Steve:
Two rules come into play here:
1) There are no "deals" on eBay - it is 100% slanted in favor of the sellers. More items sold for more dollars = more income for eBay. Any questions?
2) A (clear digital) picture really is worth a thousand words.
This is the worst-condition circa 1978 Raleigh Pro frameset I've ever seen (I'd bet $50 that those dropout adjusters are frozen solid - man, was this one ridden hard and put away wet - repeatedly), but the pics. tell it all. Caveat Emptor all the way
Deceptive would be showing pics. of a different, prettier frame with that glowing description. This seller is very legit (1200 positives, zero negatives), but got quite carried away with his own hype IMO. I see this constantly on eBay from sellers large and small - you learn to let the images do the talking and ignore the carnival barker atmosphere.
Worst ever description I've seen on eBay - dunno, there are so many to choose from!! "NOS" parts that were clearly well-used? Happens all the time.....
Gotta have clear images from all sides of the item - the good camera sellers usually show close-ups all six sides of a camera body plus the interior, and the good car sellers will show 20-40 pics.!!!
Cheers,
Greg "reputation is everything - check their feedback carefully and it'll speak volumes" Parker A2 MI USA
> From: "Questor" <questor@cinci.rr.com>
> To: "classicrendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 20:05:27 -0400
> Subject: [CR]ebay puffery - Raleigh Professional description misleading?
>
> I have an ethical question I'd like to pose to CR members... The =
> following ebay auction for a 50cm Raleigh Pro from the late 70's that =
> starts at $300 USD and may represent a low form of puffery to misguide =
> the potential bidder. I wonder about seller ethics because it seems =
> hard to believe the auction description is for the same frameset shown =
> in the pics. =20
>
> Careful viewing of the auction pics show that the sellers hype in the =
> auction description uses inflated comments that do not match the actual =
> exterior condition of the Raleigh Pro frameset.
>
> http://ebay.com/
>
> Is the seller misguided when he says "excellent reynolds 531 double =
> butted chromoly tubing"? 531 is chromoly tubing???
>
> The seller claims, "CONDITION: Excellent for its age, basically in =
> really good shape. As shown in the photos. A few tiny scratches as with =
> any used bike. The top tube has surface level very minor surface rust =
> under where the cable mounts as shown. no deep rust, not an issue at all =
> for frame integrity, it is purely cosmetic and means nothing except for =
> appearance. " ... "Could very easily be covered with a little touch up =
> paint since it sits under where the cable goes and it would then be =
> invisible. has a few tiny nicks and scratches but basically in great =
> shape. " =20
>
> 'Excellent" for its age' and "basically in great shape"is subjective, =
> but implies a puffy statement of its cosmetic condition. Excuse me, but =
> it seems there is NO paint on the top portion of the top tube and there =
> are MANY scratches. Rust sometimes hides structural cracks that weaken =
> parts of the frame tubing. This frame needs a complete repaint and =
> spraying Raleigh fisheye patterns on a Pro frame is not easy as he seems =
> to mislead the potential buyer!
>
> Do you think this auction is another low form of puffery and/or is the =
> auction description misleading? I personally believe the auction =
> description is deceptive because the pics show far more problems than =
> the seller describes... is this puffery? What are some of the =
> best/worst puffery claims involving vintage bikes on ebay that you have =
> seen recently?
>
> Best regards, Steve Neago
> "Watching out for that next great ebay "deal" very closely! "