Ebay's "Flip-It-Fast" - here's a perfect example

danocaster · February 9th, 2008, 01:07 PM

Here on TDPRI, we are always asking each other's opinions on particular Ebay items. Sometimes , those vintage pieces are being sold by a seller called "Flip It Fast". He sell a LOT of stuff and a LOT of vintage

Not long ago, people here were debating the authenticity of a 60s tele and I was warning that he often sells stuff as vintage that is NOT. He sells / knows about REAL vintage peices - so when something is CLEARLY NOT vintage, you need to assume he is trying to mislead people

Here's an example :

He's selling this as an "Eary 70s Tele Neck". Yet it has the MIJ stamped clearly on the neck and you can see where the MIJ was sanded off !! HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S SELLING !!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...E:B:SS:US:1123

johnnytronics · February 9th, 2008, 01:16 PM

Other than hardware, you're taking a BIG risk buying guitars on Ebay. Many of these instruments are dogs which are being pawned off over and over when buyers fail to get their money back.

city lights · February 9th, 2008, 01:28 PM

er...aint those "TL-65/75" type and lettering only found on MIJs?

Fatmanstratman · February 9th, 2008, 01:30 PM

The only thing I can find with the neck number of TL69-75 points to the blue floral 69 Re-issue. That number was once discussed here on the TDPRI on THIS THREAD (click), but we don't seem to have found a definitive answer.

The eBay seller doesn't say that it is NOT a Japanese neck, but it clearly IS. In which case it is NOT from the 70s......

J-man · February 9th, 2008, 01:39 PM

I messaged the seller informing him that the neck is a dud - I figure a store like that isn't purposefully trying to trick people, they probably got duped themselves.

Jellecaster · February 9th, 2008, 01:55 PM

I bought a Nocaster Relic from them and had absolutely no issues - great guitar and transaction. I have also bought a bunch of other guitars on ebay and had no issues at all. Obviously there are jerks and scammers out there, but I honestly think that the majority are honest and fair.

Having said that - that nut looks waaay too white!

AJ Love · February 9th, 2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnytronics

Other than hardware, you're taking a BIG risk buying guitars on Ebay. Many of these instruments are dogs which are being pawned off over and over when buyers fail to get their money back.

I've had good experiences buying guitars on Ebay. Just from sheer volume alone there are plenty of nice guitars being sold there

blue metalflake · February 9th, 2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by city lights

er...aint those "TL-65/75" type and lettering only found on MIJs?

That s exactly what came into my mind. These guys have been around a while and I find it hard to believe they don't know what they have.

Hafner · February 9th, 2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jellecaster

I bought a Nocaster Relic from them and had absolutely no issues - great guitar and transaction. I have also bought a bunch of other guitars on ebay and had no issues at all. Obviously there are jerks and scammers out there, but I honestly think that the majority are honest and fair

+1 for me. I live in Switzerland. Most of my guitars and parts are from US-sellers. But: One must consider important rules:
-ONLY buying from sellers with ONLY positive feed-backs
-items very well described
-items very well pictured
-otherwise: after contacting the seller: if there is no satisfying (and friendly) answer within 24 hours: forget it immediately.

skydawg · February 9th, 2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hafner

+1 for me. I live in Switzerland. Most of my guitars and parts are from US-sellers. But: One must consider important rules:
-ONLY buying from sellers with ONLY positive feed-backs
-items very well described
-items very well pictured
-otherwise: after contacting the seller: if there is no satisfying (and friendly) answer within 24 hours: forget it immediately.

I got to disagree with your ONLY buying from sellers with ONLY positive feed-backs. Anyone that does any volume on Ebay as both a buyer and seller is going to pick up a few negs. That is if you treat the feedback policy the way it was intended and call a spade a spade!

Hafner · February 10th, 2008, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skydawg

I got to disagree with your ONLY buying from sellers with ONLY positive feed-backs. Anyone that does any volume on Ebay as both a buyer and seller is going to pick up a few negs. That is if you treat the feedback policy the way it was intended and call a spade a spade!

I read the comments then, of course you cannot elude the risk, that some non-honest people are going to buy from you and then fix a negative feedback. But what is the cause then ? Anyway: I circumvent them.

sculptor · February 10th, 2008, 05:23 AM

What about those tuners, i thought the f style tuners were found on teles from the late 60s and all of the 70s, i guess they could have been changed but he's punting it as all original?

djinn1973 · February 10th, 2008, 05:48 AM

I thought that a mid 70's neck would have 3 bolts?
Could one of you fine gentlemen (or ladies) recommend a good book early Strats and Teles, I have been saving for a 73 and when I find one I don't want to get bit...

johnspierce · February 10th, 2008, 12:32 PM

Definitely a Japanese neck. A real early 70's neck would have the serial number on the end of the heel, not where the neckplate holes are. The TL-69-75 designation is I believe a Fender Japan model number, Mark would know. Also, to be "correct" it would have F-tuners; of course a lot of people retrofitted the Klusons.

