Chunk of wood with blade stuck in it *LINK*

Re: Chunk of wood with blade stuck in it

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Oh, that's just the superior guy. Now I know a lot of old tools people love the heck out of this fellow. I'm not one of them. It seems that it's just necessary for him to demean everything and everyone he doesn't understand, which is a lot. So, if you like to pay piles extra for his old tools, give Patrick a call.

Pam, who'll now get a nasty email from same, he has spies everywhere

Wonder why...

Todd Hughes

>he didn't use the word "Plane" in his title as for sure more people that might be interested in buying it do searchs for japanese plane then they do for "Chunk of wood"...Kind of strange that if he goes to the trouble to list it on ebay a seller [who is a well known tool merchant] wouldn't try to do better to sell it. I think this plane could do pretty well if described better....Todd

Re: Wonder why...

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Just his style. Why call something so odious by its name? I agree with you, guess he's just looking for one more reason to dislike all tools Japanese. When it doesn't sell for a bunch, he can say "see." He has a couple more Japanese tools listed this week, too, also disparaged. Oh, yeah, and he won't make them pretty.

Pam

Re: Wonder why...

Michael Recchione

>Todd, I think you and Pam may be missing the point here. There's a certain mystique and style associated with some old tool sellers, and their stuff draws a premium at least partially because of the mystique. I'll bet that most of the people who bid and buy from Mr. Peabody do their eBay searches on his name rather than on some particular item they're looking for - I'll bet most of his customers are repeats. I think part of what you pay for is the witty write-up. I know I got a lot of enjoyment reading "Blood and Gore" when I first started slipping down the slope. Of course, chronically cheap individuals such as myself realized early on that you can read the write up for free and then go buy that rusty old #5 from a garage sale or flea market (or even from some less popular seller on eBay) for 1/10 the price. Maybe that's just a character flaw of mine, though.

Now, maybe this Japanese plane will bring less than it would have if he had described it more, for want of a better word, "descriptively". I don't know - the auction isn't over yet. But think of the few bucks less that he makes on this particular item as part of his marketing costs - it helps to grow the mystique and reinforces the tendency for people to do their searches on "Mr Peabody" and eventually pay way more for something from him than they would for the same thing from somebody else.

I'm not knocking Mr. Leach, and I'm not at all implying that his reputation is built on hype - he did a lot to help the old tool movement get off the ground, was a great source of information and tools back in the old days, Blood and Gore is still a great resource, yada-yada. And he's managed to survive and thrive even when the business got a lot more competitive than it was when he started. He's got a reputation for fair dealing, and, while I've never personally bought from him (too rich for my blood), there are a lot of people willing to pay the premium for his stuff because of both the mystique and the reputation.

- Mike

Re: Wonder why...

Todd Hughes

>I don't understand how leaving out the word "Plane" for an auction of a plane could do anything but hurt how it sells. Sure maybe alot of people do searchs for his auctions but how about those that are in the market for a japanese plane that don't. Why cut out a large segument of your potential customer base? I would think if you are trying to sell something....well you should try to sell it.

While I don't know much about Japanese planes I sold one that looked simular to this one last year...went for around $125. Maybe mine was a better plane and maybe this one is better I don't know but will be interesting to see what this example ends up going for. If it goes higher then mine I still don't think I will be leaving the word "Plane" out of the next ones title I sell even if it will add to my "mystique" ....Todd

Re: Wonder why...

Jeff Schmidt

>I am with Todd. I don't understand why one would overly disparage something one was trying to sell and intentionally leave out basic desriptors that would allow interested parties to find it. Perhaps this is a new use of Ebay - Auction as Editorial

My opinion but...

Steve Kubien

>...I found Pat's text amusing. Same with the other eastern-style tools he has listed. As for why he didn't endeavour to put in a more accurate description? Who cares? It's his business and if a prospective bidder/buyer has a question, ask him. If this is bad business, again, who cares? There are those of us who love or hate a particular style or brand of tool (I gather that Mr Leach is less than impressed by Japanese tools). Pam, many know of your less than stellar experience with older Stanley's (garbage as you put it). I love my Knight planes but I won't hold it against someone with other experiences. Live and let live. No real harm. No real foul.

I'll give the soapbox a quick polish for the next person who uses it.

Steve Kubien

Re: My opinion but...

ThomD

>I give him the credit for the fact that he doesn't try to push something he doesn't know anything about. Anyone know anythign about this plane. The block looks good, the blade seems thin and bent.

I don't know....

Todd Hughes

>but I'm pretty certain he knows it is a wood plane ......Todd

Re: Wonder why...

