The Ugly Side of Buying Estate Pipes

[xrundog]

I don't get why they would do that intentionally, since ebay has a pretty good refund/return policy.

I can’t say what the thinking is. But I’ve bought a couple pipes this year that turned out to have undisclosed defects. Obvious ones. I am willing to chalk it up to ignorance . Most people know zero about pipes.
But I went back and looked at the numerous listing pics and it appeared they were avoiding showing the defects. More work for me, but I like to fix old pipes and I kept them. I generally am not surprised by stuff like this and don’t get mad about it. But yeah, success for the sellers.

 

[ashdigger]

If not happy, send them back. Also, “remember the Seller” so you can avoid in the future if the blemishes weren’t described in the listing or otherwise revealed before purchase. Best! ️

Remembering the seller is top tier advice.

There are several very popular sellers on eBay I refuse to do business with; however, they are not scumbags, my brain processes honest different.

Lie to me, or mislead me, and you’re dead to me.

 

[Dshift]

I also like to give people the benefit of the doubt first, but in this case for example, since I could fix some of the issues a partial refund would be a great solution for both parties. This being said the seller insists that these are all absolutely normal wear and tear signs and should be assumed and that I could return the items but not through ebay.. he wants me to send him the pipes back on my eBay expense and trust him to pay me back after they arrive.. this would also mean that I can't get my import fees back, which are around 80€.
Since he is a "big" ebay seller, he thinks that he will win a refund case with ebay.

Here is where I stop giving people the benefit of the doubt. I am sure that a lot of his buyers would just accept the situation and move on, but I get a bit petty with people like this...

 

[Dshift]

Remembering the seller is top tier advice.

There are several very popular sellers on eBay I refuse to do business with; however, they are not scumbags, my brain processes honest different.

Lie to me, or mislead me, and you’re dead to me.

Exactly! I will also add that honest mistakes happen and it's a very important factor for me to see how sellers react when those happen.

 

[Dshift]

So reason prevailed at the end of the day and got a good an uncomplicated resolution for my problem, but judging from the amount of convincing the seller needed, i somehow doubt that a person with a "regular" ebay account will get the same understanding. Still a bad seller in my opinion..

 

[anotherbob]

There are places like Smoking Pipes that offer estate pipes that have been restored and are in great condition. I wouldn't dismiss estates outright.

eBay and Etsy are a crapshoot tho.

and I have to praise their customer service with their estates. I bought an estate from them many years ago that's a favorite. But every time I smoked it the thing would clog up. I contacted them past the point they promise to care for the pipe or take returns. They pretty much had great communication and actually fixed the issue even though it surprised them as well. A tiny piece of pipe cleaner had gotten stuck in the stem from the previous owner being a dumb ass (my opinion), it was so small it seemed like nothing until steam fluffed up the cotton bits which clogged the pipe. The fact is if they would have said tough poops I wouldn't fault them, it's the above and beyond that made me a lifetime fanboy.
Back to the original thread. Although estates are more fraught with non sense. You can still get a pipe new from a reputable company that has serious unseen issues. A piece of briar can look great and show no signs of issue and then have a massive burnout no matter how you smoke the thing. The heat from the first smoke can cause the briar to crack. The pipe fairies can curse a block of wood without leaving any signs until you try to smoke the pipe and it just sucks. But estates certainly have a larger buyer be aware to them.

 

[HeadMisfit]

Well you should look up on the cannibalized video cards being sold online via Etsy ebay and other places. No one is getting money back.

I've bought stuff that came missing components and parts shown in seller photo.
I've bought an item that was Grey in the photo and was intact but got the green version that was not intact.

 

[Sea Lord]

There are places like Smoking Pipes that offer estate pipes that have been restored and are in great condition. I wouldn't dismiss estates outright.

eBay and Etsy are a crapshoot tho.

I have stopped buying from them over 2 years ago. In my experience, there are better online vendors out there.

 

[anotherbob]

So reason prevailed at the end of the day and got a good an uncomplicated resolution for my problem, but judging from the amount of convincing the seller needed, i somehow doubt that a person with a "regular" ebay account will get the same understanding. Still a bad seller in my opinion..

