Wierd Ric ebay sales...what am I not understanding?

[lumgimfong]

I don't get these prices.

stripped ric:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-RICKENBAC ... Sw4UtWTQTS


deformed ric:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rickenbacker-B ... Sw5llf6Diq

[collin]

Not sure the story with the Azureglo 4001, the price is much higher than the market will bear though.

As for the 4005, that husk has been for sale, by the same seller, since the Bush administration. That’s not even an exaggeration. It should get a trophy for the longest revolving eBay listing of all time.

In both cases - people can ask whatever price they want, as long as they don’t intend to actually sell these items.

[rickenbrother]

NAs for the 4005, that husk has been for sale, by the same seller, since the Bush administration. That’s not even an exaggeration. It should get a trophy for the longest revolving eBay listing of all time.

Maybe even before then...it's been a long time!

[espidog]

Can someone enlighten me here? I've examined the photos of that Azureglo 4001, and for the life of me I can't see what's deformed about it. What am I missing?

[collin]

Same, Ken. Looks normal to me.

I think it’s a misinterpretation of some word, as the seller is in Japan. Google translate will morph all kinds of words..

[maxwell]

Same, Ken. Looks normal to me.

I think it’s a misinterpretation of some word, as the seller is in Japan. Google translate will morph all kinds of words..

Yes, I also think it's the seller's misinterpreted description of the body shape. The body shape is entirely unique; "distorted," might be the more correct interpretation. It does look like a guitar shape that Salvador Dali might have included in one of his paintings....

Anyone have a link to the original Japanese listing?

PS - I've look at the example of basses at the RIC website; they never mention a descriptive body shape. What does RIC call this body shape (official name), "cresting wave" or something like that? What do Rick aficionados call it?

[Isaac]

Not sure the story with the Azureglo 4001, the price is much higher than the market will bear though.

As for the 4005, that husk has been for sale, by the same seller, since the Bush administration. That’s not even an exaggeration. It should get a trophy for the longest revolving eBay listing of all time.

In both cases - people can ask whatever price they want, as long as they don’t intend to actually sell these items.

This. An asking price is not necessarily a selling price.

[Finch]

I've messaged the "Deformed" seller, it's just a weird translation thing. There is nothing actually deformed about it, it's like they are noting that it is a non-standard bass guitar shape (non-fender I guess) Not really sure why it's in the title, the language barrier makes this sort of discussion really hard when it comes to weird nuances in naming and stuff. The same guitar is listed by 2 different ebay sellers. The explanation I have heard about these Japanese sellers is there are a lot of people who work as ebay proxy sellers, where a music store or somewhere with a lot of stuff they would like to have sold online contract out to these guys to maintain postings for their stuff, sometimes it seems to get contracted out to multiple sellers, probably on accident. If you buy one, the seller then contacts the place that has the item and arranges everything to have it shipped to you. It's not exactly a scam or specifically sketchy, but it can turn out that the item already sold somewhere else and you'll get refunded once they find out. The only real issue is that you are dealing with someone who got sent some pics and a description and doesn't have the item in hand, so you really can't get any specific details out of them or new pictures.

As for the Ric, I never got a reply on reasonable offers for that bass. I spoke to another seller who's English was much better who was selling a MIJ Mustang bass and he kind of explained the whole deal to me.

[collin]

The proxy seller thing is very prevalent in Japan and a perfectly acceptable way of doing business. It's been discussed here a lot.

The annoying part is that the "seller" does not have the instrument and can therefore not answer any questions about the item directly.

On more than one occasion, I have found watermarks on the photos that helped identify the actual seller/shop in Japan where I've been able to cut out the middle man and buy the item directly. The shop proprietors are usually quite willing to answer questions and negotiate, and usually have somebody on staff who speaks English.

[henry5]

FWIW a couple of years back I had a quick evaluation of my Azure ‘72 at a London vintage specialist. They said they’d sell it (not that I was planning on selling it) for in excess of £4K, so over 5000 dollars. I’d say it’s only gone up since then.

[jdogric12]

The proxy seller thing is very prevalent in Japan and a perfectly acceptable way of doing business. It's been discussed here a lot.

The annoying part is that the "seller" does not have the instrument and can therefore not answer any questions about the item directly.

On more than one occasion, I have found watermarks on the photos that helped identify the actual seller/shop in Japan where I've been able to cut out the middle man and buy the item directly. The shop proprietors are usually quite willing to answer questions and negotiate, and usually have somebody on staff who speaks English.

Yep. Trogly has talked about this several times and uses the same trick.

[collin]

The proxy seller thing is very prevalent in Japan and a perfectly acceptable way of doing business. It's been discussed here a lot.

The annoying part is that the "seller" does not have the instrument and can therefore not answer any questions about the item directly.

On more than one occasion, I have found watermarks on the photos that helped identify the actual seller/shop in Japan where I've been able to cut out the middle man and buy the item directly. The shop proprietors are usually quite willing to answer questions and negotiate, and usually have somebody on staff who speaks English.

Yep. Trogly has talked about this several times and uses the same trick.

Ugh, that guy is the worst. Can't bring myself to watch.

But interesting that we had the same tactic....

[jdogric12]

The proxy seller thing is very prevalent in Japan and a perfectly acceptable way of doing business. It's been discussed here a lot.

The annoying part is that the "seller" does not have the instrument and can therefore not answer any questions about the item directly.

On more than one occasion, I have found watermarks on the photos that helped identify the actual seller/shop in Japan where I've been able to cut out the middle man and buy the item directly. The shop proprietors are usually quite willing to answer questions and negotiate, and usually have somebody on staff who speaks English.

Yep. Trogly has talked about this several times and uses the same trick.

Ugh, that guy is the worst. Can't bring myself to watch.

But interesting that we had the same tactic....

At least he doesn't play any heavy "met-tal." Perhaps you could watch with the mute "but-ton" activated. Inside the case sleeps a...