The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Merits or sanctity of the reserve system notwithstanding, I don't think poor behavior is defensible, especially if you're trying to move goods.

Again, maybe this cat doesn't care whether he moves this thing... maybe he's just in it for whatever fun he's having.

I have no problem with folks keeping the reserve a secret, however after a point you get the feeling they don't really want to sell the machine, they just want a free appraisal they can trust. If I bid as high as I am willing to go and the reserve is not met, it just means I can't afford it.

When I bid on something, I'll go as high as what I can afford. If it meets reserve, and I get the item, great. If not, I'll let it go. I'll eventually find the same item at a price I can afford. I don't like this particular seller, either. I always ask questions before I bid. This seller would never answer my questions, so I never had a transaction because of his attitude. 99% of ebay sellers are decent, honest folks.
Harvey Kravitz

I'll be the first to admit I have a bad attitude about reserves. Why not just start the bidding at a level near what you want? Anyway, my experience with reserves is that it's become a code word for "I'm hoping to fund my retirement with this one item" (sarcasm). If I see a reserve on a piece I don't bother bidding anymore.

Personal philosophies on auction methodologies and details aside, eBay is inherently fraught with a little bit of blind trust (feedback helps too, of course). He is an unfriendly and mockulatory ass, and engaging in a 'seller - buyer' relationship with him is unlikely to result in any escalation of his capacity for reasonable thinking/interaction.

Should I not have said ass? Sorry.

A+ to the man above me

daverob wrote:Personal philosophies on auction methodologies and details aside, eBay is inherently fraught with a little bit of blind trust (feedback helps too, of course). He is an unfriendly and mockulatory ass, and engaging in a 'seller - buyer' relationship with him is unlikely to result in any escalation of his capacity for reasonable thinking/interaction.

Should I not have said ass? Sorry.

Very eloquently stated. Perfect!

We all have our individual parameters when it comes to what usually constitutes a "blind" purchase, and without honest correspondence, it's nearly impossible to make an intelligent decision just by viewing a sellers photos. Too much can be concealed.

I've had great luck with the many good folks on eBAY.

This clown just isn't worth the effort.

Fran