[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1336134375' post='1641370']
Most of the stuff I buy is old, and rarely seen, which is different, I can't go to Thomann or similar, so if I want it, and the price is sensible, get it bought.
A reserve wouldnt put me off at all. If I bid, and the reserve is higher, then I don't get it, simple. Often the seller contacts the high bidder anyway, and a compromise deal is done.
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ebays funny, some things go for big prices as there is a bigger group of potential customers- specialist stuff like vintage fender and the like
Other things go for less as a locally rare item is not so rare.
it changes the way we buy things. I recon there is a fair difference between vintage stuff (of anything) and new second-hand
Personally if people know how much the thing is worth and don't go over, and the seller knows how much the thing is worth and oesnt go much under then both are happy. shill bids or no shill bids.
for me, I have a load of the vintage star wars figures in my parents loft that I used to collect (secondhand, I wasn't born when they first came out.) they used to have a reasonable value- now easier availability due to ebay moves the price down. I should probably sell them but not sure it's worth my effort! shill or otherwise
on the otherhand the bush 1961 bush phono gramme I picked up serviced and working from the local secondhand shop I think would probably go for more on ebay. but there you go