Wow- Are ALL Good Tapes Going For A Premium Now on Ebay?

[braxus]

Item number:270263237089

I was promptly outbid by a wide margin. My $7 bid I thought was a fair price for this tape too, but the final bid of $24 blew me away. I mean why would anyone pay that much for a middle of the road type 1 tape? Even the seller didn't think it was worth that much when he emailed me on my other auctions from him. Its getting to the point any odd ball tape that is half decent is going for $20 or more bucks today on the 'Bay.

I can understand very rare tapes like the XL-I 1985 edition going for premiums, but the HF-S isn't that rare.

[Scorpion8]

There seems to be a frenzy as the world realizes the supply is drying up ....

[MacGyver]

http://cgi.ebay.com/TDK-Cassette-tap...=1218734729619

[NAD613]

I know what you mean. I have an auction on Ebay just to get rid of some cassettes I don't want, mostly type I with a few new TDK SA's thrown in. Put in an opening bid of $9.98 w/shipping included. I didn't think they'd fetch more than $11-$12. Before I left for work this morning it was up to $20.

Those Sony HF-S tapes are kind of rare; I hardly ever see them on Ebay.

[MacGyver]

indeed, i'll have a pitched battle ahead of me when i am finally ready to fight for a good set of MA-XGs...

[stuartypoorty]

You bet they are, I'm contributing to it as well and, even so, am astonished at the premium some cassettes, used examples too, will reach on Ebay.

I posted a thread on the forum a couple of weeks back about a sealed BASF IV 120 and how much it went for.

Similarly, I was outbid on an three sealed AXIAs ($88.00) by a couple of wealthier interested parties.

My days of hunting down type IV's and elusive II's and III's may well be coming to a close, just take a look at the price a TDK SA-XG or Denon HG-M fetches.

[Mr. Lin]

Frenzy is definitely the right word. If we were not nice people we could probably make a nice profit with those Akai tapes...

[NAD613]

Frenzy is definitely the right word. If we were not nice people we could probably make a nice profit with those Akai tapes...

I'm thinking of maybe selling 3 or 4 of those Akai GX cassettes, at cost (80 cents each plus $3 S&H), just to see what kind of price I could get for them, to see if anyone would buy them.

[macster]

I'm thinking of maybe selling 3 or 4 of those Akai GX cassettes, at cost (80 cents each plus $3 S&H), just to see what kind of price I could get for them, to see if anyone would buy them.

Do it, and let's see what happens. BTW, those GX 's are working pretty good in the CR5A. I recorded some Monk and West Montgomery.

M~

[Marc Hugo]

I'm a bit out of touch with the tape e-bay scene - that's certain. Maybe people are using them as hedge investments - houses don't seem to have panned out too well. !!!!!!!!!!

MH

[Des-Lab]

Well I don't know about tapes as a hedge against retirement. Not unless you literally have thousands upon thousands of those rare/high dollar value tapes.

Most of us are just small time users. Indeed, if I were to sell every single tape (both cassette and reel to reel) in my 'stash' at current market rates, the net proceeds still wouldn't be enough for a traditional down payment on a house (anywhere except maybe Detroit...which...incidentally is where Gump-pee lives. Or somewhere close by). A mid priced car, maybe. But that's about it. And I thought I had an impressive collection. So I doubt any of that is going on.

More likely, as noted, there is (and has been for some time now) a lot of 'panic' buying going on. Also, it seems like cassette collecting has become quite a popular underground unknown hobby.

If that's the case, and someone is stupi...I mean wanting enough to get it, I'll sell my entire complete Maxell framed cassette collection (the same tapes I used to make the Maxell cassette gallery) for, let's say, $7K.

It took a lot of effort and many years for me to build that collection. And lots of sentiments are attached to it. But if someone wants it and wants it bad enough to pay that price, I'll sell it.

Anyway. Silly guys. Don't you know that 'snipe' is the name of the game? Unless you have no way around it, never EVER put in a poxy bid and opportune someone a chance to chisel it away and outbid you. Bid your max during the last minute. I know I am normally annoyed by procrastinators, but this is the one exception to that rule.

And what *you* may "think" is a fair price for a given piece, someone else completely blew that expectation out of the water.

At the risk of sounding condescending and elitist, I'm going to say it anyway.

You guys have already acknowledged the vagaries of todays marketplace when it comes to tapes. You have seen what most tapes (at least the ones that are considered desirable) go for these days. So if you want the best advice on how to "win", in many cases, I'm sorry to say it, but you're going to have to up the ante a bit and dig deeper into the wallet. Sometimes a LOT deeper. I know that's hard to swallow in light of the fact that 1) we're in a recession, and 2) many of us grew up in the days of $7.99/2 pk Metal C-90's in every music and department store in town.

But again. This is 2008. Not 1988. We are dealing with a shrinking commodity coupled with resurging popularity. Not unlike oil. Everyone wants it. Everyone wants it cheap. Everyone thinks someone else should bear the high prices needed to get what's wanted. And in the meantime, everyone is pissed off.

Either someone needs to restart production of new audiophile grade tapes. Or else some of you/us need to simply resign ourselves to the fact that 'we ain't gettin' none' and move on. Until one or the other gives, high prices are here to stay.

[Mr. Lin]

Indeed, if I were to sell every single tape (both cassette and reel to reel) in my 'stash' at current market rates, the net proceeds still wouldn't be enough for a traditional down payment on a house (anywhere except maybe Detroit...which...incidentally is where Gump-pee lives. Or somewhere close by).

Is that why he's so irritable all the time? :D

[stuwee]

To quote one of my all-time favs: "This town needs an enema"!!!!!!!!!!!:DYes!

Just things in general *check**fit*

[Fast Forward]

Hmm Casettes ,the new Black gold,, I wonder how long before we have cassette speculators buying and selling tape

[stuwee]

Hmm Casettes ,the new Black gold,, I wonder how long before we have cassette speculators buying and selling tape

I thought that's what you and NAD have been up to all this time, you can't possibly use all those boxes ya'll have been buyin'.

[gamve]

Just a guess, but what seems to happen with so called obsolete niche products is that a smart manufacturer. probably Chinese, will start to offer supposedly top end type tapes. They will not be as good as the vintage top end units but will also not be $ 40.00+ each. I hate to say it but this would drop the guts out of the present $ 40.00 each market (except for collectors?). I would be very hesitant to enter the top end tape market myself as I suspect the manufacturers are already aware of what is happening and just waiting to release new products at highly inflated prices. Let's just hope the new offerings are of a reasonable standard, because you can bet your house they will be triple the price they used to be as the manufacturing quantities will be much smaller than during the tape heyday periods.
What do you guys reckon?

