Rehek Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 My apologies for bringing the diabolical ebay up again.. As a novice with little to no eye for analyzing instruments, I had a funny thought that just maybe if I can find a *reputable seller* that consistently pumps out high quality for low prices, ebay would not be such a hassle. It would only take the goodwill of a few kind and rather philanthropic men... Found these people with some searching just for examples.https://ebay.com/usr/fabricearras https://ebay.com/usr/izdawiz* Does this kind of seller even exist? Or is it something out of my twisted wishful thinking? Thank you for your time.
Wood Butcher Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 I don't think you will find any philanthropists on eBay, no matter how many years you keep searching. Everyone selling there is trying to make money, it's that simple. Unfortunately, the world isn't like a fairytale. As you should have started to realize, if you buy there, you have no guarantees, and a great many sellers are either dishonest, or pretending not to know what they are selling, even though they are very aware of what it really is. It seems you are in a race to lose all of your money.
Rue Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 7 hours ago, Rehek said: My apologies for bringing the diabolical ebay up again.. As a novice with little to no eye for analyzing instruments, I had a funny thought that just maybe if I can find a *reputable seller* that consistently pumps out high quality for low prices, ebay would not be such a hassle. It would only take the goodwill of a few kind and rather philanthropic men... ... Does this kind of seller even exist? Or is it something out of my twisted wishful thinking? Thank you for your time. I'm a little concerned with your desire to only buy something from eBay and why you're disregarding other advice. Is there a valid reason? If so, let us know and maybe we can be of help.
deans Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 Any business can have a good reputation within a certain circle. There was an ebay dealer that used to post here all the time, had many supporters, but I think half of his instruments were misrepresented in some way.
Pluto Vermin Posted January 23, 2021 Report Posted January 23, 2021 Sometimes you will see a fiddle that isn't "philanthropy" but rather started out as a good attempt at best value. On ebay, they can be even better values than they were originally... Not all the time though
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 As much as I would love to buy an excellent instrument.. I am just an enthusiastic beginner. Yes, I practice tons, I read a lot,.. I made some mistakes on eBay, but I have been successful in buying quite nice mittenwald violins, one prettier than the other. I come here to educate myself. I am becoming pickier, ebay has got a brilliant guarantee. If it is no good, you simply return it, it is foolproof. I bought quite a nice French violin... Uhm for £30.. The pictures weren't great, but I could tell it was quite a decent one.. I sold it for.. A looooot more. It sounded great! I had a maggini from ebay, I have posted pictures ages ago, that was a great violin. You need to educate yourself a bit.. Make a couple of mistakes.. Not everyone can afford to take the easy route..
jacobsaunders Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 45 minutes ago, Rachell66 said: it is foolproof. careful that we don't prove you wrong then
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, jacobsaunders said: careful that we don't prove you wrong then Well, you can't go wrong, in my experience
martin swan Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 The principal way in which people go wrong is to buy something described as by such and such a maker, or something described as in good condition, and not have the eye to know that they are being conned. We have a thousand stories here on Maestronet of people who have gone wrong, and badly so ... many people end up with a shed full of crap before their eyes are finally opened! If you're going to make things genuinely safe, then you would need to show everything you buy to seriously knowledgeable appraisers and restorers before your return window expires. You will quickly find such people run out of patience, since they would prefer you to buy something from them with the usual guarantees and accompanying price tag.
jacobsaunders Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 39 minutes ago, Rachell66 said: Well, you can't go wrong, in my experience Many of us have observed the melange for decades. What is really “foolproof” is that the binge eating disorder will continue either until 1) the garage/attic is brim full of shit, or 2) the money has run out. Please feel free to disagree. It’s no skin off my nose.
Wood Butcher Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 Many buying on eBay are very much the rose-tinted spectacle brigade, we see it time and time again. No matter what terrible misattributed thing they have bought, often in a dreadful condition, somehow it always has a tone like 1000 angels singing apparently. Despite 40 year old strings, and half the body hanging open. I wonder though if these bargain hunters ever work out the figures objectively. Say as an example, a violin like Rachel's (this is not a dig at Rachel!) is bought for £350 + postage. It can't really be used when it arrives, and then has to be taken to a restorer, which unless you live very close by, will cost something for the trip both ways. The instrument then needs to have seams glued, possibly some minor crack repairs, cleaned, pegs adjusted or replaced, fingerboard trued and upper nut adjusted, new bridge, new soundpost, new tailpiece, tailgut replaced, new chinrest, new strings. All of this is done before you can even find out how well it sounds or plays. Suddenly the £350 plus postage violin is costing more than double, perhaps closer to triple. Had they gone into a shop, and this same violin fully restored, was available for £1,000, would they have bought it?
