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Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on March 10, 2013, 04:05 PM:
 
I have noticed that on 3 auctions I have been looking at the seller gets one bid or so and then stops the auction early presumably to sell outside of Ebay. I know that Ebay and Paypal combined take almost 20% these days as their commission.
Apparently the sellers don't want to pay for the auction fees. I have noticed a rise in this. Anyone else?
 

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Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on March 10, 2013, 04:12 PM:
 
Yes, it also happened with one on this forum too. I was bidding on a couple of projectors, but he pulled them ... I do not like this way of handling things. If you put it on eBay, stand by what you get for it. Maybe eBay should stop this from being allowed, only with a real good reason ...
 

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Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on March 10, 2013, 04:36 PM:
 
I dont like it either. I always have someone who emails me and asks to end my auctions early. I always tell them that I have many people watching it and who knows? Maybe they will get it less than the auctions ending price. That happened with "Snow White". I was offered $500 and I declined. And it sold for $300. That is the way auctions are supposed to work. Can you imagine if they did that at Christie's Auction house? As the bids go up they stop and say "Sorry. We got an offer that we can't refuse. Auction has ended."
Shenanigans I call!

 

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Posted by Christian Bjorgen (Member # 1780) on March 10, 2013, 04:43 PM:
 
There should be stricter rules against it. I say, ban sellers who do this! If they pull auctions without bids it's OK, but not auctions that have bids on them!

I had the best bid on a rare Pink Floyd record once, and he pulled it. It resulted in probably the most foul-mouthed email ever written, and a complaint to eBay. This seller was banned.
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 10, 2013, 04:59 PM:
 
if offered enough why not sell i have questions about items i sell on ebay then they never bid and when auction ends i get email asking me if i still have it has i was meant to bid but forgot ,if there is anything on ebay i want ibid enough to make sure i win it and always place a bid straight away not have it in my watching for days
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 10, 2013, 06:25 PM:
 
David Guest said:

quote:

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i have questions about items i sell on ebay then they never bid

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So, what's wrong with asking questions and then deciding not to bid? Isn't this the idea behind being able to ask questions? To help make up one's mind whether or not to bid on an item.
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 10, 2013, 06:34 PM:
 
there are lots of nosey parkers on ebay one guy asks several questions which there is no need to as its explained in the add then when items ends and not selling he says i meant to bid but forgot relist it and i will rebid costing money to place add again .
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 11, 2013, 01:57 PM:
 
Nosey parkers?

Mr Guest,
Do all of your ebay auctions have the film stock specified? Number of splices? Physical condition of the print in some detail and not just "nice print"? Whether or not full credits, top and end, are present? Any missing frames? These are the things I'd like to know about any print before buying. I'm pretty sure most collectors would want to know the same things.
If they're not specified, I would need to ask the seller.
Would that make me a "nosey parker"?

 

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Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on March 11, 2013, 02:15 PM:
 
It's frustrating if an auction you are interested in ends early. I once asked a seller (who is a member here) what happened and he honestly replied that he had received an offer he "couldn't refuse". To be fair, if I was in the same position and the offer was that good, I'm sure I'd be tempted to do the same.
 

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Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on March 11, 2013, 02:28 PM:
 
I recently placed a bid on a viewfinder for a Bolex H-8 camera but was outbid. The seller then contacted me asking if I didn't mind if he ended the auction. He was also contacting the other bidder and wouldn't end the auction until he heard back from both of us. He said his grandmother found the camera and was bringing it to him.

I told him I didn't mind and mentioned that he should try shooting some film with it. Well, that started a whole string of e-mails and now he's getting film and buying a Bolex 18-5 projector on ebay. I think I roped another sucker into this hobby.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Trevithick (Member # 3066) on March 11, 2013, 03:41 PM:
 
I have only ever pulled an auction twice. Once was because I viewed it again and I wanted to keep the print (and still have it). The second time was.....well that was a long and winding tale. But basically, I wanted the "lost" print to go to the right home (and actually let the purchaser have it for much less than the last Ebay bid).
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on March 11, 2013, 04:25 PM:
 
We may get disapointed when what we have been looking so far was suddenly pulled out.

