I've been watching a nice pair of KEF Reference 3s on Ebay for some weeks, should I or shouldn't I, and this morning I decided to go for it. And guess what? Yep, gone...
Anybody else missed the boat on something through dithering? Or even regretted an impulse buy? Probably everyone here :doh: I know I have.
That's a shame, Steve.
I can't think of any missed bargains off the top of my head, nothing significant, anyway. Usually if it happens on something small I can find something similar, but if it was truly unique, then I think you have to just bite the bullet.
The biggest thing I have probably jumped on was Tamzin's car a couple of months ago - we spotted the advert at about 8.30 on Sunday morning when the dealer was closed, but I rang him on his mobile and practically forced him to accept a deposit and take it off sale.
Regrets, I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention...(!) Usually me being impulsive and buying something that fits above as "truly unique" without reading the advert properly! I've noticed a few times that adverts are sneaky on eBay/Vinted etc., and they say "study the photos as they form part of the description" - if you magnify the image to 500% you may just spot the scratch or blemish that they haven't actually put in the description... I bought a (very cheap, fortunately) watch that had a cracked crystal but wasn't specifically mentioned in the description, and the photos were so poor it wasn't obvious it was actually broken.
Yamaha NS1000M. At a good price but he was selling several pairs so thought I'd make a lower offer. He knocked it back but I thought well, give it time he'll come round. But he shifted them all really quickly.
Some REF 3s going Nottingham way but it's a bit of a trek from where you are.
Yeah, that "study the photos..." thing is a proper get out for sellers. Sneaky. But I suppose if you're not talking big money, and the seller is too far away for face-to-face, you just have to take a punt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex_UK
Nottingham's not a trek, it's practically on my doorstep! I was fully prepared to drive to Colchester for those KEFs, to satisfy myself they weren't secretly cack.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Anyway, no big rush I suppose, I've a lot of stuff I need to sell in the meantime.
I'm sure I saw some NS1000Ms for sale on this forum recently, looked tidy too.
There's always some going somewhere but I don't have the money to indulge myself anymore. Maybe in a few years time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
The ones I missed were not that far away from me, could have got a taxi there and back to collect them.
Don't let distance get in the way of a good deal mate. I'll always help with that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Very good of you but you might regret that offer ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Within reason ofc. Doesn't matter if these are going for two pounds fifty, they're not gonna fit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
https://www.analogueseduction.net/us...T-758c2b45.jpg
2004 triumph speed four, low miles, mint condition, good price, thought about it for a few weeks until there it was, gone:doh:
One here James, just in time for summer :)
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-de...ation=at_bikes
and not a million miles from you.
Oh, and when I miss out on something, and someone says, "oh well, it wasn't meant to be", I just want to punch them - I mean, what kind of consolation is that :steam: They should be saying "Right, I'm going to dedicate my life to finding you another".
Mine was a mint Modwright preamplifier, which had just been serviced at a good price.
I asked Mrs H for permission, and by the time she had answered it was gone.
I did not do the same for my Primare, and she has not noticed it come in the house, or noticed it in my mancave, so why did I ask before?
Probably because she might wonder where the Modwright-shaped hole in your bank statement came from :)Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
There are ways of masking these things. ;)
She has not seen the Primare shaped hole.
Evening all,
I was clearing out the attic yesterday and found an old Hi-Fi Choice from 1999. It reminded me of The One That Got Away. And it still stings.
Back then, I was a young dad with no money and big dreams. I spotted a classified ad in the local paper (remember those?) – a man was selling a pair of Quad ESL-63s for £400 because he was moving abroad. Four hundred quid. For electrostatics.
I phoned him. They were still available. I arranged to view them that evening.
Then I dithered. Did I really have £400? What would my wife say? Could I even drive them with my NAD 3020? I called back two hours later to say I'd take them.
He'd sold them to the first person who viewed them. Forty minutes earlier.
I still think about those Quads. I've never even heard a pair properly. But in my mind, they would have changed my life.
Moral of the story: if the price is silly and the item is legendary, just buy it. Apologise later.
Alistair
You be careful now Alistair, your hifi is far too new for you to be thinking in those terms! Btw, Hope everything is still good in Lintonville :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Maelstrom
52 years ago I had the chance to buy a pair of Quad 57 ESLs. Strictly speaking I couldn't afford them, as I was an impecunious doctoral student at the time. Nonetheless, with the help of my then girlfriend, I bought them. Took them to Quad for them to give the speakers a "once over", and have used them ever since. :)
I bet that's a record, Barry - unless anyone has used an item of kit for longer than that...? Or what's your longest serving item?Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
(I've had my 401 for 40 years this year, but as it hasn't been in constant use I wouldn't count it.)
I should have added they were used and were for sale in a second hand goods shop. To make the decision whether to buy or not pressing, the shop were only asking £80 for the pair. Might seem nothing nowadays, but then it was a lot of money for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex_UK
My 401 back in 71 was something like £13 for a used one, it's sounds ridiculous today but I had just started work on £5 a week so it was 2.5 weeks wages and I just could not stretch to that sort of money back then and had to wait another 25 years before I could afford it.
Looks nice,can't ride at the moment though as I got knocked off my last bike last yearQuote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Nice surprise this morning - turns out the bloke selling the KEFs has been out of the country on holiday, and stopped the listing so that he wouldn't be getting enquiries while away. So not sold :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Now they can be couriered, but I'd rather see/hear before buying, so that's me driving down to Colchester on Monday. Road trip!
Seller assures me that when boxed these speakers will not fit in the car no way. So the van it is then. Still, with its new wheels and tyres it looks and drives proper. Just need to make up a picnic to break up the journey :)
Exciting!Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
Which Reference 3 are they I guess not the more recent one?
No. Nice though they are, they're just out of my price range. By another £3k. These are called "Foundry Edition", which are the same as the regular ones, but come in either gloss white/blue Uni-Q driver, or gloss black/copper Uni-Q.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
https://134494578.cdn6.editmysite.co...ptimize=medium
This is the pair I'm buying.
They're well tidy. I thought it might be the 1990s ones.
I can't really remember anything that "got away", I've always usually ended up with the things that I wanted to purchase.
They look awesome Steve, sure they will sound it, too, Kef are one of those brands that never makes a bad product.
Measured performance is outstanding:
https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/in...nts&Itemid=153
Look good Steve, should sound as good as they look going by the measurements.
Well done Steve - job sorted! :)
Thanks guys. Of course when they get to fire across my room and into my knackered old ears things may be slightly different :doh: But it won't be the speakers' fault. It was a conversation with Ali at NEBO last year that finally convinced me that the full range drivers in my current speakers are probably never going to give me what I was after.
Next job will be to sell a load of my stuff to claw some money back. Wish me luck!
Make sure you list it all here first. :)
We know you will be honest and accurate in all descriptions of the items you want to sell. Good luck.
So it's my fault then. :D
I've always thought it prudent to blame whoever lives the farthest away :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
:lol:
What a brilliant plan . . . consider that idea now stolen :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
For future reference, I am sure I live further away. ;)
Oh yeah, about 900 miles I reckon. Your name will be mud next time something goes wrong ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by CageyH
:lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
900 miles if you go through Paris.
1000 miles if you avoid it.
I think we have Members who live further away: Spain; Eastern Europe, and the USA. :hmm:
I am sure we do, but why risk Mrs P-P meeting the person who is blamed.
The chances of my going back to the UK for anything HiFi are pretty slim.