Thread: Lies,damned lies, and EBAY

Perhaps you should tell the woman at the antique store that you appreciate her research and that you will happily do your business directly with eBay in the future.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Well, I'd disagree with (c) (e.g. antique Eschers, Pumas, DDs, W&B meat choppers...) and (e) (most of the complaints about ebay relate to information assymetry IMHO). Then there's the whole macho "bidding war" thing...

Anyway, as a statistician I take great offense at the title of this thread. To actually equate by implication ebay and statistics is a slur on my profession! (Just joking, I'm not offended at all - but it *is* a slur on my profession ).

James.

Yep, pretty much.
The statistics thing... well, it only hurts because it's true!! The same is true of appraisals. My dad was an auctioneer in the days before the internet and E-Bay. Appraisals are like statistics in as much as it all depends on what the desired outcome is.
My Grandmother wanted an appraisal on an antique clock one time... asked my dad about it. He said, "do you want a high appraisal or low one?"... She didn't comprehend the question - "isn't the value the value?". Nope, obviously not. I'ts completely 100% subjective. Anyway, what he ended up telling her was that if she was looking to sell it, or insure it and wanted a high appraisal to go to guy "A". If she saw one that was similar and was looking to buy it to match a set and wanted the low appraisal, go to guy "B".
Kinda funny how the market works like that! LOL

(not all that different than KBB and Edmunds and Auto-Trader)

If you don't like the price , then don't pay it . Screw'em , let them go through the hassle of selling it on ebay . Maybe you can convince them that it would be easier for them to sell YOU the razor for less money , than for them to go to the trouble of selling it on ebay .

I apologize in advance... Grammar nazi warning. I normally wouldn't do this, but... I just can't stop myself (mostly because it changes the entire meaning of the sentence).
It should be "Than". Easier than going through the hassle...

Unless, of course, you meant that he should convince them to sell it to him, and once he's purchased it he would go through the trouble of selling it on e-bay.

Again, I'm REALLY sorry!

Originally Posted by dave5225

If you don't like the price , then don't pay it . Screw'em , let them go through the hassle of selling it on ebay . Maybe you can convince them that it would be easier for them to sell YOU the razor for less money , then go to the trouble of selling it on ebay .

No need to apologize . You're right , it did change the meaning of the sentence , and I've corrected it .

Thanks all! I feel a little better now. Jimbo, my stats instructor in college attributed that line, "There are lies. There are damn lies. And then there are statistics.", to Mark Twain. True?

Originally Posted by yul b. nekst

Thanks all! I feel a little better now. Jimbo, my stats instructor in college attributed that line, "There are lies. There are damn lies. And then there are statistics.", to Mark Twain. True?

That's where I've always heard it credited.

Yeah, that's who I've heard it attributed to as well, although I think the correct attribution should go to Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister (and wit) in the late 19th century. I think I read somewhere that Twain acknowledged the attribution, but could be wrong on that.

I hope your statistics instructor was using that quote to demonstrate the general ignorance in even the most urbane of the general public regarding the methods and techniques of statistics - in my experience it's the data that "lies", not the analytical techniques used.

Here endeth the lesson!

James.