eBay item - D/G MELODEON

Subject: Ebay item
From: GUEST,Ebay Buyer
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:53 AM

does this look dodgy to anyone. I'm interested in the item but those bids look a bit suss. Funny names and zero feedback.

Opinions?

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 06:09 AM

Not sure what you mean - there are 58 feedbacks, all positive. As for the funny names, well there's no accounting for people's taste in "handles"...

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: skipy
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 06:26 AM

Can't check it out from here, blocked by net gear, (at work) as for feedback we all start @ zero (I have over 1100 now!) Go into community and type his/her handle into "search" (near top left)you will find out a litte about him, go into feedback click on the long number on the right hand side and you will see what has been sold previously, if it is a lot of small items to local people (you can see if they are local to him by putting the buyer's handle into community search)then he has built feedback via mates, unlikely though as a person can only feedback once to an individual. Multiple feedbacks appear as a higher number under the % number.
Well do all this myself this eve.
Skipy

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: treewind
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 06:31 AM

I'm pretty sure the seller is someone who posts as "smurf" to the uk.music.folk newsgroup.

Not a recommendation or otherwise, but it does look like a real person. As for the bidders - who cares? Bid up to what you think it's worth.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 06:32 AM

Get a mudcatter to pick it up, COD - if you've got any doubts.Perhaps the guy realised he hadn't put a reserve on it so he put in some bids himself to make sure it didn't go for a fiver.

Maybe not, who knows...?

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: skipy
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 06:46 AM

Can't put bbids on himself, but can get mates to do that.
Dangerous game, life time ban & so it should be.
Skipy Ebay = folkdlg

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: Shiplap Structure3
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 06:49 AM

Why not take up the offer of trying it out

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 07:10 AM

All looks as transparent as I would want it to be.

I don't know how seller could present himself better except by selling a few thousand more articles.

You have full clear multiple photo's

Nothing vague about description and detail

They are prepared to answer any questions

you have the option of going and trying it first

plus, the clincher, 100% positive feedback record

If you like the price there is no reason why you shouldn't go for it.

Remember that most of the bidding takes place just before "last bid" time, so price might seem unrealistically low now but will probably be much closer to what you might expect when the final bid is won or lost

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: jacqui.c
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 07:30 AM

I think that the zero feedback refers to the higheat bidder as does the name Billy-bob-bob.

The seller is 2233Ralph - nothing really strange about that name and he has 58 sales with 100% positive feedback. He's got some very good comments in his feedback page!

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GUEST,planketta!
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 07:53 AM

Well one of the bids with a funny name and zero feedback was me! And I'm a genuine bidder :) but I'm a little poor so I'm stopping now!
xx

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: Brakn
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 07:54 AM

It seems ok to me.

Though when it says "no reserve" and then I see that all the bids have been done by a couple of people with no feeback it makes you wonder a bit.

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:01 AM

I don't know what you think might happen ...

If you think the bids are too high, don't bid that high.

If there is some sort of consortium, then they cant make you pay more than you're prepared to.

You decide what you think it's worth and make that your limit.

If you win, then you get what you want for a price you like.

What's the big deal?

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: skipy
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:03 AM

as stated before, check the locations of the zero bidders, if they are from the same town as the seller, beware.
Although they could be mates, brotheres etc. in other locations.
Wish I could get home to take a look at this, will later.
Probably 100% ok.
Skipy

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:06 AM

why beware?

I don't understand how that makes bidding or buying any riskier, or how it makes the item any less genuine.

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: jeffp
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:11 AM

An encouraging sign is that he takes paypal and credit cards. With those, you have at least a measure of fraud protection and recourse.

Like others have said, don't bid more than you are willing to pay. If it goes above that, for whatever reason, stop bidding.

You can also message or email the seller to see what kind of responses you get.

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:12 AM

And if you're not sure what constitutes a fair price, - you're on the net! Look it up!

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:18 AM

Sorry folks but I don't think all this paranoia is helpful.

Everything you need to know can be researched quickly and easily.

