Had a little nervous fun a couple days ago. Ebay notified me of a newly listed item I might be interested in.
I was.
The auction had options to (A.) Buy the Item Now for $49.99 or, (B.) put in an opening bid of $29.99, and hope no one else was interested during the following week..
I thought it over carefully and chose A.
Since any item can still be bought by someone else until it is actually paid for, I hurried through the business of signing on to my account, selecting the Buy-It-Now option and then signing in to my PayPal account, choosing the payment source I preferred and verifying that I did indeed wish to pay now. At the end, eBay thanked me for my purchse.
I felt a little more at ease.
Still, I have heard of unscrupulous Buyers asking Sellers to cancel completed auctions in lieu of higher remuneration. The hapless original Buyer is sent a note saying "The Item is no longer available."
About 20 min. after auction close, the Seller sent me a notice of intent to ship and a USPS Tracking Number.
I felt a little more at ease.
Still, It was just after the Post Office closed where he lived. That meant he could not actually take the package to them until they opened in the morning. Other prospective buyers could still contact him overnight. He might be tempted.
It would be a long night.
To make a long story short... (Right.) He did take it to the Post Office and I did get it 2 days later.
Isn't that a nice story?
Aren't you gonna tell the people what you got? ;D
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 16, 2016, 10:05:34 PM
Aren't you gonna tell the people what you got? ;D
Just this:
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8222/29032568504_0b9ef03ce3_b.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8134/29647971351_e3f7c9ffe0_h.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8098/29104911913_56ff5c3a08_h.jpg)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8113/29647968881_78d84046e0_b.jpg)
Isn't that a nice story?
Holy fark!
According to the last photo, you got robbed!
Seriously, nice going! Paying attention really paid off!
wow....congrats!!!!!
Jesus man you had to think about using the buy it now option!?!? ;). My god that is a deal apparently the seller didn't at least look up what they usually go for. I remember seeing just a trashed one for $499.
You looking to sell?
I had collected my keys and such and was just taking a step toward the door when I heard distant thunder, the signal that I was receiving email. I turned back toward my computer, saw that it was only my daily notifications form eBay, then stepped toward the door again and stopped. "No", I said to myself, "It will just take a few minutes and there might be something worth seeing."
The Clinton Frankenstein Bucket was about the 7th item on the first page.
I had no idea how long the listing had been up. (I was in such a sweat to buy, I forgot to check.) I hastily signed on and made the purchase. Only then did the real sweating start. The Seller was experienced and he was sure to be receiving all manner of offers after the sale. I doubted I would ever actually get the Bucket
But Frank is home safe now.
And, yes, he is almost that dark. He must have spent the last 52 years in the dark. He is also surprisingly thick as these guys go. His nose has never been caved in. If it weren't for the typical paint loss and rivet patina, he would look brand new.
I'm all set to go Trick-or-Treating with the other kids this year.
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 17, 2016, 09:24:54 AM
According to the last photo, you got robbed!
Imagine my embarrassment.
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on September 17, 2016, 12:04:04 PM
Imagine my embarrassment.
That price almost seems high, for the '60s? I swear they have blow mold pumpkin buckets at the dollar store (for a dollar), today.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT??????????????????
No way........................... Congratulations! So jealous!
No way! You scoundrel! Good job and congrats!
Is it just me, or is the price on the bottom what really makes it?
I can't believe how minty that is
Quote from: mjaycox on September 17, 2016, 09:13:59 PM
Is it just me, or is the price on the bottom what really makes it?
I can't believe how minty that is
I
love the price on the bottom. It's like the cherry on an ice cream treat.
And it really has the original glossy shine. Not scuffed up a bit. If I was able to take better pictures, you could see all the fine overspray that still clings to the sideburns and ears - a lot more than shows in these snaps.
Usual nose, brow and chin paint loss. I think a lot of these got rubbed a bit in the store.
