Stolen medals on Ebay???

[Korileigh]

Ok so I probably need to let this go but I think someone on Ebay is selling stolen medals - they have sold 4 or 5 so far and have another several listed. The description is "I am selling my medal from the Disney Princess Half Marathon. These are given only to those that finish the Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World." I messaged the seller asking how they had 4 medals when they first went up and the answer was that they ran it with friends and none of them use ebay so he/she was selling them all for them. Really???? 9 people ran that together and don't want their medal??? I just don't buy it. Then i looked at the past things this person has sold and they also had the WDW half medals and last year's princess medals. Ugh - I really think they are a volunteer or something pocketing medals at each race to sell. I thought about flagging the auctions to ebay but they probably won't care and will believe the fake story. So I just wanted to vent here! Ugh. On one hand I am glad someone can get a medal if they lost theirs or it was damaged or something but I am really irked someone is making money off possibly stolen medals. If there is another way this person could have that many unwanted medals I would love to know!

 

[cewait]

I thought you were being a little petty when I first read the subject line.




Then I thought a little more about the issue and realize that you have every right to be miffed. I have tens of Disney running medals and frankly would not even think of selling them on e-bay. Why would anyone really do that. I have given a few not so special medals to a charity (name escapes me) that recycles them for hand outs at kids events. But what is the likelihood that 4-9 people running a HIGH dollar event would all channel their medals through one person.

My apologies for my first impression


Really? everyone wanted to sell their medal?

 

[groovygirls]

I have given a few not so special medals to a charity (name escapes me)

Medals for Mettle- most people have a local chapter- google!
I donate all my medals. Kids especially love the Disney ones!
Sorry to hijack...back to topic

 

[bunnyfoo]

I'm guessing that some people sell their medals to offset the cost of the race. I know a lot of runners who just shove their's into a drawer somewhere. So they might be thinking of selling to recover the cost for part of the race. Also runners who order those shadow boxes get an extra medal and bib so they might not want two.

Nine medals is a bit suspect though ... I personally wouldn't sell mine but that's because I think the Disney medals are really unique.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

After discussing this on another board, I think that those medals are from people who do the Fond Memories and other shadow boxes for their medals. They give you duplicate medals in the box, since you don't have to send the one you got at the finish in so what would you really do with two exact medals?

I don't have an eBay account, and if I chose to sell (which I wouldn't - I will donate my extra medals but just saying) I would prefer one of my friends who is an eBay expert sell them for me. I really don't think that there are any stolen medals on eBay...they just got the shadowboxes or plaques.

I thought the same thing initially but am glad that I got some clarification on that concern.

 

[cewait]

After discussing this on another board, I think that those medals are from people who do the Fond Memories and other shadow boxes for their medals. They give you duplicate medals in the box, since you don't have to send the one you got at the finish in so what would you really do with two exact medals?

I don't have an eBay account, and if I chose to sell (which I wouldn't - I will donate my extra medals but just saying) I would prefer one of my friends who is an eBay expert sell them for me. I really don't think that there are any stolen medals on eBay...they just got the shadowboxes or plaques.

I thought the same thing initially but am glad that I got some clarification on that concern.

I have a couple Fond Memories boxes, yet do not let go of my medal until the box is in my hands.

imho that just doesn't fly.


I am hopeful that the seller's response is true and that folks in Jupiter FL have enough Disney swag that they only run the race for the experience. Jupiter is a little far for a volunteer to just pop in but...

Guess I have been burned way too many times to think this seller is on the up and up. Maybe someone should ask who the other runners were.

The official Skeptic

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I have a couple Fond Memories boxes, yet do not let go of my medal until the box is in my hands.

imho that just doesn't fly.


I am hopeful that the seller's response is true and that folks in Jupiter FL have enough Disney swag that they only run the race for the experience. Jupiter is a little far for a volunteer to just pop in but...

Guess I have been burned way too many times to think this seller is on the up and up. Maybe someone should ask who the other runners were.

