Sat May 24, 2003 2:47 pm by Ut
This happens on unmodded servers. So basically, it happens when you try to cheat.
I'm not entirely sure for the reasons behind this (others are), but I think it has to do with the server recognizing the ships as having a certain cargo hold size, while your client recognizes a larger size. The client sends out the tractor beams, but the server determines if you have enough cargo room to make the loot disappear. If it sees that you do not, you will not pick up the cargo, but your client will continue to try anyway, making you look electrified in space.
The reason you can buy/sell at the increased cargo limit is because all base/planet transactions are purely client side. The server simply doesn't care what you actually have in your cargo hold, or how much of it. It is only conserned with where things are in space, and what they are doing. It has a "If I can't see it, it doesn't exist" mentality, and since it can't see your cargo it doesn't know any better.