Anyone ever win a pipe from "Coopersark"?

[selleri]

Originally Posted by plexiprs

Why wait?

Because if you bid it in the beginning, more people have the chance to drive your bid up.

[plexiprs]

Originally Posted by selleri

Because if you bid it in the beginning, more people have the chance to drive your bid up.

So you want no one else to ever bid on an item you are interested in and if you don't bid they won't bid??

Naaaaaa!

[KinnScience]

Originally Posted by Mad Hatter

Brian I don't think I'd blame the seller on this. If that situation happened often, with as many people as watch his auction, he'd have developed a reputation as a crook. Most likely IMO if there is something fishy going on it would be the owner of this lot of pipes that is to blame, ie - he has contracted coopersark to sell his pipes for him and is running up the bids on them to make sure he gets the price he wants. I don't buy expensive pipes on Ebay. The most I have ever spent on one pipe is $50. In my price range it wouldn't be unusual for an early bid to stand for a few days as you stated but for a more expensive pipe there does seem to be more traditional bantering bidding going on.

That could be... though he did say that this pipe was his.. but who knows.

I guess the strongest point I wanted to make was: There is really a lot more "shill" bidding going on than most people realize. The IRC channels and even networks DO exist. I've seen them. It doesn't really matter how many stat analysis programs Ebay runs ... they just are not going to be able to stop it. When we had the auction house, naturally we kept in contact with other auction houses ... and believe me, no matter what precautions are taken, there are many "protection" mechanisms put into play by sellers. Unless the item is highly publicized (and even then .. to some degree) it is really hard to keep this from happening. With this perspective, along with some other info I really don't want to get into... I know with certainty that this happens with ebay ... and I am quite confident that it is widespread. Ebay can take all the steps available to them ... and it just won't stop it. I can explain to you how private IRC networks and channels are set up ... and how this works (the last time I saw one .. and I'm sure it has advanced quite a bit since then).. but you'll have to PM me cuz I'm not going to talk openly on it.

I'm only trying to let folks know to be cautious. I'm not a "conspiracy" kind of guy ... in fact, I'm usually the last to know things in most walks of life. This is just something I happen to have grown up around ... and I've also worked in I.T. for over 18 years.... so take it FWIW.

Truth is, I would have bought that pipe ... I really wanted it... I still want it .. lol... But I also don't like being played.

Plex has a Castello that is exactly what I want.... this one was similar. I'll keep an eye out .. I may have to buy a new one .. if I can find it, but if I go new .. I want it to be exactly the one I want. $500 .. I've never gone quite that high on a pipe ... and that is what these Castellos run new.

By the way.. not to get off topic here .... but my tongue burn is back after only two days of smoking my pipes. Guess I'm gonna just have to live with it, cuz I am not going another week without smoking.

[sounds7]

I have bought several Coopersark pipes and have had no problems. If you suspect him of foul play avoid his auctions.

[selleri]

Originally Posted by plexiprs

So you want no one else to ever bid on an item you are interested in and if you don't bid they won't bid??

Yup, that's exactly what I meant - NOT.

There's a slight difference between meanings "more people have a chance" and "nobody will".

It depends a lot in the item (and Coopersark definetly haves enough bidders even without me), but generally it seems to work. Last minute bids do not get upped that much but the price ofcourse is already higher for sure. If there is time left, somebody you got past might come back and up the price because there's always that somebody who thinks he can get the item with just putting 5-10 dollars more on it.

[David M]

Originally Posted by KinnScience

...my tongue burn is back after only two days of smoking my pipes. Guess I'm gonna just have to live with it, cuz I am not going another week without smoking.

Check this out.
Not only for the unique way to smoke, which is very nice - but more so to get your mouth used to that simple form of breathing which you seem to need practice on. You and me both actually.