[Des-Lab]

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for any sort of new "premium" cassette tape to be introduced. Anything is possible, but I don't consider it very likely. There are just too many things stacked against it, not the least of which is that we are still an extremely small market. In order to make such an effort worthwhile, there's a tremendous upfront cost incurred by the manufacturer. The per piece price to justify it would not be cheap. Indeed I would be amazed if they COULD do it for $40 or less. And I wouldn't bet on them making millions upon millions of pieces just to get the unit cost down. Because then that will mean sitting on inventory for several years. That ties up too much capital.

So that's going to be a tough sell in light of the fact that most of us balk at paying even $10 for a Type IV, let alone $40. And if a "new" tape is from some unknown Chinese company?

Forget it. Unless it's from a Maxell, TDK, Sony, or Denon, none of us are going to buy an 'unknown' at those prices.

Who are we kidding here?

So as far as I see it, whatever is out there today, that's it. That's what you have to choose from. And if you want it, yeah. You're going to have to suck up and pay whatever the seller wants.

But for the record, I would love nothing more than to be wrong on all of this. Man, if Maxell was to bring back the Vertex, I know I'd be all over them and would buy as many as I could afford.

Would be even better if they brought back a full line. They could use the Vertex housing (or at least the 1986 SSPA mechanism) and bring back the following as "specialty audiophile tapes":

Bring back the 1986 XLI-S formula and market it as Vertex I

Bring back the 1985 XLII-S formula and market it as Vertex II

And bring back the Metal Vertex as itself and relabel it as Vertex Metal

The "foamer" side of me would LOVE to see this.

But my practical and pragmatic side says "it aint happening anywhere outside my dreams".

[gamve]

Jezz Matt, Talk about shatter my dreams. LOL
All we can do Is hope. Even a nice supply of good new chrome tapes would be a real bonus for us "Tapenuts"
Cheers

[Mr. Lin]

Yeah I don't see that happening.

[NAD613]

Yeah I don't see that happening.

I think eventually, places like National Audio Company will be the only place to get decent cassettes, i.e. plain jane cassette shells, well built w/decent quality tape inside, w/no boxes or labels (sold seperately). Who knows how much longer TDK & Fuji will continue making cassettes

[Mr. Lin]

I think eventually, places like National Audio Company will be the only place to get decent cassettes, i.e. plain jane cassette shells, well built w/decent quality tape inside, w/no boxes or labels (sold seperately). Who knows how much longer TDK & Fuji will continue making cassettes

Hence the reason we're all buying them like there's no tomorrow, because there may not be.

[SLA]

Do you guys watch Antique Roadshow?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200504A29.html

A robot that was sold in 1960 for couple bucks ($1.98) is now worth $1500. (if it was with a box $4000)

Now cassettes are not that far away (1970-1980).

Of course, all those prices on Ebay are "collector prices" and driven by collectors.

[braxus]

As I've been noticing of late- tape prices have doubled in the last 6 months on Ebay. Some sellers are trying to make their million dollars selling these old NOS tapes. Tapes that were between $5-$7 are now going for $12. Metal tapes have jumped to $20+ from $12-$13. Basic tapes like HD-6 are going for at least $10 a tape now. I'm glad I bought a lot of the tapes I did when I did. I still look for the more rare tapes now, but Im not finding a lot of them these days.

[Scorpion8]

Some sellers are trying to make their million dollars selling these old NOS tapes.

You mean like Dr.Bo?

[braxus]

You mean like Dr.Bo?

No Dr. Bo's prices are for the most part still reasonable. Some people are charging way over priced prices for what are basic tapes. I mean who is going to pay $20 for a Sony UX-Pro or $60 for 4 Denon HD-6 tapes?

[Scorpion8]

Dunno. I just bought 5 Denon HD-7/100's for $12 on that place.

[braxus]

Dunni. I just bought 5 Denon HD-7/100's for $12 on that place.

Wow somehow I missed that one. I was looking for those tapes too.

[Des-Lab]

Well I think a lot of that depends on what your idea of "premium" is in the monetary sense. Yes, many tapes are quite expensive if you grew up in the days of $7.99 two packs of metal. But in most cases, still not so high as to be egregiously unaffordable. And in some cases, prices have come DOWN. For instance, a Vertex recently sold for about $51. Expensive for one tape, yes. But when you consider that up until quite recently, $75-$100 was considered the 'normal' price for that tape. A lot of it is just timing and what's popular at the moment and who happens to see a particular auction.

[braxus]

And in some cases, prices have come DOWN. For instance, a Vertex recently sold for about $51. Expensive for one tape, yes. But when you consider that up until quite recently, $75-$100 was considered the 'normal' price for that tape.

I can see some of that Matt. I recently saw a Sony Metal Master sealed sell for just $9, but its still selling for between $26-30 which is normal. The higher end tapes are coming down except the extreme rare ones like the Denon HG-M. I am bidding on it and its currently at $81. There is still time left on it, so its not a guaranteed win or if there will be more bids. I can still lose that auction. But I find it strange how such plane Jane tapes are going for more then $10 a tape now. They aren't selling at that in a lot of those cases, so I don't know what is justifying these list prices. But again on average most tape prices have doubled on Ebay in the last 6 months. Check out the auctions listed by "AlexSurplus". The majority of their listings are way up there. I guess part of the my problem is I don't see many of the cheaper auctions here in Canada, since many won't sell outside of the US.

[Scorpion8]

Yea, I don't see it. There are ten (10) Denon HD-8/100's on eBay right now at auction 140275181936 for a BIN just under $50. That's $5 each, which is reasonable these days....

[braxus]

Yea, I don't see it. There are ten (10) Denon HD-8/100's on eBay right now at auction 140275181936 for a BIN just under $50. That's $5 each, which is reasonable these days....


Ok I did some searching on the US Ebay site and the prices are way more reasonable. I even bought from that seller I sited above some JVC tapes in 10 for $2.80 each (28.80 for 10). So that is reasonable. But I think the auctions that are getting a lot of my comments are the ones that sell just 1 tape. But I'll leave my comments at this time.

[Scorpion8]

But I think the auctions that are getting a lot of my comments are the ones that sell just 1 tape. But I'll leave my comments at this time.

No, when you look at it that way I agree with you. There are a heck of a lot of 1-tape auctions that try to sell for more than the average price in a 5- or 10-tape block. Why buy one when you can buy 5 or 10? I have an issue with those that sell them off like that as collector's prizes rather than tapes to be used and enjoyed.

[4tified]

eBay is definatley a joke nowadays. I just scored 60 tapes (a mix of Maxell UR's, UD's, UD XL1's UD XL's, Fuji DRII's, etc.) for about $20 through CL. I aint paying $12 for a tape because it's "classic" and "unopened". I end up with enough of them anyway locally. eBay is really only good for filling holes in your collection or for those "hard to find" types...

[Des-Lab]

Ebay is definitely a love-hate relationship. It's good in the sense that it still by far, the best game in town. At any given time, searches for keywords like "Maxell cassette" or "TDK Audio Tape" will yield dozens of return hits. Where else are you going to find such a selection that has such broad exposure? And yes. And this goes for both the collector as well as the one looking to build a supply.

