Some Top LPs That Didn’t Sell
We usually keep track of records that sell on eBay. Here are a few records that did not sell. Why? Because they did not meet the seller’s reserve price. We will probably see these records back on eBay either with a lower reserve or no reserve at all. I know many of you refuse to bid on records that have a reserve, but I’m open: If I bid my price and it doesn’t meet the seller’s reserve, so be it. Actually, I do get a bit angry, truth be told, and I am circumspect of that seller in the future. So maybe I’m not as open as I would like to be.
This first one is a record we’ve been watching quite a bit lately: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was a New York pressing. It wasn’t pristine. The vinyl was described as having a few marks and the cover was noted as having a small tape repair. The top bid was $1,554, which was below the reserve price.
Here’s another Prestige: Curtis Fuller, New Trombone, Prestige 7107. This was an original New York pressing. The record was
listed as near mint for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The top bid was $261. This seller had a few nice items this week, some of which sold, and some of which also missed the reserve price. Here’s another from the same seller that did not sell: Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This was an original West 63rd pressing with the promo stamp. The vinyl was described as VG+ on one side and M- on the other. The cover was described as VG++. The picture was not great, which may have led people to think that perhaps the cover was not VG++. Just a guess. The top bid was $308.
Why are collectors hesitant to bid on a record with a reserve ? Sellers do have a right to protect the value of what they sell don’t they ? Thanks.
If a seller lists an item with a starting bid, that’s fine because you know what that minimum price is he/she will accept and you can make an informed decision on whether or not to bid.
When it’s a reserve this minimum price is hidden and it becomes a tedious game of incrementally guessing what that price might be. I personally find it irritating. If a seller has a price in mind, just say it.