Auction Sniping
- Thread starter Chasing Embers
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With the rarity of the shape among the different savinelli lines, I don't know if that many exist. There is hope with the same lines featuring both the 904 and the 9004.
For pipes I have any interest in, I am very confident that I know “the market” since there are a lot of choices on eBay and from domestic and overseas estate pipe sources. When I first see one listed that I like, I open up Auction Sniper, put in my max bid, and pretty much forget about it. Early bids are a distraction. The real buyers show up at the end. Some you win, some you lose, but the makers I like have made lots of very nice pipes and I will never be able to own all that appeal to me.
Prices on Britwood have plummeted over the last few years, and I agree that it has everything to do with people focusing on buying tobacco. My guess is that prices, on average, have fallen about 30%, based on the tens of thousands of auctions I've followed over the last decade.
Before the financial panic there were about five to six thousand pipes up for auction on eBay on any given day. That number quadrupled in a year as people unloaded their collections to get a cash infusion. Prices dropped quite a bit. They gradually rose but since 2016 seem to be on a decline once more. As an investment, pipes are far worse than tulips.
As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I was following an auction of a pipe that I was interested in, a very rare Barling, a Barling Super Tro-Tube. In 12 years of actively following auctions on eBay this was the first time I'd seen one listed. There was no serious bid activity on it, but over 36 watchers, so I expected a shoot out.
The pipe is in slightly rough condition, but at this point in my collecting Barling's, the opportunity to add of a pipe of historical interest to me outweighs condition to a greater extent than it typically would. This one still retains its stinger and neither of the other two I'd seen still had theirs.
A few years back I had the opportunity to buy a Tro-tube, but the price being asked was significantly more than I was willing to pay. Condition on that pipe was excellent, but it lacked the stinger. You can see pictures of it on the Pipedia Barling page.
Anyway, the auction was ending this morning and the price was still below what I was willing to offer given condition and my interest. I had things to do this morning, so I put in a bid with about 30 minutes to go and went off to take care of chores. I had no expectations of success or failure, given that my bid offer was about 35% of the price I had been quoted on another Tro-Tube just a few years ago. Historical interest goes only so far.
As expected, the snipers hit and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my bid had won, without coming close to my maximum. I had contacted the seller and made him a cash offer when he first listed the pipe. Luckily he declined and I ended up paying considerably less than my offer.
Sometimes specialist obscurity, combined with a mediocre photographic presentation, offers opportunities to cheapskates like me.
The pipe is in slightly rough condition, but at this point in my collecting Barling's, the opportunity to add of a pipe of historical interest to me outweighs condition to a greater extent than it typically would. This one still retains its stinger and neither of the other two I'd seen still had theirs.
A few years back I had the opportunity to buy a Tro-tube, but the price being asked was significantly more than I was willing to pay. Condition on that pipe was excellent, but it lacked the stinger. You can see pictures of it on the Pipedia Barling page.
Anyway, the auction was ending this morning and the price was still below what I was willing to offer given condition and my interest. I had things to do this morning, so I put in a bid with about 30 minutes to go and went off to take care of chores. I had no expectations of success or failure, given that my bid offer was about 35% of the price I had been quoted on another Tro-Tube just a few years ago. Historical interest goes only so far.
As expected, the snipers hit and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my bid had won, without coming close to my maximum. I had contacted the seller and made him a cash offer when he first listed the pipe. Luckily he declined and I ended up paying considerably less than my offer.
Sometimes specialist obscurity, combined with a mediocre photographic presentation, offers opportunities to cheapskates like me.
I love when this happens. I've offered $100 to Savinelli 904 sellers when one catches my eye. I get declined, the auction proceeds, and I get a new 904 for far less than what I offered.?
Very nice, hope you enjoy it!
I used to snipe all the time, from the late 90s in fact, setting up alarms to get up in the middle of the night if needs be etc. Nowadays with mobile phones, apps, bots, professional buyers etc it's pretty impossible to do it anymore. Also both sellers and buyers are clued up since anything can be researched on the net. It's just luck if a good item goes unnoticed, or as Sable pointed out, bad photography, wrong description. In the end it boils down to the size of everyone's purse.
I just put the max of what I'm willing to pay whenever I see the auction and forget about it until I get the email that says that I lost the item
I used to snipe all the time, from the late 90s in fact, setting up alarms to get up in the middle of the night if needs be etc. Nowadays with mobile phones, apps, bots, professional buyers etc it's pretty impossible to do it anymore. Also both sellers and buyers are clued up since anything can be researched on the net. It's just luck if a good item goes unnoticed, or as Sable pointed out, bad photography, wrong description. In the end it boils down to the size of everyone's purse.
I just put the max of what I'm willing to pay whenever I see the auction and forget about it until I get the email that says that I lost the item
I have a variety of Deluxe Milanos in both 904 and 9004.?
Currently at 30, may hold off number 31 for the elusive 914.
If I come across one I’ll let you know. That 904 is only at fifteen bucks though...
Saw that.
Falls into my price range as I've only paid more than $30 for three of the entire collection.? Going to keep an eye on that one to see what happens.?
Here's an example. Nice pipe from our good friend Pipestud. I did my research and decided to put a max-price of 62.50. I think it's probably worth more. but it's not a must have. I don't have a meer lined briar so this would be a nice add for that price. 14k gold band. It was a premium 20$ pipe in the 1940's
I would be very happy with that pipe for $62 and just as happy that I didn't get it for more money. I only win maybe 5% of the time. I enjoy the learning through research as much as anything else. Lost this one by a buck (or it could have been +$50 if someone wanted it badly). It's more about the hunt than the kill.
Also people seem to pay a premium for Magnum sized pipes. I generally don't enjoy anything much past a size 4, so I prefer smaller bowls that tend to go for less money.
I would be very happy with that pipe for $62 and just as happy that I didn't get it for more money. I only win maybe 5% of the time. I enjoy the learning through research as much as anything else. Lost this one by a buck (or it could have been +$50 if someone wanted it badly). It's more about the hunt than the kill.
Also people seem to pay a premium for Magnum sized pipes. I generally don't enjoy anything much past a size 4, so I prefer smaller bowls that tend to go for less money.
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Ah, just realized the confusion. Each one is blend dedicated.A 31 day set ladies and gentlemen!!!
And this is the same guy who insists briars need not be rested.
I was just giving you a hard time (as usual lol). I actually agree with you that the briar resting is probably not really necessary. Unless maybe someone is smoking like a freight train.
You took my lollipop didn't you?? ? .. It's ok, I just took the next kids ?
I am on a quest to collect Dunhill's by year. 1920's through 1960's. A fun adventure, but often loose the bid as some of them can get crazy expensive. I too have discovered that there is always another one somewhere down the road....If I am looking for a certain shape or make and am lucky enough to find a Buy Now, it makes it easier. It just comes down to a budget issue....
What is that saying, "Something is worth exactly what someone is willing to spend".
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