Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers

Subject: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: eddie1
Date: 28 May 11 - 04:54 AM

Apart from those who try to sell something that was expensive firewood back in the 50s/60s and describe it as "vintage" or collectable", I've been following with interest the progress, or lack thereof,of an early 60s Gibson J50 on eBay.
I had an earlier model which I sold to a friend some 10 years ago and I was looking forward to telling him how much this one went for.

The seller was asking £2400, had a long story as to why he did not want anyone to view the guitar and had a no return policy.
Did he really expect someone to shell out nearly two and a half thousand pounds for a guitar he couldn't inspect and couldn't return if it was not up to expectations?

The guitar received no bids!

Eddie

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 May 11 - 05:12 AM

Sheer stupidity, as you say. I would never, ever buy an instrument through eBay that I couldn't play in advance and try out. And there would certainly have to be a returns policy if a fault was found after the purchase.

The word "vintage" must be one of the most overused and misleading terms on eBay. For many things "vintage" just means "tatty old crap of no value, but it's old"!

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 May 11 - 05:49 AM

If that is a UK seller, selling in the course of a business, then he can shout "no returns" all he likes but the Unfair Contract Terms Act is likely to save the buyer prepared to sue.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: eddie1
Date: 28 May 11 - 05:57 AM

Hi Richard
You are quite correct, of course.

My point is only that he was doing nothing to improve his chances of finding bidders - as was proven

Eddie

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 28 May 11 - 07:26 AM

I would never, ever buy an instrument through eBay that I couldn't play in advance and try out.

Wise words, Will - however, I'm going to confess to buying 2 horns from India (Bb Echo Cornett and Pocket Trumpets, which were cheap but perfect, if a tad sharpn of concert (Indian / Military pitch); 1 Black Sea Fiddle from Turkey (my every joy, bar one); 1 5-string violin from China (the most expensive at all at around £100 but I was drunk when it took my fancy & I'd just received an unexpected royalty cheque; I call it my Accursed Viol after H.P.Lovecraft). Reckless? I reckon so. Lucky? Most assuredly!

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Silas
Date: 28 May 11 - 07:49 AM

Itis risky, but I have bought two guitars off ebay without trying them, a Sigma dr28h and a Martin DX1R. Both were better than described and I have been delighted with them - just lucky I suppose.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Will Fly
Date: 28 May 11 - 08:07 AM

Well done to those who bought "blind" successfully. I've had one experience - bought a bouzouki which arrived with a curved neck and went out of tune after the 3rd fret! Total disaster - and it went straight back into the packaging. And this was a new instrument...

So, once bitten, twice shy!

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: alex s
Date: 28 May 11 - 08:11 AM

I've taken a couple of chances which turned out to be good buys - a Harmony Sovereign and a mandola.
I bid what I was prepared to lose if the instrument was rubbish but fortunately got lucky.
I'd draw the line well before £2500 though.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 28 May 11 - 09:47 AM

I was fortunate enough to put the highest bid on an antique whistle.... and got it for far less than I was prepared to pay.......

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 May 11 - 10:01 AM

I find I do okay on genuinely old stuff. If an instrument's got signs of heavy wear, it must have been worth playing. Just assume you'll need to pay the standard rate for a refurb.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 28 May 11 - 12:06 PM

I've just won a concertina. I hope I haven't made a grave error. Though £133 isn't too much of an error, especially as I'm just trying to learn.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 28 May 11 - 12:49 PM

I've bought many used guitars off ebay in the £50 -> £250 price range,
and only once been badly let down by a blatantly dishonest seller.

Nearly all of these guitars matched my realistic expectations as an averagely 'well informed' buyer.

A few were not quite 'as described' with undisclosed minor faults;
some arrived in much better condition than I deserved for their bargain auction price..

My main gripe is sellers who advertise their auctions as 'collection only'.
It's so frustrating to see an item i really want but am effectively excluded
from bidding on
if so many seller's apparently can't be bothered to sort out packaging and a postal delivery price.

