Anyone not buying from the USA?

[Steve S 60]

Are any British sellers experiencing more demand from European buyers as a result of the poor exchange rate?

[Tiberius]

Recently eBay Global Shipping option seems to be getting more common by the day.  The words "nail" and "coffin" spring to mind.

[Frankie Crocker]

Global Shipping enables eBay to make a token contribution to customs charges at the expense of the buyer. They have set up a shell company to action this and syphon funds offshore to Luxembourg. Record buyers can request the seller amend the mode of postage but this does cause difficulties. 

The last time I bought a US record was 29th September and I bought one today to end a barren spell of just under a month. Whether this was because there's been less out there to bid for or due to the pound's depreciation, I'm not sure. The   condition of many records just lately has been off-putting but at the same time, the pound has lost vital purchasing power that would otherwise enable bidders to contend competitively.

[Ted Massey]

Looking at some of the prices UK sellers and collectors are expecting for records it's probably still cheaper to buy from the states imo

[ricticman]

1 hour ago, Ted Massey said:

Looking at some of the prices UK sellers and collectors are expecting for records it's probably still cheaper to buy from the states imo

agreed

[Frankie Crocker]

4 hours ago, Ted Massey said:

Looking at some of the prices UK sellers and collectors are expecting for records it's probably still cheaper to buy from the states imo

Fair point Ted. Holly St James being a good example. But, if the UK collectors have shelled out big money on auction wins, you can't fault them for wanting to recoup their outlay. It looks like prices in both the US and UK continue to rise despite the currency plunge with no sign of US dealers discounting in the face of global demand.

[Chalky]

Why do some expect the US sellers to discount?  We have had it good as far as currency rates are concerned for a long time. A high pound isn't the norm. I didn't see many Brits discounting for the US buyers. 

[Frankie Crocker]

6 hours ago, chalky said:

Why do some expect the US sellers to discount?  We have had it good as far as currency rates are concerned for a long time. A high pound isn't the norm. I didn't see many Brits discounting for the US buyers. 

As the pound is no longer worth $1.50 and is closer to $1.20 if anything, why should buyers pay $150 for a record that sells for £100 or £80 plus £20 VAT? The US seller may need to discount that $150 record to move it on, as expecting anything listed in Manship at £100 to fetch just that, might be a little optimistic. I would like to think there's a bit of flexibility on the part of buyers and sellers on both sides of the Atlantic rather than just taking the priceguide listing as the set-sale price.

[Mustang]

It does not bother me at all,i will work out all costs and the summary is to buy every time........

I can afford to and will continue.

 

My two very recent USA Original Demo' s,one rare and the other very very rare,both Mint++,were in my opinion a bargain simply because they are very hard to get hold of AND in the condition stated.

In fact some of the UK prices were MORE for an issue before adding the postage than for the rare demo with all of the costs added from the States.

In truth i will buy from most Countries if i want the record,my money,my choice.

 

Regards to all 

 

[Frankie Crocker]

2 hours ago, Mustang said:

It does not bother me at all,i will work out all costs and the summary is to buy every time........

I can afford to and will continue.

 

My two very recent USA Original Demo' s,one rare and the other very very rare,both Mint++,were in my opinion a bargain simply because they are very hard to get hold of AND in the condition stated.

In fact some of the UK prices were MORE for an issue before adding the postage than for the rare demo with all of the costs added from the States.

In truth i will buy from most Countries if i want the record,my money,my choice.

 

Regards to all 

 

A laudable approach sir. At times, I'm inclined to do just the same and say bollocks to the cost, I like the record so much I'm having it and that's that! Other times I get narked when a late snipe forces me to shell out another $100 or whatever so the currency value becomes a lesser issue. More recently though, I've thought fuelling record inflation by making generous bids is something we could probably all do without. It's certainly worth noting that several record buyers are maintaining their commitment to securing that elusive sound regardless of cost which ultimately benefits them in the long run.

[Chalky]

On 26/10/2016 at 21:15, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

As the pound is no longer worth $1.50 and is closer to $1.20 if anything, why should buyers pay $150 for a record that sells for £100 or £80 plus £20 VAT? The US seller may need to discount that $150 record to move it on, as expecting anything listed in Manship at £100 to fetch just that, might be a little optimistic. I would like to think there's a bit of flexibility on the part of buyers and sellers on both sides of the Atlantic rather than just taking the priceguide listing as the set-sale price.

I never saw any discounting for the US buyers when the pound was strong? 

[Frankie Crocker]

30 minutes ago, chalky said:

I never saw any discounting for the US buyers when the pound was strong? 

