Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reads like a suspense thriller - not just a book about eBay, May 16, 2006
I bought this book because I'm a powerseller on eBay, and I thought it sounded like an interesting story. But let me tell you, it's far more than just a story about unethical selling on eBay. This book reads like a thriller, and is difficult to put down. It's a crazy story about a somewhat ordinary guy who is unhappy with his job and is desperate to try something different. A lot of us can relate to that. His problem is that the "something" he tries (eBay) tastes so unbelievably good that he gets hooked on it immediately, and then when he discovers that it is rotten inside, he can't stop eating it, even though he knows it's bad for him.
This leads to some rather dire consequences. You can't believe what this guy goes through, and you wonder how he survived. In the end, he not only survives, but thrives, and it's inspiring to watch him get there.
The writing is not dry or boring at all, and reads like a great novel. He weaves his own crazy story with interesting facts about eBay, the art world, and the criminal justice system. I should say this: This book is not just for eBay users. This is a story ANYone could enjoy and relate to. I challenge you to to try and tear yourself away from it once you start.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So many lessons in one book.... where to start?, October 26, 2006
I am a high end art collector at major auctions and have looked at ebay items up for sell. So many are obviously fakes that I have written to a couple of power sellers. They immediately threatened to sue me.
However, that is not why I am writing this review. This is a story of someone who knew nothing about art but was slowly engulfed in a new world where profit opportunity was high and old rules no longer applied. The individual involved acted like a major corporation in slowly bending the rules until they no longer believed the old rules or thought they could not possible be caught.
I think the story should be read by every corporate executive in America. It shows how easy it is to justify going 65 in a 55 zone and then occasionally speeding up to 85 when you think no one cares that you are going over the speed limit.
It is also an inspirational tale. I am very impressed with the author and how he changed his life around.
I would also recommend this book to anyone buying or selling on ebay. It is unbelievable how some of the items are marketed there. Ebay is not incented to police it to the degree they should. Buyer beware. At least for sure, I can tell you the art is not what you think it is!
This is a fast read .. get it.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating story about greed, art, and delusion, May 4, 2006
This is a very good read. I bought this at the same time I got Augusten Burroughs' new book and intended to read both at the same time (I have a short attention span and like to juggle at least two books at a time). But once I started this, I couldn't put it down. Without using Dan Brown-style deliberate cliffhangers, the author has a way of keeping you reading. It's all about good storytelling, and the guy's got a good story.
The book has a lot to say about the art world, a world I didn't really know anything about, and the author tilts up the corporate giant that is eBay and allows you to look at its dark underside, which is populated by a lot of pretty nasty characters (including, by the middle of the book, the author himself). He undertakes some pretty shady stuff and gets himself in a lot of trouble, all the while deluding himself into thinking he's not really doing anything wrong (like an alcoholic who can't admit he has a drinking problem).
By the end of the book, though, you end up begrudgingly liking him. I did, anyway. There's a lot of interesting stuff here. I would give this 4.5 stars, but I can't, so I will make the call and round down to 4. But like I said, it's a very good read.
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