Thursday, April 27, 2006
Ebay Pt2 - Who is your Audience?
Ebay brings together people from all walks of life, and certainly a few that are running through theirs. On the phonograph record pages, their is a mish mash of participants, records, descriptions, and prices. That's what you expect on Ebay, right? Let's wade through a few subjects that all travel down the road of integrity.
The Grading System: You get one "point" for every positive feedback comment, but only one point from the same seller ever. What that means is that you may get 10 positive feedbacks from one seller over time, but only one of them count on your official score. The others are just counted on the overall tally. That may be the best argument for overhauling the system. Why not score them all? There was a positive transaction, so count it! Negative's can be given if you are unhappy with the deal, and neutral marks get posted when something may be wrong, but the dog didn't get kicked in disgust. When you have a bad experience, many are afraid to post the unflattering coments because of retaliations. Some sellers actually say they will give you what you give them, with no regard given to the quality level. So you say you have a 100% feedback rating? Don't worry, some deadbeat will destroy it. Just like getting the first dent on your new car, you can breath easier once it happens! And the ratings? They are important, but don't discount someone with less than a 100 % rating.
What about those sellers? Look at the their feedback. See what has transpired lately, and pay attention to it. Many sellers add verbiage that they have a money back guarantee. Some include postage in the said refund, but most don't. Examine their shipping prices. Do you really want to pay 7 bucks for a media mail 45 inside the USA? I recently bought the De Castro Sisters CD on Ebay. I didn't buy it from the seller with the cheapest product price, but rather the lowest overall price. Can you believe one seller wanted 9.95 to ship a stinkin CD inside the states? 78's are expensive to ship, so keep that in mind when making a decision. If they don't list it, ask! From the "How Do You Do" department, I bid on a book of 15 45's and was the winner. I asked for the total, and the seller charged me 15 bucks for shipping! I asked if he was using Fedex Overnight, and no amusement was forthcoming. I forgot to ask before the auction closed, so I paid it. The day before the records arrived, I got a frantic email from the seller. He said he mixed up the orders and he sent me the wrong ones. He asked me to let him know how much the shipping charges would be for me to mail them back. See where I am going with this? Without delay, I told him 15 bucks. After much grumbling I got a money order for the full amount. And speaking of asking, if you have a question about the item, ask it. A quality seller will answer you accurately and within a day. Bonus points go to the seller that POSTS the question and response on the listing.
Buyers have issues too! What do you do with those pesky thugs? Check the feedback they have left for others. Yep, see if you can spot any trends. I did that with a buyer earlier this year. Seems he had quite a history of receiving broken records in the mail. I sent a 78 in an absolute bulletproof box that was about 18 X 18X24. He still tried the same thing on me. I clued him in to the past feedback he had been leaving, and I didn't hear anything back. If the buyer has won your auction, there's not much you can do. Or is there? Many sellers have notes in the listing that potential customers can't have negative feedback or less than XXX marks. You can cancel their bid if the self imposed rules are not followed, and offer the record to the next highest bidder. This is not without issues, but does provide an avenue of recourse. You can't always see how fast buyers pay, but you can state in your listing that you expect payment or contact within a certain length of time. I bought a record once from a seller that had very stringent rules. He laid out a step by step procedure to use, and you had to pay for the item within 24 hours or he would whack your feedback. I seemed to get it right, and I was even on vacation in Africa!
Do you insure? If you are buying an expensive record, I would recommend it. Purchasing 78's? Check with the seller first to see how they package it. It might be a good idea to pay the couple of bucks. No one wins if the record breaks, but at least your wallet is back to square one. I once got a Jive Bombers 78 sent to me in a lightly padded envelope. Can you believe it arrived safely? No, it was NOT a flexidisc.
Next time: Bidding outside of Ebay, more on listings, and random thoughts to finish up this three part look at buying records on Ebay.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Ebay Pt1 - Who are the players?
I imagine this will end up as a page on my website. There are certainly a multitude of dynamics that occur everyday on Ebay. And that's just what I see in the phonograph record listings!
