay.com/db2/forum.jspa?forumID=143

And I'm wondering how much I should warn you about if you've never posted there before. There's lots of niggling little rules, the people there are snarky, etc., you should generate a separate posting ID (this is legit on eBay as long as you're not doing it for nefarious purposes), but posting there could well get the attention of someone in charge at eBay. I've always seen where they are strict about enforcing the rules, which is amazing because eBay has SO MANY rules ... and then there's all the PayPal rules, and it can get confusing on which ones apply when...

But this 'material'/flyer/tract is almost surely against SOME eBay rule, and I'd post something just like you posted here, with no ID of the seller, buyer or transaction number. If other posters/lurkers do find the transaction, I've seen it where the seller is contacted about the discussion and starts posting in the thread, then it gets really interesting.

Which brings me to the point that the eBay discussion boards are a great place for drama. It's probably no coincidence that after hanging out mostly on Seller Central for a year or two that I ended up rekindling the long-held idea of writing fiction and ended up at AW. :)

[veinglory]

I will see if i can dig it up. I never did get a reply from eBay or the sender.

[pink lily]

I should have said anti-gay marriage.....
You should have said "anti marriage equality." ;)

[LovetoWrite]

Ebay, Ebay, Ebay!

I have bought and sold on ebay for the past couple of years. I'd like to keep my opinion to ebay rules and not a topic of religion, so here it goes.

The seller rating should never be used as a weapon. If the item advertised was the item you received, in the condition it was described and in the time frame set, then the seller did their job. You communicated the problem and the seller apologized and immediately tried to make it up to you.

The fact they included a pamplet about religious belief, on a personal level that was without a doubt WRONG. There might very well be a rule with ebay, that forbids it.

I agree with benbradley - use the forum to place your complaint. You will get better results there. I have seen things posted there over the years, from small to large, and there has been results. Personally, I'm sorry that happened to you. I hate to receive unwanted literature or door to door visits myself.

[brainstorm77]

I've had little notes sent with my stuff time to time, business card thingies with 'praise be', etc stuff like that. I just tossed the stuff.

[NewKidOldKid]

I think it depends on how bad the material is. If I get a postcard or a small note signed Yours on Christ or something similar, I won't be offended, but a brochure or flyer trying to convert me to the "right" religion. I'd be furious. And you bet I'd be complaining to every single one associated with it.

[the addster]

I've received stuff like that in my Ebay purchases. I did give the seller positive feedback, but I put "quick ship, great item, offered salvation", or "love the item, Jesus-not so much". I sure it wasn't effective, but it made me feel better.

Where I'm from stuff like this is everywhere, I've become good at ignoring it. To me it's not worth the trouble to raise hell about it.

Anyone else getting religious messages in the ads on this page?

[Bartholomew]

My complaint to Ebay recently was:

My item purchased from [vendor name] was sent with material that
denigrates atheists and promotes Christianity--I find this highly
objectionable. I also think there is implied racism and anti-semitism
in the materials as the people shown being 'saved' look black and
Jewish. I would like to know whether this behaviour (sending materials
that denigrate my belief system when all I wanted was to buy scissors)
is against Ebay's terms of service--if so how I could request he be
directed to cease this activity.

They sent a rote response in no way related to my question. I replied asking for a relevant reply and to have my message forwarded to s surpervisor and received another rote and even less relevant reply. So I am going to stop banging my head against the wall. I would be interested in whether you think it is in over-reaction to object to a 'see the light' pamphlet where a (black) atheist is shown as a fool who refuses to even look at a literally depicted light but finally is converted.

Is this seriously disrespectful or just trivial 'God spam'?

Cut it up and send it back to him. Let him know that his effort is wasted, and maybe he'll stop taking it.

[Rhys Cordelle]

I hate Ads By Google. Atheist topics always get the jesus/god advertising.

Personally if I got that with an ebay purchase I'd probably laugh my ass off. It's easy to get annoyed when people try things like this. Sometimes I just have to remind myself that if I believed what they do I'd probably be doing anything and everything I could to save souls as well. At least they mean well.

[pink lily]

I hate Ads By Google.
If you get the Firefox browser, with Adblock, you won't see any Google Ads. You will see almost no ads at all. You can also select individual sites and images to block.