The down side of course is a result of that very same traffic volume and the whole bidding concept. You are competing with a worldwide audience for one piece. So in that sense it CAN be argued that many of the tapes are priced far higher than they might otherwise be. But still. That in no way negates the whole supply-demand fundamental. After all. It could be a 'bargain' or a price that makes you want to regurgitate your last meal. You still have to either pay it or not get it. Fixed price "Buy It Nows" are also a frequent occurence but because you never know what is going to be listed or when, a lot of that is just plain dumb old luck. You have to spot it and act at the right time. No one I know is able to stay on Ebay 24/7/365. Plus, you have to understand that a lot of vintage audio geeks (not just tape seekers) still have recent memories of "secret" scores and outlets. Then the internet came along and suddenly everything became transparent. Many of those people are still either in denial about it or at least just resentful of it. The rules were completely re-written and suddenly now anyone can play. So what were once bastions of exclusitivity one now finds themselves both figuratively and literally bumping elbows with a crowd.

Now there are alternative outlets available such as CL, yard sales, and thrift shops. The good side to those is that the prices are almost always a mere fraction of what the open Ebay market would be. But again the downside is that those methods are often very tedious, time consuming, and labor intensive. And the selection seldom resembles anything even remotely approximating what is found on Ebay. So while "scores" can be found every so often, it's a very difficult task. The rewards are far and few in between and almost always hard earned.

So there's good and bad either way. It just depends on striking that balance of what you are willing to pay versus how hard you are willing to look for something.

[braxus]

Good words Matt. I can agree with the love hate part. I guess Im just upset where I live I cannot find any NOS tapes period no matter where I look. So Ebay is it. And the prices keep going up. I guess it doesn't bother me as much as it normally would since I already have a decent enough size stash to get me through, but I still like to try the odd tapes I don't have. And this site doesn't help me stop building my stash. :P More like the opposite.

[Scorpion8]

And this site doesn't help me stop building my stash. More like the opposite.

Then our work here is done .... Yes!

[Web Police]

And this site doesn't help me stop building my stash. :P More like the opposite.

Your building your stash? :-?


Hmmm that makes it a whole new game. *devil*

[braxus]

No Web Police,

My stash will never equate to what you have. We've seen your stash. If I had that many tapes I'd never use a 1/4 of all that. I think Im between 300-400 blanks now. I don't have near that much in records or CDs to put them onto all those tapes.

But as the Klingon is Star Trek 6 said "AHHHHhhhhh, the games afoot now aye..." :)

[Web Police]

I haven't purchased any new additions to my stash for several weeks now. *hope*

[JXBJXB]

Speaking of thrift store sourcing:

The thrift closest to the house very occasionally has some decent lightly used, recorded-upon tapes worth picking up. The only NOS tapes they ever seem to have are either the UR/D/HF variety or mexican-made XLIIs.

Today, I was surprised to find the cassettes shown below. Not bad for $4. The TDK SA is from my favorite early-80's vintage. The TDK SD is a tape I've never tried but expect it to sound like a UDS-II or maybe DR-II. (It is also interesting that back in the 70's, TDK SD was the name for the step up from D - it was a normal-bias tape that was eventually replaced by AD, not a high-bias tape). And the most interesting find, a That's CD-IV 100. I have some lower-line That's, and I have a bunch of the CD-MH which is a metal-particle high-bias tape much like TDK HX-S or Denon HD-8 - but never tried a true That's metal. Anyone know much about the CD-IV?

[iamhifi]

The rare tapes are always fetching a lot of dough. Doesn't matter wether is a normal, chrome, or metal. And yes you are all correct prices have gone up a bit, although Dr. Bo still has some good deals, know what to buy. Occasionally I consider to buy a tape that is to become rare and that is good, that could be Metal and Chrome, very little normal tapes. I thank God for correct timing when I bought most of my stach. That said like Des if I sell my stach I can buy a BMW , easy.
Angel

[braxus]

I think my problem is I usually decide to by said tapes a little late in the game and as such have to pay the penalty for that which is high prices. Its one reasons I got quite a few boxes of the Akai tapes until we found out they don't match the TDK and Maxell in terms of audio quality. No matter. I just got a Denon HG-M tape off Ebay which is the highest price I've seen yet go on 1 tape. I just hope I don't have to do that again.

My Tandberg seems to not like the Akai tapes, though my Aiwa does. Weird. I may have to let the Akai's go since my Tandberg will be my main deck to use from now on.

[stuwee]

I think my problem is I usually decide to by said tapes a little late in the game and as such have to pay the penalty for that which is high prices. Its one reasons I got quite a few boxes of the Akai tapes until we found out they don't match the TDK and Maxell in terms of audio quality. No matter. I just got a Denon HG-M tape off Ebay which is the highest price I've seen yet go on 1 tape. I just hope I don't have to do that again.

Amen brother! I can't wait to see it in the frame when it arrives safely in your hands *hope*!! Does anyone know what the highest price payed for a single tape is? Cassette and/or RtR?

I know a super rare 8-track of Frank Sinatra sold for several thousand but, that was prerecorded.

[braxus]

I know a super rare 8-track of Frank Sinatra sold for several thousand but, that was prerecorded.

Oh I'd hate to be the poor bugger to shell out that kind of money on an 8 track, to get it home and have the darn thing break or get stuck in the machine. It's happened to me with a lot of 8 tracks off Ebay.

[gamve]

Yea, I don't see it. There are ten (10) Denon HD-8/100's on eBay right now at auction 140275181936 for a BIN just under $50. That's $5 each, which is reasonable these days....

Yep, grabbed 15 of these 20 x XLIIS and 30 XLII off this seller. Have brought tapes from him before. Reasonable prices, reasonable freight.

[NAD613]

I think my problem is I usually decide to by said tapes a little late in the game and as such have to pay the penalty for that which is high prices. Its one reasons I got quite a few boxes of the Akai tapes until we found out they don't match the TDK and Maxell in terms of audio quality. No matter. I just got a Denon HG-M tape off Ebay which is the highest price I've seen yet go on 1 tape. I just hope I don't have to do that again.

Don't forget, there have been some who have had success with the Akai cassettes. It's believed that they are very deck dependent; that is, they record & playback on some decks very well, but not on others. I have had much success with them on my NAD. Later this week, I'm going to try one on my Teac A-103 & Sony.

[braxus]

Wow. Tape prices for singles are again climbing in price. Many metal tapes have jumped from $13 to $20. And average tapes are climbing to $13 for some. Still some deals to be had, but the trend seems to indicate climbing prices. Better stock up while its still reasonable or more like it- affordable.

Also noticed boxes of 10 are also going up. Many average tapes are now asking for closer to $100 or well above $50.