It's been said by one of the top record dealers in the country, that many of the buyers on Ebay are "Bottomfeeders". Why would he say that? Simple. He markets high end records and even higher end prices. Anybody getting good deals on quality records from Ebay is potentially cutting into his business. I say potentially, because I don't really think that many serious record buyers on Ebay are purchasing from his auctions anyway. Back in the good ole days, a rare record was simply a "Hundred Dollar Record". Stormy Weather by the Five Sharps was the exception, and as Steve Propes wrote in his first book, it was "A steal at $100.00". It used to be that VG+ records were worth 75% of a Mint record, and VG was just 50% of that same mint disc. The gap has widened, and mint records can fetch twice book value and sometimes more. VG records will scrape up significantly less than the 50% they were accustomed to.
Buyers and sellers on Ebay are generally uninformed about records. I estimate less than 20% of the record sellers understand record grading, or how to ship one safely. They don't know a first pressing from a second or third, and can't tell a bootleg from the real McCoy. Sad facts to be sure, but a quick glance around the listings will bring it home. Buyers are somewhat better, but quite gullible as it seems. They have the same hard issues the sellers do, and can let the excitement get the best of them.
SELLERS: I see many common mistakes. You buy a hoard from a record store that went out of business, a family friend that died and left their records to you, or a "collector". You assume that the records must be original and market them that way. Sorry Charlie. You have to do your research. Asking 200 bucks for a disc and just figure it must be real? Be prepared to give us the dead wax numbers. It may not be 100 per cent fool proof, but it's very accurate. Picking up a price guide without knowing what makes it original will cost you plenty in listing fees, but to your dismay, not in final value fees. What about record grading? You probably see what is termed the Goldmine Standard Rating System, but do you understand it? A record listed as "Good", is really quite trashed. "Very Good" is decent, but is open for quite a bit of interpretation. VG+ and above leaves little to disagree about, and is a high quality record. If the vinyl is VG+ and the label is awful, don't expect to get much of anything for it. The label is as important as the vinyl, especially on VG+ or better records. Don't wish your way to a higher grade than it is. That will just result in a record return and a bottle of Advil.
It's been said by one of the top record dealers in the country, that many of the buyers on Ebay are "Bottomfeeders". Why would he say that? Simple. He markets high end records and even higher end prices. Anybody getting good deals on quality records from Ebay is potentially cutting into his business. I say potentially, because I don't really think that many serious record buyers on Ebay are purchasing from his auctions anyway. Back in the good ole days, a rare record was simply a "Hundred Dollar Record". Stormy Weather by the Five Sharps was the exception, and as Steve Propes wrote in his first book, it was "A steal at $100.00". It used to be that VG+ records were worth 75% of a Mint record, and VG was just 50% of that same mint disc. The gap has widened, and mint records can fetch twice book value and sometimes more. VG records will scrape up significantly less than the 50% they were accustomed to.
Buyers and sellers on Ebay are generally uninformed about records. I estimate less than 20% of the record sellers understand record grading, or how to ship one safely. They don't know a first pressing from a second or third, and can't tell a bootleg from the real McCoy. Sad facts to be sure, but a quick glance around the listings will bring it home. Buyers are somewhat better, but quite gullible as it seems. They have the same hard issues the sellers do, and can let the excitement get the best of them.
SELLERS: I see many common mistakes. You buy a hoard from a record store that went out of business, a family friend that died and left their records to you, or a "collector". You assume that the records must be original and market them that way. Sorry Charlie. You have to do your research. Asking 200 bucks for a disc and just figure it must be real? Be prepared to give us the dead wax numbers. It may not be 100 per cent fool proof, but it's very accurate. Picking up a price guide without knowing what makes it original will cost you plenty in listing fees, but to your dismay, not in final value fees. What about record grading? You probably see what is termed the Goldmine Standard Rating System, but do you understand it? A record listed as "Good", is really quite trashed. "Very Good" is decent, but is open for quite a bit of interpretation. VG+ and above leaves little to disagree about, and is a high quality record. If the vinyl is VG+ and the label is awful, don't expect to get much of anything for it. The label is as important as the vinyl, especially on VG+ or better records. Don't wish your way to a higher grade than it is. That will just result in a record return and a bottle of Advil.
