EDson Apologizes, Didn’t Know Any Better
Following is an apology issued by a person supposedly representing the EDson Financial Group, a group on EBay selling items and posting copious amounts of book reviews, earning them a top reviewer badge.
Via stolen book reviews.
Hello kmont,
I would like to sincerely apologize for plagarizing your reviews, not to mention the theft of many others. I apologize for any inconvenience that was caused to you, and to anyone else as well. I bluntly admit my faults and mistakes that were caused and would simply like to say sorry. For the record, EDson Financial Group (EDFG) was merely a temporary legitmate business operation, albeit somewhat unethical. Furthermore, as a Canadian student aged 20 residing in Montreal, Quebec, I didn’t know any better. Once again, I sincerely apologize.
Best Regards
EDson Financial Group
Corey
This latest in the plagiarism scandals of ‘08 was first brought to my attention through the gals over at Ramblings on Romance. Soon after, notices were left by a wonderful Amazon reviewer on multiple other member reviews, my review for Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh being one of them.
The EDson Financial Group had lifted and used, without crediting the owners, over three hundred reviews. Not long after Jennifer Ray began spreading the word (amongst many others), a few reviews began to come down from the EFG’s EBay profile. Appeals to EBay for help were frustrating to many, as their solutions, if any, were inconvenient in the extreme and some emails to customer service reps went unanswered, mine included.
What ensued was a not-so-nice notice on this blog to the general public that here, yet again, was another reviewer not having it. It’s interesting to note that ALL the EFG stolen reviews have now been removed from their account on EBay and they are no longer a registered member.
I honestly do not know what happened to bring all those reviews down or to sever their dealings on EBay, but I can say hell yeah, as it should be, folks.
To Cory – we all make mistakes and for you to own up to yours and correct the situation is admirable. I am somewhat nonplussed at your claim of not knowing any better, but since the matter has been rectified, I’ll let it end there.
November 2009
October 2009
September 22, 2009
December 1, 2009
December 29, 2009
August 2009
December 29, 2009
August 25, 2009
September 2009
November 3, 2009
August 4, 2009
October 13, 2009
September 1, 2009
December 1, 2009
January 5, 2010
February 23, 2010
October 28, 2008
February 2, 2010
February 2, 2010
February 2, 2010
February 23, 2010
March 2, 2010
March 23, 2010
May 3, 2010
Thanks for the update! I have to say I finally had to step back from this a while because EDson’s actions combined with eBay’s runaround and responses were frustrating me to no end. It took countless emails and faxes to eBay to get the three reviews EDson had plagiarized from me removed, and even though by that time eBay had removed close to a dozen, they still answered pleas to review the user’s activities in their entirety with nothing more than ‘each owner must fill out their own VeRo form with eBay to request removal of the plagiarized material.’
I am glad to see he is no longer a registered user and that all of the reviews have been taken down. It would be nice to know if eBay ever did do the right thing and step up to a full analysis of the incident.
Although Cory’s ‘apology’ is appreciated, it is a little weak. I haven’t personally received one, and the excuse that he is a twenty-year-old Canadian who didn’t know any better just doesn’t fly. When I was in my early teens I knew that claiming someone else’s work as my own was plagiarism and illegal. Heck, they teach that in English class.
I am sure there are numerous Canadians who know this is wrong as well.
And this is why I stepped away from it all. Just his cagey apology has me rambling on now.
KMont, I appreciate you posting this. It is nice to know the ending.
Nashjar, I agree with your response to his apology. I was restraining myself too. ;) I don’t know why this blog was the only one (that I know of) to receive an apology, unless it was my cussing.
I did wonder if the reviews are no longer up on EBay as a result of the company’s temporary status. Maybe they closed down and no longer needed that EBay account, the reviews too?
Who knows. I am glad it got resolved though.
WOW. Can’t believe they apologized. Good for you! :D
Yep, it was very surprising. Most of the time, people seem to just deny, deny, deny, but then how could this person in light of plain, obvious evidence?
“Furthermore, as a Canadian student aged 20 residing in Montreal, Quebec, I didn’t know any better”
You’ve GOT to be kidding. I’ve got two words for that sentence: Fuck that. Because hi? I’m a 20-year-old student and you don’t see ME plagiarizing a bunch of reviews?
Bunch of..
Hmph. That guy/girl is giving both students and Montrealers a bad name. We know just as well as anyone anywhere that it is wrong to plagiarize. Furthermore, if he/she wrote you such a well-formulated answer, language is no barrier for that Corey, so that can’t be an excuse. *shaking head* Seriously. Glad those stolen reviews were taken down.
I was wondering what being Canadian had to do with it. :D