[Acoustic]

I'm just amazed by the amount of NOS still left for sale and wonder really how low is the well at this time?? *scratchchin*

[braxus]

I'm just amazed by the amount of NOS still left for sale and wonder really how low is the well at this time?? *scratchchin*

Yah. It seems to be a bottomless pit in terms of how much is still out there. And what really amazes me is how can there be so much OLD sealed tapes. I mean wouldn't most people have used them by now? Or did they buy a deck in the early 80s, with some tapes, and then never use either again?

[JaeTee]

Yah. It seems to be a bottomless pit in terms of how much is still out there. And what really amazes me is how can there be so much OLD sealed tapes. I mean wouldn't most people have used them by now? Or did they buy a deck in the early 80s, with some tapes, and then never use either again?

Or, some people had crystal balls and knew to stock up. I was fresh out of college in the mid-90's and always broke. I regret not being able to stock up on tapes then. I remember thinking about that on a couple of occasions...

One such occasion was when I went to this dedicated recording media store on the outskirts of Atlanta. The company I worked for used to by tape cases and tapes for medical conference lecture recordings and I had to go pick up some items. I remember going there and seeing their cassette room. OH MY GOD!!!! They had all kinds of awesome cassettes there... TDK, Maxell, Teac, BASF, That's, etc... Its the only place I've ever seen that many brands for sale at the same time, and in all of their available lengths, too... There must have been 10,000 tapes in there.

And to think, that at that time all I could afford was a handful of those metallic green TDK SA-X Limited tapes. I picked those out of the whole lot because:

1) I knew they were good
2) Because they were the coolest looking tapes there!
3) Because I couldn't afford the MA-XGs!
4) I didn't know about the Vertex
5) I somehow knew I would not see the SA-X in that color scheme for sale again anywhere else.

If I only had that damn flux capacitor in my Acura, that would definitely be a place I would go back and visit again after payday!

[KatCassidy]

Some nice looking BASF Chrome Super II's on eBay Australia (stores section) at the moment - for a chunky AU$40 each *eyepop* For those in the US that's around US$26... plus postage. I absolutely love 80's/90's BASF's but at that price they can keep them.

[Tapemystic]

Some nice looking BASF Chrome Super II's on eBay Australia (stores section) at the moment - for a chunky AU$40 each *eyepop* For those in the US that's around US$26... plus postage. I absolutely love 80's/90's BASF's but at that price they can keep them.

How about these?!? BASF super II Chrome 5 tapes for about $32AU incl postage
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BASF-CHROME-SUPER-90-blank-cassette-tapes-5-pcs-SEALED_W0QQitemZ190292594264QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_ Blank_Media?hash=item190292594264&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318

[stuwee]

Or, some people had crystal balls

If I only had that damn flux capacitor in my Acura, that would definitely be a place I would go back and visit again after payday!

I got both JT, I gotta drive though *hypnot**devil*

[thisOne]

Interesting thread..., I guess buying a sealed NOS Maxell UD 35-180 is still economical at $50 a reel *grin*

On the subject of manufacturers bringing back high quality tape and that they may not because of the cost vs. price point...

I believe similar debate was taking place when tube audio became popular again, and used tubes started to sell for upwards of $500 a piece, some of the manufacturers in different parts of the world caught onto it and tubes are now being manufactured again.

There are still plenty of places in the world where labor is still cheap, skills are relatively high, mothballed technology can be revived and products can come back.

Tubes is one example, vinyl records in another...

IMO e-Bay actually helps here a lot, because it highlights the demand in a global market place. Without e-bay (and seeing auctions close for those 500 dollar tubes) the demand would not be as apparent.

so I wouldn't dismiss tape as a disappearing medium (especially with discussion and awareness built and promoted by sites such as this one), and there may come a time that those 80 dollar cassettes are only worth 80-100bucks (or more) because of their vintage manufacturing date, not because these tapes are of quality that could not be had any more.

...or you can disagree *grin*

[Mr. Lin]

I'm just amazed by the amount of NOS still left for sale and wonder really how low is the well at this time?? *scratchchin*

I've always thought there's probably a lot more sealed NOS tapes out there than we actually realize. If you think about it, these were made in a time when the number of people who would potentially buy them was far greater than the number of people on tapeheads.net. Get what I'm saying?

As for new production and the comparison to tubes, IMO if electron tubes can go back into production in response to renewed demand, anything can!*hypnot*

[thisOne]

...As for new production and the comparison to tubes, IMO if electron tubes can go back into production in response to renewed demand, anything can!*hypnot*

Come to think of it Maxell still makes the XL II 90 High Bias Tape that can be bought in a local Walgreens, so I'm sure they watch the e-bay prices of their discontinued 1980s stock to jump back into the market at the appropriate time. *hope*

[Time_Stand_Still]

I too have been noticing the price of blank tapes rising on eBay. It is interesting in that prices usually only go up as we all know if demand rises or supply drops. Supply of regular listings on eBay seem steady so maybe we just see more and more people rediscovering audio cassettes. I have noticed among my local bricks and mortar retailers here in Canada that they have had price increases on blank cassettes over the last year. Now the Canadian dollar is off to a lower value to the US dollar in recent months but the price changes seem to be slightly higher than for said adjustment.

Better quality NOS tapes especially metal tapes on eBay have seemingly doubled in price over the last year. Do we consider this good news as maybe a general but all be it nominal resurgence in interest in audio cassettes? Cassette decks, at least the better ones have also been going for higher prices on eBay... Veeerrry innnterresting.*reelspin**reelspin*

[Mr. Lin]

Come to think of it Maxell still makes the XL II 90 High Bias Tape that can be bought in a local Walgreens, so I'm sure they watch the e-bay prices of their discontinued 1980s stock to jump back into the market at the appropriate time. *hope*

What they would need to do is start making cassettes of quality at least comparable to what they used to offer. The new XLII just doesn't cut it next to the old ones.

[Des-Lab]

What they would need to do is start making cassettes of quality at least comparable to what they used to offer. The new XLII just doesn't cut it next to the old ones.

Way ahead of you bro. I pitched the idea of a petition to bring back audiophile cassettes. (http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=2852)
Repsonse was tepid at best. We all got but a single, predictable canned response of denial from Maxell and everyone immediately threw in the towel.

[Mr. Lin]

Way ahead of you bro. I pitched the idea of a petition to bring back audiophile cassettes. (http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=2852)
Repsonse was tepid at best. We all got but a single, predictable canned response of denial from Maxell and everyone immediately threw in the towel.

Yep, I know. Still, I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilities that another manufacturer could take advantage of the growing interest in cassettes and come up with something good.

BTW this is post 666 for me so I'm never posting again.

[braxus]

Yep, I know. Still, I don't think it's outside the realm of possibilities that another manufacturer could take advantage of the growing interest in cassettes and come up with something good.

I think Sony should take this up again. Or TDK. Those two could easily get something going again and made the best tapes around. I mean who wouldn't want a Metal ES or Metal Master tape again? Or a TDK MA-X or SA-X?

