amber
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posted on September 8, 2002 05:34:51 AM new
I was checking on eBay to see the prices of an old game I want to sell, and found one labeled "RARE", asking $75 (didn't sell of course) The thing is, there were 15 others, (most starting at around $8-10) identical ones listed, and I am asking myself, just how "rare" is this game. I looked up the sellers other auctions, and no less than 9 of his games were also "rare". I guess it gets people looking!
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classicrock000
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posted on September 8, 2002 06:32:21 AM new
definition of rare-something that doesnt exist 
[ edited by classicrock000 on Sep 8, 2002 06:32 AM ]
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tooltimes
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posted on September 8, 2002 07:31:32 AM new
Many ebay sellers overuse the term or they do not realize that their auction item is a common item. It may seem rare from rheir experience though.
I'm amazed when very common items are termed rare, especially in the auction title. It makes the seller look very foolish and also makes the seller almost look lke a con artist.
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bunnicula
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posted on September 8, 2002 08:04:59 AM new
It may be that the item *was* rare in pre-eBay times. Something that one had to search long and hard for or perhaps never find at all.
eBay has ended that for the most part. Nothing is really "rare" anymore--wait long enough and an item is sure to pop up there. This impact extends to price guides--since nothing is really "rare" anymore, the values shown in them aren't to be taken as gospel either.
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twelvepole
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posted on September 8, 2002 08:18:24 AM new
I think "unique" is a better word for ebay now... definately agree that "rare" is over used.
Ain't Life Grand...
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slabholder
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posted on September 8, 2002 08:31:15 AM new
Rare - not frequently encountered; scarce; uncommon and unusual.
Rare items currently on eBay 178,331 and growing!
[ edited by slabholder on Sep 10, 2002 10:12 AM ]
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amber
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posted on September 8, 2002 08:35:40 AM new
I have to admit that I have used the word rare a couple of times, on items that I checked for on the auctions, and didn't find for a few months. I figure if you can't find it on eBay, it HAS to be pretty rare!
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RB
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posted on September 8, 2002 08:42:35 AM new
Many ebay sellers overuse the term or they do not realize that their auction item is a common item.
And many know damn straight that there is nothing "rare" about their item but use the word anyway.
I'm amazed when very common items are termed rare, especially in the auction title. It makes the seller look very foolish and also makes the seller almost look lke a con artist.
And, it makes some sellers very rich
There's a sucker born every minute. Every other minute, someone else is born who buys on impulse without doing any basic research first. eBay provides the perfect venue for those who prey on these types of people.
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blueyes29
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posted on September 8, 2002 10:12:13 AM new
I'm with amber on this...I figure if I can't find the item in current/closed auctions on eBay, it's GOT to be "rare." On the other hand, "unique" literally means "one of a kind"/"no other like it", so, I only use that term when I'm absolutely 100% sure I've got the only one in existance.
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tooltimes
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posted on September 8, 2002 11:55:41 AM new
Some unique things can be very common. Hand painted trinkets from a foreign country are all one-of-a-kind but there are millions of them.
The word "rare" has been replaced by the words "hard-to-find" by many clever sellers. It's all Madison Avenue-ish. The only buyers that fall for the false "rare" titles are naive rookies that do not know any better or they are too lazy to research what they are bidding on.
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mlecher
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posted on September 8, 2002 12:37:18 PM new
Rare: seared on the outside but still very red and juicy on the inside.....
.
A Man will spend $2.00 for a $1.00 item he needs.
A Woman will spend $1.00 for a $2.00 item she doesn't need.
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sanmar
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posted on September 8, 2002 12:51:20 PM new
RE: Webster's Collegiate Dictionary: RARE; Marked by unusual quantity;m Seldom occuring or found.
UNIQUE: Being without like or equal; Very rare or uncommon.
If there were only 5000 widgets in the world that would seem to me to make them rare even if 1000 were on eBay. If there was only one widget left, it would be unique.
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throughhiker
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posted on September 8, 2002 02:11:04 PM new
It,s rare to find ten people who agree on the definition of rare.
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throughhiker
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posted on September 8, 2002 02:13:24 PM new
watch out for falling apostrophes!
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tooltimes
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posted on September 8, 2002 03:20:16 PM new
It also takes an unique person to agree on the definition of the word rare. HTF, hard-to-find, vintage, weird, etc are all marketing tools.
Speaking of weird ... a part of ebay history and general laughter appeal is going to be made more difficult to view in a week or so. The "Home > All Categories > Everything Else > Gifts & Occasions > Gag Gifts, Novelties > Risque Novelties" category full of all manner of weird junk ( 3,000+ items ) is moving. The message below now appears when an auction submission is made in that category ....
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The following is provided to inform you of the change of placement for the Novelties Risqué category. On September 20, the category of:
Everything Else: Gifts & Occasions: Gag Gifts: Novelties Risqué
will be moved to the Mature Audiences section of eBay.
A large percentage of the items listed in the current Risqué Novelties category are 'Adult' in nature. Therefore, in the best interest of the entire eBay community, we have decided that all materials 'Adult' in nature are better suited for the Mature Audiences section of eBay.
Please be aware that any auctions active on September 15 will be automatically moved to the Mature Audiences site.
Respectfully,
eBay Inc.
[ edited by tooltimes on Sep 8, 2002 03:21 PM ]
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capotasto
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posted on September 8, 2002 03:42:27 PM new
If I don't find one at a yard sale two weekends in a row, it must be Rare.
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JACKSWEBB
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posted on September 8, 2002 09:03:47 PM new
I CAME ACROSS SOMETHING I THOUGHT WAS RATHER RARE. I BOUGHT IT AN PUT IT ON E BAY. SOLD! YEHAAAAAA. NEXT WEEKEND I FOUND ANOTHER ONE. I JUST E MAILED THE SECOND PLACE "WINNER" FROM LAST WEEK, SAID I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ONE, AGAIN. THEY BOUGHT IT. TODAY I FOUND 3 MORE. I JUST LOVE THE RARITY OF MY SHARP EYE. I SURE HOPE I FIND MORE OF THESE RARITIES NEXT WEEK END.
AND THE BATTLE RAGES ON.......AND THE BEAT GOES ON.......
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tooltimes
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posted on September 8, 2002 10:54:24 PM new
About 4 years ago I found a book about the 1980 Olympic Ice Hockey team at a computer warehouse that had a LOT of used books. I was amazed when it sold on ebay for $12. I went back and looked exculsively for red book and amazingly found 6 more copies within a half an hour. I flooded the market on ebay with those books and made alomost $100 on my $3.50 purchase.
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sparkz
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posted on September 8, 2002 11:23:33 PM new
Rare is the last item a person needs to complete a collection.
The light at the end of the tunnel will turn out to be an oncoming train.
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