The Breath Smoking Technique

Contributed by Paul Szabady


This was taught to me by my pipe-smoking guru, an insufferably grouchy old curmudgeon. He DID know pipe smoking, though..
He called it 'breath smoking' and while it works with all tobaccos it is particularly effective with virginia flakes. It requires a relaxed setting, preferably sedentary and a very slow and calm breathing pattern. The pipe bit is held to the lips continuously and all breathing is through the nose. Every 2nd or 3rd slow breath through the nose, a tiny puff is taken through the stem, held in the mouth and slowly, very slowly, discharged back through the stem, raising but the faintest wisp of smoke from the top of the tobacco bowl, and then re-drawn back through the stem. One does NOT inhale the smoke, but if one gets very good at it, one does not even have to puff: the slight vacuum created in the mouth by nose breathing will draw the finest of puffs through the stem. The blowing back through the stem is alternated with regular, but very slight puffs (sips and kisses) so that the whole process of smoking seems as natural, regular and effortless as breathing.
I'm sure many smokers have discovered this technique, or variations of it, on their own. The advantages are that mastering it will produce the coolest and most flavorful smoke possible, and the slow regular breathing will invoke the calmness and clarity of mind to perceive the results at their fullest.

Link
G. L. Pease Tobaccos - Articles & Essays

[plexiprs]

Originally Posted by KinnScience

I guess the strongest point I wanted to make was: There is really a lot more "shill" bidding going on than most people realize. .... so take it FWIW.

Everyone around me is either a crook, thief, liar, scoundrel, idiot, moron, totally incompetent or a combination of them all. Suspect all, trust none and you are not likely to ever feel cheated. But, that's just because you weren't aware of it when it happened.

[KinnScience]

Well, I tried this ... I always try it. But for some reason, I end up inhaling more smoke .. which doesn't really bother me .. but (maybe my nose is permanently clogged) it doesn't seem to slow the heat down that much.

I'll have to pay better attention ... try harder..

I really miss tasting my tobaccos. Who would have thought such a small problem would make one so miserable.

Originally Posted by David M

Check this out.
Not only for the unique way to smoke, which is very nice - but more so to get your mouth used to that simple form of breathing which you seem to need practice on. You and me both actually.

The Breath Smoking Technique

Contributed by Paul Szabady


This was taught to me by my pipe-smoking guru, an insufferably grouchy old curmudgeon. He DID know pipe smoking, though..
He called it 'breath smoking' and while it works with all tobaccos it is particularly effective with virginia flakes. It requires a relaxed setting, preferably sedentary and a very slow and calm breathing pattern. The pipe bit is held to the lips continuously and all breathing is through the nose. Every 2nd or 3rd slow breath through the nose, a tiny puff is taken through the stem, held in the mouth and slowly, very slowly, discharged back through the stem, raising but the faintest wisp of smoke from the top of the tobacco bowl, and then re-drawn back through the stem. One does NOT inhale the smoke, but if one gets very good at it, one does not even have to puff: the slight vacuum created in the mouth by nose breathing will draw the finest of puffs through the stem. The blowing back through the stem is alternated with regular, but very slight puffs (sips and kisses) so that the whole process of smoking seems as natural, regular and effortless as breathing.
I'm sure many smokers have discovered this technique, or variations of it, on their own. The advantages are that mastering it will produce the coolest and most flavorful smoke possible, and the slow regular breathing will invoke the calmness and clarity of mind to perceive the results at their fullest.

Link
G. L. Pease Tobaccos - Articles & Essays

[beaupipe]

Lots of us have no time to sit and monitor ebay auctions. So we're left with the choice of entering our highest bid early, paying a sniping service to do it for us, or not bidding at all. I go for door #1 when I see a pipe I'd really like to own. If that drives the price up, so be it. Sometimes I win and sometimes I don't.

[RowdyBriarPiper]

Originally Posted by plexiprs

Auctions can be iffy. Sometimes it seems that bidders will go crazy and pay more at auction then at a B&M or online retailer.

I've suspected this too. I've definitely seen a lot of ebay auctions for pipes where the psychology of bidding (wanting to "win" at all costs) outweighs normal logical thinking ("I am bidding more for this pipe than it is actually worth if I bought it from a traditional seller")

In particular, I've noticed a number of auctions for Boswell estate pipes where the "used" pipe ends up selling for more than you can buy a similar brand-new, unsmoked Boswell for right on their website. I'll never understand that.

