WesRist Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 OK, this may sound like a stupid question, but there are a lot of violins on E-Bay, and many don't seem to have a reserve, I'm giggling as I write this because there are a couple coming to a close, with no reserve, and while they look like nice violins they are only bid up to $30 or $60!?! I mean, even if I wanted a violin to smash up at performances, that's just hilarious! I thought if they don't say "Reserve not met" then there was no reserve, yet why don't these items say "No Reserve" then? Do people really buy (what look like) $800 violins for $60 bucks now and then? I'm confused (and amused). Thanks! Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry J. Griffiths Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 $30-$60 can become thousands in the final minute. There's no advantage to the buyer to bid early. Keep watching. Answer #2: What you think are violins worth $800 may in fact be worth $30-$60. Take your pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaf67 Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Don't be confused, the $30.00 violins you see are the ultra cheep sweat shop China VSO's that are dumped on the US market by the boatload. People buy them in bulk, for like $25.00 each and sell them on ebay with a high shipping charge. The shipping cost on some of thease auctions go as hign as fifty bucks withen the lower 48 USA. The actural cost to ship a violin withen the states is around ten dollars. They are selling violins but making the money on the shipping charges, not violins, or CD's, DVD's or violin strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Posted April 20, 2005 Report Share Posted April 20, 2005 Some sellers also may lure people with low starting bids and no reserve, and then cancel the auction at the last minute if the bids don't go high enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesRist Posted April 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2005 I hear what y'all are saying, but perhaps what's happening is some sell for a decent price and others are given away at a loss and the seller enjoys the average. Because when you see ones like this one (I hope this link works) http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?View...A%3AIT&rd=1 I know it's a no-name, but does $7.00 actually cover his cost for the instrument? I just don't understand why he wouldn't put a reserve on it. Then there are other ones where there are no bids and appearantly no reserves. I just don't get it, but thanks for the comments so far. Are there other comments? Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regis Posted April 21, 2005 Report Share Posted April 21, 2005 Quote: "but does $7.00 actually cover his cost for the instrument? " Consider that this was probably a $25 instrument. Stated shipping charge in US is $39. They indicated using Fedx. Shipment via FedX Ground in the US would be about $7, or so, for something that light. Well, that leaves about 50% profit (minus ebay fees). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbgilm Posted April 21, 2005 Report Share Posted April 21, 2005 I once bought an ebay violin for $30. It was a cheap Chinese mass produced violin, and although it did not sound good, it sounded good given the money involved. I took some lessons and practiced on it for a few months, which was long enough for me to decide that I liked playing. Then I bought a much better instrument. If the seller had intended to make money on the shipping, I messed him up by picking it up in person. His shop was a twenty minute drive away. He must not have made money because he quit selling them. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackc Posted April 21, 2005 Report Share Posted April 21, 2005 My wife bought a Chinese Mah Jong set froma Chinese seller on ebay for $9.99. It was nice. We paid $107 to have it shipped here. She still thought it was a good deal... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pahdah_hound Posted April 22, 2005 Report Share Posted April 22, 2005 I bought one too, I don't know why? I don't know anyone who plays Mah Jong. It was advertised in the violins catagory for some strange reason. I also bought a sword, and a bronze horse, and then we negotiated combined shipping. It was a very polite and pleasant negotiation that saved me $300 in shipping. I still have the stuff-very nice. Anybody want it? I'll ship the items for free-we'll negotiate the selling price. Jesse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acyla Posted April 22, 2005 Report Share Posted April 22, 2005 I love ebay auctions. They're a dirty little perverse pleasure to me. Having said that I do know people who have a lot of fun "shill bidding". One time one of my friends deliberately bid $500 on a particular item which would go a lot higher. The problem was they put up $500 in the first 3 hours that it was advertised on ebay therefore setting the bar higher for everyone else who was really serious about it. Hell one time I saw "wannabe buyer 1" bid something crazy on this violin. "Second wannabe buyer" bid on it. WB1 bid higher, SWB bid higher. Finally the frustrated SWB conceeded defeat. But, in a nasty move they made a ridiculous high bid and in the process they found out what WB1's bid was. So they pulled back their bid (due to incorrect amount) and then placed another bid.. $20 under the WB1's amount. Anyway in the end neither won the bid. I've known people see $10 common toys and want them despite another person putting a bid on them and therefore inflating the bid up to $100 (which the prat paid). This is probably one of the more extreme inflated shipping sellers out there clicitty here. THe bidding may start at $1 EURO but the shipping is $158 EURO which is bloody ridiculous considering the size. (Oh crap it looks like he's taken someone else's watermarked pics damn him). Anyway I know some people sit at home on the day and the time and wait for the auction's last 10 minutes before bidding and then there are the snipers that go in the last 8 seconds or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesRist Posted April 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2005 I mean I don't think I can resist. Picture this.... I buy a cheap violin on e-bay for ten bucks. I tell my (ignorant) friends I just got a new expensive violin. I perform my next solo with said instrument. I press them afterwards for compliments on it's sound. They all (still kinda ignorant) say "Ya, nice sound!" Then I say "Well, if it's such a fine instrument then why would I do this?" And then proceed to smash it into the floor. Or better yet, finish the piece, and if there's been a mistake, admit it and smash it then. THAT would raise some eyebrows!!! I think I'm gonna wait till there's a wedding or something coming up and then buy one. I just can't believe a person can buy what even LOOKS like a violin for ten bucks. What's this world coming to!?! Best! Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbow Posted April 22, 2005 Report Share Posted April 22, 2005 "..Or better yet, finish the piece, and if there's been a mistake, admit it and smash it then. THAT would raise some eyebrows!!! I think I'm gonna wait till there's a wedding or something coming up and then buy one..." --------------------------- Somewhat disrespectful and shocking use of a violin but it would surely bring a surprised gasp from the crowd! One might expect this from a rock guitar player but not from a dignified classical violinist. (As you said, "What's this world coming to?" ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acyla Posted April 22, 2005 Report Share Posted April 22, 2005 (As you said, "What's this world coming to?" ) Actually WesRist is secretly a guitar player. He's never been able to afford a good guitar (esp after that last concert) that he wanted so he just steals his little bro's violin takes off the chin rest the violin and plays the violin like a guitar. But did anyone ever have that problem when they were younger. A sibling stealing their violin to have fun plucking the strings I know I did and then I'd scream about how horribly out of tune it would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesRist Posted April 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2005 Acyla, at least you're more in the spirit of things. I sometimes wonder if doing what you say in off hours will actually help! Keep them fingers on the board as much as possible, and all that. THAT'S what I can use a cheap violin for! Or as a paddle or........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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