I had to chime in, too. She seems clueless but nice enough. I'm glad I wasn't snotty. I sent her this:
Welcome to eBay! A helpful hint: Save yourself some time, trouble, and listing fees by doing minimal research right here on eBay before listing an item and you'll have a much more enjoyable time here. Try doing a search for the item you wish to list, i.e. 'perry como 78 record' and you'll learn what you need to know about your item to create a realistic listing, as well as an idea of a starting bid that might get a bite. For example, your Perry Como record is from the 40's, not 'early 1900s', and is not in very god condition at all -- the greying of the grooves in the loud passages, plainly visible in your pictures, means this record was played to death with an old, worn needle and too heavy a tonearm. In mint condition, it would be worth about 5 to 8 dollars, as Perry Como is not particularly interesting nor collectible. In G- condition, it's not worth postage to ship it. eBay is a great place to learn -- there's no doubt you'll have a great time here. Again, welcome! I don't know why we bother, lol. We'll see if she gives me the 'appraisers' nonsense, which I frankly think she's making up. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mgraziano1" <[email protected]> To: "'Antique Phonograph List'" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 2:45 PM Subject: [Phono-L] FW: Question for item #180019231614 - Perry Como- RCAVictor Phonograph- early 1900s? > The reply, and my response. I thought it was amusing, but I feel bad for > people who get ripped off by appraisers who justify their fees by > inflating > the value of the items they are looking at. Who wants to pay someone $50 > to > tell them they have a $2.99 album, especially if they already paid $5.00 > for > it? > > > > What I've learned on this list as a lurker is worth thousands of > "appraiser" > dollars!!! However, I may have embellished a little on the below... > > > > Mike > > > > > > < [email protected] wrote: > > > > > "Thank you for your input. I had two antique appraisers tell me that this > item is worth twice as much as my auction price. I am new to this and > don't > have much of a clue but I thank you for noticing." > > > > _____ > > From: Mgraziano1 [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 2:38 PM > To: '[email protected]' > Subject: RE: Question for item #180019231614 - Perry Como- RCA Victor > Phonograph- early 1900s? > > > > Trust me. '78s aren't worth nearly what people imagine. Millions upon > millions of them were made, and many have been saved because of perceived > value. > > > > Just look at some of the completed auctions on eBay. The last album on > eBay, which was exactly the same as yours (item number 190017566783) > didn't > sell at $0.99. On eBay, look for completed auctions to determine a good > starting value for your auctions. It will save you wasting your insertion > fee, which at a $149.99 starting auction price was more then the value of > the album (probably about $2.50 if I remember correctly). Completed > auction > will be worth more to you than anything you might have paid an appraiser > (I > hope you didn't pay them). > > > > Perry Como was born on May 18, 1912 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania so the > album, at a minimum is from the mid to late 30s. And RCA didn't acquire > Victor until 1929. I believe the "copyright" is for the "Victor Record > Label", not the music. > > > > As an aside, someone on the Phono-l Collectors group, which has some of > the > most experienced collectors in the states, posted your auction link with > the > following: > > > > "mmmm.........I know he's passed away but............................. > > > > I can see why they have no feedback at these prices!" > > > > If you have a good deal of phonograph related items from this estate sale, > I > recommend you join the group and get a better idea of value first. > Especially if you have machines. > > > > Best, > > > > Michael > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > [email protected] > > Phono-L Archive > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org/archive/ > > Support Phono-L > http://www.cafepress.com/oldcrank >
