This is really neat and deserves to be shared over all of the MRR forums on the web. Follow the link it is fairly self explanatory.
http://cgi.ebay.com/HO-Scale-Georgias-Garage-built-by-a-5-year_W0QQitemZ220544038266QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item335972f57a
Edit 1
Sorry to see that there are so many doubters, but perhaps eBay is to thank for that for not clamping down on violations in the past? This is absolutely legitimate. I have met the father on more than one occasion and he runs an excellent model railroad structure company in Canada.
Edit 2
This is not a scam, there is nothing fishy going on. Feel free to be sceptical. Feel free to think ill of anothers attempt to do something good. Feel free to bask in the warmth of knowing that you cynically bashed someone else for doing just a small something to help those that really need it.
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Not saying this is the case BUT,....there are many unsavory people out there willing and able to take advantage of situations like Haiti, or any disaster. That listing has all the "touch your heart" necessities, a young child, girl, donations, and even doubling the donations via the gov't, somehow making this look legit. I would give this more consideration if they had listed it as 'check only, made out to the charity'.
The seller also only has 8 feedbacks... I sent my contribution directly to Save The Children... No snake oil for me, thank you.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
"The Canadian Government will match our donation dollar for dollar so any bid will essentially be doubled when we donate "
im in canada and as far as i know, ive never heard of our gouvernemnt matching donation dollar for dollar...
tinman1Not saying this is the case BUT,....there are many unsavory people out there willing and able to take advantage of situations like Haiti, or any disaster. That listing has all the "touch your heart" necessities, a young child, girl, donations, and even doubling the donations via the gov't, somehow making this look legit. I would give this more consideration if they had listed it as 'check only, made out to the charity'.
Yes, I had the same thought but wasn't going to say anything. But since the subject has been broached... the diorama doesn't look like something made by a 5-yo child, even if she had significant help.
It is legitimate. Sadly Ebay has become a place where doubt is the first thing that comes to mind. Anyway, send your contributions to Haiti anyway you can, but in this case please don't doubt the sincerity of the auction.
I have met Joe Rutter of Full Steam Ahead, and have purchased and built some of his models. I did not want to make this in any way overtly commercial, as that is not the point, but here is the link to the Full Steam Ahead web site where Joe explains his motivation. http://www.fullsteamahead.ca/
He is a stand up guy and to be commended for raising a young daughter that wanted to help as well.
So Joe, the Dad is the business owner, craftsman structure designer and darned good modeler. The pilot model that he is auctioning off currently has a lower high bid than his 5 year old daughters model! It is heart warming to see that there are folks out there that have entered into this with the spirit for which it was intended. Can you imagine just how proud a little 5 year old girl is feeling right now?
Hi,
Just to chime in here for a bit. Any donations Canadians make to a registered charity, such as "Me to We' and "Oxfam" (as stated in the description as to where the money was going), will be matched by the Canadian government, to a maximum of $50 million dollars.
This sounds like a great idea to help those that need it most!
Blaine
Blaine's
Commit random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.
It sounds fishy. One piece of advice to anyone here considering bidding for the diorama. Remember you are not making a charitable donation; you are buying the diorama. The Dad whose daughter made the diorama is the one making the charitable conation and will claim the charitable deduction, not you.
Silver PilotIt sounds fishy
Oh come on people!! Someone is trying to do a good deed here. There is nothing fishy about it. It is what it says it is. If all you care about is where your charitable donation tax deduction is coming from, then I just don't know what to think? God forbid you might actually buy some cookies from a class bake sale raising money for a good cause, you just might not get that deduction as well! I am really sorry I posted this here, I thought it was a really nice gesture by someone that I know and felt is was well worth sharing, a fellow model railroader and all. Does anyone serisously beleive that a scam artist would try and rip off cash with a kids HO scale diorama?
Oh yeah I forgot, I have been posting on here for years, racking up over 4000 posts just so I could help foist a scam on the good folks on the list for a couple of hundred bucks. I have been planning it all along...... Really! That should satisfy any conspiracy theorists out there.
Simon, it is always the case that naysayers will pop up. I don't know that anyone's motivation is suspect on either side of this little....uh....aside. Both have something to say, both have value.
With your history here, it would be extremely hard for me to make the case that you have something underhanded in mind, or that you are asking people to deal with someone who is not above board for whom you are not personally willing to vouch.
I sincerely hope you and this little girl can make this work, and I wish you great success.
-Crandell
Ah but Crandell, you are in on the conspiracy, remember the fake trip to Victoria The photos that got posted of the trestle, I tell you, it has been a long time in the planning!
