E-Bay

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 5 May 2004, 02:11 am »

Does anyone here use E-Bay for much audio related stuff? If so how has your experience been?

I've bought a few CDs here & there from Half.com; sometimes you can find some pretty rare stuff there. But I've not done any bidding before today.

pjchappy · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 May 2004, 02:25 am »

The only E-Bay stuff I've done worth any amount ($125) was a set of 11.5 gram (500) poker chips in an aluminum case. I only did that b/c I knew someone that bought from the specific seller.

I can't get myself to trust anything or anyone else from there, but that's just me. . .

p

Marbles · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 May 2004, 02:37 am »

I had pretty good luck with buying some vintage Sansui gear...

JohnR · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 May 2004, 02:43 am »

I've bought and sold loads of stuff, though not in the last year or so. Check the feedback, read between the lines, send an email asking a question to assess the seller's responsiveness, factor a certain element of risk into your bidding, and don't get over-excited.

That's all

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 May 2004, 02:46 am »

I have bought a few pieces of audio gear off E-bay and have had no issues.

I do pay attention to user feedback a lot more than on Audiogon. If a seller doesn't have a large number of trades with practically perfect scores I won't bid.

I also subscribe to the "If it looks to good to be true, it probably is" theory.

The scary part is that I feel totally comfortable on Audiogon or here. Hell, I once bought about $1000 worth of ic's from a guy in New Zealand via Agon. Now if the guy decided not to send, how do you handle that?

George

bubba966 · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 May 2004, 03:42 am »

Over the last 6+ years I've bought many, many, many things off eBay. Only got screwed once (Less than $50).

Bought my LD player off eBay (nearly $3K). Bought a couple of my theater plaques (DD=$75 & THX=don't ask

) there. Buy many LD's & Movie Posters. Game systems & games. Along with hundreds of other things for myself and others.

I generally don't care for buying stuff from people under about 20 feedbacks. 1% negative feedback is ok. 1-2% negative I check and see why they were left. And I usually don't buy from people with more than 2, maybe 3% negative (depending upon why they got negs, many a time they're not honest negs they're retaliatory or ones from impatient newbies that think they should get their stuff the next day).

Just check the feedback well. And make a judgement call based on what your gut tells you. If it looks cool from every possible angle, it probably is. If something smells fishy, it's probably no good. If something seems to good to be true, it might be or it might not be.

lcrim · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 May 2004, 03:58 am »

I have bought tubes there recently. My experience is that for tubes anyway, the supply and demand curve is very exaggerated. Prices of some highly sought after tubes tend to get ridiculous quickly. I see Mullard EL84, Amperex Bugle Boy's and such bringing record prices. These things can be found much more reasonably from reputable Web retailers. Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head to bid these things up but it has really gotten crazy.
Having said that, good deals can still be found, if you shop carefully.

JohnR · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 May 2004, 04:21 am »

I would agree that EBay is not the place to be buying vintage (new or used) tubes. That is definitely too risky, it's too easy to fake and the phrase "tests good" seems to have some interesting interpretations. Go w/ a reputable dealer if you absolutely have to have them.

Edit: let me clarify that. I am referring to tubes that are in high demand by audiophiles and thus have prices pushed through the roof. If you're after stuff that's 5 or 10 each, the risk is pretty low as there's no motivation to fake them.

pjchappy · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 May 2004, 04:39 am »

Well, after reading the original question again, I guess I shouldn't have answered in the first place. . .regardless, knowing people who have bought stuff off of e-bay, it would be my last resort. . .but that's obviously a different story for others. . . .and that is not meant to be a rip on anybody, just a personal experience. . .

p

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:08 am »

Rob,

I bought my Dynaco PAS-4 there.....seems more Dynaco stuff on ebay than ever on Audiogon. Also bought my (speakers) Optimus LX-8's.....Radio Shack ain't nearly snobby enough for Audiogon, so it ends up on ebay rather inexpensively.

