First point, I had no idea that the seller was a list member when I wrote my response. Second, being a list member doesn't moot the points, which were:
(1) If you are going to use a photo of an item taken from an Internet site rather than a photo of the actual item in your possession that you have up for sale, you should state that up front. To fail to do so is dishonest, no matter of which privileged fraternity you are a member.
(2) Steven pointed out that the hubs in the photo didn't appear to match the description of the hubs for sale. That discrepancy deserved clarification by seller (see point 1)
(3) Finally, regardless of which list one belongs to, IMO there's no excuse for a frequent eBay seller not to be able to provide actual pictures if the merchandise he has up for auction/sale. If the seller doesn't wish to buy a camera or feels that the technology is overwhelming, then he should make arrangements with someone who can provide this service. Providing accurate descriptions and images of your merchandise comes under the heading of the cost of doing e-business.
Perhaps my obtuseness is in failing to recognize being a member of this list exempts one from the scrutiny that one normally expects from others in these types of transactions. Must read my membership agreement more carefully :D.
Phil, who is in the midst of letting the AM caffeine jolt put an edge on that "comin' down'" feeling.
At 10.06 12.12.04, Dale B. Phelps wrote:
>Hey Mike I was attempting sarcasm, it didn't seem to come across that way
>though
>
>I don't think the sellers were out to "gouge" anyone, whether the steel
>hubset was 16 bucks or 60, more importantly to me at the time, I felt
>Phil's slam on one of our listmember/dealers about profits and digital
>cameras was obtuse--
>
>Dale Phelps,
>Longmont
>
>
>hersefan@comcast.net wrote:
>But wouldn't a serious buyer want alloy? The cool thing about prewar
>goodies is that the alloy revolution started around 1935 or 1936. FB's
>were very common on top tier French bike - but the ones to have are
>alloy. I'm sitting here staring at a bike that needs alloy FB's, but not
>steel ones ( everything else on the bike is alloy). These hubs may be the
>Victory cranks of the past.
>
>Also, a lot of prewar stuff just doesn't get top value. Thank goodness -
>the stuff in my mind is the coolest (1935-1938 or so) but nobody is really
>after it.
>
>I'd pay a few hundered in a flash for NOS alloy - but I've ignored the
>steel ones. Plus, our UK friends seem to unearth quite a few FB
>hubsets. Now for that prewar alloy one....
>
>Mike Kone in Boulder CO
>
>-------------- Original message --------------
>
> > Pfft, Phil, have another martini and chill out, if these hubs todd
> snatched are
> > the ones I was looking at on squee-bay, the combined total buy it now
> price was
> > what, 16 bucks?
> >
> > Another merchant out there to screw us poor cyclistes, pocketing loads
> of profit
> > and not even buying a digital camera to assure further graft PFFT
> >
> > Dale Phelps
> > Longmont CO
> >
> > Phil Sieg wrote:
> > Todd,
> >
> > I hope everything turns out well but I have a real problem in this day and
> > age with folks listing a bunch of items with pictures pirated from other
> > WWW sites. A basic digital camera doesn't cost that much. A picture is
> > still no guarantee, but a "loving hands at home" version taken against
> some
> > Gawdawful shag-carpet background, even if a little blurry, makes me think
> > at least there's a good chance the seller has the item in his possession.
> >
> > If one is going to using other photos, one should state in the auction
> that
> > the accompanying photo isn't representative of the item up for auction.
> > It's dishonest to do otherwise. Steven confirms what my still-learning
> > eyes thought. The rear hub looks to be at least able to accommodate a 5sp
> > freewheel, and isn't a single speed.
> >
> > I apologize if the seller is a list member and takes offense, but this
> > seller puts quite a few items up frequently and has a rather long list
> > now. Some of those profits should go for a camera, I think.
> >
> > Phil "Still working on the first martini so I'll mellow out later" Sieg
> > Knoxville, Tennessee
> >
> > At 18.28 11.12.04, t.kielman@comcast.net wrote:
> > >The picture of the hubs in this auction is taken from the Italian
> > >components page of the CR website.I grabbed a pair from the seller after
> > >checking his feedback for transactions with CR members.All positive,and
> > >possibly a listmember himself.Even if they are not correctly dated,they
> > >seem to be lovely hubs.
> > >
> > >Todd "if it looks too good to be true......" Kielman
> > >Chicago
> > >Still ignoring the collective wisdom of an entire civilization......
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> > Dale B. Phelps,
> > 303 939 6967
> > 408 448 1714
> > 303 208 8664 pager
> >
> > http://ngst.gsfc.nasa.gov/
> > http://www.mythologic.net/
> >
> > "Never be afraid to try something new. The Ark
> > was designed by amateurs. The Titanic was
> > designed by professionals." - R. Buckminister Fuller
> >
> > _______________________________________________
>
>
>
>Dale B. Phelps,
>303 939 6967
>408 448 1714
>303 208 8664 pager
>
>http://ngst.gsfc.nasa.gov/
>http://www.mythologic.net/end
>
>"Never be afraid to try something new. The Ark
>was designed by amateurs. The Titanic was
>designed by professionals." - R. Buckminister Fuller