[modeleng] eBay was Loco

At 08:04 PM 9/14/06 +0100, you wrote:
>perhaps I have been lucky or just observant - Dave

     Methinks it takes a sprinkling of the former and a soaking in the
latter.  Yes there is always some element of chance but I have picked up
some superb deals on eBay by knowing (and accepting) what the fair (or even
unfair) market value is, by asking questions, by being willing to walk away
from a item that I have doubts about, and by simply being patient.
     Someone else said once that sometimes, for some people, the "bargain"
of eBay is having the opportuntiy to bid on it at all, as the likelihood of
it ever coming up for sale in a local marketplace is virtually nil.
      My best eBay bargain was a US-made Troyke BH-9 (9") rotary table.
After monitoring eBay for over a year, and considering all brands and sizes
(within reason), I learned the Troyke 9 had been discontinued for many
years but they did appear on eBay on occasion and sold very quickly for
between $200 and $400, depending upon condition.  I watched and waited.
       Eventually a rather poorly photographed one appeared but after a
week had not made $100.  I emailed and asked questions about its condition
and "heritage."  A fellow responded to say he was cleaning out the back
room of his grind shop prior to retirement and it was dirty but hadn't been
used for years and was in good condition.  I had a good feeling about it
(the luck part) so I decided to take a chance and won it for $150.00 (plus
$25 shipping.)  Upon arrival it looked awful under a heavy coating of grime
but disassembly and a scrub in parafin exposed a tool made in 1953 which
was essentially new.  Thus I ended up with a tool that was in better
condition than I had ever seen up for bid at a price that was below the
lowest I had seen bid.


Regards,
Harry Wade
Nashville  Tennessee

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