False advertising: Difference between revisions
Expand upon false advertising in sales, specifically mentioning the StockX SCT example. We may want to create a page specifically going over systemic lack of moderation in online marketplaces. |
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<u>Poor self moderation</u> is the same as poor moderation except that the marketplace platform itself inadequately moderates its own content, resulting in potentially incorrect or inadequate presentation of a product's information. In this instance, all blame is placed on the marketplace itself for the oversight. | <u>Poor self moderation</u> is the same as poor moderation except that the marketplace platform itself inadequately moderates its own content, resulting in potentially incorrect or inadequate presentation of a product's information. In this instance, all blame is placed on the marketplace itself for the oversight. | ||
'''Retroactive sale falsification''' | ==== '''Retroactive sale falsification''' ==== | ||
<u>Retroactive sale falsification</u> occurs when a product listing suddenly contains misinformation due to changes in the product outside of the control of the seller. This can occur commonly with internet connected products, especially physical products dependent on remote servers, if a server goes offline it may cause features of the product to cease functioning. Retroactive sale falsification is special in that false advertising does occur but not due to the fault of the seller at least initially. It is arguable that blame can be put on the seller after significant time has passed and especially if there is evidence that they had become aware of changes | <u>Retroactive sale falsification</u> occurs when a product listing suddenly contains misinformation due to changes in the product outside of the control of the seller. This can occur commonly with internet connected products, especially physical products dependent on remote servers, if a server goes offline it may cause features of the product to cease functioning. Retroactive sale falsification is special in that false advertising does occur but not due to the fault of the seller at least initially. It is arguable that blame can be put on the seller after significant time has passed and especially if there is evidence that they had become aware of changes | ||
==== '''A case of all three''' ==== | |||
An interesting case of a potential sale falsification occurred with the [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) on a site known as "[[StockX]]"<ref name=":0">[https://archive.is/50fMR "Spotify Car Thing YX5H6679"] - archive.is - accessed 2025-01-25</ref>. StockX creates a page for each product it receives in stock and allows anyone to sell the product anonymously by selling it to StockX, StockX then resells the product after confirming its functioning. As of January 25th, 2025 this site currently uses this description for the SCT:{{Quote|The Spotify Car Thing was made available in February 2022. The release includes updated software allowing customers to see incoming calls on their mobile devices immediately. The ability to exercise control over various media-playing applications is one of the most notable features offered by the Spotify Car Thing. | An interesting case of a potential sale falsification occurred with the [[Spotify Car Thing]] (SCT) on a site known as "[[StockX]]"<ref name=":0">[https://archive.is/50fMR "Spotify Car Thing YX5H6679"] - archive.is - accessed 2025-01-25</ref>. StockX creates a page for each product it receives in stock and allows anyone to sell the product anonymously by selling it to StockX, StockX then resells the product after confirming its functioning. As of January 25th, 2025 this site currently uses this description for the SCT:{{Quote|The Spotify Car Thing was made available in February 2022. The release includes updated software allowing customers to see incoming calls on their mobile devices immediately. The ability to exercise control over various media-playing applications is one of the most notable features offered by the Spotify Car Thing. | ||
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#The first sale of an SCT on StockX after the discontinuation bricking incident truly occurred on was on [[:File:Spotify car thing stockx sales data backup2.png|2025-01-07 at 1:47am]]. At this point StockX has failed to protect the consumer. | #The first sale of an SCT on StockX after the discontinuation bricking incident truly occurred on was on [[:File:Spotify car thing stockx sales data backup2.png|2025-01-07 at 1:47am]]. At this point StockX has failed to protect the consumer. | ||
===== How this case demonstrates all three cases ===== | |||
#'''Poor moderation''' - StockX demonstrated poor moderation by allowing bricked SCTs to be sold, had StockX thoroughly inspected the user delivered product themselves as they claim<ref name=":0" /> they would have discovered that it no longer functions; this in of itself justifies updating the product description. | |||
# '''Poor moderation''' - StockX demonstrated poor moderation by allowing bricked SCTs to be sold, had StockX thoroughly inspected the user delivered product themselves as they claim<ref name=":0" /> they would have discovered that it no longer functions; this in of itself justifies updating the product description. | #'''Poor self-moderation -''' StockX demonstrated poor self-moderation when they did not update the page after the planned discontinuation bricking was announced. It is possible that they had never learned of this, there is no | ||
# '''Poor self-moderation -''' StockX demonstrated poor self-moderation when they did not update the page after the planned discontinuation bricking was announced. It is possible that they had never learned of this, there is no | #'''Retroactive sale falsification -''' Spotify's decision to discontinue the product resulted in StockX's product information suddenly becoming incorrect, not by the fault of StockX. | ||
# '''Retroactive sale falsification -''' Spotify's decision to discontinue the product resulted in StockX's product information suddenly becoming incorrect, not by the fault of StockX. | |||
The purpose of the StockX example is to demonstrate that false advertising does occur in marketplaces and that determining who is to blame can be difficult to establish. While it is undeniable that StockX did not update the page, it is difficult to determine how much of it was a moderation failure versus a genuine lack of knowledge caused by the sudden decision by Spotify. | The purpose of the StockX example is to demonstrate that false advertising does occur in marketplaces and that determining who is to blame can be difficult to establish. While it is undeniable that StockX did not update the page, it is difficult to determine how much of it was a moderation failure versus a genuine lack of knowledge caused by the sudden decision by Spotify. |