Posted by Paul Reardon on July 04, 2001 at 13:00:06:
In Reply to: Re: ebay auction-berliner type cuffs posted by Stan Willis on July 04, 2001 at 12:00:22:
: Hi Paul and all:
: I would normally not comment on this, but I have a real problem with collectors discussing the value of an item that is still available on eBay. This could run the price up or keep it down, and either way it is against ebay rules and I feel it is a bad idea. I have no problem discussing values of items that are already sold. Anyone agree or disagree?
: Lately there has been several good cuffs that went on eBay and the auction was closed within a few hours. This is because some unethical collectors (several of them, who don't feel they are doing anything wrong) contact the seller and try to buy the item off of ebay. This is also against eBay rules, and you can lose your right to buy or sell on eBay if they find out about it. I have more thoughts on this, but don't think I should express them in a public forum. Let me hear your opinion.
: Stan
:
: : There is an auction running currently with a set of cuffs that have a berliner look to them, except that theyappear to have flexible- or segmented -bows. Any ideas about origin, dates of manufacture, value, etc. Thanks All--Paul
Stan and fellow collectors,
Stan, I think your probably right about commenting on the values. I have bid in an auction that was stopped because someone went right to the buyer and made an offer which was accepted. That is against ebay rules and I found it annoying. Sorry for the question about value. I assure you I didn't mean to manipulate an auction, nor intend to circumvent ebay policy by contacting the seller with an offer. I am still wondering about about the cuffs origin and so forth.....
No auction should be stopped because a seller was made an offer "too good to pass up." That is what the reserve price or opening price is for, I suppose.
Still,it would be a shame for someone to be taken for a lot of money by a seller claiming,for instance,an indian darby described as a "rare civil war" artifact, because no one felt free to discuss the item's authenticity. But it is buyer beware, after all.
Again, sorry all for asking about an item's value that is currently being auctioned----
Best Regards, Paul