The official Skeptic

Quite possible, Coach. But, it would be very difficult to steal medals in that quantity. I am more curious about those who choose to buy medals off of eBay...Sure, Disney medals are neat but anyone can participate in those races. I guess the only thing that Disney or any other race could do to ensure that only legitimate medals were around is to make you get them engraved at the finish. They wouldn't be as valuable to buyers but at least you would know that someone did actually finish the race and could verify it against official results.

 

[VernRDH]

I suppose that a volunteer could pocket a few medals towards the end, since I would guess Disney orders a few extras in case of an issue and not everyone who signs up goes (injured, sick, can't get there etc).

But I guess my bigger question is WHY would you want to buy one? If you aren't a runner, what would be your interest, unless you REALLY collect Disneyana. And if you were a runner, wouldn't you have the sense to say, I didn't run this race I don't need a medal from it?

The shadowbox thing, well I think I would still keep both medals myself, but hey thats me.

I prefer to earn all my medals-gives me great stories to tell everyone I know.

 

[Stitchnut]

For what it's worth, I ran the race for the first time and getting that medal was very special. I can't imagine why you would want to sell if you ran and finished. It was my first marathon and I will enjoy the medal with friends and family for years to come. As I crossed the finish line, you could see the racks lined up with medals and thousands of them sparkling in the sun. No one was really watching the racks as you passed by, however there were race volunteers standing near by them. To me it's sad to think someone stole something that others worked so hard to earn.

 

[cewait]

I do see the e-bay market. Kind of like pin trading. They are a very limited quantity item that Disneyana collectors would be drawn towards.

On the darker side, there are those did not run an event but want others to think they ran. Once a lie is started about a race it starts to live its own life and at some point in time one needs the medal to 'prove' that they were there. It's beyond me how or why but I have seen it.

I do believe that one could easily slip a few medals in a pocket at the line. I was searching through photos that my brother too pre-race in January. Medals were being hung with care in the dark well before the start. It's not hard to see how a few could slip into a packet on a cool day. I guess that it did not turn out.

I really hope that I am looking at this incorrectly.......

........ but still a skeptic.

 

[FFigawi]

But I guess my bigger question is WHY would you want to buy one? If you aren't a runner, what would be your interest, unless you REALLY collect Disneyana. And if you were a runner, wouldn't you have the sense to say, I didn't run this race I don't need a medal from it?

I know several people who have bought medals from eBay so they can make their own shadowboxes. Makes perfect sense to me. And considering that many of my medals are just hanging in a bunch in my closet, I can certainly understand wanting to sell them if I don't donate them to Medals for Mettle.

 

[cewait]

I do see the e-bay market. Kind of like pin trading. They are a very limited quantity item that Disneyana collectors would be drawn towards.

On the darker side, there are those did not run an event but want others to think they ran. Once a lie is started about a race it starts to live its own life and at some point in time one needs the medal to 'prove' that they were there. It's beyond me how or why but I have seen it.

I do believe that one could easily slip a few medals in a pocket at the line. I was searching through photos that my brother too pre-race in January. Medals were being hung with care in the dark well before the start. It's not hard to see how a few could slip into a packet on a cool day. I guess that it did not turn out.

I really hope that I am looking at this incorrectly.......

........ but still a skeptic.

One more then I am off the case.

Amazingly this seller has the same 9 friends who ran both the half and the full in January, yet not one of the felt the urge to sell their Goofy medals that they would have received.

They also 'donated' medals from last year's races.

I challenged the seller in an email about the coincidence of have such 'charitable' friends. The sales were pulled last night.

I apologize to anyone on the board who might have been looking for an extra medal.

I have asked the mouse to look into this. I preserved yesterday's listings as well as all the closed listings. HOPEFULLY, this 'voluntear' will not be in the medal section again.

 

[Saylan]

Way to go, Coach! I was following this along and as upset as I was at the idea this was possible, I was thinking more: "Shouldn't this be brought to Disney's attention so it can be stopped or monitored better?" but you totally handled both sides of it.

