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Ebay conundrum

Subculture13

Subculture13

Jamming Econo
Apr 9, 2003
1,284
7
52
Toronto, Ont. Canada
#1
Ok, so I was surfing the 'bay a few weeks back and saw an auction for something that will remain unnamed, sorry. As part of my job, I know way more information about some aspects of the inner workings of the music industry than I need too, and as such, noticed a killer deal on an undiscovered gem.

A seller had something that he thought was no big deal, but I knew more about it's history than most do, it was a piece of music history just sitting there, about to disappear out in the random world again, without anyone knowing what it really is.

I did not, and could not possibly get the free money to just keep my mouth shut and win the auction, it had only a little traffic going at the time. Not even to turn it around quickly to make money from it. Plus, as I said, it wasn't being marketed as anything special, because the seller didn't know it was. I did, and maybe 3 other people on the planet can identify what it is, and prove it if need be, thus opening the rest of the worlds eyes to its newly discovered existence.

So anyway. The auction was drawing to a close at $600, a fair price for a "normal" one of its kind. Then I decided to help the seller, since I can't buy it anyway, and I told him what he has, and offered up the proof.

He immediately pulled the auction, re-listed it with the new info (quoting my entire email to him at that to authenticate things) and proceeded to sell it for $1500 at closing.

I followed up with an email saying "Congrats on the improved sale" hoping he might take the hint that he literally got $900 more for it directly due to my help, and well...

It's been one week now and he hasn't returned my email, where he used to reply within 24 hours. Do you think it uncool to outright ask him for a finders fee if you will? I'd leave the amount at his discretion, but seriously, this was going to sell normally, where now it sold for way more than he wanted, and to a private collector at that. Someone who is going to put it up on a pedestal in a showroom or something.
 
#3
You offered information with no strings. If you wanted a finders fee, you should have discussed terms before disclosing the info.

Sure, it might be nice of the guy to throw you a few bucks, but he's under no obligation and isn't a jerk if he doesn't. It is definitely uncool to ask for a finder's fee, IMO.

Asad
 
#7
Since the auction is over, what is the harm in telling us what the item was, and how you were one of only "three people in the world" who could prove what it was- and how could you prove it? It would give us a lot more insight into your dilemma.


Cheers,
TC
 
#8
I applaud you for your honesty, more people should be as forthright as you were. That having been said, it is the responsibilty of sellers to know the merchandice they are selling. I personally would have thanked you but I would not have paid a fee unless it was discussed beforehand.
 
#9
All I can say is that it was one of the first amps made by a newly formed company in 1963.

To be specific, this amp technically predates the existence of the brand itself, as it (and a few others like it) was made as an early prototype that was so good it spawned the launching of a whole brand, that still is going strong today.

The amp in question had no logo, serial number or anything. The owner thought it was because it just was lost over the years, I knew better and identified it as never having had a logo, as it was made before the company technically existed.
 
#10
Move on, you're not getting anything from him.

See how doing something nice like this in buisness can make you feel bad and bitter?
 
#11
Sounds like it could have been a Traynor. Anyhow, whatever it was, it would have been a shame to let it remain in obscurity when it obviously has some historic value - however, if someone gave me info that ended up making me an extra $900 on an auction, I personally would give the guy 10% of the extra profit and a thank you; not even saying thank you isn't cricket, but maybe that's just me.
 
#12
Bulltrout said:
Sounds like it could have been a Traynor. Anyhow, whatever it was, it would have been a shame to let it remain in obscurity when it obviously has some historic value - however, if someone gave me info that ended up making me an extra $900 on an auction, I personally would give the guy 10% of the extra profit and a thank you; not even saying thank you isn't cricket, but maybe that's just me.
Click to expand...

I thought I heard something about that not long ago. Yes, it was Traynor I heard.
 
#13
Bulltrout said:
Sounds like it could have been a Traynor. Anyhow, whatever it was, it would have been a shame to let it remain in obscurity when it obviously has some historic value - however, if someone gave me info that ended up making me an extra $900 on an auction, I personally would give the guy 10% of the extra profit and a thank you; not even saying thank you isn't cricket, but maybe that's just me.
Click to expand...

I can neither confirm nor deny that the amp in question was a Traynor or not. ;)

I think I have the same thinking as you... I didn't set anything up before spilling the beans to him, but I didn't have to do that either. If I were in that position and some random strangers helpful words got me 2.5 times more than expected, I'd throw him $100 for his efforts. Morally, I dare say I'd have too, that's just how I was raised.
 
#15
Yeah I saw that one ...

Love the stealty 007 talk " I cannot confirm or deny" ;)


Just to make it interesting there was another amp developed at that time and it too made its mark ... by a guy named Norm Sundholm any guesses?

:cool: ... Ofcoures I know the answer cause I saw that auction ... but I'll never tell either.
 
#18
...he literally got $900 more for it directly due to my help, and well...
Click to expand...

Look on the bright side....

How do you know how much the seller would have gotten from the first listing, had it run its full course? Serious bidding usually happens right near the end of an auction, often in the last few seconds.

Maybe the same bidders were all set to snipe it up to $1500 anyway. You'll never know, so why torture yourself with the assumption that you made the seller an extra $900?
 
#19
Templar said:
Look on the bright side....

How do you know how much the seller would have gotten from the first listing, had it run its full course? Serious bidding usually happens right near the end of an auction, often in the last few seconds.

Maybe the same bidders were all set to snipe it up to $1500 anyway. You'll never know, so why torture yourself with the assumption that you made the seller an extra $900?
Click to expand...

The auction was in it's waning hours/day, but you are correct, and I am aware of that.

It was re-listed and sold within hours at the Buy It Now price, correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't that option go away once a single bid is placed?

In other words, the new news about this got enough attention that the first guy to jump on it, grabbed it for $1500 before the bidding even re-started. He probably thought it would go over that and wanted to get it while he could.

It's all speculation sure, but one could call it an experienced educated guess all the same.
 

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