Two auctions of Barling Birdseye pipes, both posted by the same seller at the same time, ended yesterday with far different results.
Birdseye 1
went for $109.78. There were some issues. The stem was obviously not the original one, and there was damage to the rim of the pipe.
Birdseye 2
went for $503.73. The stem may be original. At least it fits the pipe. There are some issues. Like Birdseye 1, the rim has sustained significant damage. Both pipes exhibit significant darkening along the upper part of the bowl, signifying a good deal of contact with fire. Likely, they were both smoked hot.
So why did Birdseye 2 go for almost five times what Birdseye 1 went for? Stratospheric sniping. Two brilliant strategists sniped with high bids in the last few seconds of the auction. I wonder if they knew that they were bidding in pounds and not dollars? In any event, the "winner" of Birdseye 2 paid over three times what the market would be, based on condition.
eBay is a great place to part a fool from his money.
Birdseye 1
went for $109.78. There were some issues. The stem was obviously not the original one, and there was damage to the rim of the pipe.
Birdseye 2
went for $503.73. The stem may be original. At least it fits the pipe. There are some issues. Like Birdseye 1, the rim has sustained significant damage. Both pipes exhibit significant darkening along the upper part of the bowl, signifying a good deal of contact with fire. Likely, they were both smoked hot.
So why did Birdseye 2 go for almost five times what Birdseye 1 went for? Stratospheric sniping. Two brilliant strategists sniped with high bids in the last few seconds of the auction. I wonder if they knew that they were bidding in pounds and not dollars? In any event, the "winner" of Birdseye 2 paid over three times what the market would be, based on condition.
eBay is a great place to part a fool from his money.