Fair point Chalkie. We lapped it up in the UK about 10 years ago. The US dealers never really mentioned it but were more than happy to take the money we handed over in larger quantities than usual. Thing is, the market is mainly in the UK and the supply is in the US - sellers give discounts and buyers get them if they're lucky. I would hope the US buyers got their cash or bulk discounts back then but maybe they didn't as some dealers are just too paranoid about losing out, so greedy they want a Popsike record breaking sum each sale or just too short-sighted they forgot they only paid 10 cents for the rubbish they laughed at in the first place. I've been in four US record stores this week and the best of them gave me a 50% discount and the worst never got the $400 they could have for being naive, lazy and greedy. All the best US record dealers offer a discount and the very best do so without the customer having to ask. Repeat business is the foundation stone of a successful store so dealers have to nurture this through whatever means necessary or perish...

[Mr Smithy]

Not exactly related but if any of you are still buying off US EBay is the UK still on the E DEL CON list  i.e. tracked to UK
( Not the Global Shippy bo**cks thing they have)
They keep changing it around so I'm never sure and I haven't sold anything to the UK for a while on EBay
Looked on EBay site but couldn't find a current list

Cheers

[Frankie Crocker]

1 hour ago, Mr Smithy said:

Not exactly related but if any of you are still buying off US EBay is the UK still on the E DEL CON list  i.e. tracked to UK
( Not the Global Shippy bo**cks thing they have)
They keep changing it around so I'm never sure and I haven't sold anything to the UK for a while on EBay
Looked on EBay site but couldn't find a current list

Cheers

Not sure re this. They seem to have introduced another scam... been quoted $65 to send two records from Los Angeles, not having it, tried to change address to post to US hub and won't let me (but usually does), attempts to contact eBay futile, requests to seller to amend situation denied but not by seller so presumably eBay overrides requests. eBay see postage charges as another cash source so they force the costs up to gouge more fees. Small wonder they are regarded as EvilBay, greedy beyond words but beyond the reach of the Monopolies Commission or whoever looks into business skullduggery. Forget exchange rates, there's plenty of other deterrents to put UK buyers off.

[Mr Smithy]

15 hours ago, FRANKIE CROCKER said:

Not sure re this. They seem to have introduced another scam... been quoted $65 to send two records from Los Angeles, not having it, tried to change address to post to US hub and won't let me (but usually does), attempts to contact eBay futile, requests to seller to amend situation denied but not by seller so presumably eBay overrides requests. eBay see postage charges as another cash source so they force the costs up to gouge more fees. Small wonder they are regarded as EvilBay, greedy beyond words but beyond the reach of the Monopolies Commission or whoever looks into business skullduggery. Forget exchange rates, there's plenty of other deterrents to put UK buyers off.

That sounds like the Global Shippy Thingy or some variation thereof. Never got involved with it but I'm sure it exists in that name and probably several others. EB definitely puts the skull in duggery fairly constantly.
The EDELCON thing was one of the few useful things they ever did but as with everything they do it's about as transparent as a brick s**t house
Almost impossible to find out till your in it.

[ajb]

On 10/10/2016 at 18:49, ajb said:

don't worry once Donald gets in it'll even its self out  nothing will do more for uncertainty than big Don becoming president.

well I did say.......................................

 

[Mike]

surprised that need to say this

we do have a policy in freebasing

as freebasing is the only  place for offtopic posts this does mean that this is a site wide policy

do ask members to respect this policy

thanks

2 posts removed - ask please use the support forum for any follow on discussion
https://www.soul-source.co.uk/forum/41-support/

another post removed - see above

Edited November 9, 2016 by mike
weary

[Woodbutcher]

Good to see it nipped in the bud ... 

[Guest]

On 18/10/2016 at 17:47, Chris L said:

Watching that Chubby Chrecker go for over £1000 probably tells us it hasn't kicked in yet.

There has in the past always been a market for those very rare, in-demand tracks . I would suggest they are not typical of the soul music market generally. It's the majority of mid -priced stuff that will start to feel too expensive. I might pay , as was the case  about five years ago  £25,  for a top quality copy of The Four Wonders 'Just Looking For My Love' b/w 'Haven't we been Good For Each Other' on Solid Foundation. One or two British sites have recently been trying to get as much as £75 for this record that's not particularly rare and in the scheme of things isn't really essential. That seems unrealistic given the economic conditions.  

[Chris L]

2 hours ago, Stormcock said:

There has in the past always been a market for those very rare, in-demand tracks . I would suggest they are not typical of the soul music market generally. It's the majority of mid -priced stuff that will start to feel too expensive. I might pay , as was the case  about five years ago  £25,  for a top quality copy of The Four Wonders 'Just Looking For My Love' b/w 'Haven't we been Good For Each Other' on Solid Foundation. One or two British sites have recently been trying to get as much as £75 for this record that's not particularly rare and in the scheme of things isn't really essential. That seems unrealistic given the economic conditions.  

Been watching some well known sellers on Ebay and continue to be astonished at the prices they're getting, a really rough James Barnett at £180.00, in the real world not worth more than + - £70.00. My EX demo sold for £255 in January, it played mint. 

Edited December 19, 2016 by Chris L