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[The Blues Viking]

I know that people advise not to buy on eBay, and I have had some hair-raising experiences, but the box I play every day was bought sight unseen (through this group not eBay), my Liliput was bought on eBay (with an intention to restore of course), my Oakwood was bought on eBay, my G/C was bought on eBay... if you restrict your scope for buying to those boxes you can play in person, you limit the choice of available boxes.  If you buy from a music shop you are also likely to spend significantly more money.

Well, to be honest, I did buy my first Erica on Ebay, paid a couple of hundred dollars for it, and was satisfied with it for years, but haven't had as good a buy since. And even the Erica wasn't what I expected. A stick-on Polish flag covered some damage to the MOTS, and the case had a sticker that said "A/D", clearly visible in the photos, but when I got the thing it was in G/C. But that was just my second box. I've learned since.

TBV

[Graham Spencer]

my Oakwood was bought on eBay,

As a general rule, I would have thought that buying a prestige box such as an Oakwood in eBay is a far safer bet than buying a beginner's box. Anyone selling an instrument like an Oakwood is likely to know what they're about, as is any potential purchaser.  I would think that would apply to any area on eBay - top-end gear, whether it's musical instruments, tools, photographic equipment, whatever, is likely to be a safer buy than cheap & cheerful. 

[Theo]

my Oakwood was bought on eBay,

As a general rule, I would have thought that buying a prestige box such as an Oakwood in eBay is a far safer bet than buying a beginner's box.

Agreed with a couple of important exceptions.  With any expensive item on ebay there is a small risk of buying a stolen box, or being taken in by a fraudulent auction.

[Alison Scott]

my Oakwood was bought on eBay,

As a general rule, I would have thought that buying a prestige box such as an Oakwood in eBay is a far safer bet than buying a beginner's box.

Agreed with a couple of important exceptions.  With any expensive item on ebay there is a small risk of buying a stolen box, or being taken in by a fraudulent auction.

I'd agree with both of these; luckily, if there are convincing melodeon-selling fraudsters out there I haven't found one, because in every case a couple of emails back and forth to the seller has removed all doubt from my mind.  And this group has been quite assiduous in spotting those fraudulent grey Paolos. I think this is true for most things actually -- while I am sure there are clever, plausible thieves out there whose story convinces in depth,  I don't think you find many of them on eBay when there are much bigger scams to perpetrate.

I think in truth the trick with buying second-hand is to be spending little enough that you don't much care what nick the box is in, or enough that you can spend some time working out who's owned the box, who's been tuning it, that sort of thing. It's the middle ground where the risk occurs.