I'm going to stick my neck out because this is a Buy-It-Now and not an auction. US Ebay has this as a BIN: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171982203917 It's all there, but assembled wrong. Scroll down and you'll see what I mean: http://tgmarsh.faculty.noctrl.edu/uslamppz.html I must pay bills, but I want a U.S. member of the forum to have the pleasure of putting this right. Al
No harm trying. I imagine that it would cost a pretty penny to get down to you if they didn't think it was a bomb or something.
That's not a bad price for a fine lamp. I just have to watch my expenses for a while. I should know better than to be trolling around Ebay after dark.
Postage is what it is. I don't like paying it but if I want lamps that I can't get in Australia, so be it. I'd be happy to send you the funds for you to pay for it for me. That is unless you want a fellow countryman to get it.
What I want is for someone on the forum to have it. That way I get a second-hand buzz I can front for you. I'll get you a shipping cost as soon as I have it in hand. ...just paid for it, so "we" own it now. aly
As Al mentioned in his first post, he was worried he may be breaking a rule by posting the lamp on CPL whilst it was still for sale on ebay. Does BIN listings on ebay or elsewhere come under the same rule as ebay auctions?
I've wondered about this and come to my own conclusion that they don't - and can't. My logic is that if another member had their eye on the BIN listing with a view to buying the item, they should have done so when they first spotted it - what were they waiting for? Someone else could have come along and bought it, never mind just posting about it here. You snooze, you lose...
David, It simply amazed me how many watchers there were on the lamp Al helped me get. Like fair dinkum, it was BIN @ $29 and had 18 watchers. What were they waiting for? Were they hoping for the 9 to drop off the end of the 29? How cheap do they wish to get a lamp? If I can get confirmation that it's ok to post I'll post a pair of lamps that had an asking price of $895 but also make offer with an invitation to make an offer that you might be surprised that he would accept. I took up the challenge and offered $150 and the seller came back with $240 which is one hell of a difference to his asking price. I wanted members to be aware that if they are interested in the lamps make an offer. I have just bought another lamp (after he counter offered) and with recent previous purchases I'll leave them alone.
Matty, I can't say that 18 watchers is very much. Apart from you yourself, the seller and Al, the rest might very well have been in the same situation as you, i.e. being hindered by the very fact that the seller didn't ship outside the US. We allow BIN listings to be posted. After all they aren't auctions per se, so no risk of pushing the prices up by exposing them here.
Yeah, 18 watchers does seem quite a few to me as well. Having said that, I often watch BIN auctions (not that one, though) for items I've no intention of buying, just to see if they sell at the asking price. I suppose I'm just watching market trends. If I do see something I want on a BIN at a price I'm prepared to pay, then I'm 'in like Flynn' to get it! And your advice about making offers is good. Also to ask if the seller is prepared to reconsider about not posting internationally - they often are and can only say no; as we say over here in the old dart, 'shy bairns gets no sweets'...
Christer, Thanks for the info on being allowed to post BIN prices. David, That's good advice about not being put off by no international postage. I find more than 50% will post if you ask them. The really funny thing about this lamp was, that I tried to contact the seller to ask him to consider posting it to me. No matter what I did, ebay wouldn't allow me to actually get a message to him. I tried asking a question about postage and all the other usual ways of contacting a seller but was blocked at each turn. I had never come across that previously, it was like he could detect where you were from and block any sort of contact. As it happens, the same day I found another lamp, a Marvel chandelier. The same thing happened, I was blocked from contacting the seller. Now, I really wanted this lamp. I scanned his listing and low and behold I find an email address way down the bottom of the listing. I email him, 10 minutes later, he comes back with a very reasonable postage charge to Australia. 2.6 seconds later, I owned the lamp I don't think it was anything I was doing that wouldn't allow me to contact the sellers. I've been around the ebay block a few times.
Many have probably seen these lamps. The seller has a BIN of $895. He offered them to me for $240. I think if you haggle you may get them cheaper than the $240. As said above, I would of gone back with a counter offer but I found another lamp I wanted. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/131639058891?_trksid=p2055359.m2763.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
There's another Ann Arbor hanging lamp on eBay at $95 BIN but its been relisted a few times so the seller would probably take offers. Looks like it might be missing a few bits from the burner. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-gas-ann-arbor-michigan-superior-lamp-manufacturing-co-old-rare-hanging-/301783757811?hash=item4643b6b3f3:g:8QgAAOSwHnFV5jiX Gas gravity lamps aren't really my thing. In fact I have a reasonably priced one in the classifieds
Piss poor packing. I got a call from our postmaster today (small town) and she was pretty upset with the packing on the lamp. She was kind enough to record it as damaged in transit due to poor packing. The default insurance for Priority Mail is $50. I sent photos to the seller expressing my disappointment and that I might be in touch for a claim. I also sent the photos to Matty. The one feed tube was bent so far that it's crimped, and that could be difficult to repair. Not a seller that I would do business with again.
Al, sorry this is causing you a drama. One thing, it's cool when you live in small communities and you get the old world service from people that give a damn like your local postmaster. I suspect if you sent the photos to paypal/ebay you will get a refund and be able to keep the lamp unless the seller wishes to pay for return postage. Yes, your advice on avoiding this seller is noted.
I talked to the postmistress today, and if I would get a full refund if I filed a claim BUT the post office keeps the lamp/box. Not really a win. I contacted the seller and we agreed on a %50 refund of cost and shipping. I do believe that the lamp is salvageable, and I'll be repacking it to get it down to Matty early next week. The crimp in the feed tube MIGHT be repairable without cracking it, and that would be a giant leap forward. Otherwise, he would have to fettle a new feed tube which might not be so bad. On a closing note, the seller was VERY apologetic and wanted to make it right. I'll take some close shots of the burner before I pack it up properly for the trip down under.
Bob, Yes, it looks like the bloke has no clue as to how to pack stuff for postage. If the pipe is crimped it may be easier just to organise a new piece for it. I suspect the restoration will take awhile as there are quite a few bits and pieces to get.
The bloke with this Knight Light tank is a bit optimistic. He does have a Make an Offer option. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hollow-wire-lighting-tank-/181918269163?hash=item2a5b2c7eeb:g:y3gAAOSw5ZBWNEz3
Al, My many thanks for the lamp. If I can ever help you, or anyone else, acquire a lamp from this part of the world just let me know. It's a shame that a reasonably straight forward act of generosity went a little pear shaped. The poor packing from the seller caused you more dramas than we both expected. You never once complained, just got on with sorting things out and sort them out you did. I think you proved that friendships can be formed from visiting sites such as CPL. It can take a little or a lot of effort and understanding but it can be done. Good onya mate.
