Three Prestiges and One Bizarre
Sorry, took a break for the Memorial Day Holiday weekend here in the states. Back to eBay and jazz vinyl. Someone sent me a link to this listing under the subject “bizarre auction:” Grant Green, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Blue Note 84202. This was a stereo Liberty pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. The seller had a feedback rating of 96.6 percent. The start price was 99 cents and then there seemed to be a two-person bidding war, hiking the sale price to $415. Bizarre indeed.
Not so bizarre for this one: Webster Young, For Lady, Prestige 7106. This was an original New York yellow label pressing. The record was listed in EX condition and the cover was probably VG. It also had a promo stamp on the back cover. It sold for $428.
Another Prestige from the same era: Jackie McLean and John Jenkins, Alto Madness, Prestige 7114. This was also an original New York yellow label, listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It also had a promo stamp on the back cover. The price was $325.
And this one:
Phil Woods and Donald Byrd, Young Bloods, Prestige 7080. This was another original yellow label New York pressing with a promo stamp. It was listed in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. The start price was $100 and . . . it didn’t even get a single bid. Why not? Not sure, but I think it may have to do with the picture accompanying the listing, which was very weak, and the fact that the seller mentioned “surface noise” as a characteristic even though he listed the record in VG+ condition.
RE Grant Green: I didn’t bid on it,but I know prices that I do bid for lps are usually determined by what I myself sell. It may seem obvious,but when bidders both buy AND sell on ebay,their willingness to go “overboard” can be impacted by that weeks good fortune(or lack thereof).Plus,Paypal payments of $$ I never actually “touch” somehow makes the plunge easier to bear and less “bizarre”. Now,if I could score the Sonny Clark Trio BN date for that kind of bread..now you’re talking!
I don’t know of someone ex perienced that before…. these time i have been selling some jazz records, in order to clear up my shleves. I noticed that there are more and more non paying bidder.
I had a recent experience with “Down Home” (Zoot Sims on Bethelehem) sold for nearly $ 400 after a bidding contest. No payment, no reaction. I cancelled the deal, the second highest bidder took the record and paid forthwith. But I cannot say that the phenomenon is becoming more frequent, it happens every now and then.