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The only thing that makes that a high priced machine is the dope who won the auction! I hope it's going to China then we can all be glad that an American finally got the better end of the purchase!

Andersun wrote:The only thing that makes that a high priced machine is the dope who won the auction! I hope it's going to China then we can all be glad that an American finally got the better end of the purchase!

If you look at the bidding history, there were 2 people who were bidding back and forth until one of them gave up at $2500. However, neither of those people was the high bidder, so there were at least three bidders who thought this price level was justified!

52089 wrote: If you look at the bidding history, there were 2 people who were bidding back and forth until one of them gave up at $2500. However, neither of those people was the high bidder, so there were at least three bidders who thought this price level was justified!

Well, at least 2 or 3.

What logical reason does an Ebay bidder,
1. Bid back and forth with another bidder on an auction days before the end.
2. Bid incrementally a minimum bid to find out how high the other bidders top bid is.

Oh, perhaps because they are merely shilling for the seller?

PeterF wrote:Oh, perhaps because they are merely shilling for the seller?

Amen.

I don't think that anybody should automatically assume nefarious goings-on, especially in the case of an excellent and honorable seller such as Grant. There was recently a similar accusation here recently on the Forum (concerning a reproducer) that turned out to be 100% wrong.

Strange things do happen. I acquired a Victor I with a replacement (Thorens) motor,a poorly made wood horn and other issues. I actually came close to just tossing it in the garbage bin, but then gave it to my son to list on eBay "for parts or repair", starting at $9.99. All of the defects were noted in the listing. It ended up fetching over $2500. Go figure. And the buyer must have been happy, he gave good feedback and has since purchased more from us.

Raphael

brianu wrote:

PeterF wrote:Oh, perhaps because they are merely shilling for the seller?

Amen.

There was no shilling. Just several "enthusiastic" bidders, all of whom I suspect were unfamiliar with the market value of the phonograph. Please think twice before you accuse me or anyone else of shilling an auction, okay Brian? I would certainly extend the same courtesy to you. Same goes for you, Peter. Thank you both.

--Grant (the seller)

Fonotone wrote:

brianu wrote:

PeterF wrote:Oh, perhaps because they are merely shilling for the seller?

Amen.

There was no shilling. Just several "enthusiastic" bidders, all of whom I suspect were unfamiliar with the market value of the phonograph. Please think twice before you accuse me or anyone else of shilling an auction, okay Brian? I would certainly extend the same courtesy to you. Same goes for you, Peter. Thank you both.

--Grant (the seller)

I don't believe I accused you of anything. I don't even know you. but I'm somewhat familiar with your auctions, all of which seem, with few if any exceptions, to similarly attract many many bids (more than the typical phonograph auction) throughout the course of the sale (rather than at or toward the end) before ending always at an extremely high-end amount. now a person can infer whatever he or she might infer from that (including that you may just have a knack for photographing machines and writing descriptions in a way that just happens to unfailingly draw people with money to burn), but it certainly seems to be a pattern. and I'll leave it at that.

Grant, it wasn't Brian who first used the word "shill" - it was me. I also don't know you, and wasn't accusing anyone of doing so, just pointing out the possibility. That's why there's a question mark at the end of the sentence, and the word "perhaps" in the sentence.

We all know it happens on eBay, and it happens a lot. If not on this auction, great, but it's still valid as part of the discussion topic - which is how the heck the thing could have gone so high.

In the meantime, congrats on the score.

This is a forum mainly frequented by collectors, most of whom have a particular slant towards the hobby and are acutely aware of "market values".

But there are people out there other than purist collectors, and dealers such as Grant provide an extremely valuable service to them. I have often complimented Grant on the absolute professionalism of his listings, and the confidence it inspires to the general buying public. And knowing Grant as a sincere and straight-up person, he provides a follow-up to the sale equal to the best. Thus, he inspires bidding from buyers who otherwise have been spooked by uncaring sellers.

The number of bids is often a function of low starting price, and novice bidders entering the field. There is nothing unusual about that.

But as I read (and then re-read) the previous postings, it certainly looked to me that a cloud of suspicion was being cast over Grant's head. I'm glad he is a member of this Forum and was able to speak up for himself.

Raphael