Self-Proclaimed Tape Experts on eBay

[Beck]

Gotta love 'em.

Unfortunately some poor soul isn't going to spot the problem with these tapes and will no doubt drop by here sooner or later asking us what's wrong with his/her machine.

Test your knowledge... can you spot the problem?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140366476234

By the way, if you buy this tape you're a dumbass!

 

[FALKEN]

Nice catch, 1992 tape, sticky. You must be on this because I was looking for quantegy maybe a couple hours ago and didn't see this, because the price is good, if it is indeed quantegy, which it isn't. However, nowhere on that page do I see them proclaiming to be experts. In fact, it says this "We are a professional eBay listing service. " I do think it is funny that they are showing the ampex logo next to a ruler - what do they think they're measuring?

Anyway,

Beck you are the real expert around here, and since I know you have a fostex, and are an expert, do you mind taking a minute to look at my fostex thread below????

 

[cjacek]

Nice catch, 1992 tape, sticky.

Not only that but it's in a Quantegy box dated 2005!

 

[samth3mancgp]

Wow.. I recognized that 92 number on the box. I think I found out about that numbering system on a thread at audiokarma about sticky shed. The auction looks very legitimate and somebody is probably going to buy it. I know I would probably be the poor schmuck buying if I hadn't gotten some old tape with the machines I have. Thank god I haven't wasted any money on sticky tape. Only on bad machines

Trying to get into this analog stuff sure makes me appreciate how simple and convenient digital makes things. Analog is confusing and difficult. I hope it will get easier with time though.

 

[Beck]

... nowhere on that page do I see them proclaiming to be experts.

Ah, but see, I never miss a thing.

The following statement in the listing claims knowledge or expertise about the product, which by the way they are wrong about.

"While the reel is marked AMPEX, both labels on the box and reel are marked with the number 456-273111 - referring to Quantegy."

At best they have bad information, and at worst they are deliberately misleading potential buyers. Both Ampex and Quantegy used the same product numbering system. 456-273111 is the designation for 1/2" 456 on a metal reel in a setup chipboard box and has been since before Quantegy acquired Ampex. That number has nothing to do with the tape being Quantegy as opposed to Ampex. In my book they are stepping out of their role as a simple eBay listing service and into the realm of claiming they know something about tape. See what I mean?

Anyway,

Beck you are the real expert around here, and since I know you have a fostex, and are an expert, do you mind taking a minute to look at my fostex thread below????

All my open-reels are Tascam and Akai, but sure I'll be happy to look through that thread and see if something jumps out at me. But I think A Reel Person and Ghost both probably know more about Fostex machines than I do.

~Tim

 

[FALKEN]

Beck, I see what you are saying. that is misinformation for sure. I'll tell you what though, I really try to avoid auctions that have all that "fine print" at the bottom which takes up a page or more. Especially when they write more about the sales policy than about the item.

On the other hand they are listing them at $25 per reel buy it now which may be below market price on ebay for 1/2" quantegy 456, but is still a rip off for sticky tape.

 

[miroslav]

I really try to avoid auctions that have all that "fine print" at the bottom which takes up a page or more. Especially when they write more about the sales policy than about the item.

Oh how I hate those fuckers!

They go on and on about their stupid eBay policy with all kinds of conditions...and how YOU MUST CONTACT THEM BEFORE BIDDING OTHERWISE THEY WILL CANCEL...and that payment must be done in 3 days otherwise the will cancel...blah, blah, blah.
You would think their life was hanging in the balance of the stupid auction they are doing.
Meanwhile...I usually pay everyone within 5 minutes of auction end...and then I'm waiting for 10 days to get my item from that same schmoe who has a strict policy.

I don't mind a paragraph stating some basic points...but when they have you scrolling down for 5 minutes with endless crap about their policy, and HUGE FONTS in all kinds of colors...I just pass over those guys.

 

[FALKEN]

And then they HOUND you to give them positive feedback. like, i don't get a gold star where I work every time I do something I'm supposed to do.....do you ?? do you really need 30,000 feedbacks saying "its legit, i got my stuff" ? do I really need to take 2 minutes out of my day to tell your potential bidders that the transaction went "satisfactory" when you already have 30,000 feedbacks?

 

[dodgeaspen]

This is one of the reasons I call it Junkbay. It has that true ring to it.

 

[Beck]

Oh how I hate those fuckers!

They go on and on about their stupid eBay policy with all kinds of conditions...and how YOU MUST CONTACT THEM BEFORE BIDDING OTHERWISE THEY WILL CANCEL...and that payment must be done in 3 days otherwise the will cancel...blah, blah, blah.
You would think their life was hanging in the balance of the stupid auction they are doing.
Meanwhile...I usually pay everyone within 5 minutes of auction end...and then I'm waiting for 10 days to get my item from that same schmoe who has a strict policy.

I don't mind a paragraph stating some basic points...but when they have you scrolling down for 5 minutes with endless crap about their policy, and HUGE FONTS in all kinds of colors...I just pass over those guys.

Oh man, those are the worst. It's like they think theirs is the only listing on eBay. Hell, I could read Mathew, Mark, Luke, John and half of Revelation faster than I could get through their endless list of terms. And some of them can be a bit scolding in tone, talking about how they've been burned before and won't take any shit in a manner of speaking. That's not the kind of thing you say to potential buyers in a listing... way TMI.

And most of the terms are redundant anyway, as much of it is standard eBay policy.

I don't sell much on eBay anymore but when I did the description was all about the item, informational but concise and I never sold anything I didn't know inside and out... no mystery items or surprises. Other than that it was just, "I accept paypal, postal money order and local pickup is welcome, whichever is most convenient." That's about it.

