The Dangers of eBay Sniping

[JohnnyCNote]

eBay loser goes literally ballistic

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.: Gerald Newburger really doesn't like losing.

A year after getting outbid at an online auction for a collection of used band uniforms, the New Orleans native traveled to New York to confront his rival bidder with a gun.

Newburger, 44, was pretty sore over losing a 480-piece collection of second-hand matching band and dance uniforms, which he had hoped to resell for a profit. Despite his loss to Robert Malinovsky of New York, who placed the winning bid of $360, Newburger resumed bidding offline.

According to Poughkeepsie prosecutor Richard Fiorile, Newburger exchanged e-mails and phone calls with Malinovsky for several months trying to convince him to sell.

After long-distance negotiating proved unsuccessful Newburger decided to try a face-to-gun approach.

Newburger allegedly broke into Malinovsky's home and threatened his wife with a gun. Malinovsky himself was not home at the time. No one was injured during the confrontation and Malinovsky's wife called police after Newburger left sans uniforms.

Officers apprehended Newburger in a taxi 30 minutes after the incident on his way back to the train station. A handgun was found in his briefcase.

Newburger, who admits to being in the Malinvosky home, denies he ever waved a gun at anyone. He claims the gun fell out of his briefcase when he reached inside it for a piece of paper.

Newburger is charged with burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, and coercion. His trial is scheduled for May 10 and he faces a mandatory term of 5-25 years in prison if found guilty.

Maybe he picks his feet in Poughkeepsie....

[indolikaa]

Good Lord...


Well it's a good thing he didn't try that stunt in my house. She'd have pumped a magazine full of bullets into his sac [i]and reloaded!

[teegee420]

If every person I ever sniped came after me I'd probably be a dead man by now.

[freestyler]

What kinda idiot gives a psychotic stranger their address...

[888888]

What kinda idiot gives a psychotic stranger their address...

An eBay bidder or seller. It's kind of hard to send someone a check or an item they won if you don't have their address.

As for these guys, it should have theoritically been difficult for them even to be able to communicate. As I remember, the only way you can get someone's email is if you are in a seller-bidder relationship in an auction. This was rule was made to reduce email address harvesting and spam.

The funniest part of this whole story is what this guy was willing to go to jail and travel half way accross the country for.

480-piece collection of second-hand matching band and dance uniforms

[flaninacupboard]

that's bloody scary. i've had abusive messages from people before "how dare you outbid me, roargh!!!!" but that's just nuts!

Perhaps ebay should change their setup, auction runs for however long you say, unless there is bidding within 30 mins of the end time, in which case it runs on. just have it so every bid extends the auction 30 mins. sellers would make more and so would ebay. actually, maybe i should shut up, i always bid with seconds to spare!

[hech54]

The worst thing is....
THEY WERE BAND UNIFORMS !!!!!

My first thought was some little "very young Bill Gates" look-alike breaking into the house with an empty Daisy co2 powered BB pistol...with tape on his black framed glasses and a pocket protector for his short sleeved brown, tan and white striped shirt.

N-E-R-D !!!!!!!!

[shoozleboy]

If I had a gun shot at me for every time I've sniped an item on eBay - well, I'd been dead dozens of times over many years ago.... that guy has mental problems....

[Doramius]

Were they good band uniforms? For under $400, they better have been good to waive a gun at someone's wife at their own home. I don't snipe for anything over $100 unless it's brand new and really good. Think about how many high schoolers have sweat in those things. Some may have done more in those uniforms.

[spiderman2k1]

Its was wrong to go to that person house with a gun but why the hell did he give out his address??????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????

[indolikaa]

All of this over band uniforms. Amazing.

[budz]

If every person I ever sniped came after me I'd probably be a dead man by now.

Same here!

They have actual companies that can do the sniping for you for a slight fee. Why in the world would someone want to pay a company to snipe a auction is beyond me.