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So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 2:44 pm
by chromebone
So what is the deal these eBay sellers from Japan listing horns and mouthpieces at these outrageous prices that no sane person would consider?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306688740631
$11,900 for a SS Duo Gravis? And it doesn’t even have the gold wash? What is the business model here? These listings just end up staying for months or even years in some cases.
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 2:58 pm
by Burgerbob
This was the case for a LONG time before the recent downturn of the Yen. I think those are just very high going market rates for some instruments in the Japan market.
I actually excluded Japan from my ebay searches for years because it would just be flooded with $6000 used Bach 50Bs. Looks like we're returning to that!
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 5:09 pm
by JohnL
It's not a common instrument here in the USA, so I expect you'd be hard pressed to find one in Japan. It looks pretty nice, and it does have a D crook. Maybe the seller really thinks they can get that much for it.
Then again, maybe this listing is just part of someone's sales strategy.
I plan to keep an eye on it, just to see what (if anything) transpires.
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 6:10 pm
by ithinknot
It's not a real price... because that's not the real seller.
These accounts all function as casual forwarding services. Look at the "Seller's other items" for the listing linked above; it's a more-or-less random assortment of items with no consistency in the photography. They take real listings from JDM shops and online marketplaces (which are nearly always closed to overseas buyers) and repost on US eBay with a shipping and service markup that's anywhere between moderate and insane. If you buy, they purchase the item and export it to you. This sort of thing has been around for a long time, though these days most of the accounts are probably wholly automated. It's not a scam, but the model depends on low information buyers. The feedback tends to include quite a few complaints about cancellations... because of course sometimes by the time they attempt to buy the item on your behalf, it's already gone.
Between reverse image search, a VPN, and knowing where to look, it's usually possible to track down the original listing, in which case you can employ a reputable forwarding company instead. Obviously, they don't work for free either, but the fees tend to be straightforwardly service-related rather than commission.
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 6:35 pm
by ithinknot
Here's your SS DG:
https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/x1205805040
Bidding at 1000000 JPY and Buy It Now at 1200000, so in this case the real asking price is also unreasonably high, but the eBay reseller price is still close to double
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 8:40 pm
by chromebone
ithinknot wrote: Fri Jan 02, 2026 6:10 pm
It's not a real price... because that's not the real seller.
These accounts all function as casual forwarding services. Look at the "Seller's other items" for the listing linked above; it's a more-or-less random assortment of items with no consistency in the photography. They take real listings from JDM shops and online marketplaces (which are nearly always closed to overseas buyers) and repost on US eBay with a shipping and service markup that's anywhere between moderate and insane. If you buy, they purchase the item and export it to you. This sort of thing has been around for a long time, though these days most of the accounts are probably wholly automated. It's not a scam, but the model depends on low information buyers. The feedback tends to include quite a few complaints about cancellations... because of course sometimes by the time they attempt to buy the item on your behalf, it's already gone.
Between reverse image search, a VPN, and knowing where to look, it's usually possible to track down the original listing, in which case you can employ a reputable forwarding company instead. Obviously, they don't work for free either, but the fees tend to be straightforwardly service-related rather than commission.
Thanks for that explanation, at least in theory that’s a business model that makes some sort of sense, although they don’t always get the pricing right. I was looking at the seller’s other items. Most are musical instruments, some are outrageously priced, some are a bit on the expensive side, and a few are a good deal like this one.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/306690831590
Fretless Rickenbacker basses are desirable and uncommon; this is pretty much the going price for one.
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:40 am
by hyperbolica
A couple of years ago I had pretty good results with some Japanese sellers. I bought a couple of Yamahas (say a model 455, maybe a 350c) in fantastic condition for around $750 with free shipping that only took a couple of days.
Don't write off all Japanese sellers, but do pay attention. There are good deals to be had.
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 1:16 pm
by ithinknot
hyperbolica wrote: Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:40 am
Don't write off all Japanese sellers, but do pay attention. There are good deals to be had.
Very true... it's just that there are even better deals to be had on the exact same item if you step away from eBay
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2026 2:22 pm
by norbie2018
ithinknot wrote: Sat Jan 03, 2026 1:16 pm
hyperbolica wrote: Sat Jan 03, 2026 10:40 am
Don't write off all Japanese sellers, but do pay attention. There are good deals to be had.
Very true... it's just that there are even better deals to be had on the exact same item if you step away from eBay
Where are those other places?
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2026 2:40 am
by ithinknot
norbie2018 wrote: Sat Jan 03, 2026 2:22 pm
Where are those other places?
See above - Yahoo is the origin in most cases, though some of these accounts trawl more widely
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2026 8:14 am
by hyperbolica
ithinknot wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 2:40 am
See above - Yahoo is the origin in most cases, though some of these accounts trawl more widely
That's pretty vague, and at the end of the day the prize is pretty poor - midline Yamahas.
Re: So what is the story with these eBay retailers from Japan?
Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2026 10:40 am
by ithinknot
hyperbolica wrote: Sun Jan 04, 2026 8:14 am
That's pretty vague, and at the end of the day the prize is pretty poor - midline Yamahas.
Well, the longer answer is that the source could be literally anywhere - which is why I mentioned the need for reverse image search - and the eBay resellers that seem to specialize in instruments do sometimes lift from brick-and-mortar Tokyo shops... but Yahoo Japan Auction accounts for the vast majority, with the odd contribution from the non-auction craigslist-style sites like Rakuma or Mercari. Yamahas are unsurprisingly cheaper in Japan, sure, but other brands are well represented and like any market there are bargains if you're not in a hurry. I bought the best-playing Bach I've ever met (an early Corp LT12) from Japan for just under $600.