I will say I disagree that buying guitars on ebay is bad. I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio I just bought off ebay that is absolutely like brand-new. The guy had bought it a year ago and never really learned to play, so I got a $1200 (musician's friend price) guitar for $750. That's a good deal in my book. Also, I've bought some Fender parts from The Stratosphere on ebay and had really good luck with them.

I would always buy something I could see and touch if that were possible, but even in a large city like Denver it's hard to find much variety beyond the inevitable low-end guitar/amp inventory.

One more thing I would add is I've done better shopping on ebay than in a forum "for sale" section. Since there is no feedback or track-record for these areas I've actually had several problems with deadbeats or mis-representation. Your mileage may vary.

JP

Hank Scorpio · February 10th, 2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sculptor

What about those tuners, i thought the f style tuners were found on teles from the late 60s and all of the 70s, i guess they could have been changed but he's punting it as all original?

That's what I thought.

6942 · February 10th, 2008, 12:53 PM

I've bought guitars on e-bay in the past with MOSTLY good luck.
Of course there will ALWAYS be scammers on e-bay.
I think some of the problem is IGNORANT sellers.
They haven't a CLUE about WHAT they are selling!?
They couldn't tell a bent neck from a boomerang...........

Steve

Mark Davis · February 10th, 2008, 01:16 PM

Last year Flip it Fast had a Fender 52ri pickguard in its Fender package you can buy anywhere for under $30 and adversised it as a real 52 pickguard for like $1250. Here is what it looked like. I dont think they know what they are doing or maybe they do know what they are doing and want to rip off unsuspecting Ebay buyers.

Bill · February 10th, 2008, 03:19 PM

I think I remember that pickguard discussion. Yikes.

Jimi1976 · February 10th, 2008, 03:41 PM

I feel bad for the sucker that actually buys that neck....

This Ebay seller should be shut down (if he's doing this kind of thing on a regular basis)

J-man · February 10th, 2008, 07:17 PM

Hmm.. The seller emailed me back last night telling me that a few people had pointed out that this was a modern Japanese made neck, and that they'd missed the signs...

...Yet the auction is still going.

I smell a fish.

Flat357 · February 10th, 2008, 07:40 PM

At the bottom of every sale is an option to report an item .
When you finish the options , you simply press email Ebay , which then automatically produces the item number .
No need to actually write anything .
Ebay then remove the listing and warn the seller

AtomEve · February 10th, 2008, 10:14 PM

Anyone going to tip Ebay?

danajohnhill · February 11th, 2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Last year Flip it Fast had a Fender 52ri pickguard in its Fender package you can buy anywhere for under $30 and adversised it as a real 52 pickguard for like $1250. Here is what it looked like. I dont think they know what they are doing or maybe they do know what they are doing and want to rip off unsuspecting Ebay buyers.

The only comfort I can take in situations like this is that the sellers must pay the higher listing fee, and still, most likely, get no sale.

Flat357 · February 11th, 2008, 03:39 PM

I'm fairly sure they pay a one off fee for their whole shop once they get big , just as you would pay rent .

February 9th, 2008, 01:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
danocaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 507 9 Photos	Ebay's "Flip-It-Fast" - here's a perfect example Here on TDPRI, we are always asking each other's opinions on particular Ebay items. Sometimes , those vintage pieces are being sold by a seller called "Flip It Fast". He sell a LOT of stuff and a LOT of vintage Not long ago, people here were debating the authenticity of a 60s tele and I was warning that he often sells stuff as vintage that is NOT. He sells / knows about REAL vintage peices - so when something is CLEARLY NOT vintage, you need to assume he is trying to mislead people Here's an example : He's selling this as an "Eary 70s Tele Neck". Yet it has the MIJ stamped clearly on the neck and you can see where the MIJ was sanded off !! HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S SELLING !!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...E:B:SS:US:1123 __________________ Louder isnt better - it's just louder ( and better )

February 9th, 2008, 01:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnnytronics Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Big Apple, NYC Age: 58 Posts: 520	Other than hardware, you're taking a BIG risk buying guitars on Ebay. Many of these instruments are dogs which are being pawned off over and over when buyers fail to get their money back. __________________ Support our Troops

February 9th, 2008, 01:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
city lights Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Malaysia Age: 28 Posts: 126	er...aint those "TL-65/75" type and lettering only found on MIJs? __________________ my music: http://www.i-bands.net/audiovault/guitarbug my artworks: http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h3...rbug/artworks/