I have to agree with that. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed their tune when they realized that their name could end up here is an avoid this person if they didn't resolve the issue. Imagine being a big seller on ebay and knowing that the next rube you try to rip off finding their name on this site with the same issue they're having. I'd be careful of that person and their willingness to rip off their customers.

 

[HeadMisfit]

I have stopped buying from them over 2 years ago. In my experience, there are better online vendors out there.

You mean like that place in Michigan that wants to sell you a 1970s made kaywoodie for 300?

 

[HeadMisfit]

I have to agree with that. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed their tune when they realized that their name could end up here is an avoid this person if they didn't resolve the issue. Imagine being a big seller on ebay and knowing that the next rube you try to rip off finding their name on this site with the same issue they're having. I'd be careful of that person and their willingness to rip off their customers.

With the ability to have multiple business names for a single ebay seller, names don't mean much

 

[Dshift]

With the ability to have multiple business names for a single ebay seller, names don't mean much

It wasn't the name that changed his mind , but the fact the he sees pipes on my account and only then was he somewhat convinced that the issues were not simply wear and tear. If I didn't have a seller account I don't think he would have changes his opinion

 

[anotherbob]

With the ability to have multiple business names for a single ebay seller, names don't mean much

if they're big enough a name can mean more. At least enough that risking ruining the name and having to start over seems foolish. Though what you talk about has certainly happened before on numerous occasions.

 

[HeadMisfit]

if they're big enough a name can mean more. At least enough that risking ruining the name and having to start over seems foolish. Though what you talk about has certainly happened before on numerous occasions.

It's life on ebay. Most of the time I get the feeling most items are listed on ebay in hope they can sell it to someone and not have to pay disposal fee at the dump

 

[HeadMisfit]

I got an ebay alert saying a seller reduced the price on an item 20% because I put it into a watch list.

The price was 120$ before 20% reduction. 114$ after. I just laughed.

 

[bootlegpipes]

That is one reason why I never buy pre-smoked pipes. There's enough shite to deal with when it comes to new pipes that I don't need this kind of deceiving on top of it.

What if the pipe that you received was a gift or purchase from someone you knew personally?

 

[HeadMisfit]

What if the pipe that you received was a gift or purchase from someone you knew personally?

People who would buy a pipe, normally have the tendency to buy new production pipes. They see uncle timmy has 10 peterson army billiards, and 1 savinelli church warden. They are most likely gonna figure out peterson army billiards would be a best idea. so they get a new one online.

You dont go online, and buy a used pipe on ebay like this one

Judd's NEW Unsmoked 2000 Dunhill Giant Shell Briar Pipe in Box w/Velvet Glove | eBay

Dunhill “Giant” Shell Billard, new and unsmoked, compete with original box, glove, and black suede lining. Pipes Condition: New in Box w/Pipe Glove! This pipe is from the collection of Richard Carleton Hacker .

www.ebay.com

tho why does a post 2000 dunhill have a STINGER in it..

or

Pardon Our Interruption...

or

Pardon Our Interruption...

or this finely cracked chamber

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[Sig]

I was looking at a Dunhill that the seller wanted $199. The description was all praise and high marks for the pipe. The pipe had been abused and misused, missing its white dot as well. However, the bones of the pipe were enough that an offer of $100 would be reasonable enough. The response to my inquiry was a big no thank you. It's either dishonesty or an obtuse view point that ignores reality.

Hey buddy, I know what I have!!

Thats almost like the "it ran when parked" in the car world.
Ive drove hours to look at a car that "ran when parked", just to find missing spark plugs and blown out freeze plugs. That must have been an interesting last drive.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

So reason prevailed at the end of the day and got a good an uncomplicated resolution for my problem, but judging from the amount of convincing the seller needed, i somehow doubt that a person with a "regular" ebay account will get the same understanding. Still a bad seller in my opinion..

Glad you were able to gain a resolution with this purchase. And, positively it will test your already excellent refurbishment skills. ️

 

[Dshift]

You dont go online, and buy a used pipe on ebay like this one

Why not? I mean for example, i personally have almost 0 interest in modern pipes, so where am I supposed to get my pipes from.
I think most people when they say Ebay- they mean buying from a random person who happens to have a pipe or two and not someone like Deadmanpipes for example, who does this professionally. He was just an example and I don't know much about him