Yesterday I was planning to draw up a page on the use of eBay to go onto the 'Trading on the Internet' section of Lifes3rd phase, then when I watched the 6:00pm news on the box, up came two items on eBay.

1. eBay had been fined some extra-ordinary sum for allowing fake Diors to be sold on the site
2. That they were also auctioning discounted credit notes from major stores.

Well, of course, no market that wants to remain reputable can allow illegal trading on its patch - and ignorance is no defence - but what does that tell us, the punters.

Well, the Dior case needs further examination because I haven't seen the auctions, i don't know what the offer was and what they were charging, so i don't know whether the buyer could reasonable expect to be in a legitimate deal.

But then there is the credit note business. Who could reasonably expect credit notes to be sold at a discount? That's the same as selling $100notes for $80. That's as clearly as makes no difference 'money laundering' and none of us condones that - or do we?

Though it's clear that eBay ought to be much more aware of whet's going on on its site - after all it is a market, and all markets attract crime - but what about us buyers?