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Post by Polarclaw on Dec 23, 2010 2:16:50 GMT
So I have three swords on my buy list in the future. #1 Hanwei Qi Jian ----359.95
. #2 Han Dynasty Jian, custom made by Jin Shi ---Aprox. 300$
. #3 Cold Steel Jade Lion Gim ----399.95
Considering the fact that I'm a student. Each one of these swords are considerable investments. Almost all the money I make goes into my school supplies, tuition, travel, food etc... So the prices I put above are the best I could find on this day. Excluding the Jin Shi sword, I have occasionally seen these swords on ebay. So my question is, how much can you trust buying a sword on ebay. Who knows why they are selling it, or what they tried doing to the sword before deciding to get rid of it.
Or if anyone has suggestions as to places with better prices, it would be greatly appreciated.
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Dec 23, 2010 2:51:40 GMT
I wonder if your #2 sword is the same one pureazman has up in the classified.
I bought a discontinued Windlass Evil's Bane yesterday for dirt cheap and it remains to be seen what condition it is in when it gets here tomorrow.
You already have the buyer's beware mindset and the major advice besides read carefully is the pictures on ebay. A lot of untrustworthy ones take very grainy pictures or small pictures so that you cannot see its condition.
There is a lot of undesireables to sift through on ebay but there are gems out there ready to pluck up as well.
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Post by chrisperoni on Dec 23, 2010 2:55:37 GMT
ebay is a tricky thing- I NEVER impulse buy even if it means missing out all together.
I read through a sellers feedback scores and go through all of them if I can, or at least several hundred- setting the number per page to the max makes it a little easier- I look for the grey neutrals or red negatives. I scroll down the page as fast as I can and when a grey or red 'blip' goes by I stop and check what went bad. The positive feedback is pretty much always the same but the real info comes from the problem transactions.
If a seller has made the feedback private on most/all their past auctions there's no way I'll buy from them. I take it as a sign they are hiding problems/complaints.
You can also click on buyers names and from their my world page you can contact them and ask questions. Getting answers can be hard- look for people who have shopped recenly and shop often- better chance of getting their attention in time.
Personally I would never spend hundreds on any ebay item being sold by an amateur seller no matter how good the deal was. Heck, I barely trust the power sellers.
For me ebay is a perfect example of the old saying 'If a deal is too good to be true then it is'.
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Post by Polarclaw on Dec 23, 2010 3:00:15 GMT
Man that's exactly the sword I'm looking for. I'm poor as hell though.. :cry: I only work during the summer, so during the school year, I have to ration my funds. University is expensive  . Ahh if only I was born rich. (a man can dream right?) |
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Post by Polarclaw on Dec 23, 2010 3:02:03 GMT
Thanks Chris I'll remember that.
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Dec 23, 2010 3:05:51 GMT
just graduated bro. I feel you though, - my parents are wealthy but anything noneducational comes from my pockets. Was shut up in a neurology lab then a cancer cell lab the last few summers...sigh. Hang in there, times will get better! I would jump on pureaz' deal though that's a huge discount  and is as trustworthy as they come. psst: try to offer tutoring to kids; a lot of parents pay 30-40 an hour if your gpa is up there! |
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Post by Polarclaw on Dec 23, 2010 4:28:37 GMT
Thanks a bunch, I'm more interested in sword I can use.  Not that I'm planing to use them on people >.> No but I'm more preoccupied on swords made recently, and a sword that I can trust to handle some usage beyond simply going through my forms. I need a sword that will live as long or longer than I do and will stay strong the whole time. |
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Post by chuckinohio on Dec 23, 2010 13:58:26 GMT
Research, research, research, is your most valuable tool to use when browsing eBay. Know what you are looking at in other words. Study every picture you can find of old swords, discontinued models, other peoples collections, old catalogues etc..... the more you study, characteristics of certain swords and manufacturers will stick out like a sore thumb to you.
There are good retailers on eBay, and good pieces do pop up there quite frequently. Once again, know what you are looking at, and try to get a read on the retailer. This site is a good place to ask questions. Members here have bought from probably every retailer known, do not be afraid to ask.
If the retailer is pumping their description with alot of fluff, RED FLAG. Their feedback isn't the best, RED FLAG. Their pictures are dodgy, dim, or too small to see details, RED FLAG.
When browsing antique weapons on eBay, be very very careful. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT! Know something of the Typologies and see if their description fits the sword. IGNORE THE STORY!!!!!
Read the blade for what it is, look at it and see if it fits what they are portraying it as. Detailed pics are a must, and a reputable seller will have no problem with providing them. Anything else is unacceptable.
IGNORE THE STORY!!!! if they do not have documentation that Sir Lancelot used the blade to slay the Kaisers evil Dragon Army in WW1, then the story means nothing. NOTHING!
If the blade fits what it is portrayed as, has all the earmarks of an authentic piece, and the retailer is reputable, then and only then pay attention to the story. See if it fits what is plausible historically.
Without documentation though, the story is not a value enhancer. They will try, and someone may bite, but let it not be you. Any claims made about an antique should be supported by research or documentation. If they have a signed and notarized letter from the pope that says you are buying John the Baptists Falchion, has a painting of him holding it, and the crowd from the Smithsonian are bidding against you, then you are probably good to go. Some guy from Podunkville that claims to have The Spear of Longinus because "The guy at the yardsale bought it from satan, and seemed to really know alot of stuff, and had lots of swords" is not very credible.
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Post by 6stringseme on Dec 23, 2010 21:30:53 GMT
Ebay is quite a unique marketplace, especially for swords and knives. There are a lot of opportunities as well as some risks. However, if you pay with paypal your purchase is covered so you have some modicum of protection. Look carefully at your sellers feedback, and especially at HOW LONG the seller has been selling on ebay. The longer the better, and the better the feedback percentage the safer. I've only been ripped once on ebay, and I filed a paypal claim and got all my money back since the seller had like 15 auctions going and ripped them all off at once.
So yeah, ask questions of the seller, pay close attention to feedback and pictures. I have gotten lucky before though by winning auctions with poor pictures and very short descriptions that had exactly what I wanted... paying like 10% of the item's value. But gamble at your own risk!
It's usually better to deal with well-established sellers that have been in business for a long time, and have a very high feedback rating.
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Post by Polarclaw on Dec 24, 2010 3:21:32 GMT
Thanks guys.
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. Ahh if only I was born rich. (a man can dream right?)
and is as trustworthy as they come.
Not that I'm planing to use them on people >.> No but I'm more preoccupied on swords made recently, and a sword that I can trust to handle some usage beyond simply going through my forms. I need a sword that will live as long or longer than I do and will stay strong the whole time.
