Thread: Active Auctions

Great questions, not sure of the answers yet.

@ Toxic, what if several members were sniping? I only snipe lately. And then all the others will see the nice treasure... I am not saying you are wrong, just raising the issue. It's not that bad if a member sees this, but I suspect soon guests will just drop in for the heads up - maybe we can make this at least members-only / password protected - then we play by some kind of an honor code

For Thebigspendur: as a newbie, I really need / appreciate advice on open auctions... Maybe we can have a special place where only people who understand this and agree voluntarily to some conditions go there. E.g. an experienced member looking to help out a newb, not just to get intel to steal a deal without surfing

We need more discussion on these, maybe a poll?

Cheers
Ivo

Sniping is a sneak attack, pure and simple. Nothing wrong with it, I do it from time to time. However, if you don't have a bid in there, then it's not my fault for giving people the heads up on a gem.
When I was a newb, I consulted with Nenad on every purchase. Now I try to lend a helping hand the same way. However, this is done privately, via pm and msn with people who trust each other.
With that being said, I don't mind if someone bids against me. This is well known. So when I saw a member bidding on the same razor that I was bidding on, I PMd him my highest bid. Unfortunately he didn't get here in time to see it. This is not something I would usually do, but my interest in the razor wasn't personal. In any case if you're willing to put in more money than I am, then you can have it and enjoy it with my compliments.

I agree it is a problem for people to post an active auction asking for advice. I do think it brings the item to the attention of the group when the questions are asked. I do not think it will make the bids any higher though. There are very few diamonds hiding out there on ebay anymore. People who purchase on ebay have saved searches for the Pumas, Friodurs, Dorkos, etc. Those are going to be bid up anyway. There may be some good learning experiences for newbies getting advice as to what to look for and what not to buy. Maybe just posting the pictures from ebay without divulging the auction number would be a option.

That's the trick...people who are hung up on brand names probably won't get a great deal. The "brand name razors" are already well known, and will go high because of it. I have a few search words, and go through every listing individually, hoping to find that "diamond" people might've overlooked. I've found most razors made in England, U.S., France, Sweden, and Germany to be pretty good, so I don't pay much attention to the brand anymore...I look mainly for interesting grinds, heavy or unusual blades, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes it don't. Make friends with an older member and ask via PM. Most of the time, guys will answer with advice even if they don't know you. This is a good bunch of rubens.

Just a couple of points. I think there are many here or at least a few of us whose Ebay names are not the same as their names here and I'm one of them so in many cases if another member is bidding on a razor you won't know it anyway.

Also though many think there are no bargins on Ebay anymore I have found that if your patient and lucky every now and then a real gem just kind of falls into your lap. I've gotten several like a NOS puma 6/8s for $35.00 as an example.

I think posting just the picture from an auction without the number might be a good solution and of course the other is to PM people.

Originally Posted by urleebird

I'm not necessarily in disagreement. But would not this philosophy eliminate an experienced person from guiding new guys to a good ebay auction?

And what if the seller was one of us and nothing could be said? Would that not be taking the chance of a higher bid away from them?

Would limitations like that stifle the purpose of the dedicated forum on eBay auctions?

If someone wanted to know if they should bid on a specific razor and no one said anything because of a rule, how would we feel that the guy got stuck with a crappy razor?

Are these legitimate questions?

Ya, I agree with that. I also Agree that posting an auction can tune some into anothers potential sweet deal. But lets face it, thats life. It is rare when I am in favor of imposing restrictions of anykind, especially when the info is otherwise readily available.

I ain't been here that long, but I've been a reader, and collecting razors for a while. I have learned a great deal, a lot of which comes from questions referencing ebay auctions. It is a wonderful thing when one of the meisters points out a dudd or otherwise unmentioned flaws that might otherwise victomize a noob. I say keep it up! If I see a sweet deal on ebay, I assume at least all the members here who give a damn have seen it too. Im interest in the pair of tort. lunds mentioned on another thread...but I have to assume many others have seen it too. Obviously, I was correct. Dats de way it iz, IMO .

If a newbie, or anyone else, wants an opinion on a razor then they can always PM one of us. There will always be potential conflicts of interest but I would be willing to divulge such if it happened. My approach would be to say to the noob, yes, that is a good razor ( or not)and I already have decided to bid (or not) on it. But go ahead and bid against me, you just might win.
What I would discuss is the condition of the razor and anything I know about the brand. I would not divulge what I am going to bid.

Just my two cents,

The meeeen cruel thought is to let the new guys take their lumps
like we did (just how many Paki razors did I buy before anybody told
meeee??) There is something to be said for buying a crummy razor or
two just to get the hang of it..even if you are broke...
That said..I have pretty much given up on ebay..there are just enough of
us cognisconte (I hope I spelled that as incorrectly as possible) wafting
about ebay; that razors that even way back in my time (three years ago) were
going for under ten bucks now sell for under ten bucks. Or sometimes a lot
more. However the good stuff does tend to get bid up to the point of
"hands off ol jim".. I have started buying razors at gun and knife shows,
and from the ocassional estate sale...Or just saying the heck with it
and buying a good new Dovo or Timor...However given the love I have for
spending hours stooped over a hot set of hones it is ocassionally tempting
to buy an ebayzer on the hope that
1. It might actually have real steel in it, not somebodys 1952 Chevy bumper
2. It might clean up to the point that it is nice to look at
3. Maybe just maybe after hours of patient honing, and stroping, and squinting
at the thing through strong magnification with lots of light..I might apply said
steel to the end of my skin..upper part...facial area......withour drawing
blood, and with some expectation of the removal of dermal hair cleanly, and
painlessly...
but then on the otherhand Nah.. stuff like this never happens anymore...

jim living in fantasy land of GOld Bar