This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------5A3E3C0960EF Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Thought some of you might be interested in this, very important to everyone not just Genealogist. Elnora Frances Cook-Wyrick --------------5A3E3C0960EF Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Received: from bl-14.rootsweb.com ([204.212.38.30]) by mtiwgwc08.worldnet.att.net (InterMail v03.02.07 118 124) with ESMTP id <[email protected]>; Sun, 9 May 1999 03:14:17 +0000 Received: (from [email protected]) by bl-14.rootsweb.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id UAA20282; Sat, 8 May 1999 20:11:25 -0700 (PDT) Resent-Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 20:11:25 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <[email protected]> X-Sender: [email protected] X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Light Version 3.0.6 (32) Date: Sat, 08 May 1999 20:11:45 -0700 Old-To: [email protected] From: Carol De Priest <[email protected]> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Subject: [COOK-L] Fw: The FINAL word from EBay on the Auctions of Cemetery items...! Resent-Message-ID: <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Resent-From: [email protected] X-Mailing-List: <[email protected]> archive/latest/6395 X-Loop: [email protected] Precedence: list Resent-Sender: [email protected] Just trying to catch up on mail now. Don't know if you've seen this yet... Carol De Priest >Resent-Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 13:00:52 -0700 (PDT) >From: [email protected] >Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 15:56:48 EDT >Subject: The FINAL word from EBay on the Auctions of Cemetery items...! >Old-To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], > [email protected], [email protected], > [email protected] >X-Mailer: AOL for Macintosh sub 189 >To: [email protected] >Resent-From: [email protected] >X-Mailing-List: <[email protected]> archive/latest/47846 >X-Loop: [email protected] >Resent-Sender: [email protected] > >It has been reported on several lists that tombstones and grave markers - >allegedly stolen - are being sold on the Internet auction service eBay. > >I received the following information from Rob Chesnut, >Associate General Counsel for eBay. The company >has been made aware of the legitimate concerns we >have regarding the auctioning of used grave markers - >an act which is both offensive and criminal. If you have , >questions or comments you can contact Rob Chesnut at >(408) 558-5948 or [email protected] . >=========================== > >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE >May 4, 1999 > > eBay has recently been contacted by citizens who have expressed concern >over the fact that several historical tombstones have appeared for sale on >the eBay site. We share your concern, and will not permit these items to >be sold on our site. This release is intended to answer several questions >that have been raised in connection with these items. > > First, eBay does not sell or possess the items on its site. eBay is a >venue where users post items for sale, and sellers complete transactions >directly with buyers. eBay does not, and has never, possessed any >historical tombstone. > >Second, as an Internet Service Provider, eBay cannot and does not >pre-screen items posted on its site. While eBay rules strictly prohibit >the posting of illicit items such as tombstones, it cannot guarantee that >all its users will abide by these rules in posting items for sale. > >When eBay learns that an illicit item is on its site, it promptly removes >the item. However, with approximately 2 million items for sale at any >given time, and with over 250,000 new items placed on the site each day, >some illicit items may go unnoticed for several days. We depend on our >community to work with us in locating and identifying illicit items so that >we can quickly remove them. > > In this case, eBay has promptly removed every tombstone brought to its >attention, informed the sellers that such markers are not allowed on the >site, and refunded all fees in connection with these auctions to ensure >that eBay has in no way received money for this activity. To discourage >future listings of tombstones on the site, eBay will also be posting rules >on its site shortly regarding the sale of artifacts which will specifically >inform users that the sale of historical tombstones is illegal in many >states and is prohibited on eBay. > >eBay has received information that at least some of the items brought to >our attention are not tombstones, but historical grave markers given to >families of Civil War veterans. In many cases, these grave markers were >never actually used as grave markers, but kept by families as mementos. In >those instances, the markers are not stolen property, and if they were >never used as for tombstones their sale may be lawful. eBay is >investigating whether these items can be lawfully sold, and will post >information on the site when it makes a final decision. > >eBay will be contacting law enforcement and encouraging authorities to >investigate whether historical marker posted on its site was stolen. eBay >will cooperate fully in any investigation of illegal activity, and will >provide records to law enforcement on the sellers of any illegal item. eBay >appreciates the efforts of those who have contacted us concerning these >postings. Concerned law enforcement authorities or interested citizens may >contact Associate General Counsel Rob Chesnut at (408) 558-5948 if they >have further questions on this matter. > > > Carol De Priest <http://members.xoom.com/SandSurfer/home.htm> *** check it out - work in progress *** --------------5A3E3C0960EF--