And I want an LP by the British "post-punk" band The Slits. And a 10-incher by a guy who sings with his hand over his mouth--one Max Shrager, who looks, in his publicity photo, like he's sitting on a pile of broken dinner plates. Brilliant, brilliant marketing.
I've made over 2,000 eBay purchases. eBay used to generate very useful recommendations based on those purchases. Now they have "Today's deals," "Trending on eBay," and other useless crap. Have these folks forgotten that they sell mostly used stuff? Are they out of their minds? I'm serious. Are they?
6 comments:
They want to sell new stuff, compete with Target & Walmart. Anything I find cheap on there anymore charges some exorbitant fee for shipping. I try to stick my local junk unless I'm after something really specific.
You used to be able to find good deals on 78s These day many have an OPENING bid of $15-$20. Pllleeease!
Ernie,
Yeah, eBay must be run by a major moron. New stuff is the antithesis of eBay. Someone comes in and decides to obliterate the thing that makes eBay eBay. Unreal, but so common. I'm using eBay less and less. Good deals show up, and there are still a few sane dealers (including record sellers who actually know what a record is), but mostly it's someone's idea of a sick joke. And I never buy anything new from there--you can ALWAYS, 100 percent of the time, find better deals on new stuff elsewhere. Always. "It's eBay, so it must be a good deal" is the fallacy. Dealers take advantage of it. Btw, I'm not knocking all eBay dealers, but the decent ones must feel pretty shitty at this point. I feel bad for them. I've gotten so much great stuff from eBay, and my thanks to all the great dealers I've bought from. But their days are numbered. Why do good things have to die?
rev.b,
I hear you. It's downright stupid. Shellac is still very, very common--so much of it was made. It ain't worth those idiot prices. Hell, I got most of my 1920s gospel sides from 'Bay--but that was then. By the way, there's a dealer named Bart--I think his handle is Bartrade--and his opening bids are in the $2-3 range. He's a relic of the old eBay. I truly hope he hangs on. Try to find him. A handful of others are selling 78s at sane prices, but most are asking a fortune, as you note. Who in hell is paying those prices?? Anyone? Jeez.
Oh I know Bart. He's one of the VERY few sellers I still buy from. I think I may have known him pre-eBay. There were around a half dozen dealers who had mailing lists I subscribed to. His prices are most always reasonable and the service and packing is always top rate. I'm like you though, I use eBay less and less. One look at my basement would let any sane person know I don't need anymore records, but at least I horde things that I enjoy.
Here's my current fave ebay absurdity;
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-RCA-VICTOR-ITALIAN-RED-SEAL-Shellac-ish-Enrico-Caruso-RCA-2sided-VINTAGE/192694452966?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I appreciate it's a ltd edition and all, but....
Yes, I've seen that one. Some folks will claims dealers do such things to get attention, but I honestly think an epic level of ignorance could be at work.
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