Is or was this a real advert?

[John Wild]

If you do a google search on 'concertina' and scroll on to about page 8 (or less depending on how many items per page are showing), you might see this item:

 

Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble Used Keyboard, Piano ...

Wheatstone 64 Baritone Treble Absolutely immaculate condition. Refurbished to the highest sta...Used Keyboard, Piano Bristol - BS14.

used-musical-instruments.vivastreet.co.uk/musical-instruments-sale-buy+bristol-bs14/wheatstone-concertina-64.../12432123 - 59k - Cached - Similar pages

 

vivastreet is a free ad website. If you click on the link now, the advert is no longer there, but I am recounting my experience in case it crops up somewhere else. the advert was placed in early February, and i saw it in early March. i engage in en email exchange which I paste below:

 

 

 

05 Mar 2009 22:43

Hi,

You responded to skyandmei8's classified ad on Vivastreet.

 

This is a copy of your message:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Re: Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble

 

can you please tell me if this instrument is still available?

I notice the ad was posted on 3rd February.

 

=================================================================

06 Mar 2009 00:59

Hello,

 

skyandmei8 has responded to your message.

Click here to reply

The poster's message follows:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Re: Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble

 

yes

cheers

 

================================================================

07 Mar 2009 13:10

 

Re: Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble

 

following my earlier message, I will not be able to get away from work next week monday to friday, so if i can get to see the instrument before buying it will have to be at the weekend. Would you be available then? please let me know.

 

regards

 

John Wild

=================================================================

 

07 Mar 2009 13:33:

Hello,

 

skyandmei8 has responded to your message.

Click here to reply

The poster's message follows:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Re: Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble

 

hi John,

 

yes it will be Ok then but for the moment i'm away to Isle of Man,i have my work here and the instrument is with me so pls advise/cheers

> -----------------------------------------

> This vivamail is in reference to your ad titled 'Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble'.

> http://used-musical-instruments.vivastreet...treble/12432123

>

================================================================

10 Mar 2009 19:27:

 

Hi,

You responded to skyandmei8's classified ad on Vivastreet.

 

This is a copy of your message:

-----------------------------------------------------------

Re: Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble

 

hello again.

 

could you let me know if you be available this weekend? perhaps you could let me knw your direct contact details so that i do not have to go through the vivastreet website to keep in touch.

 

thank you and best wishes

 

John Wild

=================================================================

My message 12/03/2009 19:12

 

skyandmei8@stouafterstou.net wrote:

 

You can contact me here

Thanks

thank you. Is there any chance of being available to see/hear the instrument this weekend?

 

thanks & best wishes

 

John Wild

 

==========================================================

Advertiser’s message 12/03/2009 19:19

 

Hi John,

 

If you can come this weekend to Isle of Man will be good.

Thanks

 

Peter

 

========================================================

My message 12/03/2009 21:09

 

skyandmei8@stouafterstou.net wrote:

 

Hi John,

 

If you can come this weekend to Isle of Man will be good.

Thanks

 

Peter

I am not sure I can manage that but I will check the travel details and reply again. When would you expect to be back in Bristol?

 

regards

 

John

 

===========================================================

Advertiser’s message 12/03/2009 21:13

 

Hi,

 

Unfortunately i have to stay here more then 3 months due to some projects here.

Thanks

 

--- On Thu, 12/3/09, John Wild <johnwild@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

 

From: John Wild <johnwild@blueyonder.co.uk>

Subject: Re: Wheatstone Concertina 64 key Baritone Treble

To: skyandmei8@stouafterstou.net

Date: Thursday, 12 March, 2009, 9:09 PM

skyandmei8@stouafterstou.net wrote:

> Hi John,

>

> If you can come this weekend to Isle of Man will be good.

> Thanks

>

> Peter

>

I am not sure I can manage that but I will check the travel details and

reply again. When would you expect to be back in Bristol?