BTW this is post 666 for me so I'm never posting again.

Oh Lord. Look what I started. Now everyone is afraid of 666, which one should be if taken in context of what it means.

[iamhifi]

What I have notice that everyone seems to be getting on the wagon. Here it is; if a seller sees that another seller stared the bid at $1 and ends up in 20.00 then that other seller wants to sell at the same price. I saw a box of 10 of Fuji FR Metal go for over 120.00, now that set the price for other sellers to start at 12.00 for ea and so is happening with everything. I also see some ridiculous prices on normal tape and so on. Do I think that a Maxell Vertex is worth 80.00, NO! But that is what the market fetches so be it. I have HX-S 60 and I wanted to try a 90 min an end up paying 16.00 do I think is worth that no way, but I wanted to try it and that is what the market is at. So are there any great deals out there, yes here in the US, you just have to look hard. I have to admit that most of my Super metals I got more than 4 years ago and I found some sweet deals. I remember that when I first saw the SA-XG I wanted to have some so I bought from Dr.Bo, a couple for 30.00 and some at 26.00 each, I think it was a total of 6, then they stared to show on Ebay and I bought some at an average of 10.00 and the same happened with other tapes. But I have to agree that it is getting very difficult to find the best of the tapes. So if you want to get some great deals you have to stay vigilant. I will use Dr.Bo as an example in another threat he mention that he bought 6 cases of 5 pack ea Maxell Vertex for 100.00 each, he said he was browsing when suddenly the tapes pop up on Ebay, now he sells each for 50.00, nothing wrong with that 50.00 ea still a great price for this tapes. The other day before my eyes some of the older gold AD-X 90 pop on the computer for 8.00 buy it now and I got them. I bet this record sweet and they are worth more tan 10.00 each. Matt sold on Ebay for 19.99 5 AD 90 tapes and nobody bother to bid or so I bought them. I though that it was a super fair price I seen people pay 10.00 for each. I also bought from on Ebay from Dimka5 some Basf Chrome Super II 90 and I paid an average of 5.00 ea, I got to say that these got to be one of the tapes that sound just as good as some of the best Metal tapes, very, very close. So this is a heck of a deal is not metal but sounds better tan some metals. I work hard and really don't have the time to look at the computer from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but from time to time I look and get lucky. I really hope that some of you that still looking for the best can find it and enjoy it.
Cheers,
Angel

[KatCassidy]

How about these?!? BASF super II Chrome 5 tapes for about $32AU incl postage
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BASF-CHROME-SUPER-90-blank-cassette-tapes-5-pcs-SEALED_W0QQitemZ190292594264QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_ Blank_Media?hash=item190292594264&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318
*hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts* *hearts*

At last! A small quantity at a great price with reasonable postage! *check*
How on Earth did I miss those? Thank you very much, TapeMystic! *Hi5*

BTW this is post 666 for me so I'm never posting again.
Oh Lord. Look what I started. Now everyone is afraid of 666, which one should be if taken in context of what it means.
I'm going to never post again when my post count reaches 1337. Those who get it know.

[thisOne]

I'm going to never post again when my post count reaches 1337. Those who get it know.

w @r #00k!n9 0rw@r~ 70 %05 r@gh!n9 !7

on Wednesday 2015

[dr.bo]

I keep saying there are plenty of good deals on ebay. You have to be lucky, and sometimes you have to buy in large quantities.

I don't see higher prices on ebay for most single tapes. There are always individuals who list at unusually high prices, but they rarely sell. Most of my prices have stayed the same, some I lowered, and a few I raised (like the SA-XG, maybe the Vertex). I tend to raise my prices mostly when I run low on a tape, not so much from watching other sales. Overall my tape sales are down quite a bit. I think part of it is that there seems to be a glut of tapes showing up lately. Just look right now and there are dozens of very desirable tapes either for collectors or for (gasp!) actual users!

So for me right now is a buying opportunity; the economy is in the tank, and lots of tapes are showing up , some with very good prices. dr.bo



What I have notice that everyone seems to be getting on the wagon. Here it is; if a seller sees that another seller stared the bid at $1 and ends up in 20.00 then that other seller wants to sell at the same price. I saw a box of 10 of Fuji FR Metal go for over 120.00, now that set the price for other sellers to start at 12.00 for ea and so is happening with everything. I also see some ridiculous prices on normal tape and so on. Do I think that a Maxell Vertex is worth 80.00, NO! But that is what the market fetches so be it. I have HX-S 60 and I wanted to try a 90 min an end up paying 16.00 do I think is worth that no way, but I wanted to try it and that is what the market is at. So are there any great deals out there, yes here in the US, you just have to look hard. I have to admit that most of my Super metals I got more than 4 years ago and I found some sweet deals. I remember that when I first saw the SA-XG I wanted to have some so I bought from Dr.Bo, a couple for 30.00 and some at 26.00 each, I think it was a total of 6, then they stared to show on Ebay and I bought some at an average of 10.00 and the same happened with other tapes. But I have to agree that it is getting very difficult to find the best of the tapes. So if you want to get some great deals you have to stay vigilant. I will use Dr.Bo as an example in another threat he mention that he bought 6 cases of 5 pack ea Maxell Vertex for 100.00 each, he said he was browsing when suddenly the tapes pop up on Ebay, now he sells each for 50.00, nothing wrong with that 50.00 ea still a great price for this tapes. The other day before my eyes some of the older gold AD-X 90 pop on the computer for 8.00 buy it now and I got them. I bet this record sweet and they are worth more tan 10.00 each. Matt sold on Ebay for 19.99 5 AD 90 tapes and nobody bother to bid or so I bought them. I though that it was a super fair price I seen people pay 10.00 for each. I also bought from on Ebay from Dimka5 some Basf Chrome Super II 90 and I paid an average of 5.00 ea, I got to say that these got to be one of the tapes that sound just as good as some of the best Metal tapes, very, very close. So this is a heck of a deal is not metal but sounds better tan some metals. I work hard and really don't have the time to look at the computer from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but from time to time I look and get lucky. I really hope that some of you that still looking for the best can find it and enjoy it.
Cheers,
Angel

[KatCassidy]

May I please request a small favor, please, Dr Bo? When you next feel like selling some of your stash, could you please give me a PM about six months in advance? Not so I can get in first, but so that I can save up to actually be able to afford them! The only thing stopping me buying in bulk is the up front price!

For those who might wish to criticize my above criticism, I am not actually criticizing anybody/anything. I'm just stating that, if I am to buy some tapes in bulk, I need some time to save up is all.

