Why didn't this sell?

m5yates · Post by **m5yates** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:25 am

An $800 opening bid would have snagged this '79 4001: http://tinyurl.com/kx86y

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:35 am

Could the Rickenmarket be getting soft?

Or is it just that the photos are bad, and the late 70's 4001JG is just too darned common.

$800.00 ain't a bad deal for any non-basket-case Rick.

teb · Post by **teb** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:28 am

To be blunt, it didn't sell because it's a lousy listing. There are certainly some guitars where as long as the seller has some sort of ****** photo showing that it actually exists, he's bound to pull in thousands of dollars. Nice as it may be, this bass isn't rare enough to do that.

Writing a listing is advertising, pure and simple. Bad photos, lack of detail and limited text don't do much to make anybody want to buy an item or to elevate it above other similar items in the mind of the potential bidder/buyer.

I can see some dings in the headstock, but the photo is blurry and I can't see how bad they are. The photo of the jackplate represents one quarter of the photos, but is completely worthless because it's so blurry. The other two are somewhat less blurry, but still bad and too far away to see any detail or damage. The text certainly doesn't clarify any of these potential issues. How do I know whether this bass is actually in decent shape or whether there is even any finish left on the back? If it's dinged-up, how do I know what kind of shape the electronics are in - OR THE NECK??? The pictures don't show me and the text doesn't mention them. Am I supposed to trust that a fellow eBayer is a wonderful person who would never try to screw me?....right....

The price IS good and rates a raised eyebrow, but there are too many unanswered questions to be sitting by the door waiting on pins and needles for the UPS man to bring this baby home. If it happens to be your bass and your listing, I'd pull that sucker asap and get busy writing a listing that shows it's actual condition and lets the potential bidder know what a great bass and a great buy it is. Give them a reason to want to own it. Otherwise a last second grab at $800 is probably about all the seller can expect - if even that.

m5yates · Post by **m5yates** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:40 am

It's not my bass. I was just watching and expecting a $1000 snipe. The feedback is ok, but you are right about the bad pictures. They are the main reason I didn't bid.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:46 am

I'm with Todd. The auction did not give me a warm and fuzzy. I breezed right past that one in the listings each time I saw it. The camera-phone pics don't help.

m5yates · Post by **m5yates** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:51 am

It has been relisted, but with a reserve this time. It still has the same $1200 BIN.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:14 am

In my experience,, a good description, honesty and high quality photo's are the key to good Ebay sales.

teb · Post by **teb** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:19 am

It's like seeing a bad photo of a sandwich in a newspaper ad for Joe's Sandwich Shop where all it says is "Hamburger 99 cents". It may be the best hamburger in the world and an incredible deal, but then again, in real life it may look more like a blob of Alpo on a bun. In any case, it certainly doesn't make anybody want to run out and buy one. From what I've been able to tell by buying and selling Rics and other high-end guitar stuff on eBay, the extra time and effort that it takes to put together a good listing is worth $200-$300 per hour (though possibly considerably less if you're a jerk and use photos of dinosaurs).

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:33 am

To be blunt, it didn't sell because it's a lousy listing.

True, but I did take a big chance on a lousy listing and got a '73 4001 for $595 on ebay 3 years ago. The seller didn't even mention that the bass had checkered binding, which could not be seen in the photos. It does have some checking in the finish, but his photos made the bass look much worst than it really is.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:12 am

Yeah, those are usually good auctions to get a deal on. If you can contact the seller for a better description...or better yet, see the guitar in person.

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:25 am

The combination of it being so common and the bad listing killed it.

Last year there was a shady "looking" seller of a mint 362/12 with a poor listing. He did not answer any questions of any of the bidders.

I did win it and received the guitar with no probs. Some things are worth chanceing...Not this one.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:09 am

A prediction: These will be the next 'gotta have' basses, they really play and sound great. I love my own '79, it may have the nicest-feeling neck out of all of of my Rick basses.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:47 am

I also have a '79 that I usually feel is my favorite player. It also has a great neck and excellent sound.

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 3:52 am

Agree on the late '70's basses... my '77 feels like the neck was touched by the hand of God... and unless it someday becomes valuable enough to trade dead up for a V63 (if even then) I'll never get rid of it!

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:12 am

Presently I have a '91 CS, a '94 V63FG and a '78 4001JG, and I must admit, the '78 is my current go-to bass. Sounds and plays great, and definitely the most comfy neck.