I took a look at the ad, and I personally don't see a problem with it. In fact, I think its rather clever.
The seller was very open and honest about what he was selling, and in fact twice he mentioned it's a box, and then at the bottom he's got the shipping weight as 1 pound. (Know any stereos so light?) Then we've got the case of the photo itself. It's a very clear photograph of a box. No where does he show a stereo.
And finally, we've got the text from eBay itself:
As an eBay buyer, we recommend that you take the following steps to ensure that your experience is successful:
* Use common sense.
* Ask your seller questions before placing a bid by using the Ask Seller a Question link on the listing page.
* Check refund and return policies.
* Review your seller's feedback.
* Confirm authenticity of the item.
* Know the shipping charges before you buy.
* Insure your item.
* Verify your seller's contact information before sending payment.
* Make sure your method of payment offers protection.
* Avoid transactions where the seller only accepts cash or instant cash wire transfer.
* Avoid unsolicited offers.
* Use caution when considering escrow. To avoid being deceived by fraudulent escrow services, use
www.escrow.com, eBay's approved escrow service. Escrow is available for any purchase, but typically is used for purchases of $500 or more.
* Use extra caution with:
o International transactions
o High dollar and popular items
* Keep a record of all purchases.
I think if the seller is stupid enough to just ASSUME there's a stereo inside this twice mentioned box, he's an absolute idiot, and to be honest I'm surprised he's survived this long.
