Two auctions for "51" flighters just went for fairly cheaply I believe in flighter standards for prices. Here are the links

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=001
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...A:IT&ih=001

What am I missing here?? Are they counterfeits? Or just a really good deal that someone happened to stumble upon?

Look at the listings again, same description, sellers with little feedback, Thailand. These pens don't exist and the buyers are being ripped off.

Most people in the pen hobby know not to buy from anyone in Thailand without checking scrupulously the background and feedback. For what ever reason the place is a haven for ripoff artists who know people will spend money on desireable pens.

Cheers,
Sean

I believe that you are missing the fact that it is a new seller in Thailand, with a low rating and they were both bought by zero rated buyers

Me I smell a bit of a scam

Jim

Ahhh...thanks! Luckily I did not bid on any of those, just thought something was odd.

Yeah...I looked at these, too. I try to be trusting of people, but the zero feedback bidders (also from Thailand) came up I bowed out. Also, all the feedback that the seller had was for $0.01 items, such as a desktop wallpaper. That's right! The listing even said that the sole purpose of the auction was the mutual building of positive feedback. Another was for a free gospel tract.

Sometimes I really hate people (FPN'ers excluded, of course!)

Although, if anyone wants to let their 51 Flighter go for cheap, call me!!

I was cheated before don't bid............

Me too!
And when I posted a question to this Seller and threatened to report them to eBay the "Zero" Feedback Bidder also from Thailand suddenly appeared.
I suspect it was the Seller covering himself/herself with a False Bidder so they didn't get tagged by another P!$$ed Off Buyer.
(Just a Guess)

Yes - something foul in Denmark (or Thailand!). Nothing about that auction was confidence inspiring.

I've seen some flighters sit for awhile undiscovered in lots or where the term "flighter" didn't appear in the description anywhere or where the description is just not very good - but never seen a real one not eventually get uncovered and the bidding go up as expected when it was real and from a real seller.

I noticed that he has a gold capped PFM for sale too. Buyer beware!

I got mine off eBay that was listed incorrectly as a "Flyer." It was described as in "very good condition w/out dents or chips." Got it for about $100 - turns out that there was a pen show the weekend it closed, so I think I was able to sneak in under the radar... but when I received it, there were two hairlines were in the cap. Seller gave me $50 back (was willing to take a return, but I figured even a "parts" flighter was worth $50) and I had it repaired/restored (including the cap) to where my investment is still under $150. Pretty lucky on my part (I think).

It's not perfect, but it's still a pretty nice and very usable Flighter. I'll post a picture soon and ask for opinions.

I, too, saw this one and initially thought "I'm on it..." then I saw the seller's location and feedback and said "No way." If anybody ever does get one at this price, I wonder if we'll ever hear about it?

i totally agree with the other regarding new sellers from Thailand and/or little feedback....you might be up for trouble.
I got a nice flighter in July for 105$, it only has 2 small dings on the barrel, and writes like a dream. It has been with me daily ever since.
Good luck hunting!
Nikolaos

The one I got was just $75.
Both the cap and the barrel were seriously cracked.
I contacted the Seller who offered a refund.
I returned the pen and that's the last I every heard from them.
I later saw the same pictures of the same pen being used by a "different" Seller to list a "different" pen.

Yep... the bay is definately a place for someone with a lot more knowledge than I have. I've bought a few pens off of it, but every one so far (with the exceptions being the ones that I bought from reputable dealers that also list on eBay) has had "issues" during the service (things missing, broken, etc.).

My new rule is unless it is a pen that I really, really want (like the P51 with a solid 14K cap I recently got), then unless it's a pen dealer, I won't bid. I have ended up spending more on a couple of "deals" than it would have costs to get from any reputable dealer. No more bids on sellers that say "I know nothing about pens, but this one is in really good shape for it's age." I'd like to think that I've always been cautious, but not I simply avoid.

I've gained a lot of valuable information from FPN, including an awareness of this kind of scam. Sellers with no feedback from buyers, and the only feedback as a buyer is for one or two cent purchases. Obviously, they have little or no regard for the intelligence of the average EBayer, and don't expect legitimate EBayers to pay any attention to the quality of the feedback. Regardless of the country of origin, this smells.