I sold a lot at back in the day, and usually for much more than the going rate for a given item. I'm sure people appreciated my in-depth knowledge about the items and my easygoing attitude. Over 500 transactions and counting, both buying and selling and only a couple problems in all that time.

I screwed up a couple times with shipping and both UPS and USPS screwed me up a few times, but over all things went pretty well. I will probably start selling on eBay again in the near future, but I got turned off by some of the new rules and policy changes. I don't respond well to manipulation and people twisting my arm. Well, I'm of mostly Scottish descent, and blue blood no less, so what can I say?

 

[FALKEN]

I have been trying to sell gear lately...I have some larger stuff on local craigslist, some inexpensive stuff in the ads here, some higher end stuff on gearslutz, I put some mail-able stuff on ebay, and tape op, and I have to tell you, it is dismal. Nobody is buying anything. prices are down hard. people on craigslist are trying to trade me for aquariums and paintball gear. I am an economist, FWIW, and I see danger in the secondary markets.

 

[Dr ZEE]

I am an economist..
.. I see danger in the secondary markets.

Danger to who? To him ?

Economists come in various flavors. Economists of certain flavor knew that it was just a matter of time from the day one.
When people stop using systems' paper notes, you know, that the "system" is terribly ill.

Independent markets are not a danger, they are rather a sign of fever period of an infected organism.
Fever is a part of the defence mechanism that provides a body with a chance to survive.

Take the aquarium, exchange it for a lobster, make a gourmet dinner. And then you can fire Ben once and for all. Life is good

 

[FALKEN]

danger meaning deflationary pressures

 

[Dr ZEE]

Gotta love 'em.

....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140366476234

By the way, if you buy this tape you're a dumbass!

That is an "interesting" case, Tim, nice catch
I personally have no problems what so ever with people selling what ever they want and asking what ever price they want, as long as they are honest and staight forward.
Well, there maybe a chance that this seller actually intentionally trying to mislead a buyer, but I think that he/she more likely simply has no idea what he/she is selling, yet presents it like he/she is an "expert" (well, kinda'...expert of a sort ) ...which means - dishonest. So anyway you cut it - the verdict is the same: "Booooooooooooooooooooooooo! "

Also, if that seller is intentionally trying to mislead a potential buyer, then in this case, I must say he sure has got a nerve and some balls ...heh heh heh , or is it "she" ?

 

[Dr ZEE]

danger meaning deflationary pressures

Uh, I see.
Well, there's a way out and it's pretty simple. Disconnect those pressure gauges and quit pretending like you are in control.
It may release the blood pressure as well at the end ... feels much better ...

 

[FALKEN]

I've lost enough money to the markets to know i'm not in control

 

[Beck]

danger meaning deflationary pressures

Yep, that's hit me in the wallet pretty hard. It's definitely a buyers market compared to a couple years ago. I have stuff that I simply refuse to sell because people don't want to pay anywhere near what it's worth. Yeah, I know that sentence sounded funny from an economist perspective because the market decides what things are worth, but you know what I mean.

IMO, it's a combination of less fun money in people’s pockets and even less people that know what the hell they're doing when it comes to sorting out equipment. My stuff is pristine, well taken care of and in perfect working order. But most eBayers just want the lowest price so they go for the piece of crap that they ultimately have to put hundreds of dollars into to get it running half as good as the one they should have bought from me in the first place.

Of course I understand lots of folks (me included) like to buy less than perfect stuff to tinker with and repair... that can be fun in its own right. But for people that want to make music first and foremost they just don't seem to have a clue. So anyway, I'm not going to sell something I've owned for 20 years, meticulously maintained, always under a dust cover when not in use for the same price as some dude who found the same item under his basement stairs, full of dust and dog hair... and mouse poop... and cat pee... well you know the drill.

So I'd rather store some of this stuff I don't need until the economy rebounds a bit. I’m not getting out of music by any means, I just have way too much stuff than one guy needs to get the job done.

The only thing that seems to be holding its value is tape, but I have noticed more auctions ending with no buyers for new tape lately, so maybe that will change and we can stock up... a guy can dream can't he. And unfortunately when it comes to certain types of tape we're competing with the "Audiophile" crowd not just other recordists. So we've got the whole collector mentality inflating the costs beyond reason. Right now cassette costs are through the roof and there's really no good reason for it other than panic and audiophile audiofoolery.

I'm not a professional seller on eBay... just a regular guy buying and selling, but I still managed to make a significant amount of extra income just a couple years ago. Those days are gone or at least on hold.

 

[miroslav]

I have been trying to sell gear lately...I have some larger stuff on local craigslist, some inexpensive stuff in the ads here, some higher end stuff on gearslutz, I put some mail-able stuff on ebay, and tape op, and I have to tell you, it is dismal. Nobody is buying anything. prices are down hard.

I did my big sale push on eBay back at the end of October...as I knew that was the last chance for any decent sales until maybe the springtime.

And even then...I had to cut all of my prices by 15%-20% than what I could have sold at a year ago. I even went with free shipping on all the items just to move them.
I ended up selling everything (about a dozen items, some small a few large and more expensive)...but I know I lost money.
Of course...having the stuff just sit around for another year or more wasn't going to guarantee me better sales. I figured I at least moved the stuff out, and ended up buying two new amps and some odds and ends.

But yeah...it's really crap out there trying to sell stuff...not to mention, the eBay costs and PayPal charges really add up a lot!

At least it's not a bad buyers market if you have the calms.

 

[FALKEN]

yes that is the upside,

I did buy one thing recently, that I probably would not have bought otherwise.

Now I have everything I'll ever need,

and if I can move the rest of this crap outta here....

I'll be done with changing my gear out.....seriously.

 

[Dr ZEE]

People like to buy cheap and sell high. I get that.

Some of those people get pissed after realizing that other people like to do the same thing. I don't quite get that.