Sometimes I Just Don't Get The Auctions

[cottontop]

Several things concern me about the razors for sale on that famous and big on line auction site we all love so well. Today, I saw an average run of the mill Gillette adjustable go for $81. I'm not sure of the model or the year, but I could not find anything rare or unique about it. Maybe I missed something. It did have the original plastic case and an original package of blades with it, but the razor was not NOS. It had definitely been used and some of the plating was even flaked off. At the same time, I have seen similar ones go for around $5. I don't get it. Prices seem to go all over the place, even for the same razors.

Also, I do have some experience with the bay as I have been buying and selling vintage wrist watches on there for years. With razors, however, I have found that about half the sellers never give you a tracking number and of those, half of them never even mark the package as sent. Forget getting buyer feed back as you might not get that either. At the same time, I have gotten some nice old razors pretty cheap, so I guess I can't complain too much for inconsiderate inconvience. That's my rant for today. I hope I didn't offend anyone and my apologies to all of you legitimate considerate sellers.
cottontop

 

[NingYupOwaDat]

Several things concern me about the razors for sale on that famous and big on line auction site we all love so well. Today, I saw an average run of the mill Gillette adjustable go for $81. I'm not sure of the model or the year, but I could not find anything rare or unique about it. Maybe I missed something. It did have the original plastic case and an original package of blades with it, but the razor was not NOS. It had definitely been used and some of the plating was even flaked off. At the same time, I have seen similar ones go for around $5. I don't get it. Prices seem to go all over the place, even for the same razors.

Also, I do have some experience with the bay as I have been buying and selling vintage wrist watches on there for years. With razors, however, I have found that about half the sellers never give you a tracking number and of those, half of them never even mark the package as sent. Forget getting buyer feed back as you might not get that either. At the same time, I have gotten some nice old razors pretty cheap, so I guess I can't complain too much for inconsiderate inconvience. That's my rant for today. I hope I didn't offend anyone and my apologies to all of you legitimate considerate sellers.
cottontop

I am literally just after contacting a seller to tell him the the "Super Speed" he is trying to sell is actually a Slim. A lot of razors are being sold by people that don't know anything about them. There are Techs being listed as "rare vintage gillette razor".

The real problem is that people are stupid enough to pay high prices when there are other sellers selling the same thing for half the price.

 

[Szyman01]

I have purchased some of my Gillettes from *that site* but I never paid inflated prices. You have to be patient, and I never even bit on items where sellers are charging and arm and a leg for shipping. It is pretty ridiculous how much money some items go for. But there are deals to be had. I just saw a 58 TV Special go for 6.50 today.

 

[Copierguy]

Yes it pays to do your homework first and not get caught up in a bidding war. Remember you set your max. bid.

@cottontop.....since the auction is over now, do you have a link to the set in your post?

 

[cottontop]

copierguy,
I didn't bid on it so I can't find it. I guess it is gone. It did sell though.
ct

 

[Copierguy]

copierguy,
I didn't bid on it so I can't find it. I guess it is gone. It did sell though.
ct

Is it in your browser history?

 

[Chadao]

"There's a sucker born every minute." P.T. Barnum

 

[Ace McCool]

Here are some things I have noticed. It almost seems like there are a lot of collectors with deep pockets who aren't very knowledgable about razors, and just look at what's popular.

For example: This is something I have noticed frequently. Say you have 2 identical razors in identical condition and they are worth around $200 each. If seller 1 starts his auction at $190 the item may end with 1 or 2 bids at around $200. But if the other seller prices his at $9.99 to start, and by the time the bidding gets to $200 there are 15 bids on it, chances are there will be people coming in to snipe and the item may go for $250.

This is just my opinion from observation but it seems many people bid on popularity (number of bids already) than they do on price and value.

 

[Kev Kev]

This is just my opinion from observation but it seems many people bid on popularity (number of bids already) than they do on price and value.

for many who participate in auctions—both online and live—a big part of the auction experience isnt always the price or the best deal; it is the actual experience of winning that motivates what some would call 'illogical' behavior.

