Thread: eBay Experiment, Redux

Originally Posted by Theseus

I personally stay away from almost all ebay auctions that call the razor "shave ready". My reasoning is that who knows what they did to the razor to make it "shave ready".

I am KINDA the same way. I just disregard the "shave ready" part, and if the pictures are good enough, and the edge looks ok, I can always hone it myself...which I usually do anyway :P

Too many people on there putting shave ready on there that know nothing about honing a razor. Got one razor that didn't have a flat bevel...the "bevel" was convex, and wouldn't even cut arm hair. But now, after a total bevel reset, that baby is one of my best shavers

At the time it was coined the term "shave ready" meant exactly what it said, and then the usual happened, the term was abused by the subpar and now has no meaning whatsoever unless used by those "in the know".

It ended at $38.50, which is a fair amount below what I would have valued that particular razor at.
I think, for me, this auction is a good illustration of why appraisals are so difficult. Granted, for a valid study of prices vs. my expectations, I would need to do a lot more auctions...

The winning buyer sent me a really nice message. Thanks to him, and congrats on winning the auction!

That sucks, I'd have expected it to sell for more given the lack of hone wear, really nice and rare horn scales and the shave-ready edge on it, and especially given the amount of money worse razors sold at the same time, like say
Vintage Frederick Reynolds Shefield razor SHAVE READY | eBay
or Vintage, Short "King's Double Temper" Razor, XL shave, More Manuverable, NICE | eBay
or Vintage Otto Busch 137 World Master Solingen Germany Straight Razor Rare | eBay

In my limited experience selling on ebay, non honed straights seem to fetch about the same amount as honed (shave ready) straights.

Troubling times indeed. I found the prices vary amongst the str8s, not the best indicator of honeability, brand-name prestige, overall condition, etc. Of course, the stuff I've procured were entirely my fault. The prices on these items is looking more unbalanced. At a local antique "show" (small assortment of antique dealers within a mall) I found an "SSA" made in Eskilstuna that was unmarked (everything else was) and he said "ahh, eskilstuna, sweden, eh? Well.. that's gonna be around... twenty dollars." This guy had no idea about it's condition, the brand/rarity, etc. he just makes it up. W&Bs that sell for ungodly sums on the 'bay? 20. I was there the end of the first day (fri-sun), came in around 1pm of the middle day, saw it snatched up by a smart young member here, and knew the dealer was out some dough. Stupid prices on badly damaged razors, too.

This may be only one result in an experiment, but I don't have confidence that the bidding masses really value the work done on the razors, nor the individual particularities that make for easy re-honeability (i.e unwarped spines/bad grinds). Welcome to Loserville.

Significantly less than you'd have bid for it? Or significantly more than you expected to recieve for it? I've noticed in my own buying, and selling, I always expect more for something than I'm willing to give for the very same item. I'd have thought it'd go a bit higher myself, but that's the nature of an auction. You just never know. Now I wonder what would have happened if you'd have put a 40 dollar BIN. Likely it wouldn't have sold at all. But just as likely I'd have bought it with 6 days, 23 hours, and 58 minutes left on the auction. To the detriment of your experiment ofc, but not to my own.

This thread is very interesting. I have a razor I paid 44 bucks for on Eboy. I learned of it right here! Guys were all over it, Go Figure!

I would of bid more Eric, but I had my money riding on another auction before I knew about yours. I been wanting that particular Wilbert for quite some time.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I would of bid more Eric, but I had my money riding on another auction before I knew about yours. I been wanting that particular Wilbert for quite some time.

No worries. I am certain it went to a good home.

I will keep my eyes open for another one - if I find one, I'll be sure to let you know.