Page 6 of 6 FirstFirst ... 456
Results 101 to 117 of 117

Thread: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

  1. #101
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Posts
    701
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 164 Times in 94 Posts
    Rep Power
    5

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by Farmboy View Post
    Speak to the Grandmother.

    Oh man, Sister Rosetta Thorpe. I haven’t heard her in years. Thanks for the reminder. I ended up going back and listening to This Little Light and This Train, both “electric blues” classics.


    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Radonactionservices For This Useful Post:

    Detman101 (December 13th, 2020), Farmboy (December 12th, 2020), Sailor Kenshin (December 12th, 2020)

  3. #102
    Senior Member penwash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Dallas, as in the 80's TV Series
    Posts
    3,661
    Thanks
    3,363
    Thanked 6,701 Times in 1,971 Posts
    Rep Power
    14

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by Detman101 View Post
    I wish pen shows were real.
    I'd have found a pen that fits me by now.
    Some things...the internet just can't replace.
    People are needed.
    No two ways about it.
    It's not guaranteed of course, given that the pandemic is still with us now.

    But if it's any consolation, pen show organizers are gearing up for 2021.

    I can speak for one pen show in September, but I bet the other organizers are anxious to resume their shows as well.
    - Will
    Unique and restored vintage pens: Redeem Pens

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to penwash For This Useful Post:

    Detman101 (December 13th, 2020)

  5. #103
    Senior Member Detman101's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Lost...help.
    Posts
    718
    Thanks
    1,566
    Thanked 590 Times in 294 Posts
    Rep Power
    4

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by penwash View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Detman101 View Post
    I wish pen shows were real.
    I'd have found a pen that fits me by now.
    Some things...the internet just can't replace.
    People are needed.
    No two ways about it.
    It's not guaranteed of course, given that the pandemic is still with us now.

    But if it's any consolation, pen show organizers are gearing up for 2021.

    I can speak for one pen show in September, but I bet the other organizers are anxious to resume their shows as well.
    I really really hope and pray that you are correct.
    Attending a pen show would fill a small void within me that can't be fixed any other way.
    Looking forward to 2021...
    "I can only improve my self, not the world."

  6. #104
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Posts
    36
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 30 Times in 10 Posts
    Rep Power
    0

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    I have over 1000 pen buys on E-Bay and never had a problem. All markets have periodic ups and downs, and a given auction can be subject to dozens of additional viariables like knowledge of pens, of auctions, of reputable sellers, etc. Besides, if one doesn't like E-Bay, there are many other fora for buying and selling. This website is a good alternative as are several of the other well-known pen chat sites.
    Gerry Berg

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to jouesdeveau For This Useful Post:

    eachan (December 25th, 2020), Jon Szanto (December 25th, 2020)

  8. #105
    Member Turquoise's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2020
    Posts
    82
    Thanks
    27
    Thanked 48 Times in 28 Posts
    Rep Power
    4

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by TFarnon View Post
    Before putting in a final bid on an ebay auction, I decide what I'm willing to pay for a given pen and do a bit of research on current retail prices for that pen. But suddenly prices on a couple of pens I'd bid on shot up over double the expected retail prices for those pens. These were both vintage/antique pens, but still. Is this an annual phenomenon as everyone searches for the perfect Christmas gift, is it merely confirmation bias on my part, or is this something new and unusual in the pen market? Is this perhaps a predictable response to the loss of pen shows?

    I was bidding on a Conklin Crescent fill BCHR, extremely oxidized but in otherwise excellent condition; and a Morrison's "The Patriot" set in apparently never-used condition. Oh-and a Parker Senior Duofold in red permanite, excellent condition but otherwise unremarkable. I'm okay with not being the highest bidder. Someone else clearly wanted those pens more than I do, and it's more money for the seller. I'm just curious about the cause for the price jumps.
    If it’s the final (winning) bid price you’re talking about, MANY people wait until the last couple of minutes before placing a bid. And many people have software that simply outbids anyone else at that last minute. So, no, it’s not uncommon, for vintage pens or anything else. You can’t complete with people who have bottomless pockets and want the same thing you do. The best thing you can do is exactly what you are doing — research, decide what’s a reasonable cost for YOU to pay, and cap your bid amount. Sometimes the force will be with you, other times not so much ;-) If you have time to spare and want to bite your nails at the end of the auction you could wait to bid like others do until the very last minute and try your luck that way.

