250956754098: shilling, or stupidity?

[HamiltonIllinois]

While the bidder with zero feedback raises serious questions, I agree that it is a very nice Barrel. It is also photographed nicely in a way that shows the thick crystal and redone dial very well. Green cases also normally bring a premium. It seems that a fairly large minority of buyers are not looking for value in a vintage watch the way a collector does, but rather they are willing to pay top prices for a nice watch... and they likely don't plan to ever sell or trade it anyway.

[Davemcc]

Here I am a "uninformed buyer" .Although I didn`t buy the auction mentioned ,I have recently purchased from said ebayer.I understand the draw of the quality photos and in the grip of pre xmas fever I acquired my 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th Hamiltons! The watch from the seller in question was due to arrive today after payment of customs duties. Immediately after the sale,i felt I`d over paid (Don`t bid when tipsy and find out auction results the next morning). I`ll post pics in the near future.

I have also purchased from this seller. I probably would again if his prices didn't rocket out of my comfort zone fairly early. Close photography like that exposes any flaws so I figure if they look that good in photos, they will look awesome with my failing up close vision.

[Vintagehamiltons]

It's a fairly uncommon and collectible early Hamilton model, nicely restored, and well-presented. I don't think the price is really out of line. I have gotten 450 to 500 for nice Barrels before on my website which has much less exposure than eBay.

Again, Bryan also is able to get a premium price because his watches are clean, crisp, and excellent photos. Less proficient photographers (me ) don't get near that much.

[stales]

Again, Bryan also is able to get a premium price because his watches are clean, crisp, and excellent photos. Less proficient photographers (me ) don't get near that much.

Ha! Less proficient photographer Tom Diss!! On a photographic ability scale that places me among the amoeba.

[Etranger]

I have also purchased from this seller. I probably would again if his prices didn't rocket out of my comfort zone fairly early. Close photography like that exposes any flaws so I figure if they look that good in photos, they will look awesome with my failing up close vision.

Dave, I love your comment about watches looking awesome due to failing close vision.
Sadly, I must concur.

As for people "overpaying", I know that a few times I've knowingly paid more than what a watch is "worth" because it was a watch that I really wanted.
If I hadn't "overpaid", then I wouldn't be the owner now.

I think most of us would agree that there is value in buying from someone who is considered trustworthy.
Especially when buying something vintage as a gift, you don't want to receive something that isn't in the condition/working order as it was represented.
For me, the irritation of having to possibly struggle to get my money back from a less than honest seller makes spending more with an honest seller much more appealing.

[Vintagehamiltons]

Not double or more, though.

[adam78]

By the way, now that the auction ended, I wanted to reiterate that what I was flabbergasted at when I started this thread was that the bidding was past $500 on this watch with 4 days left to go. Not necessarily that it ended at $630 (well, I was surprised at that too). I just couldn't understand why bidding was so "enthusiastic" so early on, nice watch or not. Now if it were solid gold, I could understand!

[Vintagehamiltons]

Maybe someone may have badly wanted it for a gift and tried to scare the competition off early.