Guilt...

glennbad

glennbad

Knife Moddin' Fool
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jan 13, 2003
Messages
6,590
I have ebay guilt. The nice thing about ebay is that 99% of the time, you are bidding against a total stranger. Even if you see the same screen-names in your travels, you usually don't know the person.

Most of us have an unwritten rule that we follow. If we see another member that we know bidding on a knife, we stay away out of courtesy. That's very gracious of all of you who have extended me that courtesy, and I thank you. I practice that as well. But it's also not fair to you either. Depending on your bidding style, you may never have an opportunity at some pieces by being nice to others.

Now, sometimes, I snipe auctions. Other times, I will not be around at the end of an auction, so I set my max and walk away. That is where my guilt lies. Why should I have claim to something just because I put in a bid early? Obviously, we all have the same right to bid on something. And it's extremely courteous of you (Phil, LT) to pass by something when you see a forumite's name on the bidders list. Some of you even support your knife habit with your buying and selling on ebay.

As far as myself goes, if I am meant to own a knife, it will happen. If I am outbid, then so be it. So please, if you see something you like, bid on it. No knife is more important than good friends (well maybe the Alamo Bowie), and you can look at that from both angles.

1. Give up on a knife cause your bud is bidding on it, and friends are more important than a knife.

2. Bid on the knife, cause regardless of the knife, friends will not let a knife stand between them.

I don't want to be the cause of rensentment and/or guilt, and like the courtesy you extend to me, if I knew you were interested in a knife, I would not bid on it.

What are everyone's thoughts on this?

Glenn
 
Pretty much the same as yours. I do pass on knives when I see that another forum member has tagged it, and I e-mail them quite a few listings that I think might fit their particular interests. I have even passed a few off to them when bidding went beyond the value of the knife to me, and gave in to a friend's grovel a time or two for one that I won cheap but really didn't need. And often I see knives on this forum that I was outbid on which I really wanted. That is fine too. I am happy for the winner, knowing that a unique knife has a good home.

LT told me many moons ago that the basic truism of ebay is: "If you see a knife there once, you will see it there again. Or one like it, or one better." I have found this to be a very valid statement.

Codger
 
A knife ain't nothing but a man made tool friends and people are created by a higher authority. Also dang it stop bringing up the ALAMO bowie I am not selling Jims knife. There will never be a knife that is more important to me than my credibility or honor. or for that matter anything at all that is important enough for me to jepardise those values Good Hunting LT
 
This raises an interesting question, for me at least. If a seller puts up a rare Schrade, a significant chunk of the market for that knife may read this forum. If the custom is not to bid once you see a forum member has bid, isn't that effectively colluding to keep the price down? That doesn't seem fair to the seller. What if the seller is a forum member? (By the way the seller side is hypothetical for me, I have only bought on ebay.)

At this stage, I have more to learn than to say, so I've been reading this forum regularly. Hence I feel like I'm getting to know the regular posters, even though you don't know me very well yet.

Anyway, I'm not sure what to do about ebay bidding in this context -- I lean toward a free market approach -- but I think it would be nice to know who I'm bidding against or attempting to buy from. Would people care to share their ebay IDs so we know who is who? Mine is idx343.

Regards,
Dave
 
There have been times when I have asked someone I knew, how bad they wanted something that I might lust for and if they would mind my jumping in there are times that has happened to me as well. It is just curtesy. There are times I have stepped on someone I knew inadvertently, usually that can be ironed out as well. I have even done that and when I found out just sent the item to to other guy as a gift.

I question the affect of this forum on the economic standings of these sales in that to change the name ( of this forum ) we had about 12 votes. With 10 million viewer on ebay I feel they can stand our impact. In fact everytime I make a purchase I think to myself 10 million people had a chance to buy this item and I am the only A hole who thought it was worth this much money. My handle ( ebay name is quite simple just look at my avatar. ) I oten sell on ebay in fact I have some Schrade stuff on now. If I do step on you, on a bid please let me know it is impossible fotr me to remember everyone. In fact it ( at my age ) is difficult for me to rememberto change my socks or sometimes to wear them which is probably more information than you need. LT
 
Yes, DLK, you also raise a valid point. But I don't think of it as "colluding to keep the price down" as much as cooperating to not overpay for knives. I have seen prices overly inflated by bidder getting into a bidding war for a knife and running the price well beyond reason. Does that mean the knives of that pattern are suddenly worth more? Not to me. It just means that someone wants it bad enough to pay more than the value I place on the knife. But another might define a knife's value by whatever some unknowledgable bidder is willing to pay. And hooray for the seller if his knife sells at four times it's value. I also am not a seller, but someday might be.

I also believe in the free market approach. There are not enough members here to have any great influence on an international market like ebay anyway. Certainly not as much as a like number of deep pocket investors who will pay any price to acquire a knife, not as a collector item, but to hold and hopefully resell like gold on the comodity market. Generally, Schrades were made in such quantities that few are truely rare, though some may be uncommon. At least those produced since the 1960's.

And your postings and opinions are quite welcome and valid as any here Dave. I'm glad you have decided to start posting!

Codger
 
Thanks for posting your thoughts so far, guys. I don't think we on this forum drive up auction prices as much as the knee jerk reactionaries that are scooping up pieces left and right. There are a few ebayers out there outbidding me and others on a consistent basis, then turning around and selling the same piece on ebay at an even more jacked up price. This is very frustrating. :mad: But it is legal afterall.

It is nice that we all look out for each other. But I agree with what others have said; if you are interested in something, speak up.

BTW, I am glennbad on ebay.

Glenn
 
hey guys, I believe it it courtesy to not step in on an auction. Just like around here, people don't step in when someone is trying to buy a knife from someone, even if they don't know you. But one in a while you'll get an A hole who is rude and steps in on a deal and usually ends up with a blacked eye or some loose teeth. My families handle on ebay is 48carrey. Just shoot me an email at knrizzy@yahoo.com if your interested in something . friends are more important than knives, and if you need or want something more than I, have at it.
 
Glenn, no guilt feelings necessary, but your post shows what a classy guy you are. Congrats on the knife I sent you a message on. By the way, did you win it???

I will not, ever, bid against a Schrade forum regular. I don't care if it is the Alamo bowie or whatever. My thoughts are near to those of LT's... a knife is merely steel, made by man.

I'm camp9mm on ebay.

Phil
 
yes, I did Phil...thanks for being classy yourself...

Glenn
 
In the past I've been able to match up a user name here with an eBay sale, usually after an item was sold and the buyer posted a note here.

But either purposely or due to my very poor memory, I've long ago forgotten the identities, and refuse to look them up again. So I hope no one takes it personally if I place a bid in the same auction that they have. I certainly won't care if someone does it to me. Auction bidding is good clean fun, with a bit of competitiveness and uncertainty added. There's no reason in the world why we should avoid each other on eBay.

Just my thoughts, for a different perspective.
-Bob
 
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