eBay has gone full on ridiculous...
This seller is one of many. Check out the lineup from another seller linked below. Obviously new Girard fabric presented as vintage at prices beyond stupid. Some people just have no shame. But at least they never seem to sell anything...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&item=380835673035&pt=LH_DefaultDom...
Unintended Consequences
My problem with that particular eBay seller is that the deluge of fantastically overpriced refurbs they're offering WILL NEVER SELL.
We might feel a bit of schadenfreude at the notion of their inventory piling up, but that inventory remains on eBay for all to see - including anyone who finds a funny looking chair in their grandmas attic and checks eBay for a price before throwing it on craigslist.
Everyone here loves design - but we love a "great deal!" just as much.
Sellers who clownishly inflate prices influence (fool?) casual, low-information sellers into thinking their chair belongs in the Smithsonian instead of in a rec-room.
This practice hurts us, one and all. That seller is irresponsible, un-serious, and is worthy of our loathing.
We've all come across a busted-up Bertoia diamond chair for $950.00, right? It's coated in rust and is a spiderweb of broken welds. You mention the condition to the owner of "The Brass Armadillo," or whatever the depressing antique mall is called, and he says - without fail - "Oh yeah, that's an 'Ames Chair.' They go for thousands on eBay."
No, sir. No, they do not. But - I know exactly why you think so.
one of his many overpriced Eames listings...
had a rather strange "warning" at the end, saying that any frivolous or antagonistic emails sent to him would be met with a swift report to ebay. So I am guessing that he is painfully aware of of the ridiculousness of his whole ploy, whatever it is.
I too have been wondering what the point is... if it is a spoof, is it just to flood ebay with a bunch of high prices so that some other stuff might look more reasonable? What a waste of time.
I'm really sick of his ugly carpet too.
(referring to Lunchbox's link three posts up, and post above)
Overpriced the things may be...
Overpriced the things may be or seem, the seller being currently discussed does have a whole lot of uncommon and terribly desirable fabrics and colors on the classics...
I can see the logic in the approach of holding out for one's desired price, but of course that means the items may not sell quickly or even at all. They will, however, probably sell EVENTUALLY, and I guess if the seller is in a position to wait then that's that. I imagine there's been a pretty good investment to acquire all those checkerboard shell chairs and the like. (I'd sure like to have one of those.)
making the prices even more silly...
...is the fact that half the time those chairs have some kind of fatal flaw. Like the typical breaks in the corner of the shell seat, or drilled holes, or some other deal killer. I guess 3 times the price isn't enough, so it has to be broken as well.
Usually you have to read every last word in the description to find mention of the flaw, and comb every photo to see it. (Which I did for awhile, just for fun.)
Now I just look for the signature carpet and say "oh fuck no, not again", and keep scrolling.
You know this could most...
You know this could most likely be reported to the secret service or FBI art fraud team
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/march/artscam_032108
http://www.ebay.com/itm/17137...http://www.ebay.com/itm/171377026132?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-EAMES-PINK-SKY-BLUE-Fiberglass-Armshell-Rocker...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/EAMES-KELLY-GREEN-Fiberglass-Arm-Shell-ROCKER-He...
She is again upping the prices to a level I am embarrassed to even look at. I think I have been not allowed to send questions because I have sent enough "where do these prices come from" over the years.
I rarely give a shit about what people do with their inventory. It is just hoarding and most of it not selling EVER after years of seeing that stupid 10,000 Pink shell on a new rocker base. The prices are arbitrary and change from month to month...and the knowledge base is pedestrian at best. They read a couple books, so what... but has no shame is selling a contact shell worth 600 bucks for 5k. Like seriously GFY. I swear newbies look at these listings and think they are normal there are so many of them.
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