Strange One on Ebay - Caution

[Paul Read]

A friend of mine asked for the seller to list the serial number. Here's the response:

 

Dear ,

 

That's the property of the owner.

 

- gpanda123

 

I think this is because this is one he bought from another c.net member then he left bad feedback. Be very cautious dealing with this seller. Link

[RP3]

Paul, I think you are right about this seller. I haven't done an archive search on our forum, but I do remember that seller being discussed previously in the manner you mentioned.

 

I find any seller's reluctance to list serial numbers very disturbing and off-puting. His unwillingness to give out the serial number could be related to an effort to disguise its vintage, past ownership or any other number of unsavory reasons. But I can't think of any valid reason not to give it since a potential buyer might then be able to search the on-line ledgers and learn more about the instrument. Even without the serial number, the appearance suggests a 1950s or early 60s model, don't you think?

 

Now, continuing in the eBay vein, what should we think about the very sad ?Jeffries? that has also recently come onto eBay?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-C-JEFFRIES-CONCERTINA-CIRCA-1880-1900-NR-/320649954403?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Keyboard_RL&hash=item4aa83a0463#ht_712wt_1132

 

Now there's a real fixer-upper.

 

Ross Schlabach

[Leonard]

Paul, I think you are right about this seller. I haven't done an archive search on our forum, but I do remember that seller being discussed previously in the manner you mentioned.

 

http://www.concertin...?showtopic=9943

[Paul Read]

GBP5,000 for a 50s Wheatstone! Hmmm, that would be a record.

[Daniel Hersh]

GBP5,000 for a 50s Wheatstone! Hmmm, that would be a record.

The seller previously listed it at GBP 500, then presumably pulled the listing...

 

I'm a little surprised that the seller hasn't shown up on here on c.net by now, though I suppose he could be lurking.

[ben]

I have dealt with that seller before and he is quite rude. The seller bought that Wheatstone for less than $4,000.00 before Christmas and now he wants to double his money! He treats sellers as if they have given him junk ....leaves negative feedback and then SHAZAM! it is worth GBP 5000.00 or US $8,000.00 three months later.

[Paul Read]

I tried asking for the serial number myself. His reply was "0". I suspect he hopes someone will think it's from an earlier era and hence more valuable. Not very ethical but there you go.

[Ransom]

I tried asking for the serial number myself. His reply was "0". I suspect he hopes someone will think it's from an earlier era and hence more valuable. Not very ethical but there you go.

 

If that were his hope, I expect he'd make up something very low, but not zero. Zero is implausible enough that he's pretty obviously telling you to buzz off.

 

To take the most charitable view I can think of, he might not know that we have a well-developed online community that cares about serial numbers and vintages and values. Not knowing that, he might suppose that anyone asking for the serial number is hoping to claim that it was stolen.

[Paul Read]

I think this guy knows about serial numbers. He's bought and sold a number of concertinas if you look at his feedback. I suspect you're right about telling me to buzz off though.

[Marien]

The financial crisis must be gone by now as prices for concertinas have doubled in 2 months.

 

This seller has a history of exchanging reeds in a concertina before returning it to the owner.

 

Not that I am interested to buy this one but does this wheatstone have single reeds in single frames?

 

Maybe Ben can tell.

[SteveS]

I think this guy knows about serial numbers. He's bought and sold a number of concertinas if you look at his feedback. I suspect you're right about telling me to buzz off though.

I also see once again in the eBay listing he's being evasive with the serial number.

 

I doubt he'll sell this 'tina given his attitude towards prospective buyers.

I know if I were in the market for such an instrument I'd chose to spend my hard-earned cash elsewhere.

 

My thought is that he's trying to sell this as a vintage instrument and trying to maximise his profit, whereas it appears to be from 50s or 60s, and arguably possibly worth less than an equivalent vintage.

 

Caveat emptor.

Edited February 6, 2011 by SteveS

[Stephen Chambers]

... it appears to be from 50s or 60s, and arguably possibly worth less than an equivalent vintage.

 

Caveat emptor.

 

Worth considerably less than an equivalent vintage Wheatstone if you ask me, in fact I'd rather have a Lachenal any day...

[Frank Edgley]

The red baffles make me think it is one of the late Wheatstones, although I'm not an expert on dating. I repaired one similar years ago. I would agree with Steven---I would rather have a Lachenal. The instrument I repaired had incredibly slow response, and very mediocre volume. If this is the same model/vintage, it would be a great (& expensive) disappointment for any purchaser. I agree that that's why he won't tell the serial number.

[Stephen Chambers]

The red baffles make me think it is one of the late Wheatstones...

 

In fact they're not even red baffles Frank, what you're seeing are the red-painted action boards that are typical of many post-war Wheatstones. It's a feature that modern South African makers tend to copy.

[SteveS]

Now he's telling prospective buyers to take a hike.

 

Charming!

[Chris Drinkwater]

I suspect that it could be this 40 button Anglo, which he purchased from a Canadian Ebay member, un_owen1, on 27th October 2010. This is the feedback gpanda123 gave back, following its purchase. No anti-shock/bubblewrap packing inside or outside case. Shaken up. Needs work. Buyer: Member id gpanda123 ( Feedback Score Of 59) Oct-27-10 04:58

The item in question is a WHEATSTONE C/G ANGLO 40 BUTTON CONCERTINA (#130443402328) US $3,500.00

 

Inspite of his apparent 100% feedback, I did notice that two feeback comments, one from a seller and one from a buyer, have been removed by Ebay.

 

Chris

[Stephen Chambers]

I find any seller's reluctance to list serial numbers very disturbing and off-puting. His unwillingness to give out the serial number could be related to an effort to disguise its vintage, past ownership or any other number of unsavory reasons. But I can't think of any valid reason not to give it since a potential buyer might then be able to search the on-line ledgers and learn more about the instrument. Even without the serial number, the appearance suggests a 1950s or early 60s model, don't you think?

 

It seems very strange for somebody to be promotong a concertina as being both "vintage" and "rare" whilst refusing to supply the necessary information (the serial number) to confirm that claim, whilst it does indeed look like a much later 1950s or '60s model.

 

I guess it depends on your definition of "vintage" but for concertinas I'd tend to pretty much go with the one that says "in antiquing, an object or item is considered "vintage" if it was manufactured between 1830 and 1930"...

[jdms]

...purchased from a Canadian Ebay member, un_owen1....

 

...our own Paul Read, I believe...

 

...No anti-shock/bubblewrap packing inside or outside case. Shaken up. Needs work.

 

...and I don't believe for a second that Paul, an experienced seller and repairer of instruments, would ship one without packing material. What's this guy trying to pull?

 

Joshua Mackay-Smith