The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

TinfoilPhono wrote:What bothers me far more is when someone persuades a seller to close an auction and sell something privately. This almost always happens when a seller is not aware of the value of his item, and he or she inevitably ends up being screwed. And the rest of us are suddenly out in the cold. I've seen an awful lot of things I really wanted to bid for -- and was prepared to bid substantially -- suddenly evaporate.

I'm always amused when I see such questions incorporated into the auction description. I saw one recently for a non-phonographic auction; someone contacted the seller and said "I'll pay you $400 to close the auction now and sell it to me directly." The seller politely declined, and then added it to the listing for all to see. The final selling price was over $1200.

I don't know why any seller would end an eBay auction early - unless as you say, they didn't know the value of what they were selling and were dazzled by what looked like a handsome offer. I too have occasionally seen some of my watched items disappear, and it can be annoying. This is the only time I consider making an early bid on eBay. I've observed that most (but not all) sellers will refuse to end an auction early once they've received a bid, so if I really want something, I'll bid on it right away, but at a low figure. Now the seller knows there's interest, and if someone wants to bid it up early, it won't go far. At the end of the auction, I'll snipe it. (And it still usually goes for more than I'm willing to pay!)

I wouldn't consider asking a seller for a "Buy It Now" price if there was already a bid. That would be akin to what I was ranting about in my previous post.

George P.

It's interesting how many assumed the premise that "do gooders" spend their time telling sellers that they have under priced their rare and valuable items thereby driving up the price for eveyone else. I don't think I've ever seen anything so outrageously wonderful selling for a fraction of its value.
When I posed the question I was refering to telling a seller that their machine is a Crap-o-Phone or that their Victor VV-VI (with no tone arm or reproducer.) is NOT a 1904 Talking Machine worth $2200.00.
I think my most irritating thing on eBay is when two equally obsessed people with wheelbarrows full of excess cash decide they both want the same object worth maybe $30 max. I enter a reasonable bid of $40 only to find that in the last few seconds of the auction these two geniuses have run the bids up to $120.00 ! Of course there is nothing wrong with it. That's what auctions are all about. It just takes some of the fun out of hobby for collectors with a modest budget.
I should start a thread about: "What you like/dislike about eBay?"

Sorry, Erich. The thread did veer a bit off your original question, and I certainly contributed to that.

I see nothing wrong with trying to educate a seller that his "treasure" is really a junker, but eventually he will discover that anyway, won't he? (Unless he's selling a VV-50!) But how many sellers will believe that an anonymous eBayer is telling them the truth? In this case, the genuine "do-gooder" may be simply opening up himself to accusations and abuse from the seller. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

I should have stayed out of this!

George P.

To me, the best policy is to mind your own business. If the seller claims something that it isn't, it's up to us to do our homework and bid accordingly. I too, hate the do gooder who sticks his nose in everyone's business and cost bidders a lot of money.
Harvey Kravitz

George Wrote: I should have stayed out of this!

I think I should have also......... .

Please don't feel like any of you said anything inappropriate. That's the last thing I intended to convey. I have REALLY enjoyed ALL of the comments. I asked a question expecting a certain type of responses and you guys showed me how much larger the issue is. I have learned a lot from the comments as my very narrow minded expectations were broadened.
My apologies to anyone I offended.

To your question - NO! tried it, got abuse

Here from the other side of the coin a little episode from today on my local flea market. Usually no phonographs I go for the DVD's.

Surprise, a cabinet phono with a "stereo" setup like a Kalamazoo duplex, 2 internal horns, 2 tonearms 1 common reproducer (but in a cabinet). I was just fishing out the $X that the seller wanted when some person butts in & wants to know what the price was and the seller stupidly tells. To which he gets told that its way too cheap and that he should be asking a huge multiple more! The seller at least had the grace to say "X is what I wanted and X I got"

Needless to say that my entertainment next saturday with some friends will be following the person around and commenting of the cheapness of everything he touches.

1923VictorFan wrote:Please don't feel like any of you said anything inappropriate. That's the last thing I intended to convey. I have REALLY enjoyed ALL of the comments. I asked a question expecting a certain type of responses and you guys showed me how much larger the issue is. I have learned a lot from the comments as my very narrow minded expectations were broadened.
My apologies to anyone I offended.

No apology needed for me, and no offense taken. That's why I included the little laughing face ( ) instead of one of the others. I think it's a good thread, and surprisingly complex.

George P.