February 9th, 2008, 01:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fatmanstratman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fatmanville, Cambs., UK Posts: 2,755	The only thing I can find with the neck number of TL69-75 points to the blue floral 69 Re-issue. That number was once discussed here on the TDPRI on THIS THREAD (click), but we don't seem to have found a definitive answer. The eBay seller doesn't say that it is NOT a Japanese neck, but it clearly IS. In which case it is NOT from the 70s...... __________________ . . . *"Behind every argument is someone's ignorance."*

February 9th, 2008, 01:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 19 Posts: 6,172 9 Photos	I messaged the seller informing him that the neck is a dud - I figure a store like that isn't purposefully trying to trick people, they probably got duped themselves. __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." - Tom Waits

February 9th, 2008, 01:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jellecaster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Hampshire, USA Age: 40 Posts: 2,085	I bought a Nocaster Relic from them and had absolutely no issues - great guitar and transaction. I have also bought a bunch of other guitars on ebay and had no issues at all. Obviously there are jerks and scammers out there, but I honestly think that the majority are honest and fair. Having said that - that nut looks waaay too white! __________________ It was born at the junction of form and function...

February 10th, 2008, 05:23 AM	#12 (permalink)
sculptor TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: stafford Age: 44 Posts: 43	What about those tuners, i thought the f style tuners were found on teles from the late 60s and all of the 70s, i guess they could have been changed but he's punting it as all original?

February 10th, 2008, 05:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
djinn1973 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dixon, California Age: 34 Posts: 382	I thought that a mid 70's neck would have 3 bolts? Could one of you fine gentlemen (or ladies) recommend a good book early Strats and Teles, I have been saving for a 73 and when I find one I don't want to get bit... __________________ I wonder if there will be cake?

February 10th, 2008, 12:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
johnspierce Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 463 16 Photos	Definitely a Japanese neck. A real early 70's neck would have the serial number on the end of the heel, not where the neckplate holes are. The TL-69-75 designation is I believe a Fender Japan model number, Mark would know. Also, to be "correct" it would have F-tuners; of course a lot of people retrofitted the Klusons. I will say I disagree that buying guitars on ebay is bad. I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio I just bought off ebay that is absolutely like brand-new. The guy had bought it a year ago and never really learned to play, so I got a $1200 (musician's friend price) guitar for $750. That's a good deal in my book. Also, I've bought some Fender parts from The Stratosphere on ebay and had really good luck with them. I would always buy something I could see and touch if that were possible, but even in a large city like Denver it's hard to find much variety beyond the inevitable low-end guitar/amp inventory. One more thing I would add is I've done better shopping on ebay than in a forum "for sale" section. Since there is no feedback or track-record for these areas I've actually had several problems with deadbeats or mis-representation. Your mileage may vary. JP

February 10th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#16 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,529	I've bought guitars on e-bay in the past with MOSTLY good luck. Of course there will ALWAYS be scammers on e-bay. I think some of the problem is IGNORANT sellers. They haven't a CLUE about WHAT they are selling!? They couldn't tell a bent neck from a boomerang........... Steve

February 10th, 2008, 01:16 PM	#17 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,478	Last year Flip it Fast had a Fender 52ri pickguard in its Fender package you can buy anywhere for under $30 and adversised it as a real 52 pickguard for like $1250. Here is what it looked like. I dont think they know what they are doing or maybe they do know what they are doing and want to rip off unsuspecting Ebay buyers. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

February 10th, 2008, 03:19 PM	#18 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,611 58 Photos	I think I remember that pickguard discussion. Yikes. __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

February 10th, 2008, 03:41 PM	#19 (permalink)
Jimi1976 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 3	I feel bad for the sucker that actually buys that neck.... This Ebay seller should be shut down (if he's doing this kind of thing on a regular basis) __________________ 1972 Suburst Tele * 1984 MIJ Strat * 1995 SRV Sig. Strat

February 10th, 2008, 07:17 PM	#20 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 19 Posts: 6,172 9 Photos	Hmm.. The seller emailed me back last night telling me that a few people had pointed out that this was a modern Japanese made neck, and that they'd missed the signs... ...Yet the auction is still going. I smell a fish. __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." - Tom Waits

February 10th, 2008, 07:40 PM	#21 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,873	At the bottom of every sale is an option to report an item . When you finish the options , you simply press email Ebay , which then automatically produces the item number . No need to actually write anything . Ebay then remove the listing and warn the seller

February 10th, 2008, 10:14 PM	#22 (permalink)
AtomEve TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Land of the Free, Home of the Brave! Posts: 34	Anyone going to tip Ebay?

February 11th, 2008, 03:39 PM	#24 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,873	I'm fairly sure they pay a one off fee for their whole shop once they get big , just as you would pay rent .

February 11th, 2008, 04:03 PM	#25 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 19 Posts: 6,172