While it was very cool to think for a couple minutes that a "regular fan" had a real shot at something like this, I can't hate on the guy too much. If you think about it, it never should have been on ebay to begin with. When selling a rare item like this, the guy should have worked with a legit auction house that had the resources to better authenticate the item and promote it. The idea that he would get 'fair value' from the 9 days of people stumbling by it on ebay was a silly idea. I don't blame him for pulling it.

That said, I highly doubt striking a side-deal just days later was a smart play on his end either. Obviously I don't know the figures involved, but taking the best offer after just a week of people randomly stumbling upon it hardly seems much better than letting the ebay auction run its course.

It was certainly not how I would have handled it, but it wasn't my item or my bank account, so who am I to argue? I hope he is happy and at peace with his decision (I KNOW the buyer is happy....jerks!!! ).

Well said bigbisont, and at least it was technically not on eBay while the private deal was struck.

Harry

_________________

http://www.facebook.com/TheHHACA - @TheHHACA

Can you not legitimately pull something from eBay if it is also for sale (and thus sold) elsewhere?
I know you can do this with things like cars, which also get advertised on Autotrader and the like...

You can do whatever you like.

The only one who truly loses when something is pulled on ebay because of a private transaction is... ebay! They (along with paypal) won't be getting their cut. They HATE that.

And frankly that "does" make me feel a wee bit better.


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Kevin: that's truly the silver lining!

_________________
My entry-level prop and costume tutorials: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12751

In all honesty, I'm sort of glad it wasn't relisted...I can save money now (not that I would have won). But yes, that's an auction lot that should sell in true Hollywood auctions, and often for thousands of dollars. One of the Ghostbusters proton packs (Harold Ramis's) sold for $165,000 two years ago for example. I'm not saying the BDUs would have sold for anywhere close to that, but there are people with LOTS of money, and I can promise you, they would have outbid us all on the BDUs even if they were listed again...

_________________
Please check out my Ghostbusters Ecto-1 project: http://www.therpf.com/f9/ghostbusters-ecto-1-project-largest-ever-209393/#post3250225
My M56 Smartgun build: http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14382

Let's say your not someone who contacts sellers and asks them to end an auction and sell you the item privately. But now when an item you're interested in does come up, you have to factor in that while you may not do that, others certainly will - so it's another factor to take into consideration when playing the game.

_________________

If he had sold through the Propstore of London for example, authenticity would have come back into the frame.

There currently was zero paperwork, and if this had been sold through POL (after they would have been able to examine it first hand), then at least their COA would be there.

The whole reason I started this thread was because of the lack of paperwork. I wanted to get your opinions about how legit this was.....because I was going to be a SERIOUS....SERIOUS.... bidder on this piece. And now I'll never have the chance.

It has seriously however given me a kick up the ass to go searching for something else original and of provenience from the movie.

_________________
All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!

To be honest I'm surpassed it was up for as long as it was. Unfortunately when it come to this kind of prop you have a high demand and low availability.

I'd be surprised if the guy wasn't swamped with offers within hours of putting it up. When it comes to classic props and wardrobe you need a huge wad of cash and the ability to move in fast to stand a chance of getting the goods. Chances like these come once in a blue moon.

The Bonham's set went for £ 1600 GBP and i know a few people that are kicking themselves for not placing bids as that was pretty low. For a screen matched Hicks you got to be in the 2K GBP ball-park.

Just as an aside- comparing the trousers to this BTS photo; those definitely looked like Rolston's:






Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Woody, you can. There just is a penalty if you have a bid or an offer on the item, because you are backing out of a legit possible sale that the buyer committed to.


Thanks, Kevin! You after my company now? Because that round of lay-offs we just went through wasn't scary enough ...

_________________
General all around pain in the ass and master of the overshare.
"...a geeky kinda dorky kinda nerdy kinda gurl...and I like it!"

UKCM FOREIGN LEGION:
"DEVIANT DRAGOONS"

I'm in a love-hate relationship with ebay.


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

I would hope that the next time there is an obvious real item on eBay that is posted here, that the forum rules would be followed and the post would be removed. If this rule is not going to be followed there is no point in it remaining.

If the goal is to keep an auctions profile down, I totally understand how someone might be upset and I might be inclined to get upset myself if it was an item I felt I had discovered when others had not. However, when an item's authenticity is in question, which this post was regarding, then there is no infraction here.

Specifically section 2-C from the PX rules addresses ebay items claimed as "Screen-used" and specifically states such posts are allowed. In this case, the seller had zero info or proof of any kind to prove authenticity. Some people would rather utilize the tools at their disposal to verify something before they throw money at it and this forum can be a valuable tool.

EDIT: Yes, a PM to Harry was an alternative that was also outlined in the PX rules. No offense to the rest of you, but if this happens again I will be going that route!

Im lost which rules have been broken?

_________________
SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

You are not allowed to post links to live auctions, unless you're the one selling the item(s).

Which I didn't

The only purpose of this thread was determining authenticity.

Only an idiot would loosely alert the biggest aliens fans in the world to something I wanted for myself

Let's try and stay on topic guys. This has been an exciting discussion despite the anti climax

_________________
All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!

Actually you did in a round about way- because you clearly said what to search for.

The purpose of that long standing rule is for someone who might be watching the auction with the hopes that someone else who has more money than him, hasn't seen it.

By pointing the way to the auction here, you opened the flood gates so to speak.


Picture this: An accurate Pulsemeter watch is on ebay for $50 with zero bids on it's last day (perhaps the title is misleading or spelled wrong). I think I'm finally going to get a deal, when someone posts on the forum that there is a Pulsemeter on ebay and to look for "Postmeter", because he wants to know if it is the correct model. All of the sudden the bids are up to $250 and I'm out.




However I'm of two minds on this particular auction for the BDUs---

Firstly the item's authenticity was in question- now while this might be fine for something like a "genuine M40 grenade" which might not raise a high price, in this case we are talking about wardrobe worn be a lead character. So it "probably" would have been better to PM Harry on this first.

However "any" Aliens fan would probably have found something like this anyway regardless of someone "showing the way" here. And in this case it's going to go for megabucks, so you had better have deep pockets.

I also agree with Willie that making an "offer they can't refuse" outside ebay has become part of the game.


Kevin

_________________
I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

DO NOT POST LINKS TO ACTIVE AUCTIONS THAT YOU ARE NOT THE OWNER OF.

The only exception to this rule is an item that claims to be screen used (a pulse rifle for example) and you want a clarification/second opinion. If the item being sold is a "found item" that was used in the films (such as a Racal headset, alarm box, Gerber Knives, stedicam arms, etc...), feel free to make an offer of a group buy.

_________________
SSgt Kris "Bloodsucker" Kobus, VAS.
A09/TQ2.0.12136E1

thank you Kris, appreciate it

_________________
All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!