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.
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’.
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.
I too wondered about the legitimacy of this item. However I do know that the government matches such donations, but at the organization level. E.G. if Samaritan’s Purse, or the Red Cross etc. receives $1,000 for a project like Haiti relief, the government will put in $1,000.
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?
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!
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.
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. [:)]
Ah but Crandell, you are in on the conspiracy, remember the fake trip to Victoria [(-D] 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.
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—
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.
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.