But that is also the right of seller to continue the sell or not.

There can be many reasons, and we don't know them.

So Ebay has made a specific rule about this that seller can terminate the listing early but not in the last (Iguess) 12 hours before the listing ends.

I feel that is fair enough.

Hi Jonathan while you are here, i have listed Oh Mr Porter you asked last time:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160988853542?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l26 49

and I also have many British comedy films listed now (you guys know where I got them):

http://www.ebay.com/sch/s-8maniac/m.html?item=16098885354 2&ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Shipping to Australia is very cheap btw.
 

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Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on March 12, 2013, 12:16 AM:
 
It can be frustrating because if it was a true auction I don't think you would be able to run up to the auctioneer, grab the microphone and say "I'm sorry folks but I received an offer i can't refuse." Likewise in a true auction you get to walk up and examine the items and your closest equivalent on ebay is to ask questions, but even after asking questions there is nothing that says if you want it you must bid first. I know I often am watching, bidding and purchasing multiple items and need to time things based on what money I can spend at any given time which often means not bidding until the very end of an auction...If you think you might want to pull an auction there is a way to sell things that way. Put your dream selling price and then the "or best offer" option, that way you are not disappointing someone by pulling the auction, and you can sell it for the highest offer you get...No one gets hurt, no one gets upset, no nosey parkers!.
 

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Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on March 12, 2013, 12:37 AM:
 
The subtle art of Ebaying. If you bid too soon and someone else knows there is interest than you run the risk of them putting a higher bid than they normally would. Case in point. I bid on a film a few months back and I did it a day before it ended. It stayed that way till the very end and then a few seconds before auctions end I was outbid by $10. Now if I didn't place a bid earlier than its possible that the other bidder (Only 2 of us were bidding) would have done a smaller amount. And I would have won by $10 more at the last minute! Its almost like Poker!
 

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Posted by Jonathan Trevithick (Member # 3066) on March 12, 2013, 01:42 AM:
 
The art is never to bid until the last 30 seconds....or less!
ps Winbert,I am interested!
 

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Posted by Adrian Winchester (Member # 248) on March 12, 2013, 03:45 AM:
 
I can't really agree that it's an art to bid in the last few seconds; in many of the auctions I see it's the norm with all bidders doing it, which basically invalidates the auction concept because no one has time to place a second bid. I'd love to see eBay take the approach that was taken by another auction site, where any bid placed in the last minute or so extends the auction for another minute, with the auction continuing until the last bid has been placed. Then you get an online auction that genuinely simulates what happens in an auction house.
 

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Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on March 12, 2013, 03:48 AM:
 
I’m with David in a way and was always amazed that computer owners can site there half the day clicking watch, watch, watch and never bidding. Surely they could do something meaningful with a life, or do some voluntary work to help the needy in our society? I do feel sorry for the ‘click watch’ brigades who do so with nothing else to do. A rather sad state of affairs especially as they are wasting every breath and only so many exhales in one lifetime.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Trevithick (Member # 3066) on March 12, 2013, 04:11 AM:
 
I'm not saying bidding at the last moment will get you the film cheap. All I know is that with the films i've won recently, I bid at the last moment but it also helped that I bid quite high!(THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS cost me an arm and a leg as well as the brain!)
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 12, 2013, 04:11 AM:
 
That is so true of modern society Lee,likewise with the Facebook
brigade on their 'phones,but I suppose the same view could be taken of us,sitting in the dark,watching our favourite films.
Yes it is frustrating when a title is suddenly taken away from us,
but sooner or later they return,if you want something bad enough
you'll get it in the end.As Mrs Gump told Forrest"Life is like a box
of chocs, you never know what you're going to get", which only
goes to show she was as thick as her son, in the box is a map!
 

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Posted by Jonathan Trevithick (Member # 3066) on March 12, 2013, 04:15 AM:
 
Talk about bidding at the same time! Hugh and I posted our comments almost to the second!
ps Hugh,get in touch. I need your address asap.
 

