I did irritate someone on Ebay. I asked questions about shipping, dents, red rot, tears, tubing length etc. on an old Besson and they answered cheerfully. I then asked them to check the valve compression by pulling the slides. They wrote back and said:
They went on to say that since they didn't know how to pull a slide tube and listen to see if it makes a popping sound, they didn't feel comfortable having me bid on the horn.We appreciate your inquiry on the Tuba, we are offering for sale on eBay, as our ad states we do not play tuba, and are really not that knowledgeable on brasswinds, to be qualified to answer your numerous questions. Rather than disappoint you, on any miss information, we may render, we believe it to be behooving to both parties, if you don't bid on this instrument.
I give them credit--most sellers just blow me off if I ask questions that they can't answer, or don't want to answer. Still, I've never had anyone tell me not to bid because I wanted to know the playing condition of the instrument!