HELP! It's a good idea to buy a "Birch" Gramophone?

[dilhermandodidi]

Shipping and phonograph: $100. I need your help! I purchased one on Ebay gramophone Birch for $ 15, but do not know if it's worth (since the shipping is 85, to Brazil) so I would like to examine me and say something before paying. Thank you.

[ImperialGuardsman]

Well, if you have already purchased it, you are obliged to pay. as for the phonograph itself, $15 seems like a fine deal if it works, though $100 is more than i would pay. That being said, if you won the bid you ought to pay. Looks like an orthophonic knock-off which should play well if the reprpducer is rebuilt and everything else is funtional.

[Steve]

Buying something first and then asking everyone here if it is a good buy BEFORE you actually pay for it, is probably not the best policy to be honest and won't win you many friends with the seller or others here who trust the process of eBay and who respect fairness and genuine people who act accordingly.

No, it is not really worth $100 in my opinion but that is irrelevant now that you have agreed in principle to both buying it and paying $85 shipping cost for the privilege of owning it.

It is worth remembering that you should always ask for shipping costs for international transactions before you agree to bid / buy anything. That is assuming that the seller hasn't already stipulated their costs in the listing and / or is available to confirm such before the item ends, otherwise you are buying at risk, something I have done on a few occasions and I've had to swallow exorbitant shipping costs.

[Phono48]

Sorry to sound negative, but given the state of the case, which is appalling, in my opinion that machine is only fit for parts, and most of those look to be rusty!
Even so, as others have pointed out, it would be very unfair to refuse to pay for it at this stage. How would you feel if you put something on Ebay at a very reasonable price, someone bought it, and then refused to pay? I have bought many machines from Ebay, and have been a bit disappointed with some of them when they arrived, but that's the risk you take. Sorry, but you bought it, now do the right thing and pay for it!

[Ian]

Of course, you could offer to pay the seller for the machine itself, but ask that they don't send it to you. Then you'd only be $15 out of pocket and the seller could choose to re-list or dispose of the machine as they wish. Just a thought.

[whoopinola]

How rare are gramophones in Brasil?...If you are going to have to buy your gramophone out of country , then shipping cost will always be a factor , and will probably be a lot more on a Victor VV-VI , or VV-IX , probably nearer to $350 on them , and no guarantee that it doesn't arrive as kindling wood...With this in mind , the $100 final cost of a suitcase machine in Brasil , which should arrive in one piece no matter how badly it's packaged ,is not a bad deal. If you consider that the final cost to you , after original payment , shipping , import duties etc on a VV-IX will be $750-$800...then the $100 for the Birch is a very good deal

[Duchesne]

This search took a while.
I tried craigslist in Brazil and nothing came up, so I thought I'd need to change the terms to Portuguese... I put that back through google and found one site at least...

At a first glace to the idea, it appears that there is a market for gramophones, ( sold in Brazilian Reals )...

http://lista.mercadolivre.com.br/antiguidades/fonografo

[Tinkerbell]

This search took a while.
I tried craigslist in Brazil and nothing came up, so I thought I'd need to change the terms to Portuguese... I put that back through google and found one site at least...

At a first glace to the idea, it appears that there is a market for gramophones, ( sold in Brazilian Reals )...

http://lista.mercadolivre.com.br/antiguidades/fonografo

I believe the OP is familiar with that site; if I remember correctly, he linked it in one of his first posts.

I'm sure he appreciates the effort you went through to search in Portuguese for him, however.

[epigramophone]

Of course, you could offer to pay the seller for the machine itself, but ask that they don't send it to you. Then you'd only be $15 out of pocket and the seller could choose to re-list or dispose of the machine as they wish. Just a thought.

If you are having second thoughts, Ian's suggestion would appear to be the most honourable way out, but in future take Steve's advice and check the postage charges BEFORE you hit the "Bid Now" key.

I bought a very similar portable locally, badged as a "PAL" by the Plaza Manufacturing Company of New York, simply because it was cheap (£25) and because I did not have an American portable in my collection. Although cosmetically in better condition than this "Birch" it was very cheaply made and had a small weak motor. I did not keep it for long.

When viewing machines on eBay I always set the listings to "Distance : Nearest First". It can be very frustrating to find that the object of your desires, if it is a large and heavy machine, is an impractically long journey from home.

[estott]

This Birch is a decently made machine, but I agree- you should ask our opinions BEFORE you buy things.

$15.00 is an accurate value for this machine.