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Turquoise For This Useful Post:

    TFarnon (January 27th, 2021), welch (December 28th, 2020)

  10. #106
    Senior Member welch's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    New York City
    Posts
    1,031
    Thanks
    1,504
    Thanked 510 Times in 344 Posts
    Rep Power
    12

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    I've checked. EBay prices are not dramatically higher than they were a year ago.

    Any of us have seen a strange "auction" in which two bidders try to top each other, $5 or $10 at a time, all the way until bid close...as if EBay were a human auction. We have also seen mistakes in which a pair of bidders lift a humble Parker 45 up to $100 or more. It happens.

    I use snipe software. I know the maxi I feel like paying. I put that max into snipe and forget about the "auction". Sniping bids go in five or ten seconds before close. If I lose, so be it. If I win, I pay no more than what I had decided the pen was worth...to me.

    EBay is not like an auction.

  11. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to welch For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (January 2nd, 2021), jouesdeveau (January 1st, 2021), Ole Juul (January 1st, 2021), TFarnon (January 2nd, 2021)

  12. #107
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3,118
    Thanks
    874
    Thanked 2,528 Times in 1,299 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Well, just watched an auction for a SHEAFFER, FOUNTAIN PEN, CANADIAN VERSION. What was interesting to me was that from around $40 the price was pushed up by one bidder whose history showed that they had bid on 65 items from this seller in the past 30 days, mostly single bids place about 1 day and 10 hours prior to the completion of the auctions. Maybe nothing in it but it's a curious pattern, and the seller is one that I have run afoul of (dropped a pen its nib, ground the tip down hoping I wouldn't notice).

  13. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Empty_of_Clouds For This Useful Post:

    Detman101 (January 25th, 2021), TSherbs (January 25th, 2021)

  14. #108
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Many of us add to our collections by getting a pen (or two) at a time. Some people, especially those looking at it more as a collection than as pens, and who have the financial resources, can go about buying themselves a collection in very large chunks. I have seen particular sellers active for a short number of weeks or months, buying up many pens in single-pen auctions, and doing so by bidding a price that no one else will match. At the end of the day, a wealthy person can do as they please in these kind of arenas.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to Jon Szanto For This Useful Post:

    Detman101 (January 26th, 2021)

  16. #109
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    6,788
    Thanks
    642
    Thanked 897 Times in 689 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    It's the hunt that captures my interest. Ebay is fun for me. They have items I could not find anywhere else. I'm too frugal to spend much.

  17. #110
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    3,118
    Thanks
    874
    Thanked 2,528 Times in 1,299 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Szanto View Post
    Many of us add to our collections by getting a pen (or two) at a time. Some people, especially those looking at it more as a collection than as pens, and who have the financial resources, can go about buying themselves a collection in very large chunks. I have seen particular sellers active for a short number of weeks or months, buying up many pens in single-pen auctions, and doing so by bidding a price that no one else will match. At the end of the day, a wealthy person can do as they please in these kinds of arenas.
    True, in this case though, the buyer limited themselves to about $60, stopped bidding, and was simply outbid by several others. This could be interpreted as someone who knows their own limits I suppose, but it seemed odd to me that they were targetting the same seller so often over a very short period of time. I am sometimes a very suspicious guy, in all parses of that label!

  18. #111
    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    6,616
    Thanks
    7,795
    Thanked 11,039 Times in 4,010 Posts
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by Empty_of_Clouds View Post
    True, in this case though, the buyer limited themselves to about $60, stopped bidding, and was simply outbid by several others. This could be interpreted as someone who knows their own limits I suppose, but it seemed odd to me that they were targetting the same seller so often over a very short period of time. I am sometimes a very suspicious guy, in all parses of that label!
    I'm sorry, I must have misunderstood your post. I thought you meant the person repeatedly won auctions from the seller. I have no idea whatsoever what this particular behavior indicates, and nothing I plan on pursuing. People are just, you know, fucking weird sometimes!
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

  19. #112
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Posts
    308
    Thanks
    264
    Thanked 424 Times in 204 Posts
    Rep Power
    4

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    FTFY

    People are just, you know, fucking weird.

