Can Anybody figure out ebay

[Spin Doctor]

Can ypou believe the price on this thing

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

Last week an older Hardinge, the predeccesor to the HLV series went for the same amount and has to be 5 times the lathe, plus you could buy a brand new lathe in this general size for less money

[Alaninga]

although possibly an earlier 'better' version import,,,THAT much money??? I don't think I know anything anymore!

[Locksmith]

Hey Spin,
Not everybody on ebay knows what they're talking about. See it all the time and it often includes me in that group.
Makes me think of all the customers who try to tell me my business (I'm a locksmith). I seriously doubt that there's even one guy on this board who hasn't had a customer do that to him. How about you?

[pgmrdan]

According to the ebay advertisement it's a model #110-0820. According to Enco it's really a 9x20, not an 8x20.

New from Enco you can get the lathe and stand today for about $1,027 and it's shipped free.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=110-0820

It's over 3 1/2 years old and it's currently priced at $550 more than a new one would cost!!! Then you have to add shipping!!! Yes, it has a couple of accessories but...

[This message has been edited by pgmrdan (edited 11-17-2004).]

[nheng]

They must think it's an EMCO (fine Austrian precision iron), not ENCO (Chinese)

This Enco was as low as $599 on sale at times and at this price, they still made money.

Grizzly is currently $750 and $110 for the stand and they seem to stand strongly behind their product when you need them.

Any psychologists in the group? What do we need to put in OUR ads to get attract such ridiculous prices


[This message has been edited by nheng (edited 11-17-2004).]

[Milacron of PM]

Back in the days when anyone could access the email addresses of the other bidders, I would occasionly notice something like this and email the high bidder to ask why he just bid more than new price and include a link to the new version for proof. Of in some cases, the bid was just a few dollars less than new but the item looked trashed, such that buying new made much more sense.
I was genuinely curious about this, but never got back a single response.

[aboard_epsilon]

"Any psychologists in the group? What do we need to put in OUR ads to get attract such ridiculous prices"

Perhaps a picture of yourself recieving an award..
all the best..mark

[Paul Alciatore]

Some sellers manipulate the auctions. Submit bogus bids under different names to inflate the price. That could be part of what is happening here.

Paul A.

[Alaninga]

I'm selling one dollar bills here and now for $20 each,,plus $5.95 shipping and handling. Used bills. Discounts available for purchase of 5 or more. Envelope included.

[Frank Ford]

I dunno - such shill bidding requires that final bid to come from a real buyer. So, if the bidding is jacked up too high, you'd think it would be logical for reall bidders to take a hike. But they don't.

I run a guitar shop, and we do a fair bit in the vintage guitar business, both in sales and restoration. I see eBay purchasers every week bringing in their "bargains." The auction fever seems to be irresistable. It's the age-old power of the "intermittent reward," the same force that keeps people pulling slot machine handles.

That early Hardinge may have the potential of being five times the lathe, but I have a feeling that setting it up would be quite a project for a novice to tackle. The Enco looks new and shiny, and maybe it runs like new, too. I must admit I'm amazed that anybody would buy something like this without doing the most basic homework, but I see it all the time in the music business, so why not here, too?

I recall when I was looking to buy a new precision lathe and wanted to get a good Hardinge clone that I was able to order one locally from a highly regarded service oriented machine tool and metrology business for a few pennies LESS than Reliable got for the ones they had on eBay. Mine is a more recognized brand, and it came with FREE delivery, rigging, and FULL setup by a real service tech, who spent all the time it took to uncrate, clean up and assemble everything, DRO included.

We sometimes sell vintage instruments on eBay, too. Not to get rid of a "dog" but to take advantage of international exposure for something so unusual that we're not likely to have a potential customer among our local clientele.