By-the-way, I take no credit at all for the charitable effort, my only contribution has been to bid on the model, long since out-bid I might add, and to try and bring some deserved attention to their efforts. You never know, there might be some good hearted wealthy individual quite willing to drop significant $ for something like that.
simon1966Does anyone serisously beleive that a scam artist would try and rip off cash with a kids HO scale diorama?
Simon,
There are people out there trying to scam people any way they can figure out how. A quick look at google pulls up lots of examples.
Haiti Scams on Google
No offense meant to you-- nobody knows without additional info.
John
Now, let us look at it this way.
The reason we know of the scammer is that they still are not the majority of people raising $$$ for this, or anything else for that matter. If the scammer was the majority then it would be seen as 'normal'
Let's not forget this little fact---not everyone is out there doing the scamming thing. So we don't need to end up with doubt and suspicion. Hence making for more work for others who are not being dishonest----let us not allow the criminal element to dictate yet again another aspect of our lives. Making us fearful of donating money or anything else in times like these---
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
So, would the seller have a problem if the winning bidder makes the check out directly to the charity listed and not to him personally?
Silver Pilot So, would the seller have a problem if the winning bidder makes the check out directly to the charity listed and not to him personally?
I could say he should have no problem with it.
We could even argue then why bother with bidding if you wanted to go directly? Write the check out to the charity and don't even bother with the whole bidding thing.
Another thing---why would you, or anyone else, be doing this? Are you doing this for the tax deduction? Or for altruistic purposes? The issue cuts both ways
Sure the issue cuts both ways. Nobody would pay $152 for the diorama shown without having other motives "Why bother bidding if you wanted to go directly?" That way you make certain the funds, all of the funds, are used for the intended purpose
And, despite what Simon says, anytime I see things phrased the way they are in listing makes me wonder. Phrases such as the government will "match our donation" and "we are currently deciding on" which charity makes one wonder.
Also, isn't against forum rules to advertise eBay listing on the forum? Regardless of the good intentions, and the fact that Simon is not the eBay seller, rules are the rules.
Silver PilotSure the issue cuts both ways. Nobody would pay $152 for the diorama shown without having other motives "Why bother bidding if you wanted to go directly?" That way you make certain the funds, all of the funds, are used for the intended purpose And, despite what Simon says, anytime I see things phrased the way they are in listing makes me wonder. Phrases such as the government will "match our donation" and "we are currently deciding on" which charity makes one wonder. Also, isn't against forum rules to advertise eBay listing on the forum? Regardless of the good intentions, and the fact that Simon is not the eBay seller, rules are the rules.
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
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Silver Pilot Also, isn't against forum rules to advertise eBay listing on the forum? Regardless of the good intentions, and the fact that Simon is not the eBay seller, rules are the rules.
Yes, and maybe you should read and understand them:
- No advertising. Our forums should not be used as an advertising medium for companies who want to promote their business or products, or by individuals who want to promote their items for sale or their eBay auctions.
Since Simon is not promoting his own, it is not against the rules.
Ricky
Silver PilotAnd, despite what Simon says, anytime I see things phrased the way they are in listing makes me wonder. Phrases such as the government will "match our donation" and "we are currently deciding on" which charity makes one wonder.
The point you raise here is interesting in that while it is true that the government has done presicely just this I'm also wondering about how this reflects on us as a society. This makes me wonder, if there was no tax benefit, whether donations would drop like a rock. IF that is what the assumption is, then---?
We see people doubting all kinds of motives except those of the criminal element. This creates an environment that no longer appears to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone. An atmosphere of doubt and suspicion then overhangs everything. The "Tinfoil Hat" becomes normal. Sheeesh---and I get accused of being a conspiracy theorist----
Remember the idea----"Innocent until PROVEN guilty?"
RedGrey62 Silver Pilot Also, isn't against forum rules to advertise eBay listing on the forum? Regardless of the good intentions, and the fact that Simon is not the eBay seller, rules are the rules. Yes, and maybe you should read and understand them: - No advertising. Our forums should not be used as an advertising medium for companies who want to promote their business or products, or by individuals who want to promote their items for sale or their eBay auctions. Since Simon is not promoting his own, it is not against the rules. Ricky
So, if the model railroad club I belong to decides to auction off custom made railcars as a fundraiser on eBay I should be able to promote those auctions on this forum? I'm not the seller, the MRR club is the seller. That would be OK? What if I'm selling something with the proceeds to go to a charity? Would that be OK? I'm not benefiting from the proceeds of the sale. Where do you draw the line except to say "none"?
