Why So Much For This Ebay VV-50?

[barnettrp21122]

Any suggestions as to why this Victrola VV50 went for so much??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350486572799?ss ... 1438.l2649

[1923VictorFan]

Nothing's wrong with having a vivid imagination.

[OrthoFan]

Any suggestions as to why this Victrola VV50 went for so much??

Because the buyer is stupid?


Sorry to be so cynical but I've lost all respect for people who know enough to use the internet for shopping and buying, but not enough to actually do some research about what they're shopping for or buying. If someone actually paid that amount for that Victrola--supposing that it's not a sham--then I'd say they paid exactly what they deserved to pay.

[alang]

Strange thing is that there were 32 bids starting at $0.99. Many different bidders. The seller probably hasn't stopped partying yet after getting that price ...
Andreas

[antique1973]

On the flip side, I was wondering why this went for so cheap.

eBay Item #160641659435


I have sold common nickel 14's for this much.

[brianu]

On the flip side, I was wondering why this went for so cheap.

eBay Item #160641659435


I have sold common nickel 14's for this much.

probably because that was a legitimate auction/sale, and the market is down such that such buys can even be found on ebay. as for the other auction, the 50, that would have to be shill bidding - any time I see ridiculous prices accompanied by a ridiculous amount of bidding, particularly by bidders with zero to low feedback, I can't imagine many other explanations.

[OrthoSean]

Brian is correct, that 50 was likely shilled. I was watching that auction. That was a pretty nice early XIV and I was all set to grab it if it went for under $300 since it was only a couple hours from me and you never see those. The seller was also very honest about the condition, the plating was almost all worn down to the brass, which may have made the final price a little lower. Still, in this market, I think it went for a reasonable price. I wasn't hell-bent on getting this one anyway, since I have a nicer early one in oak and a later one also in oak, so I really didn't need another XIV.

Sean

[1923VictorFan]

You also may not have noticed but the seller was not willing to ship the Victrola. It was only available to bidders who could physically come and get it. I'm sure that knocked out 95% of interested bidders. Not a smart way to sell a nice item of substantial worth.

[briankeith]

The problem with the big floor models on EBay is weight and size - when I sold my two Victrola floor models I sold them as "pick up locally" only. I had no problem getting my asking price on these, which were also very common Victrola models - just too darn big to collect!! Now I only collect the Edison Amberola and Diamond Disc floor models, and one big and very ornate Sonora...... Brian

[OrthoSean]

You also may not have noticed but the seller was not willing to ship the Victrola. It was only available to bidders who could physically come and get it. I'm sure that knocked out 95% of interested bidders. Not a smart way to sell a nice item of substantial worth.

True, however, I've seen listings like that before and, if it was something I was really interested in, I'd contact the seller and ask them if they'd allow a shipper pick up the machine from them. I don't ever recall being told "no" by anyone as long as I set everything up, especially since most (but of course not all) realize that will up their final price.

I've sold very few large items on eBay. The stuff I did sell including Wurlitzer 1015 and 1100 jukeboxes, I listed them as pickup only, but in the description stated that a shipper could pick the machine up as long as the buyer made all the arrangements. The 1015 was easy, the shipper picked up the machine and did the rest, the 1100 went to France and the buyer spoke almost no English. He was extremely difficult, almost nasty and wanted me to do all the legwork. I can't tell you what a nightmare it turned out to be, but after months of back and forth emails (this was before eBay started backing up buyers and disrepecting reputable sellers), I finally got everything worked out. I'll never sell something that big to an International buyer again!

Sorry to veer OT a little, but that was money I had to jump through hoops to get after the auction was over.

Sean