GeorgeH Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Rachell66 said: If it is no good, you simply return it, it is foolproof. This is simply not true. If the seller does not offer returns, a buyer can only return something under the eBay guarantee if it is "not as described." There are many sellers who know exactly how to attract people with enticing language that is factual but negates an object being returnable. A "Stradivarius violin" is returnable if it is not a Stradivarius violin, but a "Violin labeled Stradivarius" is not (and should not be) returnable if that description is accurate. And dishonest buyers trying to return things under the eBay guarantee because of "buyer's remorse" or because they did not look at the pictures or read the description carefully are just as bad as dishonest sellers.
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 13 minutes ago, Wood Butcher said: Many buying on eBay are very much the rose-tinted spectacle brigade, we see it time and time again. No matter what terrible misattributed thing they have bought, often in a dreadful condition, somehow it always has a tone like 1000 angels singing apparently. Despite 40 year old strings, and half the body hanging open. I wonder though if these bargain hunters ever work out the figures objectively. Say as an example, a violin like Rachel's (this is not a dig at Rachel!) is bought for £350 + postage. It can't really be used when it arrives, and then has to be taken to a restorer, which unless you live very close by, will cost something for the trip both ways. The instrument then needs to have seams glued, possibly some minor crack repairs, cleaned, pegs adjusted or replaced, fingerboard trued and upper nut adjusted, new bridge, new soundpost, new tailpiece, tailgut replaced, new chinrest, new strings. All of this is done before you can even find out how well it sounds or plays. Suddenly the £350 plus postage violin is costing more than double, perhaps closer to triple. Had they gone into a shop, and this same violin fully restored, was available for £1,000, would they have bought it? Hey, I had the violin valued at 1200, and sold it for way cheaper..
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, Rachell66 said: Hey, I had the violin valued at 1200, and sold it for way cheaper.. It was a JTL
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 52 minutes ago, GeorgeH said: This is simply not true. If the seller does not offer returns, a buyer can only return something under the eBay guarantee if it is "not as described." There are many sellers that know exactly how to attract people with enticing language that is factual but negates an object being returnable. A "Stradivarius violin" is returnable if it is not a Stradivarius violin, but a "Violin labeled Stradivarius" is not (and should not be) returnable if that description is accurate. And dishonest buyers trying to return things under the eBay guarantee because of "buyer's remorse" or because they did not look at the pictures or read the description carefully are just as bad as dishonest sellers. I ask about the sound, some of them are too harsh, shrill, or dampened and nasal.. So I usually can return. I am very open, that I only want to buy a good sounding violin. Obviously pictures I can inspect myself, and what I don't know I come here and ask you lovely fellows. So it is not a case of taking advantage of sellers. But you can't take people's money for unusable violins..
GeorgeH Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 17 minutes ago, Rachell66 said: I ask about the sound, some of them are too harsh, shrill, or dampened and nasal.. So I usually can return. I am very open, that I only want to buy a good sounding violin. Obviously pictures I can inspect myself, and what I don't know I come here and ask you lovely fellows. So it is not a case of taking advantage of sellers. But you can't take people's money for unusable violins.. Tone is subjective, malleable, and indescribable. Therefore, when you buy a violin without hearing or playing it, there is always the risk you you won't like the tone. Prices are discounted by the market accordingly for this risk. If a seller has described the tone in their listing, then I suppose it could be returned as "not as described," but otherwise returning a violin that has been listed with "returns not accepted" simply because you don't like the tone is dishonest. You should not bid on a non-returnable violin if you can't accept the risk that it might sound bad to you if you win the auction, and you are planning to try to return it if it does.
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 There is a difference between simply not liking and discussing what you expect from a violin, prior to purchase. I have only returned if it was horrible.. Well sometimes I sold it further at no profit and was done with it.. I do it to learn.. It's not more than that. We are though talking about student instruments. If I were to buy an upgrade of more than 2000 or 3000 than I would go to a violin shop, to try out the violins
Wood Butcher Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 Many violins on eBay are not even playable, or are being sold by people who don’t play. Therefore, it’s hard to see how you could gain much information on how one might sound. Today I’ve looked through a lot of violins currently on eBay, and found virtually none at this beginner level, which accepted returns.
deans Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 2 hours ago, Rachell66 said: I have only returned if it was horrible.. Did you return your most recent Maggini?
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 2 hours ago, deans said: Did you return your most recent Maggini I cancelled the purchase, why? I don't think I am ready to go and pay so much to have it repaired, nit knowing what it would sound like. The arch was quite high, I didn't have the best experience once with a stainer. It was shrill and harsh.
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 Plus I bought an electric bridge violin on ebay, which was a great purchase, and yitamusic's maggini..
deans Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 49 minutes ago, Rachell66 said: why? All the reasons discussed on this thread, plus your own. Everyone needs to have one Yita violin. But stop at one.
Rachell66 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Posted January 28, 2021 There not so bad for the price, most of them are great. You can't sell on ebay and not return if there is something wrong with the item. And if it sounds horrible then you need your money back, I don't see why anyone has to take the "risk". I happen to always say that I am buying the violin with the intention of playing it, I scrutinise the photos. Usually sellers are happy to help.
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