BUYERS: Beware! Ask about the dead wax numbers and get a book that explains them. Look at the labels. Are those the correct colors and markings? Check out the ridge or lack of one, on the center hole. Examine the colors on the label. Are they bright, or washed out? Sure, an old record could have some label fading, but there is a difference between a slightly faded label that used to be bright, and one that never was. Ask about the lead-in groove. Is there just one (likely original) or is there several(boot). If the seller can't answer you to your satisfaction, don't bid. Move on and make a mental note to avoid that Ebayer.
Next time: It's all about integrity. What are the honest sellers doing, and what about the people that are not? Also, what about shipping - The charges, the methods, and do you need insurance?
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Ted Newman - Plaything
I had a chance to talk with Ted Newman who recorded "Plaything" in 1957. He is alive, well, and living in Arizona. He may not sing his hit too often anymore, but many of the southwestern schools benefit from his performances and original compositions about the life and history of Arizona. When it gets too hot, he motors north to Colorado and sings amongst the stars. Those are the ones that twinkle outside on a clear night. Look for a very entertaining interview on my radio show with Ted Newman in May. As always, I will post it on my website immediately afterwards.
Speaking of interviews, I just finished the final editing touches on a conversation I had with Kenny Vance. You have seen him on PBS singing "Looking For An Echo" with the Planotones, during the Cavalcade Of Doo Wop show. He's a very talented guy whether singing doo wop in the hallways or working as a music director on films.
A lot of action on my Rockin Rebels page over the last month. Although no page is ever complete, it may be the current definitive visual and auditory history of the group and the related artists. There is always more to learn and find, and the stopping point can be gray, but what a ride into the Buffalo music scene.
Next time, a look into Ebay from a record collector's standpoint. What's right and what's going wrong? The fun, the mistakes, and the reality of buying from a wide mixture of sellers with varying degrees of knowledge. Come to think of it, that may take two parts! Until next time, keep rockin!
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The De Castro Sisters And More
Although Bear Family issued the CD in 1999, I just got around to buying the best of the De Castro Sisters CD. The sisters are also the subject of my latest web page on www.colorradio.com It covers the Abbott and RCA years, and the liner notes are good. One thing that was odd is that none of the pictures of the girls were identified with whose who. What's up with that? I think I could have used a slightly fatter book, especially from the Bear'. The sound quality is impeccable, but *** out of ***** for the commentary.
Sad to hear of Gene Pitney's passing last week. 65, and still performing - actually happened right after a concert in the UK. An amazing voice has been silenced for the future, but we still have dozens of great recordings to remember him by. What's your favorite and why? I played "Every Breath I Take" on last Saturday's radio show. Always love the Phil Spector touch!
I'm trying to decide on the next page for my site. I have about 3/4 of the recordings by Fay (e) Simmons. I don't know much about her, but heard she was loved and maybe originally from Philly. Anyone know the scoop on this under-appreciated artist? I've also got more first and second labels to add, so be watching for that. A new 1 hour radio segment will also be added this week. Just went over 20K hits, which is really cool.
Sad to hear of Gene Pitney's passing last week. 65, and still performing - actually happened right after a concert in the UK. An amazing voice has been silenced for the future, but we still have dozens of great recordings to remember him by. What's your favorite and why? I played "Every Breath I Take" on last Saturday's radio show. Always love the Phil Spector touch!
I'm trying to decide on the next page for my site. I have about 3/4 of the recordings by Fay (e) Simmons. I don't know much about her, but heard she was loved and maybe originally from Philly. Anyone know the scoop on this under-appreciated artist? I've also got more first and second labels to add, so be watching for that. A new 1 hour radio segment will also be added this week. Just went over 20K hits, which is really cool.
