Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just received notification that I have a second chance to buy a '73 4001 (JetGlo) that I bid on e-Bay. I'll be able to pick it up for $900 shipped. It appears to be in good shape, although some of the parts have been replaced with Ric parts (pots, switch, one pick up). How is the market for these basses? I'm having one of those "it seems to good to be true" moments. I welcome any comments. Thanks!!

Those emails are usually scams. Make sure it was sent by the actual seller - communicate with him through the eBay ad he posted, or at least his eBay user name to confirm it is him offering this to you. Do not communicate via email to outside email addresses.

Good advice Alan...

Welcome to the forum David.

About two weeks ago, I got a "second chance offer" on an FG 4001c64 that I had bid on but didn't win. The person sending me the "official looking" eBay notice specified that I shouldn't respond to their offer via the usual eBay routes... but rather email them directly.

Much as I was tempted to respond to an opportunity to score a c64 at a huge savings... it was too risky. Upon further inspection, there was no obvious correlation between the emailer's name/address and the eBay Seller's personal info, vague as it was. They did, however ask that I email MY personal info to them. Yeah, right.

A c64 is very tempting bait to be sure, but be very suspicious of these "2nd chance" offers.

Did the offer come directly through the eBay system? Can you confirm it by calling the seller directly at the same phone number shown in his eBay information, and can you confirm that you will be sending money to that very same person at the same address shown in the seller's eBay information? If not, then chances are at least 1000:1 that it's a scam.

I get one of those with nearly every eBay auction I lose.

In my case the initial offer did come through the eBay system... but the seller specified that they would not respond to me if I replied to their offer via eBay... they only wanted direct email communications with some pretty pertinent personal data attached.

Too bad. It was such a purty shade of FireGlo too.

Dave, your having one of those to good to be true moments I'm afraid. Do you have pictures of the bass? Does it have checkerboad binding, and full width MOP inlays. If so, those Rics go for far more than $900. Be carefull my friend!

I'm feeling pretty confident that this is legit. All the information I received came through e-Bay, including the "Buy It Now" option for the second chance. I have e-mailed the buyer and he gave a plausible explanation why the 1st buyer backed out and sent me another picture of the bass when I requested it (I've tried to attach it here). In addition all his information matches and I did a reverse look-up on his phone number and it matches with the name. Hopefully nobody gets to say "I told you so", but I'm going for it. I'll follow up when I get it. Thanks for everyone's input...I really appreciate it.

Dave

Let me try the attachment again. I can't seem to get the image small enough to fit.
ric4.bmp (26.9 k)

It's hard to tell from this picture but it looks like you have a late 73 model Dave. Good luck!

He probably doesn't want to pay the exorbitant ebay and paypal fees.

Tell him you want another picture with the lens cap off the camera.

I would say scam at first glance also. But, as a seller I have made legit second chance offers to bidders off-ebay. I this day and age I don't know how you protect yourself other than be careful and informed.

Not pertaining to this deal, as it could be legit, but I've always been one to refuse offers when I am the 2nd highest bidder. It often points to a person who is probably using a shill bidder to up his price, meaning the seller is unethical to begin with.

I've had a few offers over the years when I was 2nd highest bidder, and they are usually within a few hours of the auction's end; transactions between the seller and a bidder who changes his mind wouldn't end that fast on such a consistant basis. I have yet to accept an offer when I was 2nd highest bidder.

On the flip side, I've sold about 150 various items through ebay, and I have yet to have a high bidder back out. This leads me to believe the the large percentage of offers such as these come from sellers who are using shill bids.