RAILforum: These new 'Right Now on eBay' ads -

This is topic These new 'Right Now on eBay' ads - in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

How about these new ads on the top of the forum page directing you to model trains and old timetables being auctioned 'right now' on eBay?

Funniest thing since the 'teach yourself bagpipe' or 'make your own kilt' ads we used to get on our ponies and pipers threads.

I'm going to have to exercise great restraint because I could easily bankrupt myself by January.

Posted by Geoff M (Member # 153) on :

One has to wonder whether those actually exist, or whether eBay et al simply speculate that those items "usually" exist. Knowing how Google Adwords works, I have to say the latter. In theory (though it didn't work last time I mentioned this), now you've mentioned bagpipes and ponies, there should be adverts for these any day soon...

I once went into a travel agent who had half a dozen interesting holidays ("vacations") advertised in his window. I was very flexible on dates. I asked about the first one. "What date would you like to travel," he says. "Whatever date is at that price," says I. "Oh no sir, we can't do that. You have to tell us what date you want and then we can tell you if it's available". "But what date did you get that price for that you're advertising in the window?". "Er...". Suffice to say that none of the holidays were available at the prices advertised.

Yes, there are laws against the false advertising all around us, but not the right people - or enough of them - to enforce them it seems. And that's both sides of the Great Pond, from what I've seen. "Biggest", "best", "nation's favourite" - on who's authority?

Geoff M.

Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :

Usually on ebay they really do exist. The problem is finding precisely what you want. I have gotten some 20 to 30 year old employee timetables for a few dollars. On the otherhand, there was a 55 year old NC&StL timetable I wanted, but not bad enough. The price was approaching grounds for divorce when I dropped out. Both what is offered and what the price will be can be highly variable and unpredictible.

Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

quote:
Originally posted by George Harris:
Usually on ebay they really do exist. The problem is finding precisely what you want. I have gotten some 20 to 30 year old employee timetables for a few dollars. On the otherhand, there was a 55 year old NC&StL timetable I wanted, but not bad enough. The price was approaching grounds for divorce when I dropped out. Both what is offered and what the price will be can be highly variable and unpredictible.

I had a similar experience going after one of the few pre-Amtrak public timetables issued by the newly merged Burlington Northern Railroad. I dropped out rather than pay $45.00 for a 1970 timetable. (Managed to get the same timetanle a couple of years later for under $10.00.)

Posted by Geoff M (Member # 153) on :

code:

Scottish Piper
Experienced Scottish Piper for all occasions. Weddings, Parties, B'day 
www.gracenote.org.uk

As appeared in Google Ads at the top of the page this morning. Your experience may differ.

I accept that they probably *do* exist, but to advertise speculatively isn't really within the spirit of the law, if not the law itself.

Geoff M.

Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

An old band directors' joke-

'What's the difference between a bagpipe and a chainsaw?'

'You can tune the chainsaw!'

Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :

quote:
Originally posted by notelvis:
'What's the diffeence between a bagpipe and a chainsaw?'

'You can tune the chainsaw!'

I love it, I love it, I love it.

Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :

note the ad on the top of this page for BAGPIPES. I wonder when we get the ones for chainsaws

Posted by tarheelman (Member # 6095) on :

quote:
Originally posted by notelvis:
An old band directors' joke-

'What's the difference between a bagpipe and a chainsaw?'

'You can tune the chainsaw!'

Good one!

Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :

The bagpipes ad is NOT on my office computer at 8:05 AM ET on this day, Wednesday 11/14......

Posted by Geoff M (Member # 153) on :

Google ads are psuedo-random: that is, the more an advertiser pays, the more likely their ad appears. The ads are targetted according to the user's location (hence why I got Scottish bagpipers) and the content of the webpage. Then it's fairly random as to which of the ads fulfilling the basic target requirements actually gets shown. If you refresh this page, you may get a completely different set of ads.

Since the Scottish, I've also had London bagpipers, but today all are rail-related.

Geoff M.

Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

My ads this morning are for 'Historic US Railroad Maps' and 'Railroad Contractors'.

Guess I'm all set for when I build my own railroad!

Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :

Mine is for railroad whistleblowers. That is akin to bagpipes I suppose.

Posted by CoastStarlight99 (Member # 2734) on :

Sign up for eBay alerts.
That way eBay will notify you when "exactly what you want" becomes available.

eBay is a great service and about 80% of my railroad stuff is from there. I actually have about 900 feedback. [Roll Eyes]

And to the original question .. sometimes it is totally wrong. You can do a search engine search for let's say.. "Vizio 60" HD TV" and it will say they found on eon eBay when it may not be there. It really just depends...

Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :

Today I have an ad for "Husker vinyl porch rail" at the top of this page -- for a vinyl porch railing! (just what I need!!! ---LOL---)

Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :

Mine today is for railcar movers. And I thought those cars looked so grand in my yard!!! On second thought maybe I should send that ad to CSX . You might have heard about their freight train that ended up in the Anacostia River(in DC) loaded with coal. Someone forgot to set the brakes and the train took off and rolled across the bridge that was closed for repair.Now they have to get few cars still on the bridgeoff and the ones in the river out ditto the coal.