I watched this eBay auction to see the result. It did not reach the reserve, but had a buy-it-now price of $1300.
Disappointing to say the least. A Downbeat can't draw better than $830? Is this an anomaly or are the Ludwig Downbeat prices weak right now?
Hi Dan!
I saw that kit, too. I think there were a few things against it. I think the biggest issue is that this is the sellers first post, with a feedback of 0 (ZERO). Many potential buyers are hesitant to buy high-priced items from someone with no proven feedback history.
Next, we have the very common color of Blue Sparkle. Don't get me wrong, Ludwig's Blue Sparkle looks nice, but it is the most common color that Ludwig sold.
Another important consideration...there are only 2 pictures! A set this nice deserves 12 LARGE photos! eBay can display up to 1600x1200 pixel size. That's the resolution I set my REAL camera to.
Finally, the current economy has a lot to do with the price. Still, a Downbeat that was similar recently sold for $1299 BIN! And, it had the rail removed and a diamond-plate tom receiver installed. And it still sold for $1299! Many of the 12 pictures were fuzzy! But...the seller has been a member for over 5 years, with a perfect feedback of 100 percent. Makes purchasing from him a safer bet.
So, those are my reasons! I hope others offer up their opinions as well!
-Mark
And to think, I turned down a beautiful blue sparkle Downbeat set in 13/16/22 with a Supra like this years ago, with Zildjians and all hardware and accessories for $150!!! Another of my better decisions.
Hi Dan!I saw that kit, too. I think there were a few things against it. I think the biggest issue is that this is the sellers first post, with a feedback of 0 (ZERO). Many potential buyers are hesitant to buy high-priced items from someone with no proven feedback history. Next, we have the very common color of Blue Sparkle. Don't get me wrong, Ludwig's Blue Sparkle looks nice, but it is the most common color that Ludwig sold.Another important consideration...there are only 2 pictures! A set this nice deserves 12 LARGE photos! eBay can display up to 1600x1200 pixel size. That's the resolution I set my REAL camera to. Finally, the current economy has a lot to do with the price. Still, a Downbeat that was similar recently sold for $1299 BIN! And, it had the rail removed and a diamond-plate tom receiver installed. And it still sold for $1299! Many of the 12 pictures were fuzzy! But...the seller has been a member for over 5 years, with a perfect feedback of 100 percent. Makes purchasing from him a safer bet.So, those are my reasons! I hope others offer up their opinions as well!-Mark
Mark. you're spot on.
I don't see why a first time seller would have a problem selling on ebay, it's all set up for the buyer. If you're not satisfied with your purchase you can return the item for pretty much any reason. The economy has been picking up the last year, so I doubt that's the reason. I check sold listings on ebay all the time, I see some drums selling for big bucks and some don't. I believe it's just a matter of what is hot at the moment, maybe blue sparkle is not a sought after finish right now.
Hmm ... the economy.
The economy right now is a pig really well dressed. And about the only ones really basking in its glow are the well to do and the well situated. That really well dressed pig will be on the spit sooner or later and none of us will be dining on it.
My point : real people without real money aren't in a buying mood. The economy ain't doing much trickling down; but much more like drowning out.
I've had a couple sales well above even the top prices (not bragging; it's just business). Sales for very fine pieces that I fully detail have fallen by between 15-25% (typically collector JF's + the like).
I watched thi DB kit too. The prob leans toward not having 12 pics but also not writing a whole lot; coupled with no feedback to speak of is a killer. It's very bad for the seller since if there's a problem the savvy buyer can murder him by opening a case IF there're issues of any kind.
I don't know if this is true but I've noticed a huge deficit on vintage (Ludwig mainly) pieces - especially Club Date + Downbeat kits (Super Classics seem more or less the same). Is this a result of depressed sale prices or since Ludwig resurrected these lines with probably more consistent manufacturing (bearing edges and such) so interest in vintage Ludwig has suffered, or a combination of both.
I'm all vintage; mostly anyway. I wouldn't want a new Ludwig kit. What you get with a vintage kit, when you do your due diligence by making sure it's sound and actually sounds good, adds greatly to whatever it offers on a practical level for any drummer. It's got mojo! You ain't really getting that with a new Ludwig kit (sorry).
... blue sparkle doesn't help.
This listing for this kit is back up with a BIN of 1300 OBO.
Hmm ... the economy.The economy right now is a pig really well dressed. And about the only ones really basking in its glow are the well to do and the well situated. That really well dressed pig will be on the spit sooner or later and none of us will be dining on it.My point : real people without real money aren't in a buying mood. The economy ain't doing much trickling down; but much more like drowning out.... blue sparkle doesn't help.
Wow! That statement sounds like you're reading directly from the Democratic hand book.Violin
[QUOTE=Hobbs;423427]Hmm ... the economy.
The economy right now is a pig really well dressed. And about the only ones really basking in its glow are the well to do and the well situated. That really well dressed pig will be on the spit sooner or later and none of us will be dining on it.
My point : real people without real money aren't in a buying mood. The economy ain't doing much trickling down; but much more like drowning out.
Hobbs, I agree and think this may hurt the "vintage drum economy" soon...........
