Is There A Post About New Pipe Sellers On Sites Like Ebay?

[ssjones]

A 10,000 Ebay rating with 100% positive reviews says it all. You don't get that kind of rating by dishonesty.

 

[Rpink53]

Deadmanspipes = worst store name ever.

I bought an old Dunhill through him. Good experience and my favorite pipe.

I am winning an active auction now for another

 

[Rigidman]

Wow!!! Before I buy something I always research previous auctions of similar brands. If I get on eBay and see something I'm interested in, I don't bid on something because the auction is ending with no bids on a .01 or .99 cent auction. I figure there's a reason no ones bid on it.

I guess until a better system comes along I'll just come by and do some name dropping. See what kind of reaction I get.

Thanks

 

[sablebrush52]

A 10,000 Ebay rating with 100% positive reviews says it all. You don't get that kind of rating by dishonesty.

View attachment 48518

I’ll respectfully disagree. Some of the biggest snakes I’ve dealt with on eBay had 100% ratings. I take those ratings with a mountain of salt.

 

[Rigidman]

Yeah I hear y'all. I got this cream puff here only smoked on the weekends by a sweet little old woman that took very good care of it. Caveat Emptor!!

You can't please everyone and there's no such thing as perfection. I just thought if you could post about the sellers on eBay that you had good and bad experience with in a single thread it would be good for newbies like me. Sort of a don't go here thing. or beware of this sellar and this one has never let me down.

But I'm guessing the bad ones get a lot of rants about them so if I search their name, if they're not using a different one by now, that there will be plenty of info about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

So now my eyes have opened. You can't really start such a thread because here today gone tomorrow or they just switch identities and keep doing the same evil things. When that happens it sucks big ones.

I needed some work done on the house so I got some estimates and asked for references. I also asked for a copy of their license. You have no idea how many people don't have one in their name.

RED LIGHT!!! There's a reason they don't. But, eBay doesn't screen sellers. So you could open a store, screw a thousand or two people, get banned, open new store and start all over again.

I guess that's the best reason for places like this. Where like minded individuals can come together tell stories, give/get advice, lie, joke, and best of all, learn!!

Thanks for the info and for stopping by. You're welcome any time.

 

[Rigidman]

Until you have had 3 years of following auctions on ebay, you should never get involved in the auctions. Stick to Buy it Now, don't even mess with make an offer. ''
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You new guys leave the auctions to us pro's who have plenty of experience and know which carvers are worth chasing and buying their estate pieces. When you bid with no knowledge, you raise the prices for us pro's and if you win you will own a pipe that is way above your pay grade. If you have questions on any auction just ask us through a PM. Don't post an auction on the open forum, that could bring unwanted attention and maybe cost someone a lot of money.

Yeah, that might help you, but not me. I've been buying/selling on eBay enough to know that research is very important to get an idea of value. I never get on and buy something I want because its ending. There will be more. Research will pay off in the end

Right now I'm building a collection to smoke. Buying buggered ones to get experience in repair, restoration, and proper pipe maintenance. Would rather ruin a .99¢ pipe instead of an $80 one by reaming it incorrectly. Also I don't want to damage the wood with a heavy hand or by being over zealous on my favorite pipe. Yes I've caught the bug.

Finally, at this moment, if there is a pipe I like, or REALLY WANT!! I don't mind paying a couple dollars more. But most the time I'm looking for a deal. No one wants to pay the asking price.

If they have the best offer button on I will take 30%-40% off their asking price. I've gotten great deals this way. Many sellers have no idea the value of the item they're selling. I don't screw them, but I make a fair offer.

If they have a fixed amount for the starting bid, I offer that amount, rounded up or down to nearest dollar depending on my research. I usually offer close to current selling prices. Usually try to get about 10%-25% less. I have no problem walking away. There will be more.

I let them know I'm interested and every negotiation needs a starting point and my intention isn't to insult but to do business with them.

There have been a couple "buy now" that won't negotiate and I'm like then why use the "best offer" button? On auctions, sometimes I will make an offer even if the auction is new. If its on its last day, even better.

If a seller uses the best offer button, I will sometimes contact them to see what kind of price, if any, they're looking for. How much knowledge do they have about the item. Sometimes their expectations are high. Sometimes they're happy with whatever they get. It also lets me know if I should walk away or run.

