Stolen Items Bringing in Big Money on eBay

(snippets)Stolen World War II era stamps, Winning bid was 99-cents; eBay gets 72-cents. When Swanson sold a saw for $80, eBay made $5.61. Climbing gear went for $69.99, ebay got $5.31. Cops say the ring of thieves contributed to eBay's bottom line.

Sgt. Scott Vanwagoner, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "What it comes down to is profit for eBay, and what it comes down to is profit for criminals on the street." ...


A company spokeswoman we talked to says eBay is just a venue to bring millions of buyers and sellers together. While eBay does have a policy against listing stolen items, the spokesperson says eBay does not police each transaction. ...

We wanted an on-camera interview, but eBay refused. We even flew to company headquarters in California. We waited, off property. The spokeswoman never came out. ...

That was 10-days ago and we're still waiting for a call. ...

Why would ebay not grant an interview? Why did ebay give law enforcement what appears to be a brush-off? Is that being open, honest or forthright to the interest of, not only users and law enforcement, but our entire society at large?

What did/does ebay do with all their ill-gotten gains?

Is that "just a venue" excuse wearing thin when we see more and more and more similar reports?

Notice the part about the stamp-related crime? (again...) Must be a whole lot of sleazery in the stamp world as well as on sleazebay?

( BTW, is a screenshot of the story/webpage is featured in a fact and humour crammed ebay parody on youtube?)