Thread: Air your grievances here...

As antique razors have time travelled forward into modern day with much desire, and the rampant ads on selling sites, I bet there are quite a few horror/heartbreak stories here. I just experience my first true 'straight' inspired WTH?! I inquired about an ad on kijij about a 35 yr old collection of razor stuff - the owner was downsizing. The seller had a wide array of straights (25 of them), DEs, and all sorts of blades etc. for $500. I wasn't too sure what the collection entailed; there were no pictures. I inquired about 'splitting' the set to buy only the straights and at first, the wife, emailed me and said it was no problem to split it up. She then emailed me back a few days later stating it's 'all or nothing' and 'you need to do it soon.' I requested pics and got some very unclear pics of crap, and no straights. I kept asking for them and I got a pic with an overview (no closeups) shot. From the 20 or so in the pic, a dubl duck gold edge was the only thing I really wanted, but was willing to entertain buying the lot if there were some more gems in there. I got numerous emails stating "$500, cash only, no less!" and "all or nothing." I drove an hour and a half to get there and there were no straights AT ALL!. The owner had apparently 'forgotten' them at home (meet up was at a yard sale and his house was 30km away). This led to a series of missed opportunities and a lot of gas being wasted, but this email is long enough. I did pick up a 6/8 W&B, but still think the whole incident was a waste of time. I know it's buyer beware, and you take risks but this was just ...stupid. Anyone care to commiserate? ...any tips on how to prevent stuff like this happening or buying crap on eBay?

Originally Posted by rickpalisoc

As antique razors have time travelled forward into modern day with much desire, and the rampant ads on selling sites, I bet there are quite a few horror/heartbreak stories here. I just experience my first true 'straight' inspired WTH?!

I inquired about an ad on kijij about a 35 yr old collection of razor stuff - the owner was downsizing. The seller had a wide array of straights (25 of them), DEs, and all sorts of blades etc. for $500. I wasn't too sure what the collection entailed; there were no pictures. I inquired about 'splitting' the set to buy only the straights and at first, the wife, emailed me and said it was no problem to split it up.

She then emailed me back a few days later stating it's 'all or nothing' and 'you need to do it soon.' I requested pics and got some very unclear pics of crap, and no straights. I kept asking for them and I got a pic with an overview (no closeups) shot. From the 20 or so in the pic, a dubl duck gold edge was the only thing I really wanted, but was willing to entertain buying the lot if there were some more gems in there.

I got numerous emails stating "$500, cash only, no less!" and "all or nothing." I drove an hour and a half to get there and there were no straights AT ALL!. The owner had apparently 'forgotten' them at home (meet up was at a yard sale and his house was 30km away). This led to a series of missed opportunities and a lot of gas being wasted, but this email is long enough.

I did pick up a 6/8 W&B, but still think the whole incident was a waste of time. I know it's buyer beware, and you take risks but this was just ...stupid. Anyone care to commiserate? ...any tips on how to prevent stuff like this happening or buying crap on eBay?

I can't think of anything in particular right off the top of my head. If I'm dealing with a seller who is not forthcoming with details, photos, and trying to get me to do it NOW, I get uncomfortable and I don't let my desire overcome my suspicion.

I knew a guy who worked in phone rooms selling sizzle with no steak. He said the principle he worked with was 'greed, safety, and urgency.' A big payoff, absolutely guaranteed not to fail, and you have to do it now. So I always am gunshy around that sort.

BTW, I quoted your text hitting the enter key to break it up for ease of reading. On long posts it is a good idea or some won't have the patience to read it all bunched up.

The blurry pics should have been a dead giveaway on the events to come. I would have backed off right then. At least you got a W&B!

I had a bad encounter from a seller on eBay. I looked at the pics he had posted. In one pic there appeared to a very small crack in the blade. I asked him if there was one. He said no.... His photo skills weren't the greatest and it was a reflection from something in the background. Well.... I won the item. It shipped to me. I opened it up..... And sure enough...A CRACK in the blade! I checked the area of the crack and a little bit of pressure...snap! Now it had a huge chip. To make a long story short.... He was mad as hell and I got a full refund. He should have said there was a crack in it to begin with. Still ticks me off to this day about sellers like that guy. An antique dealer he called himself..... More like a BS dealer!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I can't think of anything in particular right off the top of my head. If I'm dealing with a seller who is not forthcoming with details, photos, and trying to get me to do it NOW, I get uncomfortable and I don't let my desire overcome my suspicion.

I knew a guy who worked in phone rooms selling sizzle with no steak. He said the principle he worked with was 'greed, safety, and urgency.' A big payoff, absolutely guaranteed not to fail, and you have to do it now. So I always am gunshy around that sort.

BTW, I quoted your text hitting the enter key to break it up for ease of reading. On long posts it is a good idea or some won't have the patience to read it all bunched up.

"sizzle with no steak" hilarious. Thanks for the formatting tip. Its a bad habit.

Originally Posted by Willisf

The blurry pics should have been a dead giveaway on the events to come. I would have backed off right then. At least you got a W&B!

I had a bad encounter from a seller on eBay. I looked at the pics he had posted. In one pic there appeared to a very small crack in the blade. I asked him if there was one. He said no.... His photo skills weren't the greatest and it was a reflection from something in the background. Well.... I won the item. It shipped to me. I opened it up..... And sure enough...A CRACK in the blade! I checked the area of the crack and a little bit of pressure...snap! Now it had a huge chip. To make a long story short.... He was mad as hell and I got a full refund. He should have said there was a crack in it to begin with. Still ticks me off to this day about sellers like that guy. An antique dealer he called himself..... More like a BS dealer!

YES! Antique dealers are a different breed. And yea, the W&B purchased from a real 'antique dealer' is a nice silver lining...

If you ask a question and get blurry answers then it's time to ask, " do you really want to sell this or not ? "

If a seller, no matter what I'm looking to buy, hits me with that pressure sells pitch "There is someone else interested so you need to decide" I simple say "OK, let them have it" and I'm done. You will find out real quick if they are lying or not. If he says "Wait a minute" I know he was lying to me, I'm still not interested because I won't deal with that type.

Bottom line; if they are in a hurry to sell something is wrong!

As a buyer and seller personally myself If I were selling a razor I would bend over backwards and give you as much detail and information as you required, if the deal doesn't feel right it probably isn't right walk away.

It is like replying to posts here with no pictures. I ask for them. Until I get clear pics your dead to me.
We arent talking $20. You want to get paid? Clear pictures or I will walk.
Go hunting proper and stop at all the garage sales and estate sales.
Know the neighborhoods where all the old people live.
New Mc Mansions & 2 story condos dont often yield straights.