My vow too.

My experience was "better" in that the seller let me test at their home - and it all looked good.

Got it home and it operated well for a day.

Then failed.

Cost me the eBay price again to get a B&O quote that said it was irreparable.

The seller was embarrassed and said they would refund .... but did not.

I don't blame the seller ... it was old kit and it was time to go to Struer-in-the-sky, but it convinced me that all the imperfections and difficulties via eBay are simply not worth it.

On the other hand my son and daughter-in-law are eBay addicts for their hobbies (which are typically lighter (no packaging issues, less shipping damage) and less expensive that 3rd hand B&O !!!

 

Sad that you had to make such an experience. However, I remember from a few years back some scams with bricks instead of loudspeakers, I think it was reported in Beoworld. 

i have purchased selected B+O equipment through B+O stores ... Always with excellent results. 

Sorry to hear about your experiences but there is a huge difference from buying second hand
things from the odd private household to buying recently serviced things from more specialized sellers.
The selling price should reflect this - and it usually does.

I wouldn't expect a used pair of Pentas to have refoamed midrange drivers, I wouldn't even expect the seller to
know about this problem.
I wouldn't expect them to have anything but original un-restored amplifiers and crossovers too. All in need of
service to some extent.
There's a good chance the seller didn't use the speakers for a couple of years prior to selling and if he tested
them before listing it wouldn't have been a particularly thorough test. And not being aware of any of the
common issues, why should he do otherwise ? - They are still working !

The film covered displays and crock blocks; Well, the seller may - or may not have be aware of these things.
I wouldn't expect any seller to be.

If you feel badly treated, use the Ebay feedback system.
And remember - as a buyer - always use Paypal, also for things picked up in person!

Martin

hi guys, you are lucky to have options, i have no choice being stranded out here in thailand but to use ebay, but buying from recognised dealers is a must, so far i have acquired

complete beosystem 4500 from graham at beo4life

A8 headphones from john barker

beocom 2 from lee at lifestyle, all items purchased perform wonderfully well

plus a few bits and pieces i was prepared to take a risk with but not for big money

it seems to me a lot of stuff is sold by house clearance people or after a loft clearout which means there can be all sorts of problems, the dealers i use are all well versed in B and O and items are well tested, if its too good to be true there is probably a good reason

I never use much money to ebay items, so I can assume that they might not be absolutely top, so less dissapoinments, but instead  happy suprices now and then. 🙂

Only bad taste issue was one german seller what did not deliver item at all. And I have to learn that ebays system for solve this kind of issues (deal between two countries) was absolutely useless. 😡 No help at all.

Dear Bistonhall,

I plan to be in Thailand in the second week of June, so let me know if there is any small kit you might need from Oz.

I do agree with Martin here.

Yes I do have a little Ebay experience with pro reseller which turned out just well with shipping and all from UK to Denmark of a seondhand pair of Beolab 6000 and 8000 a few years ago.

I have gotten several smaller items like never used MCL kits and other bits too which were just fine from Ebay in Germany. This includes a Beocord 5000 type 4705 from1977 which just needs new belts! Now I knew perfectly well that the Beocord would not be perfect out of the box. Old B&O are usally used, put aside maybe collected then sold as it really always have some sort of value even in DOA conditions.

I have also bought B&O from normal auctions and the same applies as always. Know what you are bidding on and deal with it! You got all the time to inspect and ask questions to make it work for you even if its long distance!

As for old B&O in general. Do not be to naive to think it would be perfect out of the box. Why do you think it is for sale at all?

Hello,

I am on Ebay frequently buying and selling (some times) many things and my experience is good, most of the B&O buyers want to buy a bargain and don't look further then the pricing on that moment!

When you buy specially B&O equipment by Ebay ask in front serialnumbers, 1th ownership, bought where (maybe the dealer name) there are also a lot of trustworthy sellers on Ebay.

Look at feedback, Powerseller, etc. not send money with only a bankaccount or Moneygram and pay only with Paypal or CC (cash back possible!)

jvdl wrote:

..... most of the B&O buyers want to buy a bargain and don't look further then the pricing on that moment!

Absolutely spot on there.  I can have a pristine, like new pair of BeoLab 6000 from 2009 at £995 - or a pair from 1994 which look like they've been kicked down a flight of stone stairs for £495.

The battered ones sell every single time. It's all "Price, Price, Price" now, with scant regard to condition or age.

I had a pair of 2010 BeoLab 5's at £8,995. Not a sniff.  However, a pair of 2003 versions for £7,995. Gone in about half an hour.

Go figure.

Lee