skip77

sorry - got a double post

skip77

Here is original post:

Trumpet friends, I have not posted very often at TM but today, thanks to Mike, I was able to login again after having some problems recently.

Over the years I have taken on the junk horn dealers in ebay, on behalf of all the uninformed buyers trying to get an instrument for their child to learn on. I had some success in the beginning.

I was able to get contact information from buyers of junk horns and ask their honest appraisals via email. In one instance, dealing with a seller of Monique junk horns, I was able to put enough pressure on the seller to get refunds for a handful of buyers.

It occurred to me at that time, how a paper discussing pitfalls for first time trumpet buyers in ebay, might be helpful. I began paying for listings so that I could give the document away for free. Some of you may remember those efforts because I was contacted during that time by hundreds of trumpet players expressing support for my action.

The junk horn dealers complained to ebay and my listings were removed along with my ebay account being suspended, temporarily. I was able to resolve issues with ebay and have learned to abide by their rules so that modified listings in effort to help first time buyers, might escape their scrutiny.

Recently, I have updated the document that I call "Tips for First Time Trumpet Buyers" and have made it available for $1 using Buy It Now. The listing link is: Trumpet Cornet Flugel Horn Piccolo Silver Brass New - eBay (item 300210604202 end time Apr-05-08 01:21:14 PDT)

To satisfy ebay rules, I cannot create listings without selling something - thus the minimum allowed $1 sale price. I am asking if any of you are interested to read the document, please contact me directly: skip at my town tennis dot com (no spaces) and I will be happy to send it via email. I value constructive criticism, additional information, suggestions - anything that will make the paper more accurate and more useful for first time buyers. Also, if you would like to join me in this effort, please consider actually using Buy It Now and purchasing the document - this way you can enter feedback that will help other viewers decide whether to buy the document, or not. I am not trying to make money or scam anyone. I have already invested more money out of my own pocket, over the years, to combat the junk horn dealers, that I will never get compensation to make up for it.

For me, this is about helping other people choose decent instruments for themselves or their children. The junk horn dealers are a serious blight in a large brasswind business in ebay. I'm not so much interested to put any of them out of business as I am helping honest people provide the right equipment so that their children can be motivated toward music - not demotivated!

I apologize for the length of this post but look forward to hearing from any of you. Sincerely, skip for trumpeteers

Trumpet guy

Doesn't Ebay have a Reviews & Guides Feature?
Wouldn't it be easier make a guide? It would be there forever rather than the 10-day listing you have.

BrassOnLine

Yes, you can edit or add a new guide. There are a few regarding this matter.
That listing could get you in a troubble if somebody click on the buy it button.
Best wishes

skip77

Thanks guys - I am not familiar with the Guide feature of ebay - will check into it. I do not think my listing and offer to forward the document to anyone that would pay $1, is illegal in ebay, but I have ended the auction in favor of inquiring about how to proceed with a Buyers Guide/Review - sent ebay support a note asking about this and giving them the link to my cancelled listing so they could see what I'm talking about. I could not find opportunity to list a Guide/Review anywhere and hopefully, ebay support will point me in the right direction.