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by RowdyBriarPiper

I've suspected this too. I've definitely seen a lot of ebay auctions for pipes where the psychology of bidding (wanting to "win" at all costs) outweighs normal logical thinking ("I am bidding more for this pipe than it is actually worth if I bought it from a traditional seller")

In particular, I've noticed a number of auctions for Boswell estate pipes where the "used" pipe ends up selling for more than you can buy a similar brand-new, unsmoked Boswell for right on their website. I'll never understand that.

"A fool and his money..."

[KinnScience]

Coopersark has contacted me. He used an old email .. from ebay .. so I did not even see this until 20 minutes ago. In response: I can only say that I stand by my opinion of this particular bidding activity (though I do not wish to, nor would I have any indisputable evidence to, accuse the person of any wrongdoing), and that I am sorry if I caused him any hardship; this was not my intent. Here is his letter:

Someone had brought to my attention your negative comments about my suspected behavior regarding the alleged shilling (your accusation) that is occurring on my eBay auctions. I am both hurt and offended by your comments. I am sure that you meant no harm by them (I have thick skin besides!), but I want you to realize a few things, and that is the purpose of my taking the time to write you this note.
Selling pipes on eBay is my livelihood. It supports my family. My customers and my bidders are my life blood so to speak, and I would never act in any way to do anything but my very best for each and every one of them. My extensive and sterling eBay feedback speaks to this. All you have to do is read it. You must also realize that I have several thousand (yes, a non exaggerated number!) of customers and repeat customers around the world, many of who look at my auctions every week and bid on my pipes. This group of enthusiasts seems to rotate, due to the time of year or their individual financial circumstances. Some of these guys bid just to watch the pipes and if they get a bargain in the process then great. I cannot control their bidding nor their bidding patterns.
As such, I believe in transparency to such an extent that when I run a "Private Auction", I am always willing to reveal to the high bidder of that auction all of the bidders who were involved in the bidding. I know of no other seller who does that and publishes that fact in the body of their "Private Auctions". In fact what I had done when you had requested to have your name dropped from the bidding? I had sent you a list of all of the bidders who were involved. You did not take the time to reveal that fact in your note on the internet. Why only give half a story? If you ever suspect a shill bid on my auctions, please feel free to report it to eBay's Trust and Safety department, as this is a behavior that absolutely I abhor as well.
As far as a pipe being my own, you may not realize that I spend about a quarter million dollars a year on pipe inventory. I attend most every major show and buy, I buy private collections, buy from shops, buy overstocks, and buy from pipe makers. Many of the pipes that I offer every week are from my inventory and are not consignments.
Please keep in mind that due to my loyal global following, having bids is never ever a problem. Every pipe gets bid to its fair value for that point in time. That is the efficiency of a free market. I run my business on a stochastic model that involves quantity of sales and not individual sales. Do you think that for a moment I would stake my sterling reputation and my family's livelihood on a single pipe? You are seriously mistaken if you do.
As a favor to me, I ask you to publish this note on your Puff.com forum site. Doing so will speak to your sincerity. I do not participate in these fourm discussions, as my eBay work involves 80 hour work weeks and what precious little time that I have left is spent with my family. Thank you in advance for doing this!
With all my appreciation, Rob Cooper of Coopersark

[bigkev77]

Glad you posted that.

[Mad Hatter]

He didn't even call you a mother****er

[plexiprs]

Personally, I've no issues with him or his sales and continue to watch them to buy as I see fit. I don't believe there is anything illegal or unethical in his auctions or general business practices.

As always, each must establish their own requirements for whom they expend their hard earned funds with. I've nothing but 5 star experiences with Coopersark and see no reason to change my opinion.

You are free, and more so, encouraged, to form your own opinion and act accordingly. Also, I don't fault anyone for expressing their opinion or concerns on issues involving sales and exchange of goods and/or money. An informed buyer is always a better buyer, IMHO.