if you got some money left ... you know my birthday's coming up ...

[The Flying Mouse]

Originally Posted by Lucy!

I love my drumsticks and wouldn't part with any of them, though I am thinking of them as currency now

I can only assume that this guy (or girl) doesn't know how the seller came to have the sticks in the first place if they're willing to pay that much...I have limits on how much I'll pay for certain things but I couldn't let myself pay over £100 for something that I know probably got to the seller for free

I can't really say I believe the price the current owner paid (or didn't as the case may be ) is highly relevant.
The sticks have (rightly or wrongly) a monetary value, and there will always be people willing to pay cash for sought after items.
Napoleon made gifts of locks of his own hair to favorites.
These were given free of charge, but try to find a lock these days that won't set you back a few grand

It's an auction, so the buyer is setting the price, although if the seller had set that price as a reserve or starting price, i'd dismiss him as a cheeky ~~~~~~.

Originally Posted by AndyK

Depending on how much these finally go for, I could see John considering supplementing his income here

And in today's news, the Dow Jones was up against the yen by three points this morning, but down 68 points against the John Miceli Drum Stick

[LucyK!]

I guess it comes down to how much person wants to own an item, and whether they care where it's come from...I personally wouldn't ever spend money on things like the band plectrums or concert flyers because I know that the seller aquired them for free in the first place. No matter how much I wanted those sticks I'd never have paid for them because I know that the seller more than likely received them for free in the first place, but that's my personal way of using Ebay, and if people are happy to pay for them then good luck to them, and fair play to the seller for making some money

[MissAsh]

Yup I'm with Lucy on this one.
Personally I wouldn't want to buy anything like this. I'm very lucky in that I already have one of John's drumsticks which he threw to me at one of Meat's gigs (after trying two/three times to get one to me!). That's one of the things that makes it so special though, that the stick was thrown to me personally, same with the other drumsticks and plectrums that I've been given by bands. Sure a random one bought off eBay would look pretty nice up on my wall but it wouldn't really have the sentimental value for me.

Each to their own though, I can understand people wanting to own items like this if they're collectors etc as they aren't exactly the most common item.

[RadioMaster]

@Lucy and Ash

You'd have to see the point of view of other people though. Most of us are usually close to the stage, and so have a chance of catching something from the band. But that's probably just about 100 out of 10000 people. That means 99% of all Meat Loaf concert goers will never have the chance to get drumsticks, picks, etc from the band. So it's understandable for a fan, who goes to many concerts, but might not be lucky enough to save himself/herself a spot in the first few rows, to try and get the concert memorablilia some other way.

And on a different note: The bidding on the sticks has ended.
Congrats to "mrmeat1969" who bought John's drumsticks for 102 pounds.

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

You'd have to see the point of view of other people though. Most of us are usually close to the stage, and so have a chance of catching something from the band. But that's probably just about 100 out of 10000 people. That means 99% of all Meat Loaf concert goers will never have the chance to get drumsticks, picks, etc from the band. So it's understandable for a fan, who goes to many concerts, but might not be lucky enough to save himself/herself a spot in the first few rows, to try and get the concert memorablilia some other way.

Can see your point exactly RJ, after Meat's second concert at the NEC in May 07 we got chatting to a couple afterwards who were very jealous of the drum stick that Lucy caught at the end iof the show. It's very easy to take for granted the good fortune that many of us have had with respect to our positions in the concert hall and also the memorabilia that that may have brought.

[Deb]

Only just noticed what this thread was actually about lol. Although I;ve had the link to this auction sent to me many times

Originally Posted by AndrewG

That's just ridiculous. Deb's probably got gazillions of these I would imagine. She could make a fortune going by this.

Could but NEVER would. Although Dave did wander around the house looking for all of them once I'd shown him how much they were going for

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

if it's some crazed John fan I dont wanna imagine what they're gonna do to those drumsticks

(refrain from replying Deb lol)

Originally Posted by MeatGrl1

You could probably ask John for them and he'd give you them free...

Probably not after seeing what fans 'can' do with them

Originally Posted by AndyK

Depending on how much these finally go for, I could see John considering supplementing his income here

John wanted / wants to sell something once a month on ebay for charity. it's for a very good cause and IMO anyone willing to bid stupid amounts like this would be far better spending their money on the things John will auction. I'm pretty sure these auctions will start beg of Oct

[RadioMaster]

Originally Posted by Deb

John wanted / wants to sell something once a month on ebay for charity. it's for a very good cause and IMO anyone willing to bid stupid amounts like this would be far better spending their money on the things John will auction. I'm pretty sure these auctions will start beg of Oct

that's a very good idea! If there are people out there paying ridiculous amounts of money Id rather see that money going into charity than another ebay seller trying to make some money. (although for the record, I can imagine that the person who sold these was suprised about the price they went for as well lol)

[Deb]

Originally Posted by Lucy!

