Selling on eBay; Not Selling on eBay; Mobley on Film

Clearing out my watchlist and inbox, starting with The Return of Art Pepper, Jazz West 10. This was an original pressing listed in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. The final price was $405. Given the state of the market lately, I would have expected a higher price tag for this one. According to Popsike, there have been two copies of this record that have sold for more than $1,000 in the past, including one that sold for $2,026 in what one could only guess was a fairly massive take-no-prisoners bidding war.

The seller of the Pepper record fared better than some of these other sellers, who’s records did not attract the minimum bids. Of course, the minimum bids were quite high for each of these records, starting with Leo Parker, New Trends of Jazz Volume 5, Savoy 9018. This was an original 10-inch pressing that looked to be in VG+ condition for the record and probably the same for the cover. There were no bids the first time around at $400, but the seller has it relisted for the same amount now.

Herbie Nichols Trio, Blue Note 1519. This looked to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was listed in VG+ condition and the cover was listed as VG, with a pretty beat up back cover. The starting price was $650 and, like the Leo Parker, this one is back again on eBay at the original starting price.

Eric Dolphy, Far Cry, New Jazz 8270. This looked to be an original purple label deep groove pressing listed in VG condition for both the record and the cover. Similar situation as the others: High original starting price of $575, no bidders, back on eBay for the same amount.

Is it worth it to keep listing at the same start price, or is it more effective to lower the price to try to attract interest? An existential question for the ages, I imagine.

This is a weird article: 5 Minutes that Will Make You Love Bebop. I guess it’s part of a series from The New York Timesdesigned to drive online traffic. The very concept that 10 clips of 30 seconds could get someone to love music as complex as bebop is ridiculous on the surface, so I would normally have just ignored it, but several people sent it to me – family and friends, not readers of Jazz Collector, most of whom, I would think, share my opinion. But, perhaps not?

Someone sent me the following clip from Youtube with the following subject and note: “First video of Mobley playing found! In case you didn’t see it, the larger community should know.” And now you do. Sounds pretty awesome, and the comments from listeners are practically orgasmic.