People 'selling' shuttle debris

News.com.au ^ | 2/2/03 | Staff

[nunya bidness]

TEXAS authorities are investigating reports that people are trying to sell debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia, which disintegrated over eastern Texas earlier today.

"We have a zero tolerance policy for this sort of thing," said Mike Shelby, the US Attorney for the southern district of Texas, after hearing a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report that attempts had been made to sell debris on ebay, an internet auction website.

Shelby said that he and his colleague Matt Arwig, the US attorney for the eastern district of Texas, would cooperate with authorities in an investigation.

Those attempting to sell Columbia wreckage could face charges of theft of government property and interference in a federal investigation, he added.

Of the more than 600 pieces of Columbia memorabilia listed on ebay since the disaster, none advertised wreckage of the shuttle itself.

This report appears on news.com.au.

[WoofDog123]

I wish I could short these auctions...the highest prices are on the first day of disaster, and I imagine there are gonna be a ton of walk-away bidders who come to senses in the next few days.

Curiously, EBAY cancelled all wtc-related auctions later in the day of the attacks, but has not done so here.

[WoofDog123]

Also after 9/11 I noticed specific bidders coming in and runnning wtc-related auctions to the max and walking away, as a method of defacto-cancelling the auction.

As I said before, I bet the walk-away rate on auctions which are going at 100x+ what they would have friday is gonna be sky-high.

Once again, I wonder why ebay did cancel wtc-auctions shortly after those terrorist attacks, but has allowed the scalpers to put everything short of parts on auction THIS time.

[cubreporter]

I have dealt with a lot of people on Ebay and every last one of them were polite, helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

Do not blame Ebay because of a simple few who have no class much less a heart. This is despicable and I hope they catch every last one of them. This is the lowest form of behavior in a situation like this. I can only imagine the kind of person who would partake in this kind of activity.

Thank God for the majority of human beings who are not in this category.

[cubreporter]

Oh, I think they will. Don't you?

[cubreporter]

Yeah, one way ticket to "paradise."

[sonserae]

Here's one that closed at $13,000


This auction was posted on Jan 25th. The starting bid was $9.99. There were NO bids until this morning. Check out the bid history and the final price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3003546952&category=546

[cubreporter]

Nope, would not keep the tiny nut or bolt. They asked people to return these items as it will help in the investigation and that's exactly what I would do with it. why keep it? Souvenier? What kind of souvenier would that be? I couldn't keep something that came out of a tragedy, especially when we have been asked to contact the local authorites.

We should behave in an adult and professional manner and do what they ask us to do. It doesn't belong to us anyway so the right thing is to return whatever it is to the proper authorities. Gotta put those temptations aside as it IS the right thing to do.

[cubreporter]

Why should NASA have to pay rewards for debris? People are not supposed to BRING IT IN. They ask to cal the local authorities and let them handle it. Why can't people just do a good deed and help out? That would be a decent thing to do. Must there always be a "payoff" involved? Wouldn't it just feel good to help without benefit of a reward???

[Not now, Not ever!]

Read the description, full of weasel words.

[Paleo Conservative]

oldcapitolclub(127) is the winner.

Pay using PayPal.

The total is considerably higher than PayPal's annual limit for payments.

[Husker24]

It would be nice, and most people will do just that, but there are a certain percentage of people who will want to keep some of the debris as a souvineer, a small reward might change their mind. you cant assume everybody is going to be good, just look at the ebay thing earlier today.

[Cultural Jihad]

... people are trying to sell debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia ...

Will the LP issue a press release defending their right to buy or sell their own property as they see fit? Whatsoever falls out of your sky and into your pasture is by law yours, is it not?

[ffusco]

I agree, they will need every bit to determine what happened to Columbia and it would be disrespectful to our honored dead.

[cubreporter]

Oh I'm not assuming all people will be good. I just don't think NASA should pay anything to anyone in this sad time. People either have character or they don't. You've heard the saying: "Character is what you have when no one else is looking." THAT'S what I would hope people today would have. But even so...no payoff.

[cubreporter]

Exactly. Disrespectful is the key word. You would think people would feel this within themselves. But then again...

[nunya bidness]

With all due respect, probably not the most appropriate time to dust off old fueds based on principles that pale in comparison to our current loss. Death doesn't care whose side you're on.

I'll be praying for the families. I hope you will too.

Take care.

[Husker24]

Well it was just an idea, maybe they could use it in a month or so when all the obvious stuff is picked up, it might encourage people to wander out in the forests and boonies to look for things.

[WFTR]

I agree that they probably will pay people for the damage to their property. I just fear that the government will screw up the process because government is so good at doing that. I hope that the government will also find ways to collect the debris in a way that will minimize the disruption in the citizens' lives and routines. I don't believe that there is anything poisonous on the chunks that have reached the ground.

WFTR
Bill

[Cagey]

Do not blame Ebay because of a simple few who have no class much less a heart

That's precisely what I said in post #4. We agree.

[Jennifer in Florida]

Wouldn't this be covered under a homeowner's insurance policy?