It's the number of reviews the bidder has received. So that $1025 bid is from someone who's never been reviewed. Either a shill account or a virgin with more dollars than sense.
As an eBay seller, your dream auction consists of two idiots with tons of money and no sense who are both absolutely determined to "win" -- and who both think that as long as bidding is going on, actual market value is still being paid...
Of course value is determined by the buyer. If that eBay seller can get enough takers at those hugely inflated prices then good luck to him.
Very laissez faire of you but the impact on the hobby is not inconsequential when acquisition of nice pieces become dominated by collectors or investors rather than shavers.
Looks like someone is playing loose. Making it look like big bids to make it seem like a good buy. I will admit I have nothing but my gut feeling to go on with that.
When you see sold razors at outlier prices relisted multiple times I'd say you have more than your gut to go on.
I see your point but aren't a $1K as new razor and a $40 user grade razor two different markets? The going price on eBay for a nice, cased Fatboy has been around $40-$60 for a while now and there are still plenty of them out there in that range.
The $1000 sale is undoubtedly bogus, but I think the point remains valid. Looking at eBay sales I'd put the overage closer to $60 with $40 sales much less frequent. Yes a "nice" Fatboy is still easily obtainable, but prices for the mint/minty still in the ridiculous range to me for what is a common razor.
thats cool.that makes my very very nice clean cased early f-2 a fair deal at $85.only the instructions were missing..
To avoid absolutely no corrosion I'd simply store it in a humid location. Or just place it at the sea shore. Nice 'n' salty. Waayyy cheaper.
I was wrong... A NOS Fatboy just went for $622.56 on eBay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-GILLE...vip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l10137
As a razor to use? Not more than the price of a user grade. If you want to pull it out of your safe and fondle it while looking at your auction receipt, the more you paid the better it is? Value & worth are an agreement between seller and buyer but don't reflect reality. Got a printer and some old yellowed paper? Print this! No, it won't be authentic or original, but it will be the data that came with the razor. If you are seeking instructions for vintage razors, check with @jimjo1031. He's gathered an amazing collection of digitized images.
I'm willing to start a fistfight at Chuck E Cheese the next time somebody says "supply and demand" in a discussion like this and thinks they're actually adding something to the discussion.