I'm not saying to buy it, I'm just saying that this is a simple process of buying and selling and if you want to buy you can and if you don't you don't have to.

I see no grounds for any kind of conspiracy and I think it is unfair to encourage those kinds of thoughts.

If I was looking for one and I thought that was a good price I'd buy the bloody thing!

I'm not though, so I don't want it!

And that's that!

So there!

Exclamation mark!

!!

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: skipy
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:34 AM

more than 99.99% of Ebay are honest people, your probability of hitting a problem is tiny. My comment about beware is because some people get mates to ramp the price for them. So if the 2 "zeros" and the seller all live in the same town it MAY be ramping.
As stated I have conducted more than 1800 sales (approx 2/3rds give feedback) and I have sold to countless people who where zeros, all have been fine.
Skipy

Subject: RE: Ebay item
From: GerryMc
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 09:58 AM

Said item is genuine (it's me cousin who is selling it). I'm sure he'll be on later to back that up.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 10:07 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: GUEST,BoxMan
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 02:05 PM

If you're that bothered, just go to a decent music store, check out the 2nd hand boxes, find one you like and haggle.

You'll get an instrument you've already handled and you'll be able to take it back and get it fixed if it goes wrong, or even your money back.

I wish I had a pound for every punter who's handed me some crock of sh**t and said "I gave a hundred quid for this on EBay - can you make it work?"

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: skipy
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 02:15 PM

I bough a D/G this week for my 14 year old it is superb!
Just by chance I am one of the people that is already watching this one!
Looks fine by me, high bidder is from west yorks & current loosing bidder is from Derbyshire, but the fact that they are both zero means nothing. It may yet end up here.
Skipy

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 02:28 PM

I have spent thousands on Ebay in the last couple of years including £1k on my lovely concertina. I have only had a couple of problems in that time with fairly low value items. I agree with Skipy 99.9% of traders are genuine and if you pay by Paypal you have their guarantee to look after you.
Andy

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 02:44 PM

I've had very similar results to Andy including a great concertina. My intention is to put my old one (Lachenal 48 key) up for auction soon so if anyone sees it it is a genuinly good sale :0)

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Greg B
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 03:34 PM

Well, it might not be dodgy but it sure is ugly.

Red mother-of-toiletseat.

Both the bellows and the keyboard look a wee bit small...

I'd sure want to play it or one like it before bothering.

Sounds like the buyer bought it and couldn't play it so
assurances about 'playability' are rather meaningless.
And inexpensive melodeons can be really awful. To me,
the a Hohner 'pokerwork' which has been carefully set
up and perhaps modified a bit are the minimum standard
for 'playable' instruments.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: smurf
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 03:43 PM

RIGHT YOU LOT ,,,,,, prepare to be ranted at !!!!!!!!!!!

All i want to do is sell my melodeon, and personaly i dont care how much feedback a buyer has ( pozitive OR negative ) cos its not going anywhere till i have the cleared payment in me sticky little mits !

If it seems too cheap to some there is a VERY good reason for that

<<< ITS A CHEAP BOX >>> !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only £200 NEW,, i bought it new from the music room in Dewsbury in may of this year and i no longer want it !

To the paranoid few out there i have this message ,,,,,
"DON'T BID ON IT!!!" ,, just pop off and wrap yourself in cotton wool and lock yourself in a glass case for the duration.

IF on the other hand you want a cheap and cheerful entry level D/G melodeon for hardly any money then get it bought.

As it says in the ebay thingy ,, you're more than welcome to come and try it if you want to.


............Smurf

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 03:52 PM

Good for you, Smurf, hope you get a good price for it.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:21 PM

Good rant Smurf,
Been waiting for something like that to happen. Good luck with the sale.
B

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Brakn
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 05:31 PM

go smurff

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Tootler
Date: 05 Oct 06 - 08:09 PM

I don't see why people are getting so paranoid about zero feedback. Everyone who has bought or sold on Ebay had zero feedback the first time. So what's the problem?