 

[Sir Lurkalot]

The best Gillette razors that are sold on ebay are the ones described as "Regus". They are the most rare by far!!! Got to love those sellers!

 

[Gary H]

Here are some things I have noticed. It almost seems like there are a lot of collectors with deep pockets who aren't very knowledgable about razors, and just look at what's popular.

For example: This is something I have noticed frequently. Say you have 2 identical razors in identical condition and they are worth around $200 each. If seller 1 starts his auction at $190 the item may end with 1 or 2 bids at around $200. But if the other seller prices his at $9.99 to start, and by the time the bidding gets to $200 there are 15 bids on it, chances are there will be people coming in to snipe and the item may go for $250.

This is just my opinion from observation but it seems many people bid on popularity (number of bids already) than they do on price and value.

Bingo you hit the nail on the head

 

[nemo]

Bingo you hit the nail on the head

Why I start my listings at $0.99, someone falls in love with it and thinks he owns it for a week by outbidding the nibblers.

 

[novitiate]

for many who participate in auctions—both online and live—a big part of the auction experience isnt always the price or the best deal; it is the actual experience of winning that motivates what some would call 'illogical' behavior.

I call it Thunderdome bidding. I watched it at a local auction last Friday night and saw multiple items go well beyond market resale price. I suspect that the many of these bidders are relatively new to the auction experience and believe winning is the only th. Then they go to cash out; 15% buyers premium + state sales tax. Ouch!

 

[KQY61]

Hi,

Why, yes. I once paid One Thousand for a 'RARE Gillette RegUs' on eBay.

Turned out to be a Tech.

One thousand pennies, that is.

Stan

 

[rotto66]

I agree its crazy the prices some people are paying for very common razors in these auctions. I also like how some sellers call any razor a Fatboy when sometimes they aren't even a Gillette. That is why I now pretty much only buy razors at estate sales. I have pretty much satisfied my RAD except for I want to find a LC New and haven't had any luck yet in the wild.

 

[Kev Kev]

I have pretty much satisfied my RAD except for I want to find a LC New and haven't had any luck yet in the wild.

Um...have you tried ebay?

 

[3LeggdFox]

I was looking for my Birth year and QTR razor which would be the Gillette With an "X4" date code. I typed t in search bar and found what was listed as a "1977 W3" I looked over photos and confirmed the date code, was in fact W3. I sent a message to user about the the listing and informed them about the slight mixup on their end. The reply was "Can you tell the different between 1976 and 1977 model? According to the chart W means 1977, i'm not an expert in anyway. Thanks" I sent anther message back linking them to Gillettedatecodes.com for reference and a nice message saying I just want to help. They were grateful for the link and thanked me for being kind. Some people are mis-informed and unknowing when buying and selling. Just trying to help where I can.

 

[rxonmymind]

My only qualm about eBay is the attitude you get in trying to help. Meh, their item rot on the bay. Many treat eBay as a virtual warehouse and there are similarities to antique malls where stuff just sits there and never move because they are convinced of it's value. Many people will die with a garage full of "I know it's worth thus much!" Stuff. Ok so make sure you take it with you.

 

[3LeggdFox]

My only qualm about eBay is the attitude you get in trying to help. Meh, their item rot on the bay. Many treat eBay as a virtual warehouse and there are similarities to antique malls where stuff just sits there and never move because they are convinced of it's value. Many people will die with a garage full of "I know it's worth thus much!" Stuff. Ok so make sure you take it with you.

I agree. I sent an offer on a 1947 super speed razor that was being offered with a cream blade dispenser. I made an offer of $30 for the Blades only not the razor. They are asking $95 for the lot. My offer was declined. Can be frustrating. Lol. But It runs true at local Antique stores here also. I saw a few Adjustables and super speeds that were priced at $75. User grade. No case.

 

[kcb5150]

I think part of it is the adrenaline of bidding coupled with inexperience, and part of it is that from what I have seen, the wild is showing major signs of fatigue. You have to really hit the ground hard to find things vs even 3 years ago. Good condition straights that are priced in a sane way, in particular have really dried up in my parts.