Squier 51 Ebay Misrepresentation?

Phydeaux · 02-25-2010, 10:37 PM

I have been watching Squier 51s on Ebay and was following one that ended today. It was listed as possibly being something special in that it had a "special" headstock decal. The decal reads "Vintage Custom Modified Mojocaster". I did a little research and found that the decal was designed by someone at the modders forum and others asked to use it.

I emailed the seller and told him where the design was from expecting him to edit the listing explaining this. He said thanks for the info and did nothing. The guitar sold for $365. I know it is "buyer beware" on the interweb, and especially Ebay anymore, but I thought the listing ended up being fraudulent for lack of full disclosure since most of these guitars end up selling for $150-$175.

It is a cool decal, though. It's just not worth another $200.

S. Rock · 02-25-2010, 11:57 PM

I agree. the guitar sold for too much. someone must have wanted it real bad.

Phoenix59 · 02-26-2010, 12:05 AM

Unfortunately, it's not illegal to overprice items, so long as they weren't claiming it was a vintage instrument or something like that.

slotrod65 · 02-26-2010, 09:08 AM

I have a few 51s and follow the ebay auctions as well. $125-$150 is the going price, although I did find one at my local Guitar Center last summer for $99, and it was my main guitar until I got my 50s Classic Player Strat. I actually have created a spreadsheet of 51 auctiuons since Jan 1, 2010, and I have noticed that in the past two months, almost 10 percent of the 51s "sold" were later relisted, so they were obviously bid up by the owners using another ebay ID. Nice job on policing shill bidding ebay....

It is worth searching the shops in your area, as well as Craigslist as deals can be had, plus you can try out the guitar before you buy. I am always a bit leery of purchasing a 51 sight unseen, as with many Squier models, the workmanship varied, esp the fretwork. Some play like a dream, and others have frets that are so unfinished you can cut your hand on them.

Yes, this decal image was created by a 51 Modders Forum member, and the files are listed for free on the forum. Anyone can download them and print their own decal. All this means is that the owner sanded off the old Squier logo, and applied the Mojocaster decal they made. If anything, this makes the guitar un original, and should reduce the value as a collectors item.

Attached is a pic of my blonde I got for $99. It has a Carvin humbucker in the bridge.

Phred

Strat-Man-Do · 03-12-2010, 04:42 PM

Its not illegal or fraudulant to sell the 51 as a 51 with a modded decal on the headstock. I've seen them go around the $175 mark pretty regular when upgraded. But to portray it as something it isn't? Which is basically what was done. Thats is fraudulant and someone I wouldn't ever deal with.

Sellers more often than not know exactly what they are doing. The play dumb act is exactly that, "an act". Or they simply say "Thank You" as in your case. To shine you on till the deal is done. Lots of scumbags on ebay for sure. But $300. is a cheap lesson on Ebay it could easily be $3000.

But I think there is TONs of fakes on ebay now. Probly more than I even believe. The place just attracts crooks. You would think you would fairly safe with Squier. But look at what could even happen with a Squier?

Phydeaux · 03-12-2010, 07:56 PM

The guitar in question was relisted on Ebay and then pulled after a couple of days. It seems the Ebayer that bid $365 was being pressured by the seller to wire the money to him immediately and to skip Paypal altogether. I'm guessing he knew he had better get his money quick before someone wised up. The buyer thought this was strange and contacted Ebay and was told to not pay him, give him negative feedback and ignore his threats. He does, in fact, now have a negative on his feedback history. I had emailed the buyer and told them what I had told the seller and they told me what transpired with the sale. He gets to keep his guitar for now and has some bad feedback as a bonus.

Roxy · 03-13-2010, 01:14 AM

I've been tracking some guitars on ebay and have been seeing some guitars going for absurd prices . Beat up epiphones selling for the price of new ones , that 51 going for 365$ ( was watching it too ) and a few other Squiers going for the prices of Fenders . A Vista Jagmaster going for the price of a new Fender Jaguar ? BS. Gotta be some scamming going on with ebay .

BTW I just bought that same guitar ( mine was stock though , a ding or to ) for 125$ . They can still be had cheap . It's a good INEXPENSIVE guitar , like it should be .

Phydeaux · 03-13-2010, 08:59 PM

I bought a sunburst on Ebay for $165 shipped and a black one off of Craigslist for $100 with a Fender Deluxe gig bag. I have a feeling that the black one will be coming apart and will be turning Seafoam or Surf Green.

Robbmonster · 04-18-2010, 08:58 AM

It reminds me of the ebay user who's name i think is 'music-outlet-shop'.

He sells vintage stuff for absurd prices. I remember once seeing a 65 strat pickguard (always hate to think that a 65 has been pulled apart) that was heavily damaged and he was asking $5,000 for it.

Robbery like that is common in ebay, but personally, I don't have much trouble spotting shady behaviour. If there is any doubt, there is no doubt at al.