8mm Forum: eBay prices

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Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on October 17, 2013, 02:37 AM:

Okay, this is decent digest, but that price is not in the range I would pay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390680857977&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on October 17, 2013, 02:53 AM:

Not sure about the comment "Red Monochrome", but even if the colour is OK the price is way out, not even a chance to make an offer.

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on October 17, 2013, 05:32 AM:

A euphemism for "Very badly faded to Red"?????

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on October 17, 2013, 11:48 AM:

I find Ebay pricing for films and projectors are often completely unrealistic recently and are getting worse. Many film prices are way above those of our regulat dealers. Ken Finch.

Posted by Brian Stearns (Member # 3792) on October 17, 2013, 02:22 PM:

I agree with the outrageously high prices for untested and junk projectors.Not to mention shipping prices

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 17, 2013, 02:41 PM:

There never sees to be any rhyme or reason to it.

I saw a feature length "Block-Heads" on E-bay about a month ago, unbid for 30 bucks.

I put a bid down fully expecting to be sniped, but it never happened.

I've seen 200 foot cartoons go for more than that!

Posted by Brian Stearns (Member # 3792) on October 17, 2013, 03:50 PM:

I agree with the outrageously high prices for untested and junk projectors.Not to mention shipping prices

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on October 17, 2013, 04:54 PM:

Of course, we do realise that it's the seller and not ebay that sets the price.

Posted by John Capazzo (Member # 157) on October 17, 2013, 07:53 PM:

The Car is a common digest. And it most definitely has lost at least 60% of it's color. The digest, IMO, is much better than the lousy feature; but at $124.00, he is out of his skull. It should be listed $100.00 less than that. Many sellers use "rare" when that alone can turn a bidder off. If I told him what's actually rare in super 8 digests, he wouldn't even know it was produced. He sells mainly Castle/U8, Columbia and Ken and he thinks they're rare.>>>shakes head

Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on October 18, 2013, 10:13 PM:

I'm the idiot that bought the print when he had it up for $99.99 Buy It Now. I just returned it to him because the color was beyond red... almost like the picture was fading along with the color. I had bought it mostly because it was Scope - something that isn't mentioned in the auction but you can see the "Widescreen" sticker on the box. The seller doesn't know much about film. I explained to him that the picture quality was bad with a horrible red tone and the film was worth much less than I paid. He apologized and gave me a refund.

Now he has relisted it...but... at a much higher price ($125.) He did refund my money so I don't want to trash him... but "Monochrome Red"... really? Well, I wish him luck but just wanted to inform everyone what the print is like.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on October 19, 2013, 01:21 AM:

I wonder how new young collectors do with prices going higher and higher. Most of us (I think) could buy films at reasonnable prices. We probably couldn't afford anymore some of our films at some presents prices.

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 03, 2015, 05:27 AM:

'Tarka the Otter' 400ft,from UK P&P £20!!!! what a mark up...
Tarka

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 03, 2015, 06:40 AM:

I'm in danger of repeating myself here but this is what I think, There are too many idiots listing totally unrealistic start prices, (& then they put 30-40£ on for postage), These people more than often are clueless and probably think they have something worth antique prices for. If you buy you buy at high risk.
I myself, (not the biggest ebay fan), use it to sell films and use my monies to buy more films, I have made my hobby self funding, if I didn't I probably would not be able to afford to buy new films. However, I do my utmost to list them with as much info as I can and at a minimum price that I want. Or if I think its a good title I'll start it reasonable and if it fly's then good luck that means I can buy more films but hopefully someone will be happy with what they were prepared to pay.
I see the seller of this item on this thread has removed it but by the sound of it the guy is a total tosser and clearly has no clue about what he is selling to ask that money for it and then find out that its useless, these people should be kicked off ebay. This is the down side of it.
I see there are quite a few 400 footer on there with stupid start prices that just get re listed time and time again, its simple to deal with this, do as I did with the two recent Rocky horror 400 footers that were listed for way over a 100 pounds each, I asked him if this price was correct or was it meant to be £10 as I stated to him this title was available from dealers for between 20-40, suffice to say I asked twice and he didn't reply. Nor have I seen them listed again. Just ask time and time again why the start price is high, eventually they may give up.