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Posted by Ron Douglas (Member # 2990) on March 12, 2013, 04:38 AM:
 
Fascinating variation of opinion there gents!
I presume most watchers that don't bid, do so as they have one of their own to sell, and are judging what they might attain, but as we all know, the same item can reach vastly different sums on different days.
Wouldn't it be great to see auction house style bidding on ebay as suggested, now that really would be fun! Meantime, money where my mouth is, placed an early bid (shock, horror! )
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 12, 2013, 04:47 AM:
 
Hi Jonathan, address duly sent.
 

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Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on March 12, 2013, 04:56 AM:
 
These auction houses are fine and serve a purpose for those who want to use that type of system and are aware of its limitations, but for me I still hold our film fairs as the ultimate way to obtain films and equipment, along with the UK top dealers such as Perry’s Movies and of course Classic Home Cinema who even have a couple of open day come sales each year. The London BFCC is legend as is the Blackpool Film Fair which is developing into quite an event over a weekend, so we are so fortunate to have two top events here in the glorious UK. You also have more modest events taking place as well including dare I say it my forthcoming film fair next month, the 9.5 Spring Fair at Pimlico in May and more besides. Perhaps best of all is going along to these events you get to meet like minded collectors, film makers, projectionists and from time to time artists who have a story to tell about a film they may have been in.
Although I have been into cine for over 40 years (I’m not bragging by the way) I have never stopped learning about it, and it seems when we go to film events and get chatting some new bit of knowledge is taken home with us. All the above you will not get by clicking ‘watch’ by the way.

David has huge experience with 16mm film and I do sympathise with his frustration with that other fleabay phenomenon ‘I forgot to bid’. Some do of course as we are only human after all and perhaps the technology exceeds our own abilities at times, but it will be a frustration which further endorses getting along to film events to chat to traders and actually view a film. I know David has a strict policy at fairs being more than happy to project a film someone might be interested in and likewise when I’m working behind a trade stand I also will project a film which is for sale or demonstrate a piece of equipment. Talking about viewing films, I noticed at Blackpool last year other traders were also following suit which is in my opinion anyway a good way forward and yet another reason to go to a film fair if you are mobile.
 

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Posted by Bill Rodgers (Member # 3483) on March 12, 2013, 05:58 AM:
 
What with all the charges both eBay and PayPal demand I'm honestly not surprised sellers often do this. I've ended auctions early myself for good offers made off of eBay and if you want an item you should always aim to ask questions before you bid.

I even recently read an article in the UK Collectors Gazette guiding sellers on how to list on eBay with their mobile and email details to avoid the selling fees!
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 06:57 AM:
 
i will be attending lees film fair on the 27th april .it will be good to just buy and no messing around waiting for film to be sent out. then seller pays out loads of commision .like lees states if anyone is intersted the dealer is more than happy to project and give a demo .all these films fair that are on should be supported to a very high standard as if not they will cease to exsist in years to come and you will only have your self to blame no excuses be there or lost it
 

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Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on March 12, 2013, 07:42 AM:
 

quote:

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I’m with David in a way and was always amazed that computer owners can site there half the day clicking watch, watch, watch and never bidding. Surely they could do something meaningful with a life, or do some voluntary work to help the needy in our society? I do feel sorry for the ‘click watch’ brigades who do so with nothing else to do. A rather sad state of affairs especially as they are wasting every breath and only so many exhales in one lifetime.

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Lee, you and I had a discussion about "watching" on this forum several years ago, I have to say, I stand by what I said then: I think I'm probably typical of many people who will watch items on Ebay for a number of reasons, not solely because I am definitely going to bid.
I like to watch to see how the bidding goes, sometimes I'm not sure if I want something enough to bid on it, so will put it in my watching page so that I can have some time to decide. Sometimes I have a similar item and I want to see what the market is like before I decide to put mine up for sale. It's not so different really from the real Market Place or an actual Auction House. Lots of people go to auctions with no intention of bidding, and then sometimes surprise themselves when they get taken up in the moment. Is that really so bad? When I have stuff for sale on Ebay I accept there may be 20 watchers and no bidders, just as there may be 100 people present in an auction house and only two people bidding.

