Bidding gone wild.

[Oldguy]

I generally browse ebay every day just to see if there is something I might want for my collection. While browsing I always check auctions that have a high number of bids because I know what I'll find. It's always a newbie gone wild and always at the same sellers auctions. In this case the newbie nearly single handed brought the bid on an adjustable Aristocrat, without a case even, to $280 and there's still 11 hours left. And so far he has bid 21 times on this one item. I'm sure it's a joke. At least I'm laughing.

Len

 

[Blue-EyedSon]

I saw the one you are talking about, Len. It really is crazy how much the price can be driven up with those small incremental bids. But, I must say, I'm trying to sell that Berkeley razor on eBay right now and I've been hoping that someone like that will come along. But nothing yet... Those kind of bidders are a seller's dream and a buyer's nightmare.

 

[JoshD]

I saw that one as well. I place a $10 bid on it in the beginning. It was at 150 yesterday, but not by my hand. I call it quits at $40, and that is on anything.

Josh

 

[slantman]

If you are talking about the Gold Aristocrat with 29 bids at $280 then I saw the same thing. There has been many discussions about the seller as all their razors appear to be in pristine or flawless condition. I am suspicious that they are being re-plated. But no proof. Most of the razors are nickel and easy to re-plate if you know what your doing. The gold razors are probably electroplated with a thin coating. Bottom line I could be all wrong and the seller is just lucky obtaining these razors

 

[KenR]

$280 with 29 bids? Wow, talk about a feeding frenzy. I don't think I have ever gone above $40 for any razor. That's probably why I keep losing out on vintage Bostonian sales.

 

[DHoffmeyer]

Is it possible this is the beginning of even higher prices for old Gillettes? The word is out about their value to collectors and users- I'll give an example.
Recently, old National finger picks (the kind worn by banjo players) have jumped up in value to remarkable prices. One pair from the 1930's sold on eBay for over $900. Before you scoff, know this - the buyer obtained them to go with his $150,000 prewar banjo.
Rarity, beauty, functionality and an open marketplace will continue to push these prices higher, if the economy holds steady, until $200 on a gold Aristocrat seems like a steal.

 

[Pioneer]

Is it possible this is the beginning of even higher prices for old Gillettes?.

In a word: Yes. The prices have been going crazy recently - I can rarely afford anything on Ebay anymore. I can't afford to hang with most of the bidders. I generally just browse to see if there's something I might want to add to my collection every once in a while, but I have noticed that lately bidders on the bay have been driving these prices up radically.

 

[Oldguy]

$280 with 29 bids? Wow, talk about a feeding frenzy. I don't think I have ever gone above $40 for any razor. That's probably why I keep losing out on vintage Bostonian sales.

Yes but 21 of the 29 bids are by the same guy. One of the guys he's bidding against bid 6 times. I guess two guys can create a bidding frenzy. It gets to be a lot of fun when three guys with less then 3 feedbacks amongst them start bidding against each other.


Len

 

[Slivovitz]

Is it possible this is the beginning of even higher prices for old Gillettes? The word is out about their value to collectors and users- I'll give an example.
Recently, old National finger picks (the kind worn by banjo players) have jumped up in value to remarkable prices. One pair from the 1930's sold on eBay for over $900. Before you scoff, know this - the buyer obtained them to go with his $150,000 prewar banjo.
Rarity, beauty, functionality and an open marketplace will continue to push these prices higher, if the economy holds steady, until $200 on a gold Aristocrat seems like a steal.

Could be. Watching auctions recently, it seems that the prices I paid for vintage Gillettes from October 2009 to January 2010 are a lot lower than I would pay for the same razors right now.

Could also just be that there are temporary spikes in prices, which will come down as a new fad starts.

Whatever the case, I continue to be amazed by eBay newbies who haven't gotten the hang of how automatic bidding works, or who don't think of holding their bid until late in the auction.

 

[CapnPanther]

If you are talking about the Gold Aristocrat with 29 bids at $280 then I saw the same thing. There has been many discussions about the seller as all their razors appear to be in pristine or flawless condition. I am suspicious that they are being re-plated. But no proof. Most of the razors are nickel and easy to re-plate if you know what your doing. The gold razors are probably electroplated with a thin coating. Bottom line I could be all wrong and the seller is just lucky obtaining these razors

I would venture to guess that they are being re-plated. The razor in question hasn't a visible spot on it. I would expect to see something, unless the razor is unused and has been stored under ideal conditions. And what are the chances that all of the razors from the same seller are in the same pristine condition, that he hasn't come across and offered for sale any stock that is in less than flawless condition?

Color me skeptical.

 

[DE Shaver]

Is it the bidder placing multiple bids or is his bid automatically being updated as others bid? Was he "pinging" to see what the reserve was? Otherwise, I can't see the sense in bidding against yourself.

 

[Pioneer]

Is it the bidder placing multiple bids or is his bid automatically being updated as others bid? Was he "pinging" to see what the reserve was? Otherwise, I can't see the sense in bidding against yourself.

Looks like he might have been upping his bid - even so it makes no sense to do it eight times in a row. I don't know. Baffling. Guy really wants that Aristocrat.

 

[ozzy_scl]

Saddly the prices have gone up too much.
I remember last year (when I started wetshaving) I was able to find some "deals", but now I keep an eye on bids, mostly to see how high they go for.
I have been searching the net from other places besides Ebay. I can say I have my RAD under control, I know what razors I like and those that I don't, I sell and buy another.

But now I would like to collect the traveller sets, those don't show up too often, but I have 2 so far, so I'm quite happy with that.

 

[Oldguy]

Is it the bidder placing multiple bids or is his bid automatically being updated as others bid? Was he "pinging" to see what the reserve was? Otherwise, I can't see the sense in bidding against yourself.

There are actually automatic bids in between all of his that are hidden. He bids which brings in another auto bid so he increases it just a couple bucks and the auto kicks in again. Then he bids again and on it goes.

Len

 

[wdwrx]

Anyone got a link?

 

[Oldguy]

I would venture to guess that they are being re-plated. The razor in question hasn't a visible spot on it. I would expect to see something, unless the razor is unused and has been stored under ideal conditions. And what are the chances that all of the razors from the same seller are in the same pristine condition, that he hasn't come across and offered for sale any stock that is in less than flawless condition?

Color me skeptical.

If you look closely at the razor caps you see small scratches and tiny holes in the lacquer finish. This razor is not replated.

Len

 

[Stubblefield]

Is it the bidder placing multiple bids or is his bid automatically being updated as others bid?

Yes, his bid is increased each time someone enters a bid. Entering multiple bids does not automatically increase the price, unless someone has outbid you to begin with.

 

[Oldguy]

Yes, his bid is increased each time someone enters a bid. Entering multiple bids does not automatically increase the price, unless someone has outbid you to begin with.

No, he is manually increasing his bid. Look at the times of each bid. If he bid once and it was increased whenever another bid came in the times would all be the same and the amounts would be hidden.

Len

 

[Deltaboy]

I play the wait and see game. I check during the evening news and look for things in the under 30 minutes left. Then I bid when it is under the 2 minute mark and set up to bid again if needed.

 

[mark_mw]

With over 3 days left, there is a Star razor with the CAN - that tin container ignites frenzy beyond belief! A poorer conditon Star that had THE CAN went for $400+ a few months ago