I've gotten many deals like this. I don't try to side step eBay by making a deal that will end the auction early so I can buy the item. But if I see an item has ended without a sale, I will contact the seller to see if we can make a deal. I don't think this breaks any rules. There's no guarantee they will relist the item. Nor are they obligated to. But I still use PayPal. I'm not stupid.

Some new sellers will just throw the thing back into the junk drawer or back into the box. Never to be seen again. I figure I'm saving it. Putting it back into use. Giving it a new life.

Thanks

 

[ssjones]

A 10,000+ positive rating doesn't guarantee your character, but it does say thousands of people of chosen to rate you as positive. I see no way that can be faked. I've struggled to get past 500 on my ebay rating, over a 20 year span. I've had one negative rating, which haunted me. The rating is over the past 12 months, NOT the life of the account. During that time 243 buyers (not internet forum members) chose to rate Shiny Pipes as positive. I've sold 40 items on ebay in the past three months (father in law's estate Snap-On tools) and literally begged buyers to rate me. Only 50% did (all positive. To generate a 10,000 rating boggles my mind.

I've purchased six Shiny Pipe items over the past few years. Everyone was exactly as pictured and described. So, zero complaints from me.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

but it does say thousands of people of chosen to rate you as positive

I know that the poor rating that I gave them from four years ago is not in that count, and others haver posted that they too rated them poorly. The pipe I received was a Colding acorn that had a burn on the outside, possibly from where it had been burned from a cigarette in an ashtray is my guess, and it had a hole that was repaired in the stem. The pictures had been severely doctored. I wouldn't have purchased the pipe if I had known.

My experiences with interactions is as posted above, not pleasant. I imagine that if I saw a friend of mine that I was pretty sure of their character being criticized, I would probably jump to their defense also, but when it happened so many times, and then the threat of releasing customer data... I don't think that this is a manufactured conspiracy against them.

I just don't trust those ratings, if mine can be removed, then so can others. 10,000 is an impressive number, but they also have tons of pipes listed. Even with my business I have had some repairs that have failed the customer's expectations (it happens), but I work my damndest to make good on them, and I have never talked down to a customer. They weren't many, maybe below 1%. But, instead of trying to make good this vender has chosen to jump to defensive mode, according to my own experience and others apparently. But, instead of trying to make a customer happy, they just take a different route. Then, apparently work to have bad reviews removed.
Yes, one could probably bank on an 90ish% certainty that they will have a smooth transaction with Shiny Pipes. But, if you fall into that low 1-3% (giving some % to just having a blah experience or just tossing the loss to the roll of the dice) chance of a bad one (tilting the odds to them), you can most certainly count on them not making good on it. In that set of odds, I wouldn't suggest them to forum member.

I know that I can be a jokester on here, but I don't have a reason to unnecessarily target a vender for no reason at all. And, Sable has had more than his fair share of rodeos in pipe transactions.

 

[cigrmaster]

I bought a pipe from pipestud once and he said it came with a a happy ending, he never cane through, that makes him a dirt bag in my world.

 

[ssjones]

Ratings cannot be removed from Ebay, period. You only see the last 12 months, but a seller cannot have a rating removed, at least not to my knowledge and experience. I've now been selling on Ebay for 20 years.

Cosmic, I'm not trying to diminish your experience, that is yours and I respect your right to own it. You are simply sharing your own experience

But, I suspect that after around 8 satisfied Shiny Pipe purchases in the past 10 years, I may have more buys from them than any other member here. Many who point them out have never purchased from them.

They definitely had some poor business practices in the past, and I can't excuse those. But by my experiences in the past six or so years, that is no longer the case.

Members may not chose to trust them, I get that as well, there are plenty of other members out there to patronize.

I think I've beat this one to death, so I'll move on and let others come to their own conclusions.

 

[Rigidman]

Ratings cannot be removed from Ebay, period. You only see the last 12 months, but a seller cannot have a rating removed, at least not to my knowledge and experience. I've now been selling on Ebay for 20 years.

Cosmic, I'm not trying to diminish your experience, that is yours and I respect your right to own it. You are simply sharing your own experience

But, I suspect that after around 8 satisfied Shiny Pipe purchases in the past 10 years, I may have more buys from them than any other member here. Many who point them out have never purchased from them.