I watch quite a bit of stuff, maybe ten items at time, but I don't spend "half the day clicking watch" and I can assure you I have plenty of very "meaningful things" going on in my life.

Mike
 

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Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on March 12, 2013, 08:09 AM:
 
I'm retired and I have nothing better to do! Between Craig's List, EBay, and this Forum, my time is all tied up! What a life.
 

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Posted by Bryan Chernick (Member # 1998) on March 12, 2013, 10:33 AM:
 
If someone is asking you to end an auction early they may be trying to get the item for a price that they think is better than they would get if the auction went through.

I had a Polaroid SX-70 camera for sale recently that had several bids. Someone asked if I would end the auction early for $125. I told them I didn't feel right about doing that to the people that had bids in. I ended up selling it for $135.

I think the person that asked to end the auction was worried it would sell for more than she could afford.
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on March 12, 2013, 10:51 AM:
 
I always visit flea market and pawn shop during my free time. The things that I often found those sellers are always thinking I am going to buy if I am asking his/her stuff. When I don't follow up with giving my price, most of the sellers start turning his/her smile to a not-so-nice face.

So please don't be like those sellers.

I am always happty to answer any question about items I am selling. Sometime I add with another info behind the stuff so there is sort of knowledge exchange. And I am not getting poor because of doing this.

Regarding bidding in the last seconds, I coincidentally mention this in my current listings:

quote:

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Do not believe on bidding in the last minute because many buyers now use free sniper service (such as Sniperstreet, Auction Sniper or Just Snipe). These websites can bid in 3 seconds before the listing end. No human capability can beat these machines because the way people typing and the internet speed will be more than 3 seconds. So if you believe in the nature of auction then place your maximum bid as high as you think is fair for you now, so no snipe bidding service can outbid you.

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How quick is your fingers typing, still will not be able to beat that 3 seconds set up by those machines.

Plus, the sniper service has a rule that if two snipers use it for the same item, the higher sniper will be taken. So there is also a sort of bidding inside that machine.

So it is better to place your bids as high as you think is fair right after you see the listings. Even if you are outbid, there is still a chance to get the items through second chance offer. As a seller, that is what I always doi. I do not have time to re-list them.
 

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Posted by Timothy Price (Member # 1832) on March 12, 2013, 12:42 PM:
 
I recently ended an auction early for the simple fact my other items weren't able to get posted as promptly as I wanted. Which means another 40 mile RT to the P.O. UGH!

In my case it had nothing to do with a better offer, it had everything thing to do with skyrocketing gas prices and a better use of my time & money.(I'm pretty confident this post has nothing to do with my auction, so this is just my two cents since I frequently sell on ebay)

For my situation, I'll repost my particular item when I can post at least ONE more auction. (To save an extra trip to the P.O.) However I personally will NOT pull or end an auction even after ONE bid has been placed as I don't think that's fair to the potential buyer.

I actually received an email from somebody who was watching the auction and upset that I pulled it. I can understand and even appriciate the time he spent "watching" the auction and not "bidding" but without an actual bid, I feel the "watcher" has no right to complain, but with that said the bidder does.

I by no means was obligated to, but I sent him a nice email stating I'll be reposting the item in a few weeks. I like talking with people be it on line, on the phone or in person(especially film & Kaiju collectors) so I have no reason to be a curmudgeon,(love that word!) besides he may the "watcher" who becomes the "buyer"

(Plus there are already far too many jerks in the collectors realms going for that end all be all "Lord Of The Flies" status)and I never want to be THAT guy so I feel a friendly email is apprapos!(But I bet he still doesn't bid!)
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 12, 2013, 02:20 PM:
 
Lee Mannering said:

quote:

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I’m with David in a way and was always amazed that computer owners can site there half the day clicking watch, watch, watch and never bidding. Surely they could do something meaningful with a life, or do some voluntary work to help the needy in our society? I do feel sorry for the ‘click watch’ brigades who do so with nothing else to do. A rather sad state of affairs especially as they are wasting every breath and only so many exhales in one lifetime.

