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Thread: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

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    Default The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    I am wondering where this was built. The poster will not answer my emails. I suspect it was made in Asia and is not worth more than $700. It is Ad Number 151464. Anyone own one like this? https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/151464#151464
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    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    I wouldnt buy anything without proper Information.. the lack of info is the main thing.. as well as a payment method.. and where there willing to ship too.. there are alot of lack of replies to questions as well.. Ive noticed..

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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Allen View Post
    I am wondering where this was built. The poster will not answer my emails. I suspect it was made in Asia and is not worth more than $700. It is Ad Number 151464. Anyone own one like this? https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/151464#151464
    Just a point from the technical side:

    In order for this to be accurate, two things occur: 1) you are able to contact that ad owner to confirm they are checking their spam folder for your reply. Most people never look at their spam folder, but mail they need to see ends up there routinely. 2) you 100% check your spam folder on your end to make sure their reply and other mail legitimately intended for you isn't ending up there. Of course you can answer one of those, but probably not both. If people don't like the inquiries they receive about pricing they are under no obligation to answer. I see issues of this happening quite a bit, where someone finally contacts me to say someone isn't replying to their ad. In this case I've contacted the ad owner directly because I can see the email address. If I find something relevant I will report it here.

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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    I'd apply my personal "eBay attitude": If communication is bad before the sale, it will not improve after they have your money.

    When I did buy several instruments on eBay, I'd ask questions even if I didn't really have any, just to test if the seller was more of: a) annoyed and/or secretive, or b) proudly seeking a home for their valued posession. Easy to walk away when there was no response at all.

    OTOH, they may temporarily have no access to e-mail, text, etc.; it happens, and they could come around, apologetically. Especially considering that, as of now, the ad is well under 48 hours old. (Edit: Just saw Scott's spam folder comment - good point!)
    Last edited by EdHanrahan; Mar-01-2020 at 4:15pm. Reason: spell!
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Allen View Post
    I am wondering where this was built. The poster will not answer my emails. I suspect it was made in Asia and is not worth more than $700. It is Ad Number 151464. Anyone own one like this? https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/151464#151464
    Chatting with the ad owner. He's replied to everyone. I don't see a reply from you to him unless you're using a different address that doesn't include your name, similar to the one that matches your Forum account.

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    vintagemandolin.com Charles Johnson's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    [QUOTE=Greg Allen;1759269]I am wondering where this was built.

    Greg, this is a Chinese import. The giveaway is the big fleur-di-lise inlaid in the peghead. That peghead inlay was never used for US built Flatirons.

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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    [QUOTE=Charles Johnson;1759393]
    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Allen View Post
    I am wondering where this was built.

    Greg, this is a Chinese import. The giveaway is the big fleur-di-lise inlaid in the peghead. That peghead inlay was never used for US built Flatirons.
    Not sure that's correct. There were some Nashville made Festivals with the fleur-di-lise -

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Photo from this thread https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...at-Collings-MT
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    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    brand new it was likely >$1K.

    f-d
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by fatt-dad View Post
    brand new it was likely >$1K.

    f-d
    Not sure what the point is here. How much was it likely greater than $1,000.00?

  11. #10

    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Mandolin Cafe View Post
    Chatting with the ad owner. He's replied to everyone. I don't see a reply from you to him unless you're using a different address that doesn't include your name, similar to the one that matches your Forum account.
    Thanks Scott, I heard back. Seller stated that he didn't know where it was made. I received a photo of the label inside(doesn't list where it was made) and I am convinced it is Asian made. The US made ones were always marked with Nashville or one of the towns where they operated in Montana.
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Platt View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Charles Johnson View Post

    Not sure that's correct. There were some Nashville made Festivals with the fleur-di-lise -

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	af82128e6daee4fe0e2ab3fef04086ce--the-flatiron-mandolin.jpg 
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    Photo from this thread https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...at-Collings-MT
    I just managed to screw up my own post

    Ok, the Fleur-de-lis on the US made Flatirons was more refined than the one used on the Import so I agree you you cannot simply say a Flatiron with the Fleur-de-lis is an import. The imported Fleur-de-lis however is more in your face and less refined like the one below. The mandolin in the OP's message is an imported Flatiron.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by MikeEdgerton; Mar-02-2020 at 1:01pm.
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg Allen View Post
    Thanks Scott, I heard back. Seller stated that he didn't know where it was made. I received a photo of the label inside(doesn't list where it was made) and I am convinced it is Asian made. The US made ones were always marked with Nashville or one of the towns where they operated in Montana.
    It's an import.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    <OOps>

    f-d
    ˇpapá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    In looking at some old threads about the imported Flatiron's the street price was $799.00 brand new.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    So the seller is either very optimistic or is overpriced by $2000+............Correct?

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    I just hope the seller didn't buy it thinking they were getting a US made Flatiron.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: The Flatiron F-Festival in Mandolin Cafe Classifieds

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    I just hope the seller didn't buy it thinking they were getting a US made Flatiron.
    Me too Mike! This is the downside of The Flatiron name being applied to the import line.
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