There would be far more need for caution if the bidder had a poor feedback record.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Aoliandorian
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 03:54 AM

Bloomin Eck you lot!!!
If it was a Castignari at £2000 I would say 'Don't buy without trying it out first' But this is less than £200. for pete's sake, buy the bloomin' thing or not. You could at worst PX it for something better.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 04:04 AM

Paranoia rules, of course it's genuine he offered to let the winner pick it up.

eric

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: GerryMc
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 06:31 AM

don't you thinks it's a little odd that the originator of this thread hasn't been back to make a comment. Personally I'd be more aware of people who post as GUEST than of a bidder with zero feedback.

I'm no box player but I know a few who have played the particular melodeon in question and it's alright

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Scrump
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 07:32 AM

I think the only person who should care at all about zero feedback is the seller. And the only reason for that is that many timewasters will register a new ebay ID just so they can "win" the bidding for an item and then not pay, leaving the seller with a problem, as he then has to go through the tortuous ebay rigmarole to get back his ebay commission on a sale that never happened. Presumably these people (and as others have said, they are few, but I've suffered from them in the past when selling on ebay) get some sort of enjoyment from knowing they've spoilt the sale for the seller, who I assume in most cases they don't even know. Sad b*****ds!

That small risk aside, everyone has to start with zero feedback so I wouldn't get too paranoid about it. As a buyer, there's nothing to worry about at all, apart from the risk that these bogus bidders can push the price up so you end up paying more, if you get into a bidding war with them and manage to beat them. e.g. by sniping (bidding at the last minute in ebay-speak).

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 08:33 AM

vendor's feedback?

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: JudeL
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 10:47 AM

I have bought lots of things on ebay & most of the time it's fine. have had a few problems such as
1) a seller who hadn't put a reserve but decided after the auction had ended that he hadn't got a high enough price so refused to sell the item
2} someone who had a second person who did a series of shill bids up to my max bid then withdrew the one that beat mine simply to raise the bid price.
3) a guy who not having got as high a price as he'd probably hoped for & who's listing insisted on having the item paid for by paypal before posting, - then claimed it had been stolen and sent back a check which he conveniently forgot to sign.
4} a couple of sellers who stated collection only & then made it impossible to collect: one by initially not answering messages and then not supplying an address, another by not being at the collection address & not answering her mobile when I'd travelled an hour & half towing a trailer to collect some white goods.

The one with the unsigned check is still a matter being resolved. The one that annoyed me the most was the waste of my time & fuel in a fruitless journey. Sometimes the problems are misunderstandings and can be sorted out , sometimes the only recourse is to report the person to ebay & there have been a number of sellers where shortly after I reported them there was a message stating that this person is no longer a member.

There can be problems with using ebay mostly to do with either mismatched expectations or because it's buying at a distance but the majority of ebayers are genuine.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Scrump
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 10:48 AM

Oops, of course above I was talking about bidders having zero feedback and whether a bidder should be concerned about other bidders' feedback.

If the seller has zero feedback (or negative!) then caveat emptor.

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: skipy
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 10:56 AM

Jude, just how many sales have you been invovled in?
I have over 1800 behind me with none of those problems!
Skipy

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: smurf
Date: 06 Oct 06 - 03:36 PM

well .. its finishing tomorrow evening

so if ya want it ,,, get in there PDQ

Smurf xx

Subject: RE: Ebay item - D/G MELODEON
From: Mr Red
Date: 07 Oct 06 - 07:37 AM

if it is personal collection you can (should is poss) insist on cash transaction). The feedback can be a false friend - it can be manipulated by a cartel - but only so many times.

Anyway the really fast moving prices occur in the last hour and the canny buyer will hit the bid button within seconds of the close.

If you have never bought I would put in a low bid early, sit and watch, and learn. And ignore anyone who has the same item and will sell at your last unsuccesful bid price - tell them to place it for auction - they usually don't. Then watch similar items and do the same until you get the syntax of the place. Use Paypal if they post - it is your record of transaction. They will get a proof of posting so unless it goes lost in the post you are covered. Good sellers insure - at your cost if you have to ask.