[dr.bo]

I can't tell you what I am going to sell in 6 months. I barely know what I am going to list next week!
dr.bo

[stuwee]

w @r #00k!n9 0rw@r~ 70 %05 r@gh!n9 !7

on Wednesday 2015

*lmao**lmao**lmao* *thumbsup*

[KatCassidy]

I can't tell you what I am going to sell in 6 months. I barely know what I am going to list next week!
Well, I was being sarcastic with saying 6 months but if you're listing a fair few all the time, I think I'll start saving anyway then! *hope*

[braxus]

Well, I was being sarcastic with saying 6 months but if you're listing a fair few all the time, I think I'll start saving anyway then! *hope*

I would just save for a slush fund and then email Joel as to what you are looking for. Then he may list it for you and you bid.

[dr.bo]

Emailing me and asking me to list something works a lot better for me. It happens often, and I can go to the program TURBOLISTER, and then pick the tapes requested (if I have them) and dump them into the "to be uploaded" file. I have no idea how all this works, I am like a trained monkey astronaut, I just know which buttons to push, and if I get it right, I get a banana. dr.bo

[braxus]

Cool. Joel there are some tapes you had listed, but didn't relist this last round. Come time for me to bid- I'll email you what tapes I want and you can list them.

[JaeTee]

Classic....

There is a seller from Lithuania that just posted an auction for 5 packs of BASF Chrome Super II tapes.... (black wrapper, with minimal graphics). Price was $9.99 w/$10 international shipping.

I thought about buying some, but had to leave for a few hours... I just came back and saw that one buyer bought out all 18 lots of those 5-packs! I wonder if that was one our esteemed ebay-seller-members??? BASF Linky

I see that same tape selling for around $7.50~$8 each by other sellers.

You snooze, you lose!

Then again, that same seller has these other BASF Chrome Super II tapes for sale for $5.99 per five pack, so I bought some of these instead. Other BASF Linky (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190292594264&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=190293104016&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D 4%26ps%3D41)

Aside from the case/packaging (I prefer the less flashy look of the other version) does anyone know if there a formulation or substantial quality difference between these two?

[dr.bo]

I would need to know wha you were intereste in by Friday night at the latest. I usually figure out what I want to list on Friday night and Sat. Thanks, dr.bo


Cool. Joel there are some tapes you had listed, but didn't relist this last round. Come time for me to bid- I'll email you what tapes I want and you can list them.

[braxus]

Good to know Joel. It will be a couple weeks. More like April.

[dr.bo]

Sorry Jae Tee, I plead guilty! lyraabc is a good seller and I have bought from him many times. And you are right- if you see a good deal, don't hesitate or it may be gone. I left the later version of these tapes alone, because I stock this earlier version and it made sense to me to add these to the stock. dr.bo


Classic....

There is a seller from Lithuania that just posted an auction for 5 packs of BASF Chrome Super II tapes.... (black wrapper, with minimal graphics). Price was $9.99 w/$10 international shipping.

I thought about buying some, but had to leave for a few hours... I just came back and saw that one buyer bought out all 18 lots of those 5-packs! I wonder if that was one our esteemed ebay-seller-members??? BASF Linky

I see that same tape selling for around $7.50~$8 each by other sellers.

You snooze, you lose!

Then again, that same seller has these other BASF Chrome Super II tapes for sale for $5.99 per five pack, so I bought some of these instead. Other BASF Linky (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190292594264&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=190293104016&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D 4%26ps%3D41)

Aside from the case/packaging (I prefer the less flashy look of the other version) does anyone know if there a formulation or substantial quality difference between these two?

[JaeTee]

Is there a difference in the formulation? I may pick up another 5 pack just have an even 10.

Sorry Jae Tee, I plead guilty! lyraabc is a good seller and I have bought from him many times. And you are right- if you see a good deal, don't hesitate or it may be gone. I left the later version of these tapes alone, because I stock this earlier version and it made sense to me to add these to the stock. dr.bo

[braxus]

Is there a difference in the formulation? I may pick up another 5 pack just have an even 10.

Yes there is. The older tape was a true chrome tape, while the newer is a cobalt doped tape. That would produce a difference, but which one you'd like better is up to you.

[JaeTee]

Yes there is. The older tape was a true chrome tape, while the newer is a cobalt doped tape. That would produce a difference, but which one you'd like better is up to you.

I figured there had to be some reason for the price difference... that explains it. Thanks Braxus.

Yet another thing to test!!!!

I'm falling way behind in all the testing I wanted to do! We better have lots of rainy days this year...

[JaeTee]

Someone got a great deal here!!!

Vintage TDKs for dirt cheap (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110361968782)

[stuwee]

Someone got a great deal here!!!

Vintage TDKs for dirt cheap (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110361968782)

They sho nuff did!!

[braxus]

I thought some Ebay prices were high, so look at these prices! This seller puts pricing in Euros if I read it correctly.

http://www.audioscope.net/cassette-decks-compact-cassettes-c-28_61.html?osCsid=64c7fadd17a721d3f65e6768a2a2d2b9

[stuwee]

I thought some Ebay prices were high, so look at these prices! This seller puts pricing in Euros if I read it correctly.

http://www.audioscope.net/cassette-decks-compact-cassettes-c-28_61.html?osCsid=64c7fadd17a721d3f65e6768a2a2d2b9

You can switch the currency to US dollars on the left to get a better idea of the pricing, *eyepop* on the BASF La Linea! Lot's of stuff us 'sewers' can't get very often though....

[iamhifi]

People dig and you will find out there the Net is a wonderful place to start. My latest find from the net, not Ebay great price seal TDK AD 1985 new 8 for 20.00, it got better 2 new TDK MA 100 for .99 and 2.00 For shipping, another new TDK MA 100 .99 and 1.99 shipping, and my latest score 5 Sony SMM in the box 55.00 each, Ok is not a great deal, is decent and they sell for a lot more on Epay, here is the thing I like this tape a lot and it was well worth it.
Angel

[iamhifi]

People dig and you will find out there the Net is a wonderful place to start. My latest find from the net, not Ebay great price seal TDK AD 1985 new 8 for 20.00, it got better 2 new TDK MA 100 for .99 and 2.00 For shipping, another new TDK MA 100 .99 and 1.99 shipping, and my latest score 5 Sony SMM in the box 55.00 each, Ok is not a great deal, is decent and they sell for a lot more on Epay, here is the thing I like this tape a lot and it was well worth it.
Angel

My bad, the metals are 110 min.
Angel

[Des-Lab]

I don't know. Things look kinda bleak out there for us sellers. I just took a peek at fellow TH'er Dr.Bo's auctions. They've been up for all week and are to end this afternoon. As of this writing, out of 112 auctions listed, only 17 had bids on them. Seventeen. Out of a hundred and twelve. And as usual, he has a good, ecclectic variety, from the top end to the common but high quality down to the obscure and low quality. In the not too distant past, if you wanted a sealed Vertex, you had to pay out three figures. Today, they are down to about half that. And STILL not selling. But in this connundrum is, as noted, plenty of bargains out there for those who are looking. It seems to me that the high priced stuff seems to be single pieces intended for collection. If you are looking for multi-piece lots of good tapes for actual use, skies the limit for buyers for many of your better mid-level tapes. I didn't see any prices on any of those 117 that looked exhorbitant or unreasonable. The impression I often get is that the ones complaining the most about so-called high prices are the ones who evidently haven't realized that we are now living in 2009. And not 1986. But they feel a sense of entitlement that they should *only* pay 1986 prices (with 2009 dollars of course). Remember. $5 in '86 in terms of purchasing power is actually worth ≈$11 today.

