Steal of the Week: 1914 K2

[mrmando]

This mandocello (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=180367736653) was evidently listed on eBay June 11, but didn't pop up in my daily search until last night ... it's from a brand-new eBay seller, and I'm wondering if it's possible that eBay held the listing until it could verify the seller's credit card info.

No photos in the listing, but it's a complete, all-original black K2, including pickguard and Handels. I tried to snipe it but someone else had the same idea. They got it for half of what it would easily sell for. Attaching a couple of photos the seller sent me -- which I didn't see until the auction closed, or I might've sniped higher.

Boo hoo...

[taboot]

I have a friend with a natural finish K2, it's a *beautiful* sound. One day, I'll add one to my collection.

Christian

[barney 59]

No pictures and a "0" feedback seller----I'd think you would have wanted to pick it up personally.

[mrmando]

Yes, I might've asked my mom to run down to Phoenix and grab it for me.

[DerTiefster]

Several zero feedback sellers on ebay have advertised -nice- items which had low winning bids, and the happy bidders ended up with nothing but broken dreams when the items ended up being non-existent. The stories which have shown up on the message board generally are from folks who ended up not being swindled because of early fraud discovery and not paying by untraceable means. Caveat emptor rings true across the millennia, as timely today as on the day the first con happened.

[mrmando]

I'm following up on this one. If it turns out to be fraudulent I'll let everyone know. Caution is certainly appropriate here.

[mrmando]

And it turns out to be ... a garden-variety scam. Seller contacts me after the auction and says his high bidder couldn't make payment, and do I still want the mandocello? Sure, I say, if you'll send me your phone number and address, send some bigger photos, use eBay for a second chance offer, and consider letting someone local pick it up for me. In reply I get the famous "I'm working in the UK six months out of the year" -- but the reply is addressed to someone named Peter!

Not only a con artist, but a confused one to boot. However, I guess credit is due him for introducing a new wrinkle: 10% of the auction price was supposed to go to charity. Haven't seen that one before.

[crazymandolinist]

Clever scam, the charity thing. Whoever does own that 'cello is one lucky hooman. It's real pretty.