That's an amazing find at that price and I'm so glad that a collector who will love and treasure this piece managed to bag it and not someone who would have just flipped it straight away.
It's in the right hands and shows us all that there are still bargains out there to be found.
Ian
Wow! Totally amazing! ;D
BIG CONGRATS. Awesome once in a lifetime find. :o ;D
Quote from: Palifan on September 18, 2016, 10:10:32 AM
That's an amazing find at that price and I'm so glad that a collector who will love and treasure this piece managed to bag it and not someone who would have just flipped it straight away.
It's in the right hands and shows us all that there are still bargains out there to be found.
Ian
That is SO true. Almost every month brings news of some car collector's "barn find" (not always in an actual barn) of bizarrely early or extremely rare automobile(s).
If something as big as a car can go missing or just forgotten for so long, what're the chances that closets, attics, storage bins (even warehouses) still hold tons of small items like toys all across a planet as big as ours? And how many non-collecting owners view such items as little more than space-consuming trash that might be worth a couple buck to some fanatic "Collector"?
Keep watching the listings, fellow monster enthusiasts. Rare items ARE out there. Bargains CAN be found. As older people leave us, their most prized possessions are being systematically disposed of by surviving relatives, sometimes distant, who have no appreciation for why Uncle Edgar kept "all that crap" in the first place.
The chilling thought that I sometimes have, is how many true "treasures" are sent to the landfill every day by relatives who just can't spend the time and trouble to honor their Uncle Edgar's passion for his stuff. I've seen that happened way too often.
Ever wonder where all the stuff
you lovingly, sometimes expensively, have assembled and displayed with such care will eventually wind up?
Heh, heh.
What a deal! I knew your dramatic reveal was going to be something unusual but...wow.
Pardon the stupid hypothetical: Let's say someone (not me) had the desire and the means to reproduce these in blow molded orange plastic. Not to rip anyone off with fake originals but just to do it. Since (I assume) these were unlicensed to begin with, would Universal take notice of the repop and land on that person with both feet, assuming Universal noticed at all? I'm guessing the answer is yes...it IS Glenn Strange...but am curious if this falls into some kind of gray area -- repro'ing ancient unlicensed items? Or did Universal have these shut down back in the day, too?
Quote from: Monsters For Sale on September 18, 2016, 12:53:21 PM
That is SO true. Almost every month brings news of some car collector's "barn find" (not always in an actual barn) of bizarrely early or extremely rare automobile(s).
If something as big as a car can go missing or just forgotten for so long, what're the chances that closets, attics, storage bins (even warehouses) still hold tons of small items like toys all across a planet as big as ours? And how many non-collecting owners view such items as little more than space-consuming trash that might be worth a couple buck to some fanatic "Collector"?
Keep watching the listings, fellow monster enthusiasts. Rare items ARE out there. Bargains CAN be found. As older people leave us, their most prized possessions are being systematically disposed of by surviving relatives
It's very true. I got my 1959 Edsel wagon off ebay in 2009 for $700, an essentially complete car missing only very small and common pieces. It was literally in the woods in Arkansas, being sold by a family friend after the father had passed. Untouched for decades, it had a 1970 registration sticker on the tag and I found a handwritten grocers receipt from 1968 in the seat cushion. (Along with vintage candy wrappers - I never knew Wonder Bread made potato chips?...)
And then those Pocket Screamers I found a few years ago, forgotten for over a decade on a shelf in the stockroom of a modern drug store built in the 1990s.
As for treasures winding up in a landfill, I wouldn't worry about that so much these days. With shows like Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Comic Book Men (they had quite a few monster items), even the most general public is aware that almost everything will have a buyer. And even a cursory Google or eBay search with vague descriptions will usually yeild answers for a family member or at least a friend of the family helping out. (The downside, of course, is that value is also often realized, and there are less bargains. But then, hey, at least it's still not in a landfill.)