Both purchases were excellent, tho I am a bit more leery of purchases on ebay then Audiogon. It's sheer size will lure charlatans, while Audiogon's relatively small niche of audio hobbyists casts a smaller shadow to attract rip off artists. The theory seems right on that one, at least.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:22 am »

Never had a problem on Ebay....298 auctions...and excellent feedback .. http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=lonewolfny42

bubba966 · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:25 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Never had a problem on Ebay....298 auctions...and excellent feedback .. http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=lonewolfny42

Looks like you've done a few more than that...

http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedbackMemberLeft&memberid=lonewolfny42&items=25&frompage=-1&item=-1&de=off

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:31 am »

Quote from: bubba966

Quote from: lonewolfny42
Never had a problem on Ebay....298 auctions...and excellent feedback .. http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=lonewolfny42

Looks like you've done a few more than that...

http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedbackMemberLeft&memberid=lonewolfny42&items=25&frompage=-1&item=-1&de=off

Well....maybe

...and I always leave feedback ! Wish others did the same....so I could keep track of all my stuff. Still have cds in mailers sitting here

. Who knows....maybe one day I'll place a bid on one of your DVD auctions...any coming up ??

bubba966 · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:36 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Who knows....maybe one day I'll place a bid on one of your DVD auctions...any coming up ??

Looking at the CD's you buy, I wouldn't think you'd be bidding on any of my very infrequent DVD auctions. The only DVD's I ever auction are rare OOP discs that are usually $75+ a crack.

If I wanna sell any of my discs, I either do it locally (via friends) or here. Can't get squat on eBay for normal DVD's.

And I might have to go through my discs again soon. Am running out of room in my rack again.

Though I could just get another add-on to my rack, so I wouldn't need to sell anything...

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:48 am »

I bought another rack last month....holds 396 cds. Its filled. That's the fourth one. That's why I've still got cds in mailing bags.

But I do have "ONE" dvd ! ....No need for a rack yet !

JohnR · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 May 2004, 05:48 am »

Quote from: TheChairGuy

Both purchases were excellent, tho I am a bit more leery of purchases on ebay then Audiogon. It's sheer size will lure charlatans, while Audiogon's relatively small niche of audio hobbyists casts a smaller shadow to attract rip off artists. The theory seems right on that one, at least.

From the selling point of view I've much preferred EBay to AG. Apart from the usual herd of low-ballers, some of whom are quite rude about it, there's the clowns who have to have something and then come back a week later with some lame excuse about how they had a car accident of whatever. The EBay auction and feedback system seems to keep that a little more under control.

I think people get stung on EBay if they aren't properly aware of how the whole thing works or have unrealistic expectations. Start by buying and selling low-dollar items would be my advice.

AG is probably better for stuff that requires a certain amount of audiophile mythology to support its inflated price. Uhhh... except tubes that is

They both have the problem that you end up buying stuff you don't really need...

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 May 2004, 06:49 am »

Okay, there are three or four CDs that are OOP and virtually impossible to find: I found them all on E-Bay tonite!

And I've scanned E-bay along with virtually every other well known & obscure source I know for the last few years with no luck. Two of them I've already won/bought (and at less than half the amount I was prepared to pay- a couple of them my max bid was $65. We're talkin' some rare shit here...).

I have a couple more still pending- the one I want the worst is still pending. By this time tomorrow I should know one way or the other. It's really only precious to me, not something most would want or even know. Still...it's nerve wracking!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 May 2004, 07:12 am »

Rob, I had searched high and low for a copy of Kenny Drew Trio.."Impressions" cd. Very hard to find. Emails all over the world asking dealers to help locate. No luck....even on Gemm.com. Then , one day, low and behold, shows up on ebay.....seller in Japan. Bid high....and won !! It was a good day !!!

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #18 on:** 5 May 2004, 07:17 am »

As goofy as it sounds, I don't even wanna mention the ones I already got, partly d/t the fact that the same seller is selling the last one I'm bidding on.

I know it's a stretch, but i'd hate to have anyone see my posts & put 2+2 together...I'm willing to pay ten times the current bid if needs be.

I'm almost in shock, too. I've searched for these discs everywhere, E-Bay and Half.com included, for years. But the stars & planets have aligned this night!

Of course, the last couple are still up in the air, hence my uncharacteristic paranoia.

This time tomorrow, or Thurs nite at worst, I'll know if my Quest is complete or not.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 5 May 2004, 07:25 am »

Well, it is a full moon !