It's not ripping fans off at all...someone has a pair of sticks, they don't want them so they've put them on Ebay

I don't see it as ripping the fans off, but I do see it as many other things lol.

For a start why bother to ask/get them from John in the first place if they dont want them and then put them on ebay. The fact they got them purely to sell is imo wrong as I'm sure that John seeing things like this happen, will discourage him from giving them away in future. Which in turn will affect what everyone gets for free. So in that respect it is ripping the fans off to an extent.

I'm with many others here, I would never buy anything this way, it just wouldn't have the same meaning to me. Anything I have means far too much to me on a personal level and I would never sell it. But in saying that I can see why those who haven't had the chance to get things like some of us have would feel they needed to buy them this way.

[Deb]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

that's a very good idea! If there are people out there paying ridiculous amounts of money Id rather see that money going into charity than another ebay seller trying to make some money. (although for the record, I can imagine that the person who sold these was suprised about the price they went for as well lol)

I just wish he'd done it before this auction. As i'm sure there are only so many who are willing to pay that much for something like that. I'd be much happier about them having gone for £102 to a charity of Johns choice than some greedy gits pocket after he got them from John in the first place.

But yeah I bet he was suprised lol, looking at what other stuff he's sold has gone for

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by Deb

John wanted / wants to sell something once a month on ebay for charity. it's for a very good cause and IMO anyone willing to bid stupid amounts like this would be far better spending their money on the things John will auction. I'm pretty sure these auctions will start beg of Oct

That's a great idea, as you say shame this didn't get going before this auction appeared ... that £102 would have been a welcome start!

[LucyK!]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

@Lucy and Ash

You'd have to see the point of view of other people though. Most of us are usually close to the stage, and so have a chance of catching something from the band. But that's probably just about 100 out of 10000 people. That means 99% of all Meat Loaf concert goers will never have the chance to get drumsticks, picks, etc from the band. So it's understandable for a fan, who goes to many concerts, but might not be lucky enough to save himself/herself a spot in the first few rows, to try and get the concert memorablilia some other way.

And on a different note: The bidding on the sticks has ended.
Congrats to "mrmeat1969" who bought John's drumsticks for 102 pounds.

I understand that entirely, but I was posting my view as one of the people who has been lucky enough to aquire a lot of plectrums and a few drum sticks. If i'd not been close to the stage and really wanted the sticks then I absolutely would have bid on them to get what I wanted, though still less willingly than I've bought other items knowing that the seller more than likely aquired them for free. I consider myself very lucky to have had such good places at shows and would never take for granted the opportunities I've had to do so or the things that I've gained from it, I just wouldn't have bid on these!

[RadioMaster]

Originally Posted by Lucy!

knowing that the seller more than likely aquired them for free.

As this has been mentioned by several people:
I dont really see the problem with this...
You have something you dont want - you sell it on ebay. What does it matter how much (or if) the seller payed for it originally?

Lot's of people make a living through selling stuff on ebay, and IMO there's nothing immoral with that.

Of course, the thing would be different if (as Debbie says) the person aquired them from John just to make money with them.

[mszee]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

As this has been mentioned by several people:
I dont really see the problem with this...
You have something you dont want - you sell it on ebay. What does it matter how much (or if) the seller payed for it originally?

I agree with this. It serves it's purposes. Somebody doesn't need something, somebody desperately needs money...they sell...and somebody who needs the item...they buy...most of you buy memorabilia on ebay...so how is it a problem then? Most of you would have had pretty poor collections if it wasn't for ebay...

On top of it, I am pretty sure artists know that their memorabilia is sold on ebay and other bidding sites like Amazon...and unless they are OJ Simpson...they usually don't do anything about it...

[mszee]

I just saw that RJ modified his post...about person knowing in advance whether they want to sell acquired item...well, that I guess we shall never find out...

[RadioMaster]

Originally Posted by mszee

I just saw that RJ modified his post...about person knowing in advance whether they want to sell acquired item...well, that I guess we shall never find out...

stupid me incindently clicked on submit reply too early.