Silver Pilot RedGrey62 Silver Pilot Also, isn't against forum rules to advertise eBay listing on the forum? Regardless of the good intentions, and the fact that Simon is not the eBay seller, rules are the rules. Yes, and maybe you should read and understand them: - No advertising. Our forums should not be used as an advertising medium for companies who want to promote their business or products, or by individuals who want to promote their items for sale or their eBay auctions. Since Simon is not promoting his own, it is not against the rules. Ricky So, if the model railroad club I belong to decides to auction off custom made railcars as a fundraiser on eBay I should be able to promote those auctions on this forum? I'm not the seller, the MRR club is the seller. That would be OK? What if I'm selling something with the proceeds to go to a charity? Would that be OK? I'm not benefiting from the proceeds of the sale. Where do you draw the line except to say "none"?
Then I suggest you contact the forum moderator to have them change the rules. As written, Simon has not violated the rules, and as you said rules are the rules. You've chosen to interpret them in your own way and offered an argument to try to prove your point. However, I believe the moderators are smart enough and not write the rules for every "what if" scenario out there. If a forum member discovers that a person is posting something to benefit their own organization, then yes, it would be a violation.
Some times it's good to be trusted to know the spirit and intent of a rule.
Then it's decided. All those who think this eBay listing is a sham, get out your chequebooks and write out a cheque to your favourite registered charity that is helping in Haiti.
Those who think that the listing is true, place a big bid on the diorama. And since only one person can win it, those who bid and lost, write out a cheque for the amount you bid to your favouite registered charity helping in Haiti.
The BIG picture is to help those poor unlucky survivours in Haiti.Nothing else matters!
I don't see what the big issue here is, didn't your mother ever tell you if it seems to good to be true then it probably is? If you have ANY doubts to the sellers sincerity then don't bid on it. If you are confident that a five year old built that diorama and feel equally confident that the money you send will end up helping some poor soul then bid away.
SP has a legit point in that if you want the tax deduction which here in the US if you donate now it can be deducted off your 09 income tax then donate to a legitimate registered charity.
Trust what your gut is telling you because it's usually right.
RedGrey62Silver Pilot RedGrey62 Silver Pilot Also, isn't against forum rules to advertise eBay listing on the forum? Regardless of the good intentions, and the fact that Simon is not the eBay seller, rules are the rules. Yes, and maybe you should read and understand them: - No advertising. Our forums should not be used as an advertising medium for companies who want to promote their business or products, or by individuals who want to promote their items for sale or their eBay auctions. Since Simon is not promoting his own, it is not against the rules. Ricky So, if the model railroad club I belong to decides to auction off custom made railcars as a fundraiser on eBay I should be able to promote those auctions on this forum? I'm not the seller, the MRR club is the seller. That would be OK? What if I'm selling something with the proceeds to go to a charity? Would that be OK? I'm not benefiting from the proceeds of the sale. Where do you draw the line except to say "none"? Then I suggest you contact the forum moderator to have them change the rules. As written, Simon has not violated the rules, and as you said rules are the rules. You've chosen to interpret them in your own way and offered an argument to try to prove your point. However, I believe the moderators are smart enough and not write the rules for every "what if" scenario out there. If a forum member discovers that a person is posting something to benefit their own organization, then yes, it would be a violation. Some times it's good to be trusted to know the spirit and intent of a rule. Ricky
To the OP...
As you can plainly see, no good deed goes unpunished.
And that, to me is most telling of all.
Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. It is funny how different forums take on a different tones with things like this. On another forum, there has been nothing but wonderful encouraging comments to Georgia. Joe has been reading her the comments and she has been feeling very good about what her model is going to bring and who it is going to help. Needless to say, Dad has not been reading her the comments from this forum.
So, she got some help with the model, big deal, did you ever help your child build something and let them bask in the success? As I see it, a young child stands to take away a very powerful lesson from this, an important one being that there are good people out there who are willing to support a worthy endeavor.
For those that are utterly hung up on needing the tax deduction, do as others have suggested and send your donations to the Haiti relief charity of your choice. I don't doubt for one minute that who ever ends up paying over the odds for this will have made plenty of other donations to this worthy cause?
Is this thread against forum rules? I don't know, didn't seem wrong to me, and frankly I would have never even mentioned Joe's company or web site had not so many immediately commented that this was likely a scam. Model railroaders have always been, in my experience, generous and giving folks. The real salt of the earth, if you like. Frankly I am a bit stunned that this topic generated so much ill will and negativity. A rather sad statement I feel.