This may sound lame but be the highest bidder.
Many organizations have similar policies about returning badges upon death and to avoid selling/buying badges on on-line auctions. Last year, an attorney for NPC (to show a united front) sent a strong letter to eBay covering points from copyright infringement to the sacredness of our badges. The result has been a signficant drop in the number of badges sold for a while but it didn't stop completely.
The main problem is that when a member dies, the heirs think that the badge is just another pretty pin in the jewelry box. It then gets sold at an estate sale where anyone can buy it for almost pennies. To alleviate this make sure that there is a provision in your will to dispose of it properly!
Quote:
Originally posted by ElleDelta3:
Recently my sorority had told us if we found any Tri Delta pins on ebay to buy them, send them into nationals and then our nationals would reimburse us. Seeing that the seller would get the money regardless, I felt that this was wrong, as the pin did not belong to the seller. I am not sure how other sororities and frats function on this topic, but when a Tri Delta dies, the pin is to be returned to nationals, to keep it out of the hands of non Tri Deltas. I was offended to see that 2 of our pins were on sale. These are sacred to us, as I am sure your pins are to your organization. I nicely asked the sellers to take them off auction, as it was disrespectful, here is one of the responses I got:
"Delta Delta Delta Can I help ya, help ya help ya?
I am a member of the brotherhood of common people. In our bylaws it states that we are not bound by any other organizations bylaws. On page two of our bylaws it states that thou shalt endeavor to make a profit.
This should answer your first question about why I am selling the pin. I do not know the person named on the pin and since its a low number she may have passed away. In answer to the rest of your e-mail I would suggest that you become the high bidder on the pin andyou can return it to the nationals. If you fail, I am afraid that the pin would fall into the hands of another member of the brotherhood of common people. Our membership is huge. Good luck and Happy Trails."
My question is..what should I do? These sellers were really quite nasty to me and they really disrespected my sacred sorority. Can I contact ebay and say something? Any suggestions?
Michelle
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