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Spotted a HiFi item I've always fancied come up on eBay recently. Quite a rare and expensive item. I kept an eye on it anyway even though funds were limited at the time, I was interested to see how much it went for. So the auction finished; then a few days later it's relisted again by another seller in another part of the country (I have email alerts for certain items). It sells again, and lo and behold it's now come up again somewhere else... not even taken new photos.
So what's going on? Buyers remorse? Three times? I'm tempted to buy it but my ultra-cynic suspects it's being gradually stripped of parts or parts being replaced with cheaper stuff. Surely not? I actually asked the current seller what's going on - no reply.
Some form of money laundering?
In/out with a clean sale then back to be sold again. If it's low key it can be very successful in a under the radar way.
I am quite au fait with hifi kit and particularly vintage stuff. I suspect what is happening is a 'dealer' sees the opportunity to make a few quid and chucks a cheapish low ball offer at the seller and tries their luck at flipping said item. Fails, another low ball offer comes in and rinse repeat.
Of course if it is a desirable item it may be just being scammed with the images stolen. What's the piece of kit you're after out of interest?
Ahh yes, dealers trying to flip it. That makes sense, and slightly more palatable if I'm thinking of buying. Except for it spending half of its life in transit being thrown around by couriers...
@jambourgie - as a slight aside I would highly recommend joining the Audioshite group on Facebook. A more knowledgeable, down to earth group of folk about all things hifi and in particular the more vintage stuff you'll not find.
Oftentimes someone will have or be able to source whatever you are looking for and most usually at below eBay prices also.
Maybe it's broken.
Not sure I agree that it's being flipped three times, I can't see that the original sale wasn't from a long-term owner. Lots of reasons to sell shortly after purchase. (Always wanted to try one, wasn't as good as I'd heard; Partner found out and didn't approve; surprise bill came in; had a broken one, much easier to diagnose/repair comparing to a working one; thought you could get more for it with a better listing / photos; etc.)
Flipped twice strikes me as probably coincidence. As above, if it was broken / fake / knackered you'd just complain via ebay, surely, rather than risk selling then the next buyer demanding their money back.
Of course if it is a desirable item it may be just being scammed with the images stolen.
My bet too.
Could be a ruse to raise the final price. Got a mate who sells things on ebay and he says various tactics are used, including multiple accounts and making an offer then not paying because you have the same item to sell and want the other seller to be out of the game while you sell at a higher price.