Walt Sommers AKA "Gettysburg Antique Phonographs" also on eBay "cyber_tigger"

[Carl]

In my attempt to familiarize myself with my newly acquired VV-XIV, I've been reading forums, and watching YouTube videos dealing with ANYTHING victrola related, whether it's cleaning motor mechs, replacing motor springs, rebuilding reproducers, ANYTHING that has to do with these players, even if I haven't the need or intention at present to undertake the subject of the article or video.
Respectable names in the hobby pop up, but few, if any articles or videos, are absent one name, Walt Sommers. Mr. Sommers is practically a household name. His reputation is stellar, and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing what all the praise for him is about. Not disappointed. This is in regard to an eBay transaction where Walt was the absolute and most helpful. Without getting into details, everything good ever said about him is % spot on. I'll buy with the utmost confidence from him again. I give credit where credit is due. Credit is due. Thanks for reading this.
Walt Sommers AKA "Gettysburg Antique Phonographs" also on eBay as "cyber_tigger"

[JeffR1]

My experience with Walt is an odd one, or perhaps Mr. Sommers.

I bought a few things from his eBay store, and then one day, he would not ship to Canada, even though his store front says international shipping, and Canada was included, and still is.

So I had him ship to my third party US address and everything went fine.

Now he blocked me from his store, and I am still blocked, I just checked ???

I have 100% feedback, I've always paid immediately after a given sale....

I still don't know what his problem is, and there is at least one other thread here where he has done the same to a few others. No communication; nothing...

Maybe he didn't like some of my posts here on the forum, who knows, but my conclusion is that he's not the helpful and benign gentlemen that you made him out to be, I find him quite rude !

[ChesterCheetah18]

LOL the “Grumpy Old Man hobby” strikes again. I’ve only dealt with Mr. Sommers a couple of times over the years, but they were both pleasant transactions. However, having now been in this hobby for over 50 years, I can say there’s always been some that are just not pleasant to deal with. Probably always will be, although I’m not including Mr. Sommers in that group.

Steve

[Orchorsol]

I am blocked entirely from a certain eBay seller's listings, through no action of his own other than his settings, of which he seems to have little awareness.

The reason I am blocked is that I failed to pay another, unrelated eBay winning (within the last however many months or years). This was on one occasion only last year, where the seller was the reason for the delay in paying and eventual cancellation. He and I mutually agreed the delay because his listing had been on for months and the item was by then buried in storage. After some weeks we agreed to cancel. But now, as a result, I have some kind of a 'back mark' against me which has only shown up on this one other seller's settings.

I merely point this out to say, this may conceivably have nothing to do with grumpiness or awkwardness. eBay gets stranger and more frustrating all the time.

[CarlosV]

I bought many items from Walt, with no issues. However, sometimes my access to his eBay shop is blocked, for no reason, just to work well later. I presume this is due to some arcane eBay issue, as Orchorsol mentioned.

[cweastlick]

Walt has banned me too. I ordered some parts off of his ebay site that, for some reason, was lost or delayed. I filled out the usual form with ebay. I didn't even blame Walt but figured it was the post office. He sent me a scathing message about ruining his ebay reputation.
I contacted ebay and they assured me that this did not affect Walt's ebay standing. I sent him this info and he still blocked me. I've tried apologizing with no success. I just chalk it up to odd and grumpy people in the hobby.
BTW I still order parts from Walt through a friend.

[gramophone-georg]

I used to buy bits from Walt quite frequently. Good stuff, never a problem. One day about a year or so ago I was buying a load of parts for several projects. Suddenly, I was banned from purchasing. No explanation, no response to messages/ email, no idea why.

Walt has the dubious honor of being the ONLY seller to ban me from buying on eBay... ever... and I have done damn close to a million dollars worth of buying there, just for my business not counting hobbies.
Oh, well. His loss.

[gramophone-georg]

LOL the “Grumpy Old Man hobby” strikes again. I’ve only dealt with Mr. Sommers a couple of times over the years, but they were both pleasant transactions. However, having now been in this hobby for over 50 years, I can say there’s always been some that are just not pleasant to deal with. Probably always will be, although I’m not including Mr. Sommers in that group.

Steve

So what is 'over 50 years'? I have been at it 56 years next month. Are you as insane as I am? If so... sorry bout that.
Oh... and GET OFF MY LAWN.

[Raphael]

I've purchased from Walt for many years, with never anything but first-class results. I cannot speak for his usage of eBay blocking, but can relate that, after 26 years, my blocked list is quite extensive. The reasons are numerous:

-chiselers and "negotiators" who never give up, asking for "Best Price" and then endlessly trying to work down from that.

-people who make false accusations or statements with no basis of fact.

-people who contact me through eBay about buying something not on eBay. Duh, ever heard of direct email?

-lonely people who only exist to ask questions, with no intent or ability to buy anything. (Usually their messages are sent at 3 or 4 AM their time.)

-people who make stupid "offers", such as $300 on a $10,000 item.

-people who agree to buy an item (on or off-eBay) and then not pay.

-people who have been problematic with a prior eBay purchase, trying to wrongfully extort money using the threat of bad feedback as a Sword of Damocles. .

-people who have a consistent history of leaving bad feedbacks on eBay (with other sellers).

Any seller cannot be all things to all people. Most of us are one-man bands, working very hard to please our customers, with limited or no time for nonsense. At the age of 77, I admit that my patience wears thin these days. But, as I often say, it's because I'm running out of time, LOL.

Raphael