That's all fine and dandy, but unless a seller or anyone ask for you knowledge or opinion then I would say butt out. First off you're assuming they don't have a clue, which could be the case or maybe they know something you don't. Either way it makes no sense to me to offer advice when it was never asked for, especially if you have no intention of buying.

And just imagine this..."What if" the seller were to come here looking for advice and found comments like those? This isn't polite at all. So whether you are polite in your email to the sellers in question, it's obvious that you express your feelings about them, here, quite differently.

I think we are all grown up enough to determine whether a listing makes sense to us or not. And if one or two come along that seem out of the ordinary, then oh well. I don't see the need to become a vigilante-advisor on the prowl for "suckers".

Well, if nothing else, I'm glad we can disagree here without having things degenerate into arguments. I have my opinion and I know my intentions are honorable. That's all that really matters in the end.

No irony here folks, nothing to see, move along now.... :)

Well, this is a discussion forum, not a private email account. By its very design, people come here with the given understanding that their threads are an invitation for responses...and/or advice. This isn't about telling someone to keep quiet. I just don't think it's cool to poke and dig at people when you think they don't know anything. Why not treat everyone like the guy with the Gladstone snare drum in regards to pricing?....He came to an agreement with someone on a price he felt was fair....maybe down a bit from the initial $85K asking price....who knows? But let's pretend he settled for half that amount (which is VERY doubtful). That's still a $42.5K snare drum! One of a kind object? yep. Almost impossible to find? yep....ALL that... But...I still don't understand how the initial asking price was arrived at if not from the seller's mind. Where else does one start? There isn't a reference. Why not ask $100K? Why not a billion? The seller has to decide -no one else.

It's the seller's property until it's sold, right? So only HE (or she) can decide what it will take to motivate them to part with it.

Heres another example for you to consider: My house was assessed at $600K recently. But, if someone wants to buy it, then the bidding opens at $2 million. Take it or leave it. I don't care. I'm going to be happy either way. I love my house. I know how well it's built and the quality of the remodeling....because I did it! I know what I'm doing and so do the people I employ to help me. I bought a fixer in a very good neighborhood....and now because of other neighbors with a like-mind, it's turned into probably one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. I'd never even consider selling it for the assessed price -not even for even a split second! But if I ever did decide to sell, then people would be fighting each other to get in line to buy it -knowing that the assessed value won't even get them near the door.

Same thing with my drums. Just because some invisible council of experts on the internet says that they are only worth a fraction of what I'd ask....Again, I don't care. They are worth what I say they are worth, until they are no longer mine.

I had someone ring my doorbell yesterday. I looked at my security cam and I could see they were religious types -coming to MY door to give me advice and/or poke at me for not agreeing with what they are preaching, I didn't answer the door because I've been through all that before. But I just wanted to point this out because I certainly wouldn't go to their church to ask them questions......Somehow this seemed relevant to mention.

O-Lugs! I read your post above and certainly do agree with everything you say. My initial response to the Rogers kit was that there were so few pictures, many fuzzy, and no relevant information in the seller's post to validate the opening price. At least the seller of the green sparkle Bonham kit took the time to develop a detailed description of what he is offering.

The seller of the "Rodgers" kit has repeatedly emailed me, most of which seems to be gibberish. One of his messages said only... "Woodstock..." What does that mean!

Another message said... "I'll send you a smiling picture of Kramer when he comes to get them...". I responded by just letting the seller know that I'd love to see that picture!

I really appreciate this forum and our members. I know that we all don't share the same ideas about drums, pricing, knowledge, etc. But, for the most part, we've been one big happy family. And, like families, we sometimes get into arguments with each other...that eventually blow over and we're all buddies again! That's how it should be!

-Mark

Keep in mind that is a one-of-a-kind item and also appears prominently on the cover of one of the most popular drum instruction books ever created, Progressive Steps to Syncopation for the Modern Drummer, which is still being used by practically every teacher I know. It value is thereby determined by what the market will bear. It is not overpriced unless no one is willing to consider it at that price.

Things are only worth what somebody is willing to pay. If somebody is actually willing to pay $15,000 for that FrankenBonham kit, then that's how much it is worth. Most of us would consider that a bad deal, but some may not. Consider the astronomical cost of art masterpieces. Are they worth it? What it comes down to is how badly you want it, and how much you're willing to pay for it.

And you want to see prices go through the roof?

Did you read my post about Scott Chinery? All it takes is for one doofus with a lot of money to buy that green Ludwig set for $15K or the champagne "Rodgers" set for $7K+ and then, the floodgates just might open for every delusional idiot out there who thinks that just because he has an old drumset, it's now worth a fortune. Ludwig and Rogers prices may go even higher than they are already, because ignorant sellers will see that and bump their prices up. It's already happened with Oyster Black Ringo kits to a certain extent.

I'm trying to prevent this from happening.

That may be true, but that's the way the world works. And just because somebody might be willing to pay $15,000 for that pseudo Bonham kit, doesn't necessarily mean the next person that tries to get insane prices for something that isn't worth it will also get the price they're asking. Anybody can ask whatever they want, but at the end of the day it depends on whether there is a buyer who wants it enough to over pay for it.

Aside from that consideration, you have addressed any and all objections, with the information quoted below...it's just that not everybody noticed. :)