How much time do you spend on eBay looking at audio gear?

[Tim]

It fascinates me how many posts there are in the Bargains on eBay? thread and I was wondering how much time people spend there looking for gear or browsing for gear, or casually browsing gear just out of interest, as opposed to looking to buy anything?

So exactly how much time do you spend on eBay looking at audio gear (note this is for audio only, not general stuff).

[The Grand Wazoo]

He-heh - great thread idea Tim!
I suspect we harbour one or two closet-dealers (and would-be dealers) as well as a few retired folks looking to fulfill their boyhood dreams.

[walpurgis]

I'm on there every day and yes, quite a few of those posts are mine.

I look for stuff of interest to me and occasionally pick up something I know there's a profit in. I have a good knowledge of vintage gear and the more obscure bits and know values, so it pays off. I find it occupies me too (bit like this place).

[Thing Fish]

Hardly ever for me. I am pretty much there as far as audio go's. If there is something specific I want I tend to look but never if there isn't.

[John R Leddy]

It fascinates me how many posts there are in the Bargains on eBay? thread and I was wondering how much time people spend there looking for gear or browsing for gear, or casually browsing gear just out of interest, as opposed to looking to buy anything?

So exactly how much time do you spend on eBay looking at audio gear (note this is for audio only, not general stuff).

I was more than a little surprised to discover the degree of eBay promotion via this website.

I just do not get it. If someone wanted to know what was for sale on eBay surely they would simply go there?

If all these links were paid for by eBay I could understand it, but it all seems to be completely for free. Why would somebody do that?

This type of linking would cost an absolute fortune elsewhere. There is no gain in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) either. So what is it for?

I suppose it could be a source of content and discussion; or is it just a way of increasing a member's number of posts?

Do not get me wrong, I do not possess negative or positive opinions concerning eBay. I am pretty indifferent to the company as it does not effect my life one way or another.

However, most people I speak to seem to harbour a true resentment, almost approaching absolute hatred, for eBay, and yet on this website eBay is promoted with abandonment. Why? What am I missing?

I appreciate we cannot all have interest in everything, but I genuinely just do not get this one.

A sticky with 747 pages, 7,466 replies, and 338,710 views at the time of writing.

John.

[Alex_UK]

I have email alerts set up for a few specifics, and usually check out 2 or 3 auctions a day, gleaned from the email alerts. One search is everything newly listed, sorted by distance - this is how I pick up most bargains - stuff being sold in the immediate area pick up only. I have been known to spend hours looking for something specific, though!

[Effem]

I find some of the links useful because those in the know have the knack of spotting the bargains.

What does annoy me is when someone puts a link on the damn thing when it ends in less than half an hour, so by the time I see it, it has long gone :rolleyes:

[Gordon Steadman]

Its a normal part of my evening stroll through the net. In the first place, I have been into music and hi-fi for 50 years, so its just interesting to see if any of my old equipment comes up and if so at what sort of price and secondly, there is always the possibility that someone else who might be interested, will miss the chance and I suspect that its the main reason someone like Walpurgis posts so much.

I can't see why eBay should be the source of bad vibes, it offers a service you either like and want use or don't. Just like any other shop. If you feel they can't justify the charges, shop elsewhere.

[walpurgis]

on this website eBay is promoted with abandonment. Why? What am I missing?

Yes, I think you are missing something John.

I put a good few links on 'Bargains on eBay' as I spend a fair bit of time on eBay and probably have more time to do this than most AOS members. Therefore, it makes sense to me to point members towards interesting or cheap HI-FI. I don't mind doing this and I think some people may have found it useful.

Lets face it, anybody not interested does not have to look.

[John R Leddy]

I have email alerts set up for a few specifics, and usually check out 2 or 3 auctions a day, gleaned from the email alerts. One search is everything newly listed, sorted by distance - this is how I pick up most bargains - stuff being sold in the immediate area pick up only. I have been known to spend hours looking for something specific, though!

Me too Alex.

I have set up email alerts for a crossover, a power amplifier, and a pair of loudspeakers I am hoping to buy, albeit in the wife's account.

No doubt about it, there is money to be made if you are on top of your game.

I want to buy speakers locally so I can see their condition prior to parting with the cash.

We all have different outlooks on things. I would know to accept stacking marks on Linn equipment due to the coating never being hardened correctly, but even the slightest chip on a pair of loudspeakers would have me turning down the sale. I do not know what that is all about, and prefer not to analyse it; weird.

Good luck with your bargain hunting.

John.

[John R Leddy]

What does annoy me is when someone puts a link on the damn thing when it ends in less than half an hour, so by the time I see it, it has long gone :rolleyes:

What a wind-up!

[John R Leddy]

...its just interesting to see if any of my old equipment comes up and if so at what sort of price

I know what you mean Gordon. I appreciate it is all relative, but it still feels a bit funny to see an item I have previously owned sell for more than I originally paid for it when it was new.


I can't see why eBay should be the source of bad vibes...

A mystery to me as well. It almost seems like people think eBay owes them something. Probably a little resentment due to eBay having a virtual monopoly, or at least being the most widely used vendor, in online auctioning.

John.

[John R Leddy]

Yes, I think you are missing something John.

Hmm, you are not the first, and I doubt you will be the last, Geoff, to say this about me. But never mind, Life goes on...

John.

[alan47]

I spend a couple of hours a day following my loudspeaker buying addiction.Can't resist a bargain.I have bought ten pairs in the last few years.Kept my two favourites and sold the rest back and just about broken even.Great fun and its cheaper than going to the pub..:rolleyes: mind you it can be dodgy when bidding after drinking a bottle of red wine..

[synsei]

There's more money to be had breaking speakers for the drive units, crossovers and cabinet furniture then selling them on, unfortunately I just can't bring myself to destroy a perfectly good pair of speakers. I did do rather well out of the Celestion County's which I bought a couple of years ago which arrived with the cabinets damaged beyond repair. So far they stand me at a hundred quid profit, not bad considering I only paid a tenner for them. Just the crossovers to shift now :)

[Tim]

Interesting results - I cocked up the Poll though, as the last entry does not read how I meant it - should have been 'Can't keep away, I'm there for some time (as in considerable) every single day'. Maybe it should have been 'Can't keep away, I'm there for ages every single day'. Mods can change if they like?

As for me I very rarely go there for audio, I do sell a lot of stuff and buy CD's too, but I have only bought one thing on eBay which is audio related (an amp). I kind of suspected AoS folk were avid visitors and I reckon if André were still here, he might clock up the most time . . . could be wrong though?

Music is what takes me to eBay, not gear ;)

[realysm42]

I've bought things through eBay, but never from links from this site though.

It tends to be from necessity (ie acoustic revive equipment you just can't buy elsewhere).

If I buy music, it tends to be via amazon, loads of 1p CDs, great way to expand the collection.

[Wakefield Turntables]

yep i must admit I like to do a little buying and selling but there is no way that I could earn a living from it. TBH it helps to cover the cost of my hobby. I've been flogging off some of my vinyl and spare cables, this will just about cover the repair costs of a valve amp i'm having sorted out. I also like to search for projects. I normally like to do or two a year and eBay is my prime source.

[Tim]

I also like to search for projects. I normally like to do or two a year and eBay is my prime source.
Now that makes a lot of sense Andrew, probably no better place for it in fact, unless you want to spend an age trawling around boots at the weekend. Whatever floats your boat I guess?