[dr.bo]

Thanks for the plug! Actually, most of my sales occur by sniping in the last couple of minutes. This week with an hour to go I have 25 auctions with sales, for almost 25% of my listings, which is a pretty good week. The best week I ever had was around 42% of listings having bids. But it is true, I think, that right now is a buyers market. I have purchased over 2000 tapes in the last few months at prices I haven't seen in a couple years. I am using my income from sales to buy more tapes. I have faith in the future. dr.bo

[Tapemystic]

Hmm...Maybe Dr Bo should snap up these Super Ferrics AD-X 90's a seller is offering here, an entire box, not everyone can afford by the Box like me .... *eyepop*

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TDK-AD-X-90-BOX-OF-10-BLANK-TAPES-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ330314476939QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Bla nk_Media?hash=item330314476939&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

[braxus]

...AD-X 90's a seller is offering here, an entire box, not everyone can afford by the Box like me

I feel for you. In the past I couldn't afford more then a XL-II tape from the store. Today I've probably bought more tapes then I ever have in my lifetime. Maybe as someone else suggested- get a slush fund and save up and put into it for that day when these tapes come along. Then when you're ready- you can pounce on such an auction.

[iamhifi]

DES you are correct things are not moving to high, specially the Super tapes. But I see that the mid level metals like the TDK MA, Maxell MX, TDK MA-X, Maxell MX-S are selling for a little more than usual. Most of this tapes were about 10.00 and now are selling for about 14-20. So are the the Normal tapes are fetching some good money. So the Market still moving is just a bit slow. There also some Deals out there.
Angel

[braxus]

That is one redeming thing of late. The super tapes are getting cheaper and these are the exact tapes Im after lately. Now if I could just get the spare dollars to pull the trigger on those BIN auctions. *hope*

[dr.bo]

I have been tempted by these, that's for sure! dr.bo


Hmm...Maybe Dr Bo should snap up these Super Ferrics AD-X 90's a seller is offering here, an entire box, not everyone can afford by the Box like me .... *eyepop*

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TDK-AD-X-90-BOX-OF-10-BLANK-TAPES-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ330314476939QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Bla nk_Media?hash=item330314476939&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

[Maxell-LN]

Way ahead of you bro. I pitched the idea of a petition to bring back audiophile cassettes. (http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=2852)
Repsonse was tepid at best. We all got but a single, predictable canned response of denial from Maxell and everyone immediately threw in the towel.

They just have to alter the current plant that makes their XL II tapes, I guess the hartest thing is trying to communicate this to the people in Maxell who make these decisions. We can only seem to access the customer care, who are told to give a standard response to every enquire they receive. I guess that's the barrier. :(

Their management in Japan are asleep at the wheel. How do they do their research, do they check ebay? check forums? It seems their customer service area is their firewall to reality. :(

[braxus]

Has anyone gave Maxell another response lately? No need to stop trying.

[Tapemystic]

Maybe wake up the folk at Maxell, TDK from their tiny sounding $iPods *sigh*
It looks like I'm going to try a luck hand at lotto too...I'm not sure if Dr Bo will buy the rare TDK AD-X Box(es) of tapes on eBay ?!? Real frustrating...

And hope that some of my eBay bought Tapes are in the mail ...:)

[dr.bo]

I am passing on the AD-X tapes in pursuit of a couple better deals. Thanks, Joel

[Mr. Lin]

If you are looking for multi-piece lots of good tapes for actual use, skies the limit for buyers for many of your better mid-level tapes.

Seriously - I just won three sealed four-packs (twelve cassettes) of TDK AR tapes for $26!

[iamhifi]

I am passing on the AD-X tapes in pursuit of a couple better deals. Thanks, Joel

Joel,
I thought just like you the ADX were not a great deal for the asking price. Anyway I am with you on waiting for the great deal. I just saw the deals you got from that fellow in Italy, good for you, that will keep your business going for a while. And I might get some from you. I also pick up a box of 5 SSMM for 55.00 each and 5.00 for shipping, not a great deal but considering that the last sold for 65.00 ea and individuals are selling for more, I guess is not a bad deal, besides I like this tapes.
Angel

[Tapemystic]

I just found these tapes on OZ ebay 5 sealed SONY METAL Master C90 Tapes for AU$20 currently....I'm not so into Metal tapes, rather chromes and Premium/super-ferrics ...*eyepop*

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SONY-METALMASTER-CASSETTES-90-MIN_W0QQitemZ150332503428QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Ele ctronics_Accessories_Blank_CDs_Tapes?hash=item1503 32503428&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318#ebayphot ohosting

Only Catch no Paypal, apparently no overseas shipping too...Propably very enticing for any OZ TH's into Metal tapes ...:)

I'm not sure if one can entice me for Metal tapes ....Hm?!?

[Naknut]

At the current price its a great deal but, it won't be at that price for very long. I believe that we have some other Aussies on TH here who might jump on this.

[dr.bo]

There are more good deals out there right now then I have money for. I had to turn down 90 Fuji Metal Z 60s for 250 EUROS just today. I was already buying 100 from the seller, just no more money at the moment. dr.bo


Joel,
I thought just like you the ADX were not a great deal for the asking price. Anyway I am with you on waiting for the great deal. I just saw the deals you got from that fellow in Italy, good for you, that will keep your business going for a while. And I might get some from you. I also pick up a box of 5 SSMM for 55.00 each and 5.00 for shipping, not a great deal but considering that the last sold for 65.00 ea and individuals are selling for more, I guess is not a bad deal, besides I like this tapes.
Angel

[braxus]

There are more good deals out there right now then I have money for. I had to turn down 90 Fuji Metal Z 60s for 250 EUROS just today. I was already buying 100 from the seller, just no more money at the moment. dr.bo

I hear yah Joel. I've been eyeing those cheaper Metal Master and MA-XG tapes from Dr. Azimuth lately and would love to pull the trigger. They are as cheap as I've seen them. But I've already blown my budget for this and next month. Never seem to come across any bulk tapes though as you have.

