How MANY of these ARE there?!?!

[Jeny Mahon]

Exactly. It looks like a decent instrument, but certainly not what they are trying to represent it as. I'm not being shocked or anything, I just find it amusing that the same fiddles keep turning up...as though people wouldn't notice that! Here's another one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...332388&rd=1

[plainjane]

Although I am not worried about the financial end of this auction I cannot seem to get my mind off just how gorgeously masculine this violin appears to be. After reading the available information on the internet, etc., I cannot see how one can make the determination that this instrument is a recent copy of a Scarampella, or a Chinese instrument for that matter. None of the photographs I have looked at come anywhere near the refined, yet masculine qualities I see in the one on the auction. I certainly don't want to get ripped off, but am just too shy to ask specific and pertinent questions. Such as, are you honest, are shill bidders helping drive up the price, why haven't you sold anything in the recent past? This just seems so inappropriate, yet almost necessary to protect one's self.

What should I do? Through caution to the wind or let it go?

Thanks so much to each of you for kind and gentlemanly advices..

plainjane

[Regis]

plainjane,

You could write to the seller and ask where the violin is located. Simply say that it is more than you normally spend and you want to go see it in person (or have a nearby friend look at it for you).

Just a thought.

Regis

[Fellow]

Hi Jane,

You could just ask the seller one question: "I want five identical violins like this one, do you happen to have that many?" /yuen/

[Singingmaple]

plainjane,

To me it looks as though someone Cleaned up a Chinese "White" violin and varnished it.

I read some of your definitive guidance in another post. Surely someone who can point out an Authentic 18th Century violin, should certainly be able to see this one for what it truly is.

[Singingmaple]

I would put money that these 3 Auction Id's are the same person.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...808630&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...332388&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...764485&rd=1

[plainjane]

Quote:

---

plainjane,

You could write to the seller and ask where the violin is located. Simply say that it is more than you normally spend and you want to go see it in person (or have a nearby friend look at it for you).

Just a thought.

Regis

I have written the seller and asked (he/she) some pertinent questions. If I receive a response before the auction ends, there would be some hope that the violin is legitimate. Judging from the overall response to my questions there is much doubt that it's what the seller claims.

[plainjane]

I emailed these sellers too. Who knows, they may be all the same.

[plainjane]

Quote:

---

plainjane,

To me it looks as though someone Cleaned up a Chinese "White" violin and varnished it.

I read some of your definitive guidance in another post. Surely someone who can point out an Authentic 18th Century violin, should certainly be able to see this one for what it truly is.

---

The authenticty of the item was established long before it was put on eBay. Do you think everything on eBay is fake??

[Singingmaple]

Payment instructions is about the same. even the same wording on 2 of them. None of which accepts Paypal.

All 3 ID's were created within a month of each other over a year ago(Which is rather scary) How many does this person have?

Apparantly about 35 judging by the number of bids.

All 3 state USA as a location.

[plainjane]

I've not investigated all this as you have but it seems you've been very thorough. Have you been defrauded by someone?

[Singingmaple]

"Do these remarks mean that a buyer might be defrauded by the seller listing the item? Could it be that this seller doesn't even have the violin listed? How can eBay prevent such cases, if they have, or are being reported?"

The Seller probably never actually sold the item. Most likely canceled the auctions at the last minute because one of their own bids were winning.

[Singingmaple]

"The authenticty of the item was established long before it was put on eBay. Do you think everything on eBay is fake?? "

I believe that 95% of Labeled violins on Ebay are incorrectly labeled. Which is fine because most sellers are either unaware or will give their opinion of what the violin really is. I only have a problem with sellers that try to pass them off as real. And even worse is a shill bidder trying to pass them as real.

Do you believe all the violins on Ebay are real?

[plainjane]

Now I understand the process of shill bidding. When one of the thieves is the high bidder the thing has backfired, then they wait for a while, get a new user id and relist. Then the whole thing starts over. Does the legitimate bidder ever get the item, or just lose the money?

[plainjane]

I realize that labels mean little unless they are genuine and in a genuine product. That Austrian violin had enough appeal, but the starting bid was way too high. If it were a fine Italian and verifable as such, then that starting bid would be ok, I think.

All the items listed on eBay are real, but very few are genuine, rare and valuable. I think the obvious differences are quite easily recognized by the experts though. Don't you think so?

I just looked at the pictures in the listings again. There are similarities in the layout and backgrounds used, just different orientations. You are very observant and most helpful. Thanks.

[bean_fidhleir]

It's interesting - the signature on the label on this one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...764485&rd=1

looks to me as though it was written by someone who's more used to writing the Cyrillic alphabet.

Just stirring the pot a bit

[Singingmaple]

I'd be curious to know where these violins actually ship from if one were purchased.

6-8 months ago most of these shill bidder listings were listed as from Aquila, Italy. Now the same type of Antiqued instruments are listed as from USA or Germany

[elidatrading]

You wouldn't think an italian master luthier would compromise by using a Chinese adjuster, would you? Lol

Liz

[Fellow]

It is hard to tell from picture that it is a good

sounding violin. Light? , Responsive?, Good Tone?

For $1500 I would demand it to perform somewhat to make it worthwhile. /yuen/

[plainjane]

Quote:

---

It is hard to tell from picture that it is a good

sounding violin. Light? , Responsive?, Good Tone?

For $1500 I would demand it to perform somewhat to make it worthwhile. /yuen/

---

The 'Scarypella" still looks like a much better quality violin than all the rest put together. I won't buy it though. What's starting the bother me is the stagnation of the bidding. Either a shill bidder has gotten as far it needs to go, or someone has placed a legitimate bid and no one is willing to go higher. Can't say I blame them;.... especially if the whole deal is goofy.