Have you bought a pin on eBay?

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by Leslie Anne:
*** I Need Everyone's Advice ***

Anyway, since I sell antiques, I go to A LOT of estate sales and I often see greek stuff for sale. Although I've never bought any of the greek paraphernalia, I'm well aware of the fact that these days estate sales are swarming with eBay sellers and someone IS going to buy the stuff and sell it.

Ideally, I would buy any GLO badges I came across and send them to their various HQs. Of course I can't do this because I would soon be broke. So, what should I do?

I've thought about buying any badge I come across and then contacting someone from that GLO and selling it back to them at cost. However, not all estate sales give receipts and I'd probably end up being accused of profiting from the sales.

Any suggestions?

Leslie Anne,

I don't know how other GLO's handle it, but Delta Zeta Headquarters will pay anyone who rescues a badge from E-bay, an estate sale, pawn shop, etc. They will reimburse you for the price you paid up to $50. Although I can't speak for Nationals, I would think that they would not mind the lack of a receipt since you are obviously making a goodwill gesture by bringing the badges to their attention. Hope this helps!

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by cash78mere:
(not just to OTW: just used your quote)
Honestly, this list (and other posts) are making me sick. Not because they are buying badges, but because some of you all are obsessed with making their lives miserable. Who made you God? If ANYONE ever harassed me, I would report them to their internet provider and harass them back. I think I am going to notify these people that they are being discussed openly on an internet site.

There are more important things in this world than tracking badge buyers!

By the way, I have bought several badges, and enjoy each one. They make wonderful conversation pieces and would NEVER be mishandled or misused.

First, I don't harass anyone on E-bay, regardless of how angry their actions may make me. I actually have been very pleasant to the people who I have contacted about badges up for auction, and although some were nasty, others were very polite and even offered to let me know first should they run across any other of my org's badges.

Second, discussing on GC the handles of badge collectors who buy badges regularly on E-bay isn't a crime. I believe OTW was just telling us to look out for those particular E-Bay names so that we would realize that we aren't going to be bidding against a brother or sister in a badge auction if we see one of those handles as the current high bidder. She wasn't telling everyone to run out and start sending nasty e-mails to every person bidding on a badge.

And third, I don't see how anyone in a GLO can NOT see a problem with the selling of badges. Our badges are very important to us (or most of us anyway). They are symbolic and represent parts of our history that non-members do not know about or understand. How much of a conversation piece can another group's badge be when you don't know the first thing about what it stands for? About all anyone can say is "Oh, yeah, that belongs to XYZ organization. Pretty isn't it?". I would NEVER, out of respect for other Greeks, start collecting other GLO's badges or any other of their memorabilia.

Cash78mere, this isn't intended as a flame. I'm just trying to explain why the whole badge issue is such a heated topic for so many Greeks, and why we have a problem with people who collect them.

[This message has been edited by dzrose93 (edited May 24, 2001).]

[shadokat]

OK, in response to OTW's post about beware of bidders, one is one of my sisters (imadphie). She is a pin collector. But if you've read her "about me" section, you'll also see that she is an absolutely devoted member of Delta Phi Epsilon, and has saved four of our old style pins. She is also a hugely dedicated alumnae volunteer, and VERY active with the sorority.

Since OTW obviously has no idea who this person is, and I do, I will say that she is true in saying she tries to save badges from the "melting pot". Not everyone on the planet knows that fraternity/sorority pins are hot ticket items. As a matter of fact, *I* didn't know it until I was made aware of it by one of my sisters about a year ago. A lot of people die, and don't think about what they want to do with the fraternity/sorority pin they've had for so long. They don't wear it often, so nobody thinks it's really of value. Therefore they toss it aside with the rest and sell it at an estate sale, or if it's real, have it melted down and made into something else.

If one of your organization's pins is being sold and you want to buy it and she is the high bidder, e-mail me, and I'd be happy to talk to her. I do know she doesn't bid on hugely expensive items unless they are the old D Phi E pins I've posted about on here.

Sorry for the vent, I just had to say something. If you aren't defending your sisters, who can you defend.

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Delta Phi Epsilon, Celebrating 84 years of Dedication, Pride and Excellence!

[SSS1365]

It is wrong for anyone who is not a member of the organization to possess its pin. That's the bottom line, I don't really care what excuses people come up with. In my sorority, the badge is to be buried with the woman when she dies, or sent back to nationals. While I can't speak for everyone, I'm sure that other organizations have similar rules about the pin.

I understand the point about relatives not realizing the significance of the pin, and therefore tossing it aside with other things to be sold. It isn't really their fault, but it still upsets me that people who know nothing about these organizations are buying their pins. When a person pledges a GLO, he or she earns the right to wear the pin. The meaning is taken away when anybody with money to bid on ebay can have it too.

[SSS1365]

Oh, by the way, i just went on e-bay to see if any of my sorority's stuff was on there, and I came across this pin that had the letters Sigma Gamma Rho on it. Ummm, yeah, the seller has it listed Sigma TAU Rho!

[BrianMUDU]

SSS1365,

I saw the same thing recently. A Psi Upsilon pin was being sold as a Delta Upsilon pin. I emailed them their mistake, yet it was still like that for the rest of the auction.

Leslie Ann,

I know it would be hard for you to remember what GLO to look out for when at estate sales, but I'd love to have a chance to purchase any Delta Upsilon items you find. Seeing our stuff for sale does bother me a little bit, but I'm also grateful that I'm able to purchase items that a few years ago would have been impossible to come by -- like an old postcard of our chapter house from 80 years ago, or engravings and paintings that are well over 100 years old. ***If I had a chance to sell items like this, I would specify in my auction that I reserve to right to not sell an item to someone who isn't a member of the organization.*** That way only members get a chance to have the items they cherish so much.