Don't they understand they would probably sell at significantly higher prices
if they didn't restrict their sales
to only local buyers or a few pro dealers with vans
who are profit motivated enough to drive anywhere for personal pickup ???

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Taconicus
Date: 28 May 11 - 01:15 PM

My point is only that he was doing nothing to improve his chances of finding bidders

And I'm sure he knew it, and there was probably a very good reason for his not wanting to show a picture, not offering a look-see, and having a "no returns" policy: he was selling something that was a piece of crap worth (if anything) less than a 10th of what he was selling it for. He knew he had a small chance of selling it, but he knew it would be a big bonanza for him if he could find a sucker who would take a chance and buy it.

There are a lot of good deals available on eBay, but there are also a bunch of ripoff artists like that. And they are there because they are are dummies out there who will fall for it. As the man said, there's one born every second.

That said, I've found over nearly 15 years of using eBay that the vast majority of sellers there are honest. You just have to use the feedback system correctly, and use your common sense. Anyone with a sizable number of sales and less than a 97% positive feedback rating has problems, and I wouldn't buy anything from someone with less than a 95% positive rating. And I've learned from sad experience never to buy a musical instrument mail-order from China.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: GUEST,Lindy
Date: 28 May 11 - 07:58 PM

Actually there was something on the TV news the other night about buying anything (especially high priced items) on Ebay or Craigs List.
It said you should only buy from very reputable sellers who have at least a 99% rating and to avoid buying from anyone who would not be willing to send photos.

Even if there are photos of item do not hesitate to ask the seller to send you other photos that you might like to see.
If someone is unwilling to send several photos to you, you should avoid them completely.

There are some dishonest sellers on Ebay,like anywhere else but probably the vast majority are honest. About 3 years ago I sent a seller money for a pair of boots. She was in New York. I am in the States as well. Well, seller never sent the boots, didn't reply to my emails and never sent my money back.

Of course I informed EBAY about this and they sent her a letter which she ignored. I don't know what happened with it. I got tired of trying to fight it out with EBAY. I think the boots were about $30.00 (2nd hand) but hardly worn. Even though it wasn't an expensive item like a guitar, etc. it still upset me to not even get the boots or my money back. I even had her phone number which she never answered the phone. It would just ring and ring no matter what time you called. I only called up until 8 pm but never an answer.

So you do have to be careful, especially with an item like a guitar.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: Tootler
Date: 29 May 11 - 04:54 AM

I bought a perfectly playable 30 button anglo concertina on ebay for less than I was prepared to pay for it.

It was a cheap Hohner, probably Chinese manufactured, but it did its job of getting me started though it began to develop faults fairly quickly so I upgraded to a decent quality instrument. The faults were inherent in the original manufacturing quality and in no way were a reflection on the seller whose original description was accurate and who was straight in his dealings with me.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 29 May 11 - 05:30 AM

Hungarian Citeras occaisially crop up & a near impossible to come by otherise - invariable hand made; no two ever alike. My first one I bought very cheap as project from Pamela's Music and it turned out to the most amnazing thing: handmade folk art treen carbon dated to c.1860. The second one I bought off ebay - solid mahagony, modern made in 1983 - £50 - again a truly amazing instrument, if rather heavy - but the sound, man - the sound....

Then - oh dear; two more from a German seller which looked great in the photographs but turned out to be utterly unworkable even as projects. Three years on they live in the shed awaiting disposal rather than re-sale because I haven't the conscience that would allow me to sell them on as anything other than firewood.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: terrier
Date: 29 May 11 - 06:43 AM

I think this seller has been grassed up.

Subject: RE: Unrealistic Expectations of eBay Sellers
From: EBarnacle
Date: 29 May 11 - 09:35 AM

Clearly a fan of Walt Whitman.

I have had my share of bad sellers but as I am the buyer from Hell, have never been stung. On two occasions, I have gotten the sellers banned brom eBay.