Posted by James Wilson (Member # 4620) on July 03, 2015, 06:59 AM:

Hi,

I`ve bought projectors off of ebay only once did a dud arrive I notified the seller and they returned the money, and let me keep the projector.
I`ve never bought any films, but lamps, drive belts, and various other cine stuff, all in all a good experience, but buyer beware!!!

Also if it was`nt for ebay there not many other places you can go, cine related shops are disappearing fast and they were not cheap either.
Good Hunting,
James.

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 03, 2015, 07:30 AM:

You've got to laugh, £20 economy delivery, for one 400ft reel, I'd want it delivered on a silver plater for that...
Mysterious Island

[ July 03, 2015, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: Steve Carter ]

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on July 03, 2015, 02:36 PM:

I assume that eBay has changed the rules once again.

I seem to recall that a few years ago sellers of movie films were being restricted by putting on the correct postage price as eBay thought they were DVDs and restricted the postage accordingly.

Has this odd rule now been rescinded? Can sellers put on any price they like?

Posted by Dan A. Caprio (Member # 2089) on July 03, 2015, 09:16 PM:

I believe that is the postage to the U.S. [Razz]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on July 03, 2015, 11:39 PM:

Postage to Belgium is 28,86 £ !

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on July 04, 2015, 02:52 AM:

I think everyone is of the same mind regarding postage cost, but that apart we shouldn't knock the prices that some of the items fetch on eBay. Who are we to judge what people should pay. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We might not be willing to pay these prices but obviously there are some that are happy to - and hopefully the trickle down effect might benefit us collectors in the long run?
Look at what the mortal remains of a Pathe Kok sold for:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PATHESCOPE-KOK-28mm-HAND-CRANKED-PROJECTOR-/311373162496?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=Bi1NbJdGa8DULLjTdYA2gWvzJJ0%253D &orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 04, 2015, 03:37 AM:

Terry you are right on that, its exactly what I'm saying, if people start sensible or low that's fine, what they actually go up to i guess is down to what people are prepared to pay, i guess at the end of the day if a film comes up and your bank account is loaded & money doesn't matter then you'll be prepared to pay Scilly money, but this thread points out idiots and brain-deads listing utter crap like a 400 footer, (and he doesn't state that it is faded) with a start price of over a hundred pounds, and just to make it even more of a comedy listing, they add £20 sometimes 30 or 40 to post it. [Big Grin]

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 04, 2015, 03:38 AM:

Dan A Caprio; said;I believe that is the postage to the U.S. No it's postage to UK from a seller based in the UK;cut and pasted from E-Bay;
Item location:United Kingdom £20.00 United Kingdom Economy Delivery (Royal Mail 2nd Class) for one 400ft reel...

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 04, 2015, 03:42 AM:

I think nearly everything on the planet, collectable or otherwise, has an approximate known "market value".

With this in mind, is it ethical or fair to anyone, naive or otherwise, to ask for example, 10 times what that known approximate "market value" is?

I think not... and this is quite rightly what Tom is getting at when he speaks of e bays often dubious reputation, as it clearly allows for the exploitation of certain goods to be sold for basically "whatever some mug is prepared to pay for it".

This is especially a concern for what may well be rarities but are in far from perfect condition.

400ft digests of rare titles are a prime example of such antics.

It differs slightly I would say when the goods are near mint and also rare, for example a mint print of the complete feature of "Independance Day , then it's very much a case of the goods having no real upper limit to its market value not just because of its scarcity..but also because there may well be little or no chance of obtaining another copy quite like it due to its condition.

So in those instances, Terry's philosophy works and is seen on many occasions, for example mint prints of the Derann full feature of Star Wars.

