I have been buying and selling on eBay for a little more than a month now and I had been doing pretty well. All of that has changed. I was reading in David's threads about how people frown on reserves and such. I really had no choice with the one drum that I listed. I had found a 60's round badge shell for a good price. It had no wrap on and it had a crack that went from the tack hole to the bearing edge. It wasn't deep. Only the inner ply. I repaired it. (I am a professional carpenter and do this stuff for a living.) I decided to gather the rest of the era correct parts that I needed to make the shell a drum again. It took about 480 bucks to gather everything. I purchased some antique white wrap and some fiberskin heads and put it up on eBay. I set the reserve @ 480 thinking that I at least wanted to get my money for the parts back. I enjoyed "bringing the drum back to life" and figured at the very least, (even though it makes my stomach churn just to write this!) The parts alone on the drum were worth it. I had tons of watchers and some questions about shipping overseas and such, but when all was said and done the auction ended at 51 bucks! Am I missing something? I admit that I was scared not to lose money on the drum (even though the reserve was not including what I spent on the wrap and heads.) I just don't understand the amount of interest vs the actual bids. heck...I spent a buck 27 on the badge alone! The drum looks and sounds phenomenal! I take great pics and I do meticulous work.

In addition to this drum, I had a sling single ply (1962) Black/brass niles badge without the serial. It had some extra little holes and a bent rim and some slight pitting. No strainer because the original clamshell broke, so I repaired the incorrect holes and left the originals alone. I bought some vintage sky blue wrap (the original had been light blue pearl that was removed by someone else and the drum wrapped with white) And really fixed it up. It always sounded great. Even with a modern strainer on. I put a lot of effort into the shell to "re vitalize" it and again took real good pics. I listed it (and these drums are still listed BTW) With a high buy now price and a make offer tag. I figured that if it was too much then someone would just offer me a lot less. I have limited watchers but a lot of hits. No body has even sniffed an offer! I actually had one guy tell me that it was only worth 50 bucks! I have more into it than that in just the new heads and wrap! I figured that it would be worth at least a buck. I mean I have a bass shell that I want to restore from the same kit that doesn't have a badge. I can't even find a niles badge w/o the #. Again...am I just completely missing the boat here?

Any input or constructive advise would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kurt