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Sorry, Lee, but that's all a bit OTT there surely.

It doesn't take "half the day" to click "Watch" on a few auctions.

Speaking for myself, I watch auctions for many reasons.Perhaps I'm unsure whether or not I want to bid just yet. I watch auctions sometimes just to see what a print sells for - it's part of my interest in the hobby. Sometimes I watch auctions knowing I have no intention of bidding on the auction. When I have prints up myself I get a lot of watches too and I don't expect that they're all going to bid.
Yet my time is meaningfully spent in one of the Healthcare professions. Outside of that I have my musical career to work on. However, I'm still able to find time to watch a few auctions if I feel I want to. I'm pretty sure that all of us on here have more to do with our time than you seem to suggest.
So, I'm really not at all sure where you're coming from with your strange comments.

I do agree with David and yourself that the best place for buying prints is at one of the film fairs - it's a lot more fun. But, ebay is also a viable marketplace for our hobby. If yourself and David feel that people don't use it in a manner which is to your particular liking, ie. "don't watch my prints or ask questions about them, unless you intend to bid on them", then perhaps you shouldn't sell on it, yet you both do.
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 03:52 PM:
 
the next time i advertise on ebay i will answer any quesion they ask so how many times they ask .this will be done by tel enquiries only and not emails
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 12, 2013, 04:05 PM:
 
Hi David,

Interesting.
Can I ask why you'll only accept questions by telephone?

 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 04:11 PM:
 
as if they are realy interested they will ring . i have just bought out a collection of 16mm features over 100 and 30 projecters which i will be going for on friday making it that i have over 1000 features now thats what you call getting serious about films
 

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Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on March 12, 2013, 04:18 PM:
 
Not if they are as crappy as me with slaughtering the english language. Especially when speaking to an english speaking person. I get so nervous you wouldn't know what I asked about ...
Email is magic :-)
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 12, 2013, 04:21 PM:
 

quote:

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as if they are realy interested they will ring .

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But, David, this doesn't make sense. In fact, it'll make it more inconvenient for you to have people phoning you up with questions and then perhaps deciding not to bid, than if they just email a question which you can at least deal with at your own leisure.
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 04:33 PM:
 
re tel phone calls if someone is realy interested they will ring and it will cost them money to ring so they would not ring if only price seeking .re overseas bidders i will not be selling films out of the uk due to non payers so no need to ring
 

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Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on March 12, 2013, 06:22 PM:
 
You sound like an awfully fair man ... You mean all overseas bidders are non-payers? Oh, well ...
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 06:31 PM:
 
no not all but a few and postge is very expensive
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 12, 2013, 06:31 PM:
 
I agree with Vidar, that does seem rather harsh, I can't understand why some sellers won't ship overseas, their money is
as good as anyone elses, and they're prepared to pay outlandish
overheads like shipping & customs charges.Seems very short sighted to me.As for not answering emails,then the only thing is
to be very clear in the description of the item,thus removing the
need for questions.
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 06:52 PM:
 
sold a projecetr to a guy over seas absolute mint condition when he got it said it was damaged wanted a refund i said no it was ok when it left uk . then he filed a complaint with ebay, ebay gave him his money back and i got a smashed up projceter
 

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Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on March 12, 2013, 07:42 PM:
 
David is correct that selling to overseas bringing a risk to the seller. This has been discussed in different thread.

I also experienced the same case, where I got the item back. I have to refund the buyer both item and stamp I purchased!

I had to re list the item. But the fortune lady was still with me because it was re-sold double then the price paid by the first buyer...$160 for the usual Star Trek!

So, if a seller does not want to send overseas is understandable.

However writing a complete description and answering the questions are the responsibility of seller.