[dr.bo]

I hate to tell you: I just bought 20 sealed Sony Metal Master 90s for 250, and 29 Maxell MX 90s for 100 delivered. dr.bo

[braxus]

I hate to tell you: I just bought 20 sealed Sony Metal Master 90s for 250, and 29 Maxell MX 90s for 100 delivered. dr.bo

Good score Joel. I wish I saw the seller of those. Could it be Freedman? I thought his tapes didn't sell? I also see you are bidding on that one guys auction for 5 Metal Masters for $15 each. I bet there will be a sniper on that one. Don't worry- it won't be me. Next month however.... :)

[KatCassidy]

Dr. Bo, what is your eBay name? You keep getting plugs but I don't know who I'm looking for?

On that note - this is for everybody who wants to snipe me - I'm on the lookout for BASF CEII's, CR-II 353's, TDK AR's and one TDK-MA-XG. Current budget: Zero

*reelspin*__*reelspin*

[Tapemystic]

Here is Dr. Bo's ebay Store *eyepop*
http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/OXIDENATION__W0QQ_armrsZ1
I'm quite broke too at the moment ...I'm looking for AD-X/AR-X and Maxell XLI-S 90's but these arent there, but all the BASF tapes he got from the Lithuanian seller are..,BASF Chrome Super II's *eyepop*

[dr.bo]

actually I haven't got the BASFs yet. The ones I list I already had. Many sources out there. dr.bo

[KatCassidy]

*eyepop*

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BASF-353-CR-II-STUDIO-90-TAPE-SEALED_W0QQitemZ130293794665QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_ Blank_Media?hash=item130293794665&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

One of my favourite blank tapes *hearts*

At 7.5 times the price I used to pay for it *brokeheart*

Dr. Bo, if they don't sell, would you take US$10 for both of them? ($5 each) If yes, PM me. If no, post here. I have PayPal. *hope*

Obviously, if you paid more than this to acquire them then I expect yo to say no.

<edit> *looking thru Dr Bo's eBay store* Not that your prices are bad, Dr. Bo - given some prices I've seen lately, yours are reasonable *check*

[dr.bo]

Thanks for the offer, but I can't sorry. I only have 5 or 6 of them left. I have been looking for more of these for a long time, and can't find anymore. dr.bo

[KatCassidy]

Fair enough. Do you relist your tapes at all?

I have been looking for more of these for a long time, and can't find anymore.
That makes two of us


This next bit goes out to everybody, not just Dr Bo:

Regarding this item:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TDK-CDing-2-70-TYPE-II-SEALED_W0QQitemZ350178410719QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_ Blank_Media?hash=item350178410719&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262

http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=3116
I am seeking this in ANY length (they are available from C-30 up to C-150) so if you have them let me know if/when you list them and I'll try and get them whenever I can! Not saying if you list them that I will get them, but I will certainly try to! Depends on if it's my off week or good week.

[braxus]

Kat,

You might want to put your request in the Wanted To Buy section. That way people can look for it.

[JaeTee]

I think this is a reasonable auction for some TDK SA's. (http://cgi.ebay.com/Thirty-TDK-SA-90-High-Bias-Cassette-Tapes-New-In-Box_W0QQitemZ300301300374QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_Bla nk_Media?hash=item300301300374&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318)

I hope someone from here scores these...

[Tapemystic]

Just opened a Paypal dispute for unreceived Maxell XLII 100's (5-6 of them) from a UK Seller who already sent me feedback request email, 3-4+ weeks since sent...Postal theft?!? Come one Posties, deliver the tapes...*fit*

Sniped savagely for BASF Super Chromes C60's ...Endprice $AU101! *sigh*
Sniped on a small lot of TDK SA 100's on OZ ebAy ... *sigh*

St Patrics Day...Sniper Day!

No real luck whatsoever...Hope Kat got the 4 TDK SA's in the meanwhile...:)

[braxus]

Mystic- Doesn't mail going to Aussieland take up to 6 weeks to arrive? I had something shipped here from Austrialia and it took 2 1/2 months to get here. Or was it shipped Air?

[gamve]

Just opened a Paypal dispute for unreceived Maxell XLII 100's (5-6 of them) from a UK Seller who already sent me feedback request email, 3-4+ weeks since sent...Postal theft?!? Come one Posties, deliver the tapes...*fit*

Sniped savagely for BASF Super Chromes C60's ...Endprice $AU101! *sigh*
Sniped on a small lot of TDK SA 100's on OZ ebAy ... *sigh*

St Patrics Day...Sniper Day!

No real luck whatsoever...Hope Kat got the 4 TDK SA's in the meanwhile...:)

I had a go at the BASF's as well. Too rich for me.

[Tapemystic]

Mystic- Doesn't mail going to Aussieland take up to 6 weeks to arrive? I had something shipped here from Austrialia and it took 2 1/2 months to get here. Or was it shipped Air?
Airmail...Not Seamail ...They should be here, but where are they?!?

Paypal dispute open...See if the seller can track down the tapes *sigh*

I had a go at the BASF's as well. Too rich for me.

$100 bid! ...That other bidder must possibly have bid around $200... *sigh*

[gamve]

Most of the stuff coming from the states to Aussie has to go airmail. You will find it difficult to get a sea mail option.
Best delivery I've had was a box of 80 tapes....4 days.

[Tapemystic]

I wonder what the hyoe/fuss of these AD's is?!? Savy sniper bidder, and such a high price ...$AU35! *eyepop* *sigh*

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=120389910444

The UK XLII's didnt arrive either...Only wonder if Kat got the TDK SA's ?!?

[gamve]

At the current price its a great deal but, it won't be at that price for very long. I believe that we have some other Aussies on TH here who might jump on this.

Yep you got that right *Hi5*

[Tapemystic]

3 TDK Limited Edition SA 90's ...An Edition I never seen *eyepop*
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200321700049&_trksid=e11002.m204&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%252BIA%26itu%3DIA%25 2BUCI%26otn%3D10&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:AU:1348

The Sony METAL Masters still here... soon ending
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=150332503428#ebayphotohosting

*reelspin*

[Maxell-LN]

Classic....

There is a seller from Lithuania that just posted an auction for 5 packs of BASF Chrome Super II tapes.... (black wrapper, with minimal graphics). Price was $9.99 w/$10 international shipping.

I thought about buying some, but had to leave for a few hours... I just came back and saw that one buyer bought out all 18 lots of those 5-packs! I wonder if that was one our esteemed ebay-seller-members??? BASF Linky

I see that same tape selling for around $7.50~$8 each by other sellers.

You snooze, you lose!

Then again, that same seller has these other BASF Chrome Super II tapes for sale for $5.99 per five pack, so I bought some of these instead. Other BASF Linky (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190292594264&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=190293104016&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refwidgettype=osi_widget&_trksid=p284.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D 4%26ps%3D41)

Aside from the case/packaging (I prefer the less flashy look of the other version) does anyone know if there a formulation or substantial quality difference between these two?



I made this same mistake with the TDK AD 120's that were listed on ebay about a week ago, they were five packs of 5 for $19 each, and they were basically gone within two days. The only thing stopping me at the time was the crappy exchange rate, which has got much better over the last week here down-under.