Comments on: Another eBay Debate: What’s The Value Of A Dealer’s Reputation?

By: LPs by Rollins, Waldron and Monk Pass $1,000 Barrier | jazzcollector.com

LPs by Rollins, Waldron and Monk Pass $1,000 Barrier | jazzcollector.com — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:10:57 +0000

[…] for more than $1,000. Interesting, based on my post earlier in the week and all of the comments (Another eBay Debate: What’s The Value of A Dealer’s Reputation?), two of the new entries into the club were sold by the reputable seller Euclid Records. They are: […]

By: Thelonious Monk, Andy Warhol Cover on Prestige: What's the Story? | jazzcollector.com

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:58:37 +0000

[…] week, perhaps you’ve noticed a lot of the back-and-forth discussion around two of our posts: Another eBay Debate: What’s the Value of a Dealer’s Reputation, and Today on eBay, February 2, 2009, which is dealing with the provence of the Andy Warhol cover […]

By: Al

Al — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:38:44 +0000

It’s great to see all the back and forth on this. From my standpoint, as an American, I have tremendous appreciation for the Japanese and other Asians, plus the Europeans and other citizens of the world, who have embraced jazz with such passion and enthusiasm. I shudder to think what would have happened to the music if it relied completely on the tastes and attitudes of the American public. From a collectibles standpoint, I believe the market is the market and the Japanese and others who began paying big prices for Blue Notes and other original albums in the 1980s were well ahead of the curve. I’m sure that, today, we would all jump at the prices that were paid for rare collectibles in the 1980s and early 1990s. It would be nice to pay $30 for an original Blue Note, but I say thank God there is enough interest and demand around the world for the music that the law of supply and demand creates a much higher value for these beautiful and rare collectibles.

By: Michel

Michel — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:18:39 +0000

Yes i agree with your story about Mode For Joe… I think we all have had ‘and will have) this kind of waste of time (and money). I did not say that the Japanese ruined the market because they are japanese, but that’s a fact that they have been the vanguard of the Blue Note hysteria in the 80’s. And they still are. And we must admit that everything that is crisp clean, flawless is of outstanding value in the Japanese culture (especially in the Shinto)

By: Dave Sockel

Dave Sockel — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:33:24 +0000

I think it is no different than high-end antique dealers or auctions. People are willing to pay crazy money to ensure getting a quality piece. I don’t think nationality has anything to do with it (with the exception of the cheap dollar). American guys pay tens of thousands of dollars for collectible cars that have to be restored.

Some people can’t deal with sub-standard grading and will pay alot to avoid it. Just today I got a decent copy of Joe Henderson Mode for Joe off eBay for $20. Seller said it was New York USA. Unfortunately the other label was Liberty. Now I have to mess around with him, ship it back, get a refund, etc. Not the way I want to spend my time.

By: Michel

Michel — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:04:01 +0000

I agree with everything here. Each of previous posts says a part of the truth . I might add, that, imo, Japanese and other Asian buyers have ruined the record collector market, with too much Ebay irrationality. Many newcomers are even more insane : look at those incredible ebay bidders with low feedback. For example, how can a (relisted) Thelonious Monk record in VG condition can sell for more than 2000 $ ? Moreover, from an unknown seller ! This is non sense. This is much more compulsion than collection. Nobody would pay that price in a shop with the record in hand, because the flaws would be too obvious. Anyway, most dealers sells their really valuable records through Ebay, because thay expect this Jazz record frenzy. And Euclid, Music Matters, and some others are the winner of the frenzy, because they are able to provide endless samples of Nm copies for the Asians

By: Rudolf A. Flinterman

Rudolf A. Flinterman — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:51:55 +0000

Jason, you are right. It becomes irrational. The competition makes people behave irrationnally. Reminds me of the Tulip auctions in the Golden Age in Amsterdam, where fortunes were made and lost.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:40:17 +0000

Another reason for higher prices being asociated with eBay sales has to do with the competitive nature of auctions. You’re not buying an lp at a set price, you’re competing against others. And for some people the competition is what matters most, not how much they’re spending to “win”. Or if they should be spending that much.

By: Rudolf A. Flinterman

Rudolf A. Flinterman — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:19:58 +0000

Mike, I believe one pays more for a virtual album on EBay than for one that one has got in his hands. It has happened to me quite often that, on a flea market, I left an album to regret it later. For a physical album there is always a reason to find not to buy: an minor imperfection, the asking price, the attitude of the seller etc.
Can we say there are 2 markets: the “physical” and the “virtual”?
Re EBay: I agree with Al, the market is in the top end, the just price, without doubts as to quality, is with the name sellers. Although I was surprised that an unknown seller in France obtains such a high price for Monk on Prestige 7053. Would JRC have obtained even more?? Who knows?

By: Rudolf A. Flinterman

Rudolf A. Flinterman — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:37:44 +0000

Unfortunately for honest “small volume” sellers, the reputation of known dealers makes it that their albums are sold with a premium, and/or that the small, lesser known seller, sells with a discount, even if his merchandise is of the same quality or better. As a “small” seller with a 100 positive feedback I experienced many times that my albums went for far less than the name sellers would obtain. This is frustrating, but a reality.