My lisitngs this week probably the most complete listing ever exist in Ebay . Every listing has:

- Condition of the print
- Color or BW, Sound or silent,Super 8mm or Std 8mm (not only stating "8mm" as done by mane sellers)
- Info on who released it on super 8mm
- Director and artist names
- Film genre & year of made
- Price appraisal based on the dealer price
- Film Synopsis
- Youtube trailer (!)
- Time ending in 3 major countries (UK, USA, Australia)
- List of my films for sale (hyperlinked for easy click)
- Weight of item and packing measurement
- Shipping cost to 3 major countries
- Shipping calculator for other countries
- Payment method

It took hours to finish those listings

...and guess what, 50% email come with a question "what is the cost of shipping to..."

Well, I actually got disappointed with these questions because it has been clearley stated on the description.

But if I make a nasty response, I might loose a potential buyer. By doing this my items are mostly sold high. That is my experience.

I once bought a broken ST1200 for $40 but the plan never happen and decided to re-sell it. Questions came as usual and I answered them as my selling standard. I sold it tripled the price and the buyer say "thank you".

So just act like a car salesman, i.e to be nice to everyone ask, no matter how silly is his/her question.

This car is wrong, because the 5th tire (spare tire) has different size & shape
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 08:05 PM:
 
i use to advertise films on ebay and gave a very detaied description re warping colour black and white smells sprocket damaged leaders contrast sound etc etc etc and still was asked questions which were already mentioned in the add so what was the point as most dont read them anyway and i spent lots of time reply to inappriate questions.also all you have to do is read my very very outstanding feedback buyers have left me when buying quality used 16mm prints .i buy lots of films and if they dont reach my expectaions i gave them away at film fairs or give them with projecters i sell so they can get use to the machine before the project there films ,in fact i gave away 20 features away at blackpool last year so read feedback first 100 plus buyers cant be wrong
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 12, 2013, 08:07 PM:
 
No David isn't right,you can have the same bad experiences with people in your own shores as much as folks abroad.I have spent
a lot of money in less than twelve months on ebay,buying films
from the USA, France and Germany, the only foul up I had was
where someone made a genuine mistake by putting the wrong film in the wrong box, I accepted that, to my cost. I have not
had any bad film from abroad, but I have in the UK where I
received a film that had every fault under the sun, none of it
mentioned in the description,such as warp, red, a chunk missing from the start, no leaders, splices & torn sprockets.
In the past I LOST £2,000.00 to two unscrupulous people in
the USA, but that didn't colour my judgement of the Americans.
At the same time, I was ripped off by a chap called Watson, who
was a dealer for CEC, but that isn't to say all UK dealers are like
him.I buy quite happily from overseas, and the folks I buy from
seem quite happy to trade with me, their money is there within
minutes of the sale, and the films always turn up.
 

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Posted by David Guest (Member # 2791) on March 12, 2013, 08:20 PM:
 
i to have had films from abroad and no problems but have some paint your wagan was from a guy in america stunk of vinegar emailed hilm and he said was ok when he sent it .i have spent lots of money on films to so you win and some you lose but i am carefull now what i buy as if films is not right and you complain you have to send film back which can cost around £50.00 plus the postage paid to get it here but you dont get that back
 

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Posted by Dino Everette (Member # 1378) on March 13, 2013, 12:54 AM:
 
and don't forget it can go both ways, as I would say 75% of the films/projectors I buy are from oversees, and I have had oversees sellers keep telling me that my film is on its way and to wait a little longer only to find out they didn't send it, and the ebay time period for a claim has passed. Then they have actually re-listed the item for sale, and told me I should have filed a claim....There are good people and bad people, both local and oversees, it comes with the territory of collecting in general (whether films or other)...Personally I'd love to do all of my purchases in person at film fairs, but the money it would cost me in airfare would leave nothing left for films, so ebay is all there is left for some of us these days....
 

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Posted by Vidar Olavesen (Member # 3354) on March 13, 2013, 05:08 AM:
 
I mostly always file a claim if it takes so long. If I do get the item, I will pay. Like today, I got a movie I thought was lost, the seller refunded my money, but I will pay again today, as it was in my mailbox today, after 3-4 weeks or more I really thought it was lost.
 

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Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on March 13, 2013, 05:16 AM:
 
Michael O'Regan said 'So, what's wrong with asking questions and then deciding not to bid? Isn't this the idea behind being able to ask questions?