In almost all other cases when the print is far less than perfect and is tantamount to nothing more than exploitation, then Tom has it bang on. Hence the bad reputation often given to e bay by collectors of film the world over.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 04, 2015, 03:43 AM:

To show further how much of a donkey this guy is he refunded one of our members here,(one sensible thing he did), and dispute being told its almost unwatchable and had gone beyond faded he's re listed even higher, i think the guy needs to be put in the loony bin! Unfortunately the only words i want to use to describe these sort of sellers cannot be used on here. But i guess you know where i'm coming from.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 04, 2015, 03:52 AM:

See above Tom to see that I couldn't agree with you more on many many examples of what things are being offered for on e bay!

Ultimately, you have to blame the company who allows anything to be sold for any amount without having an interest in understanding approximately what amount it SHOULD be offered for sale for.

E Bay couldn't care less about this aspect to protect the vulnerable, Why?

Because there is a much bigger profit margin in not giving a damn!

Posted by David Roberts (Member # 197) on July 04, 2015, 03:54 AM:

I think the cost of posting a 400ft reel in the UK is £2.80.!!!

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 04, 2015, 03:58 AM:

I think we could all live with that David if that was the set amount enforced by the auction company.

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on July 04, 2015, 04:11 AM:

If 16mm prints were as available as dvd's they would be cheap as chips. It's their scarcity that allows the money grabbers to up their prices and the must have it at any price brigade happy to pay them. Makes me all the more careful when I buy anything film related now. Sadly, the risks involve so many variables that I'd rather buy from someone I know than trust a seller who 'has no projector to try it on but the first 6" looks o.k.'

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 04, 2015, 04:31 AM:

I just won two items,the seller stated that they combine P&P, now when I asked for total, e-Bay states this seller does not combine postage, in item description it states will combine postage. I have e-mailed seller twice now, no reply, I like to pay for items as soon as I win them, but this is just slowing down the whole process and makes the buyer look bad...Update it appears it's E-Bays fault, the dreaded error code 80016 this seller does not combine postage, but the seller do, it's E-bay that don't...

[ July 04, 2015, 11:50 AM: Message edited by: Steve Carter ]

Posted by Mathew James (Member # 4581) on July 04, 2015, 09:14 AM:

Hi Steve,

This happened to me last year. Slightly different scenario in the sense that I was in Canada and the auction did not state shipping to Canada, but also did not say it was a country they would not ship to... so I bid...on 2 items.....and waited for the combined shipping invoice....one day...two day...email from me...three days, four days...another email saying 'what the heck'.....
I finally got a response that the seller did NOT know how to update the invoice to reflect two purchases.
Baloney!!!
It may be a shipping scam. What I would do is email/chat with ebay NOW...not complaining but stating the dilemma and asking their advice.. This way you are ON RECORD as having concern...in anticipation of an issue...If no issue ensues, you are golden.If not, you have a head start recorded!
In my case, I have 2 ebay accounts, both with 100+ purchases and 100% feedback so I was in command [Smile]

Anyways, turned out the seller rejected my purchase and said they would sell to someone else, and I said 'that's fine'...
I walked away although I could have caused more issue...it was only a couple films and I was happy to say goodbye to either a complete imbecile seller or liar...I am not sure which applies, but I am hopeful your purchase will work out better.
If you need ebays extremely 'hidden' and 'hard to reach' contact info, let me know....
Cheers,
Matt

PS: I like this thread and am happy to see people finally agree with my ebay concerns that the prices are way too high for movies and such!! I don't feel I am poor, nor cheap...just frugal, and I normally can determine when something is not worth what someone asks

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on July 04, 2015, 10:01 AM:

That's a gotcha!!! strategy sellers sometimes use:

-price seems great, but did you look at the shipping before you bid?