    I had one person who sent me a message from an item I was selling on eBay 'I am bidding on an item you are selling but your mailing charges are too high. If I win I will leave you one star and give negative feedback', Guess what I did on receipt of that message?

    Nutter.

  20. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to RobJohnson For This Useful Post:

    Detman101 (January 26th, 2021), Jon Szanto (January 26th, 2021)

  21. #113
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Chartres, France
    Posts
    1,137
    Thanks
    2,610
    Thanked 825 Times in 446 Posts
    Rep Power
    13

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    One thing that may be affecting our perceptions is that ebay appears to be moving from an auction to a 'buy it now' model and many of the BIN items are at very high prices. But when you look at actual completed sales, the prices are a good deal lower.

  22. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to amk For This Useful Post:

    Jon Szanto (January 26th, 2021), Ole Juul (January 26th, 2021)

  23. #114
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    US
    Posts
    6,788
    Thanks
    642
    Thanked 897 Times in 689 Posts
    Rep Power
    11

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    One practice I immediately avoid are the one's with a low bid and $25 shipping. Also, you can win the bid and the seller will ship by covered wagon without tracking. As long as it eventually shows, I leave a positive comment althought I let them know privately that if things don't show up soon I want a refund.

  24. #115
    FPG Donor ♕ Chrissy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    United Kingdom
    Posts
    11,400
    Thanks
    6,872
    Thanked 10,361 Times in 3,977 Posts
    Rep Power
    24

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Shipping cost is absolutely the first thing I look at. If it's either ridiculous or Global Priority I just press the back button with no regrets.
    Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens

  25. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Chrissy For This Useful Post:

    FredRydr (January 26th, 2021), Ole Juul (January 26th, 2021), TSherbs (January 26th, 2021)

  26. #116
    Senior Member FredRydr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania USA
    Posts
    4,907
    Thanks
    1,396
    Thanked 6,390 Times in 2,505 Posts
    Rep Power
    18

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Shipping cost is absolutely the first thing I look at. If it's either ridiculous or Global Priority I just press the back button with no regrets.
    I had a pen transaction just after eBay's global shipping had gone into effect, a "choice" eBay had then imposed by default. My buyer was charged well over US$100 for shipping to The Netherlands without me even seeing it as seller. The buyer contacted me accusing me of ripping him off, and I had to ask him to email me his eBay invoice to understand what was going on. Once I saw it and done a bit of research, I had to undo the transaction, refund the monies, invite the buyer to quickly buy again, and I took care of shipping outside of eBay/PayPal for about US$13. I made sure Global never came into a transaction again, and eBay sure tried for a while.

    It was just another straw being placed on the eBay camel's back.

  27. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to FredRydr For This Useful Post:

    Chrissy (January 27th, 2021), Detman101 (January 26th, 2021), Ole Juul (January 26th, 2021)

  28. #117
    Senior Member Fermata's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    488
    Thanks
    187
    Thanked 598 Times in 298 Posts
    Rep Power
    8

    Default Re: Sudden skyrocketing prices on ebay auctions

    Quote Originally Posted by FredRydr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Chrissy View Post
    Shipping cost is absolutely the first thing I look at. If it's either ridiculous or Global Priority I just press the back button with no regrets.
    I had a pen transaction just after eBay's global shipping had gone into effect, a "choice" eBay had then imposed by default. My buyer was charged well over US$100 for shipping to The Netherlands without me even seeing it as seller. The buyer contacted me accusing me of ripping him off, and I had to ask him to email me his eBay invoice to understand what was going on. Once I saw it and done a bit of research, I had to undo the transaction, refund the monies, invite the buyer to quickly buy again, and I took care of shipping outside of eBay/PayPal for about US$13. I made sure Global never came into a transaction again, and eBay sure tried for a while.

    It was just another straw being placed on the eBay camel's back.
    I am too stoopid to use Global. I tried it once, I had two sales on ebay and put the wrong Global references on the parcels, undoing that mess turned my hair grey.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •