Just listed is another Ivory 354 in what seems to be fine condition. It's a 7 day listing starting at $49.95 plus $10 shipping. We saw one of these recently in Auction Contest 121 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11860.msg126185#msg126185) which sold for $102.50. Wonder how the market has changed, it any, from that listing which ended a little less than 3 months ago.
With just under 7 days to go in this no reserve listing, the big question is how will this phone price out compared to the one in Contest 121? This one seems to be in equal if not better condition, but no picture of the back was posted by the seller. So once again, the question is, who best knows the selling price of this item, or in other words, game on.
The seller listed it as an "Old Western Electric Rotary DIAL Wall Mount TelePhone With Cloth Cord" with the item condition as "Used" and "- - - " with the auction listing description in the seller's own words as: "This is an Old Vintage 1960 Western Electric Bell System Rotary Dial Wall Mount Telephone With a Cloth type cord,I haven't saw those type of cords in a long time. The Housing shows NO CRACKS & is in VERY GOOD Condition. PLEASE VIEW PICTURES,for they ARE PART OF the DESCRIPTION. Most items I sell are VINTAGE and will show usage and age wear. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE ASK BEFORE BIDDING>Thank you for stopping by!! Happy Bidding!!"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221513481491
NOTE: Since we know what the last ivory 354 sold for recently, this contest will use a 5% gap rule between guesses to prevent crowding. As such, guess gaps of 10+% can be split. I'll help with these as the auction goes forward and guesses are entered. It's another chance to either move up a rung or to get onto the CRPF -> Contest Standings <- (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=4198.0) list.
. . . for as twocvbloke said, - - - > "You gotta be in it to win it ! ! !". . . ;D "
New forum members are very welcome and encouraged to take a guess. After all, there are no wrong guesses, just one lucky one. No one knows the winning bid on any auction until it ends. However, it is important to get your guess in before someone else grabs your guess.
If you want to see the phones of past Auction Contests, click -> HERE <- (http://s1331.photobucket.com/user/CRPFACL/library/?sort=4&page=1)
S C O R E B O A R D
$ 80.00 - kleinkaliber ( 11 )
$ 95.00 - Fabius ( 14 )
$ 100.00 - Scotophor ( 7 )
$ 110.00 - New England Tel. ( 13 )
$ 123.00 - poplar1 ( 4 )
$ 132.00 - WEBellSystemChristian ( 10 )
$ 155.00 - Kenton K ( 1 )
$ 165.00 - Sargeguy ( 9 )
$ 176.50 - baldopeacock ( 6 )
$ 200.00 - tallguy58 ( 5 )
( For posterity, seller told me (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12394.msg130843#msg130843) he sold it for $200. )
$ 225.00 - Russ Kirk ( 8 )
$ 237.50 - Mr. Bones ( 12 )
$ 250.00 - WesternElectricBen ( 2 )
$ 357.00 - twocvbloke ( 3 )
Early Morning Auction Status Changes
08-03-14 Listed $ 49.95
08-04-14 0 Bids $ 49.95
08-05-14 0 Bids $ 49.95
08-06-14 1 Bids $ 49.95
08-07-14 2 Bids $ 51.26
Listing terminated on August 7th about 6:52 pm PDT by the seller because the item is "no longer available."
08-10-14 Listing ends at 11:25:01 PDT
$155
250.00
Random shot in the dark, $357... ;D
$123
$200
$176.50
$100.00
$225
$165
$132
$80
I'll try the $237.50 split, if it isn't already taken. Thanks, John!
Best regards!
$110.00
$95
Here's the 5% no crowding gap spreadsheet for this contest, after 14 guesses.
In the immortal words of Queen, "another one bites the dust . . ."
As of about 10 pm PDT, the auction ended because "This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available." on August 7th at about 6:52 pm PDT. Nice, huh?
As such, this contest is hereby cancelled with no winner.
Thanks to everyone for playing. Some day there will be an Auction Contest 125 that goes to completion.
Having two contests cancelled recently for the same reason, is eBay becoming a marketing medium for side sales?
I sent a message to the seller using the "ask a question" in the ended ivory 354 listing. I would assume the message would be tied to the listing so when the seller gets it, he knows which item the question refers to. I got this answer, posted here for posterity.
"I dont know what phone you are talking about,there is no link here.....I sold a black desk top for 100.00 & a 354 wall phone for 200.00 if that is any you were talking about"
So, if it sold for $200, that was a good price compared to what happened in Auction Contest 121 that say that ivory 354 sell for $102.50. That 354 seemed to be in not quite as good of condition as this one, based on posted photos.
tallguy58 nailed the price at $200 with the 5th guess of the contest and would have won had the sale closed at that price as an auction. With the seller terminating the listing, due to a side sale, there can be no winner in this contest - sorry, tallguy58.
John....when you send a question to a seller on eBay when the auction has ended the seller does not know what auction you are talking about. I get it all the time and have to ask "what was the auction number" or "describe what it was".....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on August 08, 2014, 05:20:36 PM
. . . when you send a question to a seller on eBay when the auction has ended the seller does not know what auction you are talking about. I get it all the time and have to ask "what was the auction number" or "describe what it was" . . .
Thanks, Doug, didn't know that. Makes sense.
Got back to the seller to confirm it was an ivory 354 he sold. It was and he provided this interesting aspect of being a seller:
. . . I hate ending a auction early,but I had a decent offer & I was tired of coming home from work & having 5 or 6 messages about that phone,asking if it was painted & wanting me to unscrew it & open it up & take pics of inside,it was too nice of a phone to do that,I never knew a phone could be so popular . . .Now he does, I guess. Only question left, one that will never be answered, is would it have sold for more or less had he let that auction go to its normal end. With that level of interest, some additional pictures and at least two very interested snipers, it could have been driven up over $200. But, we will never know, now.
Do I at least get a " bulls- eye" award for that guess? ;) ;)