Unlike the fake Chinese Les Paul copies for sale on CL, you can't detect these scams by examining the photos but by looking for clues in the wording of the ad. You also have to look "behind the listing" at the seller. In this case, an inactive eBay account was highjacked (probably using a PW they got by sending the real account holder a bogus email asking them to sign in to eBay for some security reason)
A quick check of the "sellers" history shows a woman who usually sells shoes and other clothing items - and that her eBay account had been inactive for over 6 years. That is an immediate red flag. The other clue is that this obviously well informed guitar owner would b selling their vintage 1960 Strat for $5K or less - NOT!
A quick Google search for a few of the phrases showed the listing and photos were swiped from a London CL ad from back in March 2011. This actual guitar is not even in the USA.
So as usual - if it looks "too cheap to be true" then it is probably a scam! Don't get hooked by gear lust and lose $$.
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1960 Fender Stratocaster Beautiful Clean Vintage Strat
Item condition: Used
Ended: May 23, 201111:41:34 PDT
Winning bid: US $5,045.00 [ 7 bids ]
Shipping: FREE FedEx Ground or FedEx Home Delivery
Seller: Member id cloesmom825 ( Feedback Score Of 72)
Item number: 120725628306
Item location: Pembroke, United States
Ships to: Worldwide
cloesmom825 ( Feedback Score Of 72) *
100% Positive Feedback
* Note: When I checked this seller’s feedback I saw that she normally sold only shoes and women’s clothing items and that the account had been inactive since 2005 – I would assume that an eBay con artist has hijacked her account and is selling these two vintage guitars without having them.
Here was the description of the 1960 guitar – no bids. BTW same seller had a 1961 Strat listed at $5000 and seemed to get 9 bids but they were all “private party identify protected” bids. Most likely from shill ophony bidding accounts set up by the seller.
When I Google searched for some specific wording in the listing I found a Craigslist UK listing from March 2011 that had identical phrasing:
1960 Fender Stratocaster
Mar 16, 2011 ... My uncle owned this 1960 Stratocaster. It is in beautiful, ... shrunken (the neck pickup tilt makes the E string sound a high E when fretted ...
london.craigslist.co.uk › for sale / wanted › musical instruments
1. 1960 Fender Stratocaster
Mar 16, 2011 ... The guitar is marked 11/60 in the trim cavity and 12/60 on the end of the neck. The electronics are original--the 3-way switch knows the ...
london.craigslist.co.uk › for sale / wanted › musical instruments
►
2. London-1960 Fender Stratocaster - 163;2890
The guitar is marked 11/60 in the trim cavity and 12/60 on the end of the neck. The electronics are original--the 3-way switch knows the in-between ...
uk.openlist.org/v.asp?id=48086 - Cached- Block all uk.openlist.org results
Item number: 120725628306
Item location: Pembroke, United States
Ships to: Worldwide
cloesmom825 ( Feedback Score Of 72) *
100% Positive Feedback
Here is the eBay Listing
I have owned this 1960 Stratocaster since 1972. It is in beautiful, vintage condition-well played and well cared for, with original finish. The neck is a very comfortable C shape with a nicely broken-in Brazilian rosewood fretboard and original frets--the crowns are worn flat (bends forever) and are nice and level; the guitar feels very sensual to play, as only a well played instrument can. I was always very protective of the back of the neck--no significant dents or dings--most of the finish is still there. The guitar is marked 11/60 in the trim cavity and 12/60 on the end of the neck. The electronics are original--the 3-way switch knows the in-between positions; the pots operate smoothly (they're marked 304-6045); the original pickups sound great, with the vast array of vintage Strat tone.
The plastic is in beautiful, vintage condition; pickguard is green, slightly shrunken (the neck pickup tilt makes the E string sound a high E when fretted on it!); the back cover has a hairline screw-hole crack on one corner (top-treble side). Everything on the guitar is original, except the tuning machines were replaced with reissues, in the 80's, but the original ferrules and screws are installed and the original Kluson Deluxe tuners are in the case, with the original chrome bridge cover. There is a small area, under the back cover, where the finish is blemished from removing my name (approx.3/8"x3"--very insignificant and completely covered--see pic's). The guitar weighs 7lbs.9oz. It comes with the brown Fender tolex case it came with, when I bought it (the case was retired in the 80's--it's worn but attractive). This is not a Stratocaster case (it's a Jaguar or Jazzmaster case), but because of the mutual wear they had when I acquired them, I suspect this is this guitar's original case. I retired the guitar to my home in 1995, when it got to be too valuable to haul around to gigs. This guitar is a sweetheart--a great looking, sounding and playing, quite collectible, pre-CBS slab-board Strat. It was recently serviced and set-up by my local luthier.
Buyer to contact Seller within 24 hours of auction closing. Payment to be made within 7 days of auction closing. I don't accept paypal. Serious bidders only please.
Did you notify ebay about this scammer?
ReplyDeleteYes, Of course. I alwsys notify ebay and CL anytime I see a scam.
ReplyDelete