They definitely had some poor business practices in the past, and I can't excuse those. But by my experiences in the past six or so years, that is no longer the case.

Members may not chose to trust them, I get that as well, there are plenty of other members out there to patronize.

I think I've beat this one to death, so I'll move on and let others come to their own conclusions.

Actually you can have feedback removed. Not sure of criteria. But they have instructions on it. If you can remove feedback, it changes the rating. Amazon did something similar as well. Also they changed some things a few years back. I remember it affected the reviews and feedback.

 

[Rigidman]

Once all my pipes arrive, I'll post pictures. My plan is to buy about 10-20 pipes around $10-$20 each. Some I know will cost more. I didn't really have any particular brand in mind except for Dunhill, GBD, Peterson, and Comoy and/or Savineli. Got lucky with a couple I bought in lots. Also I wanted to buy a couple lots to have for restoration and to practice maintenance. Instead of learning on my favorites and screwing it up.

Once I get them all cleaned up, sanititized and restored. I'll post before and after pictures. Some aren't any particular brand I just liked them. Others I hadn't heard of. I dif some research but I couldn't find anything about their worth. I figured $10 for a a decent pipe isn't bad.

I found a couple places that sold finished pipes in bulk. $180-$260+ and they'll put a name in it too. Some looked very familiar, especially when you look at some websites cheap pipes. Also some looked like several "Nice unsmoked Estate Pipes" on eBay.

You all probably already know.

Thanks

 

[Rigidman]

I think there are going to be sellers/buyers that have bad days. That's just the way it is. I've heard of sellers that were selling knock offs. Guess what country? China. The knock off capital of the world.

Then there are the ones that start out trying to make a buck anyway possible not caring about quality or customer service. But one day they figure out that their little con job is working and if they actually put some effort in, some respect, and some service, they may actually have something to be proud of.

Then there are the ones the reverse of the above. They start out trying to make an honest buck but things fall apart or it gets too big. Or they loose interest. Then maybe later, they get their heads out of their behinds and do things right.

You never know. Everyone is going to have different experiences and opinions, they're like butt holes, everyone has one.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I second the suggestion to avoid "Shiny Pipes." You'll find many threads where people have been duped by their practices. And, they coerce good reviews... let's just say they are terrible people.

All others seem like great advice.

Can you relate any personal experience of your dealings with them? I've had 20-30 transactions with them over the years and I've never run into what your alleging.

Five or maybe it was six, years ago they got caught photoshopping images (ineptly) to hide flaws in the pipes they were selling. The images were posted here with the photoshopped image next to the actual pipe. Things got a little, well, more than a little, heated, and I remember the thread being poof! disappeared as a consequence. There was no question that the images were deceiving, nor of the intent to deceive buyers.

Their record is mixed. There are customers who are very happy with them and there are others who despise them.

There are much less, ahem..., controversial sellers on eBay.

I've gotten three pipes from them with zero issues.

 

[sablebrush52]

I've gotten three pipes from them with zero issues.

Like I wrote, Jekyll and Hyde. Many people are happy with their purchases. And, the dealer posts photoshopped images to hide flaws. So, kind of a mixed bag at best.
I'm more particular. If someone engages in questionable practices, or lies to me about what they're offering, done and done.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If someone engages in questionable practices, or lies to me about what they're offering, done and done.

I asked for additional photos of pipes that caught my attention and they provided them. Each piece I received from them was excellent out of the box and well below what i would have expected to pay elsewhere. If we boycott businesses with questionable practices, no one would be in business.

 

[sablebrush52]

I asked for additional photos of pipes that caught my attention and they provided them. Each piece I received from them was excellent out of the box and well below what i would have expected to pay elsewhere. If we boycott businesses with questionable practices, no one would be in business.

Depends on the questionable practices. About 10 years ago a major chain engaged in some quite questionable practices, figuring on one would care. A billion dollars in lost sales convinced them otherwise. Voting with one's wallet is a great way to educate businesses about the benefits of good business practices. You support whomever you please. I'll boycott whomever I please.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'll boycott whomever I please.

Never asked you not to, but many that we do support didn't get where they were completely honestly.

 

[ssjones]

You can only remove negative feedback on Ebay involving a successfully disputed case (which makes sense)

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I've gotten three pipes from them with zero issues.

I used to own a Ford Pinto that didn't blow up, but... that doesn't mean that some of them didn't.