The problem is people often ask endless questions just for the sake of it thats what I used to find. Nothing wrong at all asking questions but it was a bit like the old Derann days where they used to get shocking email from collectors if the staff didnt respont instantly to questions. Some funny folk around for sure. Blimey, I’ve even had collectors come up to me at film events passing comments what the family might have purchased on fleabay. Surely it isn’t even worse than expected that folk have to watch what others are buying as well to nosey parker, or is it?
Confused…Iam.

Pat. Good Flip the Frog film that 'What a Life'
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 13, 2013, 05:43 AM:
 
Well not being online then,it wouldn't be me Lee, although the
staff at Derann were not always helpful.I remember on their sales
list "EL CID" & "FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE" being listed at the
time for about £250.00 each, so I duly rang to buy them on
"lay away over" three months, which I have done many times to
obtain prints,to be told "We can't do that,they're discounted now,you can't have it both ways." I was tempted to ring Derek
as I have his home number,but I thought to hell with it.Strangely,sometime later in conversation, Derek asked a question"Have any of my staff ever been rude to you?", which I
thought odd, but replied "No"
When I recounted the tale to the late Tony Churcher,he said
"If Derek Simmonds knew that a sale had been lost like that,
someone would've been sacked."
 

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Posted by Lee Mannering (Member # 728) on March 13, 2013, 05:53 AM:
 
Yup the service from Derann was always excellent and I loved speaking to them and making the long trip to the shop was a joy. We could pick the phone up for that personal one to one chat/service they gave us unlike fleabay ‘ask a million questions’. Ok I’m really over exaggerating I know but I can see peoples frustrations with the electronic auction houses who are also partly responsible let it be said for the demise of cine businesses. Now that’s another can of film renew to open !

PS Re buying cine tackle through auction houses verses attending film fairs. It should be noted that those who spend months organising these cine events mainly do so for the love of the hobby not for profit. As has been mentioned by the time fleabay and pay your pal take the 20% you could argue if you were a regular seller you may do better having a traders table at a film fair, either within the UK, USA or anywhere. I don’t want to keep banging on about going to events (if you are fit enough) but just going and meeting people will extend your hobby interest even further. At last count we have no less than 6 taking place usually within the UK each year so are really fortunate all the sub standard film gauges, as they used to be known get represented which should be applauded.
 

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Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on March 13, 2013, 07:09 AM:
 
Buying films from ebay is actually a more fair way of gaining those
sought after films, everyone has a fair chance,rather than at a film fair where first come, first served is the order of the day,and if you
arrive late,too bad.No I much prefer buying online,less carry on
lugging film about plus avoiding what passes for a rail service.
 

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Posted by Matt McBride (Member # 3311) on March 13, 2013, 10:26 AM:
 
I agree that getting films from ebay is not bad for the most part. There are sellers I trust and ones I wouldn't buy from to save a life. You gotta be able to fish through that. One of the things that is quite frustrating is the sniper programs, as it forces you to do all the bidding in the last minute or so. I watch a lot on ebay, but unfortunately making a bid early just raises that price further. I also wonder sometimes if there are people out there, I highly doubt anyone on this site, that have a second ''account'' just to raise the price up fast in the end. The last film I won, I had a go price going, I was winning, then in the last 5 seconds, it tripled my current price. Fortunately for me, I had a higher bid still. Though this seems almost planned. I guess I just wonder how many people are there that actually know how much their film is worth and how much they ''think'' their film is worth, just because they have something on film. A good example would be the ridiculous priced 16mm Plant of the Apes, mention in another topic.
 

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Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on March 13, 2013, 02:04 PM:
 
Hi Matt,

Sniping is used quite commonly these days - nothing wrong with it, I use it myself. The only way to compete with this is to use a sniping service yourself. Just enter the highest amount you're willing to bid and leave it.
Dead easy.

I agree with Hugh on this:

quote:

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As for not answering emails,then the only thing is
to be very clear in the description of the item,thus removing the
need for questions.

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