eBay "alerts"

[Donn]

Surprised it doesn't come up more often. In other vaguely similar contexts, this issue is so contentious that an eBay forum would be unlikely to even exist. I think it may be different for us due to a generally less competitive bidding environment. If nothing else, people who are prone to buying on a whim or getting into bidding wars are going to buy only a limited number of tubas, for space reasons alone.

I probably wouldn't set up anything myself, but I'm sure some of us would be happy to learn more about using ebay's search facilities to apprise us of particularly interesting items.

[fairweathertuba]

It would probably be better to point out interesting horns that people might like to gawk at after the auction is completed.

[Donn]

Better for some, worse for others. What I was kind of getting at (late gig + early post) is that if say, tricyclists commonly haunt ebay looking for tricycles, then alerts to the tricycle bulletin board are more injurious than helpful.


Open water sailors on the other hand probably buy relatively few sailboats per lifetime and (I'm just guessing) have no reason to check ebay in the normal course of events, so an alert reaches an audience that really wouldn't know about it otherwise.


Tubas would seem to me to be more in the latter category, for the average Tubenet reader.

[Tubaryan12]

I completely understand those SELLING items on eBay posting "eBay alerts", but (for the life of me) I really don't understand others doing it.

More traffic to the auction site could easily result in more bids and thus a higher price...so these "eBay alerts" are "helping" members of tubenet by causing them to pay higher prices for items...(??)

how about this: If we (you or I) know someone specific who might be interested in an item, we send 'em a p.m. Otherwise, why run up the prices to the tubenet community by offering anonymous sellers free advertising?

Surely, 99% of tubenet members (who are also signed up for eBay) know how to use the eBay search engine without these ("good sam"...??) "eBay alerts".

I believe it is done because TubeNet is the clearing house for all things tuba. Good Samaritan posts alert those who may not have much interest in regularly searching ebay for items they may potentially be willing to bid on. They only drive up the price if more than one person is interested, and they are willing to bid . The only negative is it prevents the person that wanted to get it at the lowest possible price from doing so. So, at least on my scorecard, these posts seem to do more good than harm. YMMV

[Levaix]

Was just wondering about that myself a while back. I know if I had an eye on a tuba and someone posted it here, I'd be ticked.

[Dan Schultz]

I enjoy the 'ebay alerts', Joe. They save me a lot of time searching through Ebay for interesting stuff!

[bisontuba]

Hi-
I do list things that I see on eBay when I am browsing on there and see horns that I think folks might be interested in. I see on Tubenet just how hard it is for folks to sell horns these days, and some times they post them on eBay, and other times the horns that show up on the bay are fresh. If it helps anyone acquire a horn or help someone sell their horn,then why not?
It is not like the old days when I had antique "pickers" call me when early horns showed up--the Internet and eBay have changed everything.....

Mark

[tofu]

I appreciate the alerts as while there are a few things I'd like to pick up, I don't have the time to search Ebay on a regular basis. I've been able to buy a couple of things because of the alerts here and I very much appreciate the heads up from other TubeNetters.

Your complaint is like the ones you hear at Estate Sales from the Professional Dealer crowd who get their shorts all tied up in knots when some member of the public dares buy something at a higher price then the dealer is willing to pay in order to make the dealer's Keystone or higher markup when the dealer resells. The member of the public is thrilled at their good fortune of paying a lot less than the dealer would charge. How is it bad for TubeNetters, especially if the seller is a Tubenetter (who gets a higher price due to more bidders) and the buyer is a TubeNetter (like me) who finds something they want and at a price their happy with paying?

I can appreciate the dealers point of view, but TubeNet is for the greater good of tuba players first and then the dealers (sponsors). And Joe you haven't been shy about posting your own "for sale Ebay items".

[Dan Schultz]

..... Your complaint is like the ones you hear at Estate Sales from the Professional Dealer crowd who get their shorts all tied up in knots when some member of the public dares buy something at a higher price then the dealer is willing to pay in order to make the dealer's Keystone or higher markup when the dealer resells. The member of the public is thrilled at their good fortune of paying a lot less than the dealer would charge. How is it bad for TubeNetters, especially if the seller is a Tubenetter (who gets a higher price due to more bidders) and the buyer is a TubeNetter (like me) who finds something they want and at a price their happy with paying?

I can appreciate the dealers point of view, but TubeNet is for the greater good of tuba players first and then the dealers (sponsors). And Joe you haven't been shy about posting your own "for sale Ebay items".

I set my Ebay limits based on what I think I can sell a horn for less what I think I will have to put into it to make it ready to sell. I certainly don't mind losing auctions. In fact... it gives me a better idea of exactly what folks might be willing to pay for such an item.

An Ebay purchase that does not require some degree of repair, cleaning, etc.... would be VERY rare!

[Donn]

Mmm, slab of bean curd ... I think I know what I'm making for dinner!

[Dan Schultz]

Mmm, slab of bean curd ... I think I know what I'm making for dinner!

Didn't there used to be a poster here with the moniker 'TOFU'?

[Donn]

That turned out pretty well if I say so myself. Dressed with sate trieu-chau, fish sauce, sesame oil, garlic granules, salt and smoked paprika, and broiled. With basmati rice, and spinach wilted with chopped mushrooms, onions, soy sauce, white and black pepper, sesame oil, vegetable oil.

[Tubaryan12]

Shhhhh....don't tell anybody......

I'm sure I'll win at least one: http://stores.ebay.com/Sprocketdog/_i.h ... id=4562042" target="_blank

[Uncle Buck]

FWIW, I didn't take the OP as a "complaint." More of an "I don't get it . . . "

My take on the issue is that for some, including the relatively small tuba community, eBay has become a spectator sport. Some who have no intention of bidding like to watch just for the entertainment value. And bringing more bidders to the table increases that entertainment value.

I'm not saying it "should" or "shouldn't" be that way, just offering one potential explanation to the OP.

[MartyNeilan]

There is more than likely an auction for a tuba ending withing the next 48 hours. You have been alerted