Michael Recchione

>Well, let's say you don't care so much about the extra $50 you could make on this one particular Japanese plane, but you care more about maintaining your image as someone who says, in a witty way, "Japanese tools aren't even worth naming", but is recognized as a World Expert on western-style tools. If that keeps your faithful following happy and spending that extra $50 ten times over on the old Stanleys you sell, well, maybe that $50 was money well spent on your part. Similarly, does being known for using expressions like "Peoples Republic of Massachussetts" or "Gimme-gals in Brockton" perhaps make a certain group of people more likely to buy from you? I don't know, but Mr Peabody's still in business and thriving while a lot of others aren't.

I could have it all wrong - I'd be the first to admit it. But there are a lot of people selling tools on eBay and elsewhere, and very few of them draw the prices overall, averaged over all the stuff they sell that Mr Peabody does.

You have your own reputation and style on eBay, and it works for you - my impression is that it's based on very accurate descriptions, following through on your commitments, but also on radiating the sense that you know what you're talking about - and that gives people who know you confidence when they buy from you. And so I'll bet that your stuff, on the average, draws a higher price than many other folks selling old tools. Mr. Peabody also has a style that he's become famous for in certain circles, a very loyal following, and his stuff goes for way more than the going rate - usually. So maybe he's doing something right. Crazy like a fox?

Re: Wonder why...

Luke Herzberg

>Sometimes it's worth a few bucks to some folks to provide a little entertainment for others; a cause which is appreciated for the effect it is only assumed to have.

- Luke

Re: Wonder why...

Jeff Schmidt

>You might well be right there, Mike. Sounds like you have experience managing people.

One thing is for sure. Mr Peabody will have the last laugh if, by bringing more attention to these planes, he actually ends up with a good price because a Japanese plane afficionado sees this post and starts bidding. :-)

Re: Mr. Leach

Moses Yoder in White Pigeon, MI

>I think you might be talking about Patrick Leach. Have you ever met him ? But of course, you wouldn't be disparaging something you don't understand ;)

Re: Mr. Leach

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia

>Met him. Like him. Nuff said.JR

Only brought $42.00 and......

Todd Hughes

>that was with all the free advertising he got here....Todd

Re: Mr. Leach

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>No, never met him, but did spend piles extra into his pocket on a Stanley plane that wouldn't tune properly. There is no love lost between us.

I don't think I've ever disparaged something I don't understand, but you're free to correct if you'd like.

Pam

Re: Mr. Leach and others

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>YOu have a gripe with MR Leach over an old plane that didn't work for you? Most old planes do need some work.

Did you ever send the Bedrock 606 back to the other seller you were unhappy with?

Dan Clermont

Dan?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Yes and yes. I don't know why you'd want to stand up for those who sell crummy rusty tools at top dollar, Dan.

Pam

Re: Dan?

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Hi Pam

Mr Leach does command top dollar for his old rusty tools. People pay that money because he can back up what he sells. If Mr leach tells me a plane is a type 11 I believe him especially if I am a collector and after Type 11's. Same goes when you buy a 289 from him and he says all of the parts are there.

Bob Kaune (the bedrock guru) also demands top dollar for his tools along with Clarence Blanchard from Fine Tool Journal.

Nothing wrong with paying top dollar for old rusty tools providing you trust the seller and he has a good reputation.

Cheers

Dan Clermont

And then if the plane is not useable?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Re: And then if the plane is not useable?

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Takes allot to make a plane unuseable. Were their cracks? Was the sole out of flat? Was the blade dull?

Dan Clermont

Re: And then if the plane is not useable?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>My best guess is that the blade had been distempered (can't remember what the term is for this). I sharpened it, cleaned it up, didn't work. After n sharpenings, I realized it was never going to be sharp again.

So, here I'd bought from the guy with the best rep, spent piles of extra dough for his plane, and it didn't work. He didn't volunteer to take it back and return funds until 3 or 4 years later, grudgingly, after many insults, at which point I was determined to keep it. I know what you'd say if LV behaved this way.

Pam

Re: And then if the plane is not useable?

Cameron

>It seems odd to me that he wouldn't exchange/refund etc. What brand/type of plane was it? If it was an ordinary run-of-the-mill plane then I'm surprised that he wouldn't have at least exchanged the blade?

In his initial defense though I understand that he doesn't clean up these planes much? If that's the case then he probably did nothing to the blade so, therefore, would have no idea that it couldn't hold an edge.

Yes and no...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Sometimes Patrick�s stuff is on the high side. Other times not really. I bought a little Preston stringing router from him for a good bit less than they normally go for on the 'bay.

Plus all his items come with his guarantee. Patrick and I have had to use it twice in the past. I�ve never had a problem dealing with him. He's very much respected in my book.