I hope it works and in the future this particular seller doesn't have access. I feel for those who wanted one for legit reasons (the homemade shadowboxes, etc.) but I'm sure anyone who did would feel bed buying from someone who got the medal through devious means. It's just so anti-Disney!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Thanks Coach! I am glad that you checked that out. I wonder if Disney contacted them too?

I did notice that although some medals are sold on eBay, there really aren't many at all. So, I guess the majority of runners are like most of us and just keep them or actually donate them to charity.

 

[cewait]

Thanks Coach! I am glad that you checked that out. I wonder if Disney contacted them too?

I did notice that although some medals are sold on eBay, there really aren't many at all. So, I guess the majority of runners are like most of us and just keep them or actually donate them to charity.

Not yet... All this occurred after hours last night. I spoke with a scripted robot this morning and am awaiting a call back. All I want is the voluntear BANNED from voluntearing. To think that this ____ person may have hung my medal around my neck infuriates me.

Calmer now.... Please insert 'alleged' in front of the thief thoughts..

 

[Korileigh]

Yay!!!! Sweet justice - thanks coach! I too had noticed last night they had sold other medals and that only heightened my suspicions! So I was trying to figure out what to do next - had already confronted the seller via ebay and didn't get anywhere and my dh kept telling me to let it go. If it had been people who ordered a shadowbox and had extra medals then that would have been the answer I would have expected to get when I asked - so I really think it was something shady. Now I can just move on!!!

 

[Saylan]

Is there any way for Disney to figure out who the individual is? I mean if they have the listings that Coach copied down last night, they'll have his username but would eBay be required (or likely to assist with) to release the individual's identity?

Coach, I think you and all of us have a right to be angry at this individual. Disney works hard to put these races together. We all work hard to not only participate but PAY for those medals. And the other voluntears dedicate hours to make it a great experience. For one person to abuse the trust, hard work, and dedication of all of the above people (and lie to others on top of it to cover their misdeeds) is just beyond belief.

Is it possible they're being honest? Maybe. But, if that's the case, why pull the postings? Fishier and fishier. All the more reason I'm glad Coach did what he did and that Koreleigh didn't let it go. These things shouldn't be ignored and hopefully Disney agrees.

 

[Danhockey04]

When I found out medals were on ebay, I did a search and noticed four listing all of the same seller and with the same exact description for all four. Obviously he didn't run the race four times, I thought maybe his friends had them, but saw he sold quite a few from previous races and had an amount that he shouldn't have, then I got suspicious, then saw this thread and now what happened. Disney is very good at getting people when they do this, especially with the CMs. CMs used to sell the re-enter passes on ebay and Disney would have people buy them, find out their info and if/where they worked, and took appropriate actions since it is not for sale. They can do research, find out who this person was, see how if they were a runner or volunteer, and take appropriate actions, though I'm not sure how they can find out, it may have been better if Disney was notified before listing were removed so they could have obtained one, got the seller's name. But I'm sure if they really wanted to, they could get all the info they need without that and hope some sort of investigation is taken. If they are found to be stolen, I hope the person is prosecuted for stealing and making a profit, possibly trespassed from Disney.

I know they take selling on the secondary market very seriously, any CM caught selling something they obtained that shouldn't be sold will lose their job. I know you cannot sell pins or any Disney collectibles on property and if you do, you will get arrested if caught, it must be done off property. Pins can be sold on ebay, as the market and demand sets the value, as long as the pins were obtained properly.

I hope they do something here as something is very fishy. I hope proper action is taken if found to be stolen and no records of the person running the race, though it may be hard as the "I have friends that gave them to me that didn't want them" may be used, but if they find him to be a volunteer, that should be enough to deny him from volunteering again.

 

[cewait]

Through Disney Security they should have access to e-bay records. It would not take much of a detective to put all the data together.

Sounds like a case for Eddie Valiant

 

[FFigawi]

Good work Charles!