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 07, 2015, 12:56 PM:

Softly Softly 16mm on core, starting bid wait for it...£2,000.00 plus £34.60 P&P. I would want a certificate stating this is the only known print to exist in the World, missing episode found!, I worry because item location is 'Tracy Island'...
Softly Softly

Posted by Dave Groves (Member # 4685) on July 07, 2015, 02:33 PM:

Barry Island. Yes. Canvey Island. Yes. Tracey Island? Not in my atlas. Is this a scam? The same seller also has a BBC 16/35mm film can at £20!! with no film. Yet another fortune hunter on the prowl. Now let's see who has £2000 burning a hole in their pocket.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on July 07, 2015, 04:05 PM:

And as Paul Vanesis has posted elsewhere, it may be the only film print but the BBC has a digibeta copy (though not filed on their system until very recently) from this print, so not the only copy.
The seller had recently purchased this on EBay for £750 and is now reselling, but as now known not to be the only copy the price is likely not to be met.

Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on July 13, 2015, 05:47 PM:

This can't be worth the asking price?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-VINTAGE-AVO-FILM-ITALY-PINK-PANTHER-SUPER-8MM-FILM-MOVIE-MIB-/251250803877?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

I was expecting a 10 pack of Pink Panthers, but there's only one :-/ Insane or is it really rare? Mint in box, does that not mean box is also perfect?

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 14, 2015, 03:24 AM:

Not by the looks of things Vidar!

I have a few of these Italian Pink Panther prints myself, I didn't pay too much for any of them because although you can get some of the more unusual pink panther titles from this film company, the colour is often nowhere near as good as what it can be on the Walton prints of the Pink Panther titles.

Whether that is because they have more often than not spent most of their life in a hot place, I'm unsure.
But the colour on all of mine is only average and I purchased all of them from the UK.

Maybe the seller is trying to resolve the countries national debt crisis in one hit! [Big Grin]

Posted by Robert Crewdson (Member # 3790) on July 14, 2015, 04:00 AM:

Looks like rubbish to me Vidar, wouldn't MINT mean that it had never been projected?. How would the seller know this?

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 19, 2015, 12:40 PM:

I'd say the sellers an idiot

Posted by Joseph Randall (Member # 4906) on July 19, 2015, 08:28 PM:

Right now, it is a buyer's market for film on eBay, in general. Of course, there are exceptions. But I kick myself since I see what I paid, before ebay existed, for some prints.

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 20, 2015, 04:31 AM:

There also seems to be a slight trend of films not running to the end of auction time and the seller with-drawing items because I guess they get PM's with offers, even when there is no best offer or BIN in listing, very underhand, you wait 9 days, only to see item with-drawn minutes before end of auction...

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on July 20, 2015, 06:55 AM:

It can be frustrating Steve, I know, trouble is if the advertiser states that the goods are advertised elsewhere and therefore has the right to end the auction early, there is little to complain about I feel unless of course you yourself already has a bid on the item.

All I can say is that if it is an item you are wanting, get a bid in early doors rather than just watching an item through to the end. That way if an item does get pulled before auction end, we all have the right to complain to e bay.

Posted by Tom Photiou (Member # 130) on July 20, 2015, 11:44 AM:

Joseph I fully agree with you, it is a buyers market but this looney is showing a film which has a box which looks like its gone around block a few times so you have to question the film. If he started it at 9.99 and it went for 150 then that's fine but this start price is simply ridiculous. [Wink]

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on July 20, 2015, 07:01 PM:

The 'Softly, Softly' episode is now a mere £1,000, perhaps the seller is reading this thread.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOFTLY-SOFTLY-BBC-TV-1969-16mm-film-episode-/141720344062?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20ff30d5fe

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on July 26, 2015, 12:18 PM:

I'm a Beatles fan but this is ridiculous £255.00 for 400ft, makes me smile when they describe film as 'TAPE'...
Beatles in Tokyo

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on July 26, 2015, 02:15 PM:

I like the "a bit red in places, but untested" piece of the description - I suppose it could mean he's seen it on a silent projector but it doesn't ring true to me.

