No experience, but it set of my scam radar, too.

There was a thread on this over on the blue

This seems legit, but I don't like the idea of it.

DarkForest, thanks for the link to the blue. That's a good discussion over there. The following article linked to on the blue pretty much says all you need to know.

Is Swoopo Nothing More Than a Well-Designed Gimmick?

thanks DF and MB. I think I'll avoid it and counsel my friend to do the same.

Speaking of scams, I got an email today from some minister or other of Nigeria who was offering $400000 in compensation for all people who fell for 419 scams. You've got to admire the audacity.

I checked swoopo out.

While browsing the site, I came upon an auction seconds from ending, but because a bid will extend the time of the auction by 15 seconds, it didn't end until the price of the object became more than the retail price. Not only that, but making a bid costs a dollar. So, even if you've fought hard for something it may not even pay off, and you can't get a refund for those bids. The only way to 'win' is to find some item that no one else will want, and hope nobody else notices it during the bidding.

Like my momma always said, if it's too good to be true then it probably is.