Posted by Chuck on January 12, 1999 at 14:18:57:
In Reply to: Has anyone bought a horn on ebay? posted by Chuck Shorten on January 12, 1999 at 12:19:22:
The rule on eBay is "caveat emptor". If you have questions about the horn, ASK THEM BEFORE YOU BID. Most sellers consider the auction final and will not allow returns even if they neglected to mention something important about the instrument. Unless you know the background of the seller, be skeptical of claims like "good valves", which may mean only that the valves aren't stuck! The seller may or may not have any musical knowledge, so you should start corresponding early to get those questions answered. You may have to do a lot of explaining. It seems that every week there's a seller offering a "tuba" that's really a euphonium. Most sellers tend to be very cooperative when it comes to answering questions.
Before you bid, check the feedback comments on the seller--there are some real sleazes out there.
Don't get too caught up in the bidding game and let things get away from you. Know ahead of time what you're willing to pay for the item and what it's really worth to you. Many bidders delay bidding until the last minute, since eBay brings the hammer down on the exact closing time listed (less opportunity for other bidders to get a bid in).
With all of that out of the way, you can find some really good deals and have a lot of fun on ebay.