Posted by Joe Taffis (Member # 4) on July 26, 2015, 02:23 PM:

This concert was originally sold on two 400' reels. It does fit on one 600'(barely), but not on one 400', so it's not complete...

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on July 26, 2015, 07:48 PM:

I think we have had a sticky topic for those silly ebay listings.

Please don't let this to be another one...enough to have one thing like this.

Perhaps moderatos can jump in please.

Cheers,

Posted by Steve Carter (Member # 4821) on August 06, 2015, 07:21 AM:

Just got a four reel feature, two reels no sound, as it's a charity seller I will let it pass, but I am becoming ever more frustrated with the quality of films sold...

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 06, 2015, 07:28 AM:

It's a real gamble Steve, unless you purchase from a dealer.
No guarantees then, but at least you can just give it them straight back if it is less than described or expected.

If It is a title you really want and you are paying good money for it, my advice is never buy anything where they cannot test it first. There are all too many ads now on e bay for films where it is being sold by individuals who rather conveniently "have nothing to project it with"... Yeah right!

Funny how they have dozens of films but nothing to show them on!

There are still quite a few known decent trusted sellers of films on e bay.

Their prices are usually considerably higher but this is a reflection of the quality of their films.

This I don't mind at all. In fact I would rather pay more for a film that I want, than face the hassle and disappointment of a film arriving that is not how it should be and then having to either send it back or haggle over the refunded amount etc.

Posted by Joe Caruso (Member # 11) on August 06, 2015, 09:48 AM:

What is needed, and never will happen is a film guide consisting of general prices/condition and the rarity
on particular editions - Even this will not be adhered
to - If there is something a collector wants, they will
usually have to pay the price/shipping, negotiate with
the other party and work a mutual satisfaction. If the
film isn't described accurately; color stock, density,
and all, again one has to work it out with the seller.
Education helps, but isn't always the issue. How many
times on EBAY I've wanted to bid on a certain item and
it is described as "Mint", "Rare", One-Of-A-Kind", then
the seller isn't sure if it is a talkie or not - So, I
email and explain exactly what they have (A few times,
the other party didn't know what a "Complete Edition"
meant, or in the case of Blackhawk, what the coded label
had to mean) - Eastman color fades, however, many of the
CASTLE subjects still maintain some of the vibrant
spectrum - Digests are always thought of as "Scarce"
(I've heard tell), simply because they aren't manufactured any longer, well so is most everything else - Point is, any discrepency can be made right, and we can all learn something
in the long run - Shorty

Posted by Terry Sills (Member # 3309) on August 06, 2015, 11:26 AM:

Take a look at this one -
I tried to explain that in that condition (covered in mould) and obviously stored in poor conditions and untested, that the price was too high. I suggested that he would be more likely to sell it with a Buy it Now price that he was asking, but with best offer as well, particularly as this was not the first time of listing it. The reply I got was typical of the young generation. I'm afraid this is more often the type of seller we are confronted with these days on eBay. It is a veritable minefield buying film and equipment on auction sites unless it is possible to view beforehand. Not only that look at the postage!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191650963541?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on August 06, 2015, 02:22 PM:

I found this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eumig-940-Super-8-Sound-Projector-/331620026157?hash=item4d 3618072d

I hope its not a seller on here!
The first 2 times it was listed at $1500.
I thought it had one too many zeros so I offered him $250. He countered with 1499.00 I then offered him 250.01 and was countered with 1498.99.
Well at least there is a sense of humor there! But still.. he must think he has gold on his hands. And he proudly states.."NO REFUNDS".
So of course it doesn't sell. What does he do? Raise it to $1800!!

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 06, 2015, 02:53 PM:

Remind him Alan, these can be purchased from European dealers right now for around £250 with a guarantee. Even with shipping, that would be around £400 delivered.

Where do these people get their prices from?

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