That's a good idea, I'd definately contribute to that. Not that I have much to contribute, but I'd do what I can.

HI All,

Regarding the suggestion to start a group to buy up badges on e-bay that is pretty much a guaranteed way to start seeing our badges appear on e-bay and end up at high prices. I don't recall who or where i heard this from but I seem to remember some national personnel saying that Phi Sig didn't want to start a "rescue" group for just that reason.

Here's a possible scenario - I'm a badge collector/seller. I post a badge on ebay and see that there's a couple people bidding on it (probably rescuers). The price keeps going up, all the better for the seller, since neither of the two bidders has contacted the other to see if they are members of that particular org. Regarding no contact, this happened to me, I bid on some historical memorabila wanting to give it to CO - I emailed someone who was bidding against me to see if she was a Phi Sig. I never received a response back despite a couple of emails. There wasnt anything in her profile about Phi Sig. So I kept bidding on the items until it got to the point where I couldn't afford it and let the other person win, praying it was a sister. Turns out it was a sister who donated the items to CO. If she had only responded to my email, I would have stopped bidding and she couldn't have gotten the stuff for about $25-30 then in the $100's.

Anyway, back to the ebay seller selling the badge. He starts to notice how the bids are starting to go higher as rescuers try to buy the badge. He does something unethical but hard to prove - he talks a buddy in to signing on to ebay with a profile of badge collector and bidding on the item. Now as soon as a sisters sees badge collector they're more then likely going to bid more money. So the seller's friend bids higher to drive the bid up. The seller is going to win either way - he's going to realize there is a max that the sister is willing to pay and tell his friend to stop bidding. He got a higher price for the item then he would have originally got. Or if the friend was to win the seller can do one of two things - claim the person didn't pay for the item and offer it to the last honest bidder at the price bid or list it again (possibly under a different name) and have his friend push the bids up again - this time he knows the price to stop bidding at so the rescuer gets the badge. Again inflated pricing - as other collectors start to see how much the badges are going for they'll start searching the pawn shops, estate sales, etc trying to find the badges just to post.

Sorry for the long post. There was a thread in Chit Chat or Greek Life about ebay and rescuers. You might want to read through some of the threads to see what badge rescuers and others have to say.

Carolyn

It was just an idea that I had heard elsewhere... There will always be badge collectors and sellers. And, whatever gets saved gets saved.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...950082126&rd=1

anyone ever seen one like this? I assumed that the pin never changed but don't know.

My roommate found that the other day. I really can't see why there would be pearls on a Phi Sig badge though. I searched online and found a Sigma Phi Sigma fraternity, but only an alumni association website that didn't have any information information on history or what their jewel or badge are, but I guess it could be theirs? Or maybe I'm way off, I don't know :)

yeah, but it says that sigma phi sigma (social fellowship society) was established in 1963.

then sigma phi sigma (students of forensic science) was established in 2001.

and "Sigma Phi Sigma is a national fraternity for Mortuary Science majors." (EWWW!) established in 1965 at southern illinois university

then Sigma Phi Sigma at the university of illinois, was there from 1919-40- (1919-1947).

and "Sigma Phi Sigma, a national honor society established by the Religious Sisters of Mercy" at salve regina university doesn't have any information on when they were established.



looks like none of these orgs like putting much information out there on the internet! haha. clearly, this isn't our pin. i hope the highest bidder isn't a phi sig thinking it's ours though!

HI There,

Well there's another badge on ebay - starting bid is supposed to be $99 and I think buy it now is $149. The person who has it posted says she no longer needs it and that's why she's selling it. The funny part is she's also selling her chapter guard (Theta Mu) as a separate item when I looked at the other stuff she is selling. She's also selling one of her dangles separately, it seems to me she is either a fairly new alum or maybe someone who disafilliated for whatever reason. Hopefully someone from Theta Mu who is on greek chat can find out who it is and see if you can talk the person in to not selling it.

It just makes me mad though that she states she no long needs it. I'm sorry if she wasn't disafilliated then she is still a sister for life. Why can't women seem to remember that Phi Sig (or any sorority) is not just 4 years but is for Life. Don't we always say Once a Phi Sig, Always a Phi Sig? I just wish more women would remember that after they become alumnae.

Okay enough with my rant. Heather or someone else from Northern Cal hopefully someone knows who is selling it and can talk the person out of it.

Carolyn

Carolyn,
I saw that too. Shame on sisters, or ex-sisters. I don't understand either. :(

That lady made me very :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: When I read that "I don't need it any more" GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Want to write her a NASTY e mail, I'll refrain.. but I'd LOVE to !!

Shut up! *In shock* Gosh Guys thats so embarrassing! (thats my chapter) *runs to Ebay right now!!*

Ok so I saw the badge and her dangle but I didn't see her chapter guard. Maybe she took it off? Isn't Studio City in SoCal? I couldn't tell if I knew them (the seller) or not...

Should I still contact the seller?
She Doesn't have a need for them anymore?!?! grrrrrr how rude! There are other things you can do with your badge than try to make a profit off it on ebay. *I'm so pissed*

I was thinking of emailing other alums and sisters from my chapter to see if they can buy it (because thats sad its a little theta mu badge) and donate it back to the chapter. hmmm.

Let me know what you all think.

yeah, she has the chapter guard for sale. look under her "store" of sorts.

yes, studio city is down here.... so i think we should meet her in a dark alley and beat her up to make her take it off ebay! haha

but on a serious note, i think we should all email her asking her to take it off ebay and give it back, if she really doesn't want it that bad.

did anyone else notice the person that bid on it is a badge collector???

i got a response to the email i sent her... heather, please check your PMs.

let's keep our fingers crossed that she'll change her mind with MY response!

Thanks Beth! I'm really nervous to email her. I really hope she changes her mind (insert hopefully smilie)

yeah, i feel like a total TOOL! :mad: