EBay? whats the deal?

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

EBay? whats the deal?

windknots · Senior Member

Sounds like a shill, though I could be wrong. Couple pointers for ebay: Wait until the last minute, otherwise you invite someone to ratchet up the bids, so delay your bid until the last possible moment, you'd be surprised what can happen in 5 minutes or less. Ask questions of the seller, get more photos, do your due diligence and decide what it is you are willing to pay and stick with it before the auction closes. DO NOT engage a bidding war, just be patient and willing to let the item go to someone else. There is WILD variability in what like items will sell for so be patient, it's worth it.

If you buy and sell enough there is software that will place your bid in the final 5 seconds. I've picked up a number of nice Sage rods from ebay, I got very reasonable deals without the software, but you need to be online when the auction ends. If you have a rod in mind you can also just try google queries, I picked up a nice Sage SPL 8'6 389 from a fly shop in Alaska, it wasn't a gift, but the price was very reasonable at $275 and it's probably worth more than that now. It's a beutiful rod by the way. You might find something on craigslist advertised in a different region but the seller may be willing to ship.

I love the 2, 3, and 4 wt rods I've picked up used (Sage LL and SPL models), they are great for most conditions you're likely to find in the Sierra.

Good luck!

Jim

iamamultitasker · Senior Member

Hi Matt,

I've noticed this with eBay some years ago that certain types of items were bid up at the last second by users who appeared to be shills. I believe this is a commonly acknowledged problem with eBay.

Another place you might try is www.FlyShopCloseOuts.com . This is an outlet for a fly shop on Cape Cod and these guys have some unbelievable prices on some of their rods and reels and even other stuff. A friend of mine got an Echo Ion 9wt for about $85. I bought a TFO SigPro for $115. I saw the Echo Carbon rods there a few months ago @$80. There are also a lot of premium Orvis and Hardy equipment for sale. You should keep checking this site as the items change around. Beware that FlyShopCloseOuts.com generates a "false positive" on some anti-virus engines so you might have to disable your anti-virus program before using the site. I haven't had any issues.

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

I'm one and done with Ebay. I I bid on and won a Sage rod...I thought I had bid on a 4 piece Sage TXL and instead I received the older 3 piece model. This is the description the seller used;

THIS ROD HAS ONLY BEEN USED A HANDFUL OF TIMES AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. IT comes with The Tube, Sock, and blank warranty card. iT SELLS FOR $625 +TAX BRAND NEW. uSING THE FUNDS TO FINANCE A HOME PROJECT. tHANK YOU FOR BIDDING. pLEASE CONTACT ME WITH aNY QUESTIONS.

THE TXL RAISES ULTRA-LIGHT PERFORMANCE TO AN ENTIRELY NEW LEVEL.

From cascading freestones and meandering spring creeks to beaver ponds and farm tanks, the 4-piece, light-line TXL-F brings a new level of enjoyment to smaller waters everywhere. This ultra-lightweight rod family is the ultimate in sensitivity and is the ideal rod for fishing tiny flies with ultra light tippets.

FEATURES

Moderate-Fast action
G5 Technology
Exclusive Sage TXL-F ultra-light guide package
Greater sensitivity using Micro Ferrule Technology
Smooth, more efficient power transfer between sections
Increased feel and control with an ergonomic handle - snub nose, half-wells grip
Bronze anodized reel seat with natural walnut insert
1 5/8” antique Bronze powder-coated aluminum tube with Black cloth bag

My bad I didn't look closely enough at the photos. I really wanted the 4 piece because it would fit into a carry on bag and into my backpack. The 3 piece in the tube is quite a bit longer. PLus the 4 piece is a very different rod and retails for $100 more...there's no way I'd have bid what I did had I known I was bidding on the older TXL. I e-mailed the guy and he said he made a mistake in posting the wrong description, but too bad for me. I filed a grievance with Ebay and they said he accurately described the item! I guess the people in the Ebay customer service center in China don't know much about fly rods!

Ebay sucks.

-- Edited by Bob Loblaw on Tuesday 9th of April 2013 09:57:55 PM

Bob Loblaw · Senior Member

OK EBay no longer sucks. I challenged their decision and said that if they didn't resolve it I would put the 3 piece rod back up for auction using the same description (4 piece) used by the original seller.... I was bluffing, I wouldn't be that big of a jerk. So today they issued me a full refund. I got a free TXL for my troubles.