[mszee]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

stupid me incindently clicked on submit reply too early.

It really doesn't matter...the point is a point...if John threw drum sticks to somebody in the audience and they caught it and they have no use for that...if it was me...I would have given them away...for somebody...they sell them...why not?

[Deb]

Originally Posted by RadioMaster

Of course, the thing would be different if (as Debbie says) the person aquired them from John just to make money with them.

The person did aquire these from John. I messaged the seller yesterday and he told me he worked at a show in Ireland where he got these from John. Now i'm sure John wouldn't just go up to someone working and say, Hi here's some drumsticks. Th person would have asked for them i'm sure. And judging by what the person is selling then he definitely did it for money.

knowing these Meat / John sticks are very limited lately I think that sucks when John wanted to sell them for charity.

[Monstro]

It's unfortunate but most of my most important Meaty items at some point went for free, promo items such as singles, albums cd's etc..music industry awards and to top it all off my leather jacket, that was a promo item given to 12 people by the record company.

I believe Ebay performs an important part in collectors ways of appropriating things, I for one have been to more concerts than I'd care to mention but have never been thrown drum sticks or plectrums, those go to a lucky few but I still wanted them in my collection so bought them. As to what value I put on things, to be honest it usually has a direct bearing as to the bank account's ballance at the time of auction end as I've never bought anything on credit, that value may be more or less than other peoples valuations as we can all put different values to the same item, it just depends how much it means to you personally.

I just pray the bank account's healthy next time CHSIBM vinyl pops up lol

[mszee]

I am pretty sure that John didn't give this person sticks and said...I am giving you these on one condition...you can never ever sell them...

Seeing how John can have as many of those sticks as he wants to, I don't see what prevents him from selling them for charity? Or anything else for that matter?

[Deb]

He can only have as many as he wants if someone pays to have them made

[RadioMaster]

Originally Posted by Monstro

my leather jacket, that was a promo item given to 12 people by the record company.

You just dont get tired of telling that story, do you?

I believe Ebay performs an important part in collectors ways of appropriating things, I for one have been to more concerts than I'd care to mention but have never been thrown drum sticks or plectrums

Maybe if you shaved, and grew some long blonde hair

As to what value I put on things, to be honest it usually has a direct bearing as to the bank account's ballance at the time of auction end as I've never bought anything on credit, that value may be more or less than other peoples valuations as we can all put different values to the same item, it just depends how much it means to you personally.

I agree.

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by Monstro

It's unfortunate but most of my most important Meaty items at some point went for free, promo items such as singles, albums cd's etc..music industry awards and to top it all off my leather jacket, that was a promo item given to 12 people by the record company.

I think that's an important nail hit on the head with regard to this.

The vast majority of the highly-collectable items in all of our collections are promo-type items which were given away for nothing. They're generally rarer because they were given away for free, and hence are more desireable to the collectors. Which is why they command a higher price.

Of course there are the exceptions to the rule (The CHSIB vinyl for example which was available in a limited number to purchase).

That doens't take away from the fact that obtaining something for free purely with the intention of selling it isn't 100% right, moral or ethical.

[Deb]

Originally Posted by AndyK

That doens't take away from the fact that obtaining something for free purely with the intention of selling it isn't 100% right, moral or ethical.

My thoughts exactly

[Monstro]

Originally Posted by AndyK

That doens't take away from the fact that obtaining something for free purely with the intention of selling it isn't 100% right, moral or ethical.

Another nail hit firmly on the head, prime example of this is the "signed" guitars on ebay, meat signs the guard which is the put on a guitar and the whole thing is done purely for profit.

I've noticed that at some of the concerts this year security were picking up and pocketing plectrums and the set lists, I watched to see if someone had got in first with a request but these weren't handed over to fans.

[AndyK]

But ... playing devils advocate here ...

Many people who are employed at the venues Meat plays are often paid little more than minimum wage. So, you can sort of see the sellers point of view that it's an opportunity to earn a little extra cash when items like these sticks are potentially available.

I don't know what the opening bid was set to on this auction, did anyone notice? As that has a bearing on how much the seller was blatantly profiteering here (was the starting price high?) or were they merely trying to clear some stuff that they didn't want anymore? (Was the starting proce 99p plus postage?).

I know for a fact that I've sold stuff on ebay to clear space and get rid of unwanted items that I had. I set the starting price based on what I wanted for the item and what I thought was a fair market price ... the fact that some of the items sold for far more than that is a bonus for me, but I didn't force people to bid on them.