What model is this? It looks like an equipoised set, but something seems off.
![Posted Image](http://fountainpenboard.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
Posted 07 May 2012 - 12:22 AM
Posted 07 May 2012 - 02:01 AM
http://cgi.ebay.com/...c#ht_500wt_1413
What model is this? It looks like an equipoised set, but something seems off.
Posted 07 May 2012 - 02:37 AM
It then proceeded to sell for $160 in as a BIN. Link for the skeptical
Posted 09 May 2012 - 05:55 AM
Edited by JB Apelbaum, 09 May 2012 - 05:55 AM.
Posted 09 May 2012 - 06:40 AM
I am sure that the seller would have been very upset to learn that their pen and pencil set would have likely fetched anywhere from $500 to $1,000 had the auction been allowed to run.
I don't think backchannel deal is the best description. Perhaps 'taking advantage' of a seller is a better phrase?
Regards,
Barry
Posted 09 May 2012 - 10:31 AM
Posted 09 May 2012 - 05:27 PM
Posted 10 May 2012 - 01:30 AM
Edited by JB Apelbaum, 10 May 2012 - 01:33 AM.
Posted 10 May 2012 - 01:52 AM
Hi all,
My earlier comments were not a criticism of any of the previous posts on this thread. It was a criticism, for which I invite opinions, about the ethics of backchannel offers. Without digressing into the philosophy of the 'free market', it's my opinion that there is something intuitively wrong with the scenario whereby:
SNIP
Barry
Posted 10 May 2012 - 02:05 AM
Posted 10 May 2012 - 02:22 AM
What is the original Whal set worth?
I caught a guy trying to sell a Hemingway for a stupid price. I stopped him. He still sold it for a stupid price but $1000 more than when I caught him.
I just bought a cordovan DJ for $35 (it is missing a cap), via back channel.
Do the research. Consult an expert. Or, live and let live.
Posted 10 May 2012 - 02:04 PM
Posted 10 May 2012 - 03:51 PM
Leaving the ethical issue to the side for the moment, what I think galls so many of us when we see a backchannel deal of this sort is the loss of the opportunity to get our bids in. If we weren't in the running, I don't think we'd care much at all. The outrage may be expressed in terms of how the seller got shafted, but the real outrage is over other bidders being shut out.
I put in a lot of bids on eBay, and if I were to write to each seller and either offer a backchannel deal or ask them to give me a chance before accepting a backchannel deal, that just would not be practical. Even if I were to use a boilerplate template for each message, it still takes a good amount of time to click through to send it. I suppose if backchannel deals became a big enough problem, I'd have to make the time. Nonetheless, it is a considerable added hassle, that does take time that could be spent more profitably searching and bidding on other items.
Posted 10 May 2012 - 09:52 PM
Posted 11 May 2012 - 02:32 AM
Edited by FarmBoy, 11 May 2012 - 02:32 AM.
Posted 11 May 2012 - 05:24 AM
I always enjoy this debate and it seems to come up regularly on collector boards. I rarely participate in the debate.
Instead of talking about it I propose everyone have some fun with my four step plan.
1: Sign up for a new ebay account.
2: List a valuable pen (>500 USD) with a 99 cent starting bid -- toss in a few shaky pictures and for fun use the 'I know nothing about pens' or 'I'm cleaning out grandma's house' ploy.
3: Wait for the low ball offers.
4: Cancel the listing leaving everyone wondering.
You will learn a lot.
Todd
Posted 13 May 2012 - 11:32 PM
Posted 14 May 2012 - 01:53 AM
I wouldn't really call it unethical when it comes to making buy it now offers. Reason being is that the person I purchased the Wahl set from probably paid no more than $20 for it. For him, the deal was great, making over $100 profit.
That being said, if I had the means to pay full retail, I would. I am only 17, and being so young I can't compete with the older collectors.
-Gabriel
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users