[Kappanole]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by OohTeenyWahine:
[*]kappanole (buys Kappa items, but has won badges for many other NPC Fraternities)

I just sent this moderator a message via email. I am KKG and I ONLY collect Kappa pins after we try to locate the original owners. We have returned 3 STOLEN pins to sisters in the last 2 weeks.

I do NOT collect other organization pins but have bid on several. I have girl friends in many of the other NPC sororities. When sisters of these organizations email me, I tell them I am bidding for a certain friend,e tc. If they ask, I am happy to provide the sisters name and chapter and initiation date if i know it. I've gotten nasty emails from people who do not believe me. But the weirdest thing is, she said that I have won badges for "many other NPC Fraternities" I have won ONE other badge, a ZTA badge for one of my friends from college at FSU. This is easy to check by looking at my ebay profile.

Please email me if you have questions rather than posting me as a serial bidder with skidmarks, imadphie, betapifiji, insterno, etc.

Kappa--
I just sent you an email

[33girl]

Hey Leslie Anne! Good to see you on here again. I don't think there's anything wrong with selling glassware, shirts etc on ebay, any more than there would be if you opened up Leslie Anne's Greek store down the street. Alum directories are a little more dicey, but I cannot imagine a non-member would want one - talk about boring reading! To me these things are "public" - you could go to a physical store and buy them, and even our magazines are open (NPC gets a copy of everyone's mag). The only things I don't like seeing sold on ebay are "private" things that only members should have access to, like pins and pledge manuals.

OK accountants in the house - say Leslie Anne buys a Mu Mu Mu badge at an estate sale, and MMM nationals doesn't have a program like DZ where they could reimburse her. If she gives this back to them, could she write it off on her taxes as a charitable donation?

Now the lawyers - can a national put a clause in its bylaws to the effect of "The official Mu Mu Mu badge may only be possessed by a member, any sale or gift to a nonmember will result in prosecution"? Of course this would only work if it was enforced. For some reason I seem to remember hearing about a ring of people selling Phi Beta Kappa keys and getting in mucho trouble (this was before ebay).

[cash78mere]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose:
Hi, Cash78mere! Thank you for your post. Obviously, most members of GreekChat are very much against the selling of GLO pins on Ebay and it is interesting to hear (read?) an opposing viewpoint. Please don't think I am being sarcastic when I ask you this, because I really don't mean to come off that way.

I was just curious to know what you think of Ebay sellers who auction off things like Nazi memorabilia or items from other hate groups. Certainly there are groups who are against that, who feel it is immoral, but do you think they should keep quiet and let the sellers "do their own thing"?

Again, no offense or sarcasm is intended. I was just interested after reading your post to get your take on this.

Take care,

Hey KillarneyRose!

No offense taken! Thank you for your nice reply. I was so heated when I wrote that last night, but I'm better now!

Honestly, I can't compare Nazi items with greek badges. But I do honestly believe that legal items should be allowed to be sold publicly. Now, I DO NOT agree with illegal items being sold. Owning Nazi items is a little scary to me, but to each his own. As long as it is an honest transaction, I don't think we should be allowed to ban things simply because of our moral beliefs. One's morals are different from another's.

Of course hate group items are controversial, but (most) are not illegal. I guess that's why America's a free country!

Feel free to reply on here or privately!

-cash78mere

[cash78mere]

Originally posted by BrianMUDU:
cash78mere,

I don't make anyone's life miserable. I don't e-mail these people and tell them off or anything, so you've got me wrong. I'm just upset that when there is something that belongs to my organization that members would like to have (i.e. a pin), there is competition for it from non-members who are less deserving of it. I'm sure if you saw a pin from your GLO on eBay, and you would like to have it, you wouldn't be too fond of me bidding on it.

BrianMUDU,

I'm sorry if I have you wrong. I apologize.

I am not happy when I see AXO items, but I just don't agree with discussing people on a board without their knowledge. (I didn't contact anyone by the way!) To offer a suggestion, maybe we can invite them to visit the board to explain their points of view. Just a thought.......

-cash78mere

[shadokat]

cashmere78--

I sent this thread to the sister who was one those being talked about in a negative way. I hope she will come here and give her side.

As for having prosecution, what would you prosecute them for? It would have to be completely civil law, and nobody's group would be able to track all of the badges, and then get them back or buried with those who have passed. I mean, how many alums are actually still in contact with their groups? I would say the percentage wouldn't be more than 50% for the best group.

[coffeemug]

I also agree with Cashmere's view on the situation. I have bought 2 different Alpha Phi badges on Ebay and llok for more every chance I get.

As for the collectors those people have been collecting for many many years before Ebay started selling them. Personally I think Ebay is a bad place to find pins they are selling for crazy prices! Did anyone see the $3500 Pi Phi pin??

[BrianMUDU]

Leslie,

Sounds good! If you really wanted to do some work, you could get a list of some people here and their GLO so that you know who you can contact when you find something we might be interested in (mainly badges). But that would be up to you, it might be a little work getting the list put together and having to look through it when you're at sales.

Brian

[Tom Earp]

There was anational news story about persons selling on ebay and it was a scam! I know I paid for some LXA items and never got the merchandise. I was very disappointed as wanted to donate to the Chapter!
I E-M ebay and they then changed their policy to (?) make it harder for scammers!
I am still out the money and the item, so be it! Paybacks are tuff! I always try to check out the bidee and the bidder to see if legit! Several times I find out I am bidding against a Brother and drop out. The same has been given to me! You must know that is what Bro/Sis hood is all about!

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Tom Earp LX Z#1
Pittsburg State U. (Kansas)