11 replies to this topic

[JonSzanto]

As the topic says. I came across this the other day and thought "How in the hell do they expect anyone to have an idea of the condition of this pen?" I'm sure the thought never crossed their mind. Have you seen any really bad auction photos?

[david i]

As the topic says. I came across this the other day and thought "How in the hell do they expect anyone to have an idea of the condition of this pen?" I'm sure the thought never crossed their mind. Have you seen any really bad auction photos?

Bad photos are like love for family. There can be no limit

In fact, I've done pretty well buying ebay pens with bad pics. Couple key questions and off to the races.

d

[JonSzanto]

I assumed as much, David. And it isn't like I can't suss it out if I was curious. I was simply struck by the resemblance to photos of "cigar-shaped objects" that seemed to appear over New Mexico in the late 50's. Chuckle-inducing.

[penmanila]

ah, yes, some of my best ebay buys have come out of indescribably bad photos. one of them was a clean, working vacumatic major with a fat stub nib (i discerned the nib even through the haze, because it seemed like a big blur at the tip), which nobody else wanted and which i got for $29. i must say that it's deeply annoying on the one hand to be faced with such sloppy advertisements--and, perhaps perversely, also quite thrilling to analyze the pics with all the attentiveness of a CIA analyst looking at U-2 photos from the cuban missile crisis. (that said, i'll take crisp, clear shots over cloudy enigmas anytime )

Edited by penmanila, 08 May 2012 - 05:14 AM.

[David Nishimura]

It's like buying pens underwater, with no mask or goggles!

Hmm, a possible new reality show . . . .

[Hugh]

At least it's better than no photo !! I've bought the odd few from a bad photo with mixed results...I've also bought from a really good photo only to have a very different pen delivered!!

Regards
Hugh

[John Danza]

At least it's better than no photo !! I've bought the odd few from a bad photo with mixed results...I've also bought from a really good photo only to have a very different pen delivered!!

Regards
Hugh

I just had the same experience. There was a pen on eBay advertised as a Parker Lucky Curve that was "yellow and brown" with a BIN of $5. Since the shipping was only $4, I figured that it wasn't much of a gamble for $9 and I could probably get some decent parts out of it. I was hoping in the back of my mind for a Mandarin Lady with discolored blind cap. Here's what I got (sorry for the hurried crappy photo):




I guess the yellow was the cap band and the brown was the cap and body. At least the last part is correct. But all is not lost. This is a 1926 pre-Duofold Jade with the proper Lucky Curve nib. I'll re-sac it and put it back on eBay and see what happens.

[matt]

Here's a Shadow Wave with a BIN of $99. Color? Who knows. The photo is just plain weird - only the crap in the background is in focus.


And my current favorite, a fuzzy Sheaffer pencil being sold "as is." This is the second time it's been listed with a starting bid 99 cents (gee, I wonder why?) and the seller won't respond to my question as to what is the second pencil, or parts therof, behind it.

Edited by matt, 24 May 2012 - 05:34 PM.

[BrianMcQueen]

Here's a Shadow Wave with a BIN of $99. Color? Who knows. The photo is just plain weird - only the crap in the background is in focus.

Has anyone purchased any pens from this guy? I've seen a lot of his listings, and they always have bad pictures just like this one. It's a shame, because they are generally nice pens if their condition is any good.

[Greg Minuskin]

Well, I guess it is a bad image, but if taken with an infra-red camera, well pretty good then

[Brian]

I, too, usually keep the wd-40 near my scale.

[LedZepGirl]

These make me feel better about my less than professional pen photos. I hate both of my digital cameras, auto-focus is more of a hassle than a help.