OMG!!!!!!! That is the most amazing eBay bargain story I've ever seen. And it looks so new! Simply incredible! And as already mentioned it's great that it wound up in the hands of someone who will cherish it. Super congrats Monsters For Sale! In all honesty if I had scored that I'd be really tempted to flip it. It would be a devil and angel on my shoulders scenario. ;D
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/401749-bruce.png)
Congrats. I would have rushed and bought it as well.
One time, I searched a rather expensive radio called a TARDIS Tuner. I had a chance as a kid to buy it for $25 but never had the money.
One popped up on ebay for a BIN of $15.50 with free shipping. Still boxed and never played. I couldn't type fast enough in my mind, but got it finished before anyone else noticed. They had gone for $400 6 months previous to this, so I was amazed. It took me 25 years, but I got my Grail item.
Quote from: John Pertwee on September 20, 2016, 04:54:11 AM
... It took me 25 years, but I got my Grail item.
Good for you!
Like hearing about "windfall" finds.
Quote from: John Pertwee on September 20, 2016, 04:54:11 AM
It took me 25 years, but I got my Grail item.
Congrats, whenever that was! Is that a Dr. Who item?
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 20, 2016, 08:33:34 AM
Is that a Dr. Who item?
You are correct sir! ;D
QuoteTardis Tuner - Dr Who Radio, boxed 1970's. A magnificent and rare piece, this battery operated "Dr Who" Tardis radio was made in Singapore, made from black plastic, finished in black and silver it has great buttons that invite you to touch and colourful illustrated dials. It has a handy strap so you can take it anywhere or when not being used the box unsures its safe storage.
(http://www.thetoycabin.com/images/big/TV395.jpg)
Quote from: Gory Glenn on September 20, 2016, 10:31:50 AM
You are correct sir! ;D
Is it supposed to look like some device used on the show?
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 20, 2016, 10:42:32 AM
Is it supposed to look like some device used on the show?
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Dr_Who_and_the_Turgids (http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Dr_Who_and_the_Turgids)
No, it is just a radio that makes beeping noises and lights up. During the Tom Baker era, marketing reached insane levels. They even had underwear with his face on them. Every week, I would see the Tom Baker figure and this radio and never had enough money. I started ebay around 1999 and went crazy getting all the Who items I was missing or never knew about. It took more than 10 years to get that radio since they were going for hundreds of dollars and I didn't want to overpay.
Quote from: John Pertwee on September 20, 2016, 08:12:59 PM
No, it is just a radio that makes beeping noises and lights up.
And looks cool on a shelf. :)
As would that $50 Frank bucket. I still can't stop laughing about that great deal and that a reseller missed out on it.
Quote from: Mike Scott on September 17, 2016, 09:24:54 AM
According to the last photo, you got robbed!
OMG MIKE i just laffed OUT LOUD at you comment, very quick!
Hey! I forgot about you getting this bucket! And now you get a Frank binder for $23? That enough bargains for you, young man! Go to your room! Pretty soon, you'll be having the sellers paying you to take their stuff!
I KNOW RIGHT? buy rights, he should of had the white franken head i got for 50.00. That Adam has monster RADAR big time.
I just have a long list of searches and employ a couple techniques I've never heard anyone else mention - and I won't mention here. I'd like to claim superior intellect, but I didn't even know the binder was all that big a thing - I just liked the look of it.
Wasn't it Arnold Palmer who made a great shot and responded to another players' comment, "Boy, you're lucky!" with "Yeah, and the more I practice, the luckier I get."
Persistence (or, no semblance of a real life?) pays off.
Just let it be a reminder that stuff is still out there. You keep at it and it can pay off for YOU too.
Good luck, everyone!
Quote from: Mike Scott on March 23, 2017, 05:21:40 PM
Hey! I forgot about you getting this bucket! And now you get a Frank binder for $23? That enough bargains for you, young man! Go to your room! Pretty soon, you'll be having the sellers paying you to take their stuff!
I wouldn't charge them very much.