 

regards

 

John

========================================================

 

 

My message 12/03/2009 22:38

 

skyandmei8@stouafterstou.net wrote:

 

Hi,

 

Unfortunately i have to stay here more then 3 months due to some projects here.

 

> If you can come this weekend to Isle of Man will be good.

I may have to get back to you tomorrow on that.

Meanwhile, if you can bear with me, a few supplementary questions: how would you recommend travelling - air or car+ferry?

Would I have far to go from IOM airport?

would the concertina be allowed as hand luggage if flying?

does the instrument have a serial number?

do you have a preferred method of payment?

 

thank you

 

John Wild

============================================================================

My message 13/03/2009 20:52

Hello. As far as I can tell the car+ferry option would take a long time - something like 5 hours driving + the ferry journey. I expect a return trip would have too be the next day.

I have not booked anything yet but could try booking to fly tomorrow. there is a flight from Gatwick at 12:35 arriving 14:05 subject to seat availability. I am prepared to do that but need to know a few specific details:

- where would we meet? are you near to the airport?

-would an instrument of this size be allowed on a flight as hand luggage?

- I would need to know if you can conclude a transaction on one visit as I do not envisage being able to do a second trip for some time.

 

If you can give some information this evening I could book a flight for tomorrow. there is a return flight at 17:10, otherwise it would need to be a next day return.

 

Please let me know.

==================================================================================

My message 15/03/2009 23:51

As I did not hear from you on Friday (or Saturday) we have missed the opportunity for this weekend. It will be several weeks before I have another available weekend if travel to the Isle of man is required.

 

As long as the instrument is still for sale, I am still interested, but geography is obviously difficult. If you do happen to be having a trip back to Bristol please let me know - that is a simpler trip and can more easily fit around other things. Otherwise I shall have to contact you in a few weeks when I can next manage to get away.

 

Do please let me know.

 

==============================

End of correspondence

 

 

It seems that from the moment I indicated I was seriously prepared to do the journey, all communication ceased and the advert was withdrawn.

My key questions remained unanswered.

 

I attach (hopefully) one of the photos which accompanied the advert. there is obviously a genuine instrument somewhere.

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

john Wild

[gavdav]

This seems very similar to the gumtree scams - I saw two concertinas, a Jeffries and a Wheatsone, both listed in london but when I contacted the sellers (actually the same person) they claimed to be in various parts of the shetland islands. They engaged in conversation until I asked for additional info like reed pan photos.

 

I'd be very wary.

[SteveS]

I had similar exchange a few months ago - I gave it up as a scam.

 

Steve

[pete]

.... They engaged in conversation until I asked for additional info like reed pan photos.

 

I'd be very wary.

 

There seems to be the same sort of thing happening with lots of things - adverts and listings with photos and descriptions 'borrowed' from genuine adverts. I've seen it recently with classic cars. If I'm interested I also ask for additional photos of details to see if the seller can supply them. If they've actually got the item, they usually do quite willingly. If they haven't got the item, they always have some reason for not being able to do so - they are away at the time, the dog's eaten their camera or whatever. It can save a lot of time and disappointment. I would only do it if I was really likely to buy the item as it's putting genuine sellers to a lot of trouble that isn't fair if I only have a passing interest.

 

Pete

[scoopet]

that photo is one of the photos of the baritone treble that was on a long thread on here about 3 months ago ,that I think from memory eventually sold on ebay for over 4000pounds.So your bristol/isle of man concertina is definitely a scam!!

[Chris Drinkwater]

that photo is one of the photos of the baritone treble that was on a long thread on here about 3 months ago ,that I think from memory eventually sold on ebay for over 4000pounds.So your bristol/isle of man concertina is definitely a scam!!

 

 

Perhaps you are referring to this posting from Keith B, in March last year?

 

http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php...22&hl=Keith

 

Chris

[scoopet]

yes, that's the one....thanks chris.