Machines and cylinders on Ebay?????????????????????

[obmcclintock]

It seems to me that there are far fewer horn phonographs and cylinders on Ebay than even a year or so ago. I remember page after page of machines and literally thousands of cylinders only but a few years ago. Is it just me or are they becoming that scarce or is Ebay becoming a poor site on which to buy and sell? Maybe are there other sites on the net where they are more prevalent???

[gramophone78]

Personally, I think you need a few more ???????????????????? in your title.. . Not sure about cylinder records. However, if you had been following some recent threads on here...you would have seen some very rare and wonderful machine sell recently on Ebay. One went for $60+K..!!!.So, as far as 'machines' are concerned....it's kind of like the tide...it flows in and out.. .

[rgordon939]

I think there are still a lot of machines and cylinders on eBay. But I do believe the increase in fees by eBay is causing sellers to look for other means of selling things. The total Fees can range up to almost 15% on the sale of an item. Another thing that I believe hurts sellers is the size/shape shipping costs that have been implemented by all shippers including the postal service. A package over 12" can cost two to three times the price it would cost if it were less than 12". I would to hear others thoughts.

Rich Gordon

[startgroove]

I agree with Rich. The shipping costs are unreasonably high in the last several years. At one time, the shipping companies justified continuously rising shipping fees by claiming the fuel costs were a major consideration that affected shipping fees. Now that oil is less than half what it used to be per barrel, you'd think the shipping costs would drop some. Another thing I see, is many sellers are getting disappointed in the increasing fees, and increasing responsibilities, that Ebay assigns to the sellers. And lastly, I too have noticed that generally, over the last fifteen years, the number of machines has dropped significantly. In the earliest years of buying on Ebay, I would be able to scroll through page after page after page of phonographs. Now, it seems there are about a third as many.