The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

zipcord wrote:got into a minor bidding war with another interested party - ended up paying $375



this is my first post to the grouo

Congratulations! It looks excellent and I am glad it went to someone who will appreciate it.

-Steve

Thanks Steve!

Zip, My previous comment was not meant towards you, but towards the seller. Congrats on a very nice X, I just hate you had to pay more than the asking price. Trust me, we've all been there at some point in time.

Wes

Hi Wes,

No problemo - the seller was contacted by the other interested party first and told me that he couldn't sell it to me on the spot - I told him I'd go as high as $400 - later that day he said the other guy bowed out - and asked if $375 was acceptable

I got a dozen records in an album and two packs of needles/styluses

I've had much worse Craigslist encounters that cost me in many other ways

downsouth wrote:Zip, Congrats on a very nice X, I just hate you had to pay more than the asking price. Trust me, we've all been there at some point in time.

Wes

Zip, Wes is right. On two occasions over the years, I've pulled out my wallet to buy an antique phonograph in a shop, but the price was boosted as I stood there.

The first time, the seller picked up the phone and asked some other guy if he still wanted it. (Presumably there was someone on the other end!) I was then asked if I'd pay $10 more than the price listed. I cocked my head and said something like, "You're kidding me, right?" Then nodded with a sour look. The "other guy" wouldn't go higher, so the impromptu phone auction ended. I gave the seller her money, along with a sarcastic comment, and left the shop with the machine. It was a bargain and I didn't regret it for a moment.

The other time, I had agreed to a price, but was short of cash (I was in college at the time), so made arrangements to return the following weekend. I remember the woman refused to take a $20 down payment to hold it for me. "What if don't come back?" (She clearly underestimated the importance $20 had to me at the time!) Well, the following week the woman wasn't there, but her husband was, and he decided that I'd need to pony up an additional $70 to purchase the machine. I controled my temper, paid him, and delivered another quiet but caustic homily on ethics. (Still, I hadn't left a down payment...) A friend now owns that machine and I've never regretted buying it either.

In both these instances, I didn't let my injured sense of justice or "principle" prevent me from accomplishing the mission. I wasn't diminished by the way those transactions were conducted - the sellers were.

I wasn't so wise on another occasion. A couple of friends conducted a regular record auction by mail (remember those? ) back in the early 1980s. One of these friends had casually asked me about a rare disc record; when they appeared, under what conditions, etc. In their next mail auction, one of these records was listed - with all the information I supplied used in its description. This was a record I wanted for my own collection, but I felt (not "thought" but "felt") that I had been misused; that my knowledge had been used against me in my bidding. I expressed my disappointment to my friend. The auction ended, and my friend told me that - in light of the situation - if I wanted to outbid the high bidder, I could have the record. The price would be $45. (Keep in mind this was the early 1980s!) My feeling was that if I hadn't volunteered all the information about the record, I could have bought it for much less. So...in an excellent example of cutting off one's nose to spite his face, I refused the offer. It took me 25 years to find another record like that, and by then the price was $750. (Boy, I sure showed HIM! )

The moral: Don't let pride or others' questionable principles prevent you from accomplishing your mission. You bought a nice early Victrola X for a great price, and you'll never be sorry.

Congratulations!

George P.

I agree with downsouth. People are using craigslist as an auction site. This is not the first time I've seen this. Having said that, there is nothing you can do about it other than not participate if the seller goes down that road.

phonogfp wrote:

downsouth wrote:Zip, Congrats on a very nice X, I just hate you had to pay more than the asking price. Trust me, we've all been there at some point in time.

Wes

Zip, Wes is right. On two occasions over the years, I've pulled out my wallet to buy an antique phonograph in a shop, but the price was boosted as I stood there.

The first time, the seller picked up the phone and asked some other guy if he still wanted it. (Presumably there was someone on the other end!) I was then asked if I'd pay $10 more than the price listed. I cocked my head and said something like, "You're kidding me, right?" Then nodded with a sour look. The "other guy" wouldn't go higher, so the impromptu phone auction ended. I gave the seller her money, along with a sarcastic comment, and left the shop with the machine. It was a bargain and I didn't regret it for a moment.

The other time, I had agreed to a price, but was short of cash (I was in college at the time), so made arrangements to return the following weekend. I remember the woman refused to take a $20 down payment to hold it for me. "What if don't come back?" (She clearly underestimated the importance $20 had to me at the time!) Well, the following week the woman wasn't there, but her husband was, and he decided that I'd need to pony up an additional $70 to purchase the machine. I controled my temper, paid him, and delivered another quiet but caustic homily on ethics. (Still, I hadn't left a down payment...) A friend now owns that machine and I've never regretted buying it either.

In both these instances, I didn't let my injured sense of justice or "principle" prevent me from accomplishing the mission. I wasn't diminished by the way those transactions were conducted - the sellers were.

I wasn't so wise on another occasion. A couple of friends conducted a regular record auction by mail (remember those? ) back in the early 1980s. One of these friends had casually asked me about a rare disc record; when they appeared, under what conditions, etc. In their next mail auction, one of these records was listed - with all the information I supplied used in its description. This was a record I wanted for my own collection, but I felt (not "thought" but "felt") that I had been misused; that my knowledge had been used against me in my bidding. I expressed my disappointment to my friend. The auction ended, and my friend told me that - in light of the situation - if I wanted to outbid the high bidder, I could have the record. The price would be $45. (Keep in mind this was the early 1980s!) My feeling was that if I hadn't volunteered all the information about the record, I could have bought it for much less. So...in an excellent example of cutting off one's nose to spite his face, I refused the offer. It took me 25 years to find another record like that, and by then the price was $750. (Boy, I sure showed HIM! )

The moral: Don't let pride or others' questionable principles prevent you from accomplishing your mission. You bought a nice early Victrola X for a great price, and you'll never be sorry.

Congratulations!

George P.

Those are some great "war stories", George! I have been there....done that!

Dale