These are "every man for himself" days i hate to say when it comes to our hobby,but i think a courtesy tip o the hat would be a nice gesture................i think

I'm not sure I agree with all of this, but I will say when I discover through other means that one of us is bidding, I do step aside. That is the proper thing for me to do. As far as keeping each other in the loop and working to keep prices down ... I'm still not sure. Something about that just doesn't feel right.

In theory it's a great Idea, but in practice there is No way to keep track look at the tens of thousands of things in a day that is transacted on ebay just vintage drum wise, you would have to dedicate a whole website to do just that, to keep track of all the post that it would Involve!

It depends if you're buying or selling. If you want to keep prices down, that might not work so ideally for somebody trying to sell their collection.

Also, I could foresee much drama from "keeping each other in the loop". I appreciate the sentiment of wanting to work on the same team, but what happens if two members here REALLY want a particular item. Even if one person calls "dibs", either the other person bids on it anyways and breaks the trust, or they step aside and are upset about it. Either way, it's not a pretty scenario. I think this forum is a community about sharing info and selling stuff and camaraderie regarding the passion and interest in vintage drums. People could attempt to let the forum know what they're bidding on, so other members who might not be so serious about bidding might "let that one slide", but there are no guarantees, and I wouldn't expect there to be. It's a free market, and like wayne said, it's "every man for himself".

With that said, I don't actually buy things on eBay, so don't worry about me trying to outbid anyone. I do like to see what things are selling for, though.

I look at it this way.....If you want it bad enough you will pay whatever you are willing to pay for it. If another on here is willing to pay more for it than you, then you really didn't want it that bad did you?

What I bid on and why is my business with ebay and the seller, and no one else on here IMO. If I get into a bidding war on something with someone who happens to be a member here as well, so be it. I know what I'm willing to pay for something I'm looking for and won't go over that price, no matter how long I've been looking for it. If you outbid me then I guess I didn't want it as bad as you......

Soap Box and thats my :2Cents:

I've seen you do this several times over the past year and a half......

A generous act from a gentleman I'm happy to know.

Here's a very simple solution and it's already in place and it's sitting right in front of you, the brilliance of the VDF http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=13266 you are an ebay seller list your info, when your selling an item list it here that way we have a heads up,seller and buyer wise, Thur ebay email the communication that needs to privately take place can do so there!

Well, once again this will probably end this thread but here goes.

jonnistix, You are to be admired for trying to stop the crazy prices but it won't work. There are three things that will defeat it.

First up,greed I already see it now. Second up, cliques formed within this forum with members PM-ing select others, I have seen this also. Third up, probably damage to this forum due to not trying to keep the forum unbiased.

Like I have said before I am not a " collector " I have 4 sets of drums Ludwig 1969, Premier 1960s, Ludwig 1984 and a set of Gretsch 2003 and various snares. I play them all at various times and will continue.They will never be sold as I see them as musicial instruments to be enjoyed by my children & grandchildren. Having said that there may be another early 60s ludwig kit I hope to aquire but it will never be sold either. TOM

It is precisely this scenario I suggest, and every one of these are valid points. I only have the desire to not get into a bidding war with someone I respect. I know the deal, bid what you are willing to pay....blah, blah..but if I see a snare that is "cool" and it has one very low bid, I would rather let one of you have it for a song than to cost either one of us more than is absolutely necessary. That is my point, nothing more.