WTF?

[sablebrush52]

This morning I checked out this listing on ebay for a Comoy's Extraordinaire:
The seller is someone highly regarded in this forum as a seller. His pitch gives this pipe quite a pedigree.
Now, check out these images on Pulvers Briars for an extraordinaire (no elaborate pedigree) that he sold about a month ago:
http://pulversbriar.com/images/DSC000503.JPG

http://pulversbriar.com/images/DSC000533.JPG

http://pulversbriar.com/images/DSC000513.JPG
If this isn't the same pipe, I'll eat my shorts.
Edit: Sorry, I had to remove the link to an active eBay auction.

L.

 

[voorhees]

Looks the same to me too. I guess they bought it and decided to try to sell for a profit. Think they found out the history on it?

 

[rmbittner]

sablebrush52:
It is the exact same pipe. Check the photos; they're identical.
BUT... This pipe is marked as SOLD on the Pulvers site. And it sold for, apparently, $500. The eBay auction is starting at $360.
I don't see a problem.
Bob

 

[numbersix]

It is the same pipe alright, but personally I don't feel the seller is doing anything wrong. No matter how or where one picks up a pipe (or anything for that matter), it seems reasonable to make a profit on the purchased item if that's what someone wants to do.
Pulver's seems to have rec'd a respectable amount of money for it anyway, but if this fellow feels it's worth more - I can't fault him for trying.

 

[rmbittner]

I think you guys are all focusing on the "Buy It Now" price, which does indeed represent a profit for the original buyer/seller.
But the auction is starting much lower. It's possible he won't break even on this deal (unless his "reserve" actually is $500).
Bob

 

[pruss]

It is the same pipe alright, but personally I don't feel the seller is doing anything wrong. No matter how or where one picks up a pipe (or anything for that matter), it seems reasonable to make a profit on the purchased item if that's what someone wants to do.

I'm with Six. I don't see much difference here versus what I do in buying pipes from antique stores, cleaning them up, and moving them on. Sure this pipe didn't take much clean up (okay likely none as this looks like a straight flip), but if there is a buyer, then there is a market. Is this a little mercenary? Maybe. But I don't see anything untoward about it.
EDIT:

It's possible he won't break even on this deal (unless his "reserve" actually is $500)

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that the reserve equals his cost plus shipping.
-- Pat

 

[voorhees]

I bet he has a reserve. I would.

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

Looks like the same pipe to me as well. If the person bought it and then decided to re-sell it I don't see the problem in that. People do it all the time. Nothing wrong with trying to turn a profit as long as the person isn't trying to screw someone over in the process.

 

[rmbittner]

voorhees:
He clearly *does* have a reserve, for the note under the current bid points out that it hasn't been met yet.
Bob

 

[voorhees]

Only thing I find odd is that on Marty's site he made no mention of the pipes supposed history. Seems that would have been a huge selling point if true. :?:

 

[sablebrush52]

My issue is claiming a heck of a provenance for it which can't be proved. Somehow, I think that Marty Pulver would have known that this was a star in Derek Green's collection. Makes me wonder what other claims may just be so much fizz.

 

[smokeybear]

Who knows what really happened maybe he bought the pipe for himself and decided he didn't want it anymore or something came up and he needs the funds for something else so he decided to list it. I have done that before and am doing it right now actually. I'm taking a big loss but it happens sometimes.

 

[rmbittner]

sablebrush52:
The seller says this: "This history of this pipe was discussed by Derek in a missive he submitted to Tom Dunn's Ephemeris, Winter-Spring 2005 page 65. The Ephemeris provides a photo of the pipe and a second pic of Derek smoking it at the 2004 Chicago show where he purchased it."
That actually seems like something that can be easily investigated, assuming one can locate that particular issue and the photos.
To be honest, though, the Derek Green connection doesn't really amount to much, I don't think. If Green bought it in 2004 and passed away in 2010, it's not as if he smoked or even owned this for any extended length of time. I don't see it as a huge selling point to say that a Comoy collector briefly owned this pipe. (But, then, the name Derek Green doesn't mean anything to me. For serious Comoy collectors, maybe it's like saying Hendrix once played the Strat you're selling.)
Bob

 

[kashmir]

There's the article clip from Ephemeris that discusses the pipe and Dereck Green. Also, the seller, Rudy, the NYHorseman, has very good standing within the pipe smoking community. He's the gent who sold the two Comoy Extraordinaires to peck a couple weeks ago. I've emailed Rudy a few times and he has a magnificent Comoy collection he is in the process of selling. If I had the money, I'd be bidding. Screw that. I'd pay the BIN price in a heartbeat. It's a great pipe.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

As Kashmir says, the clip from the Ephemeris is in the photos if you scroll down. Looks like the same pipe to me.

 

[sablebrush52]

I am happy to be shown the light. Missed that last bit of scroll down.
As Emily Latella said about violins on television,
"never mind".
Besides, he's got two pipes up, a Castello and a Rad Davis, that I'm considering bidding on, just to experience two favorites here, and I would have had an issue if I felt any misgivings about the seller.

 

[sablebrush52]

I bet there isn't another Comoy's pipe of that size AND shape(I have seen others that large).

There are some others out there, I've seen a couple of them for sale and have handled one.

 

[dragonslayer]

They're the same. I'm not sure about hiss pricing. First he bought it for around $500 and if he's hoping for $695 the profit margin after all the Ebay charges, not to mention personal time dealing with the whole thing just doesn't seem worth it.
Peck - If I remember right, were the ones you received new, and are they on the rack yet?
Craig

 

[peckinpahhombre]

I received them. Not sure what you mean about new. They are quite old.

 

[bulldogbriar]

I personally am an antique buyer and seller. If he bought it and is selling it I can understand him wanting to make a profit. I have sold some estate tobacco pipes, but did have to consult some one to help me price them, so I don't know how accurate his prices are, or if he overplayed for it in the first place.