eBay Watch: May 2008

eBay Watch: May 2008

Well, the boom had to end sometime, and end it did in May. I guess those tax refunds dried up, because deck sales tanked, and when I say tanked, I mean big-time. I only counted seven decks that went for over a thousand dollars in May, and as a regular reader of this column you’ll know that that is low. Not one went even close to $2k. The highest seller this month was a jacket, so that sums it up.

This month’s Baywatch is fueled by Jays Hot potato chips, and by the soothing sounds of Crass, notably The Feeding of the 5000. If you’ve never given Crass a chance, listen to this album. It’s tough going in parts, but the lyrics still pack a punch, even 30 years on. Clash lovers (Randy and Brad) might be offended at times, because the Clash come in for some stick from the fun loving anarchists. Deserved? That’s a matter of opinion, but a lot of what they say is true. Anyway, give it a listen with an open mind.

Check out eBay Watch: May 2008

Discussion

24 thoughts on “eBay Watch: May 2008

  1. That Starkist Tuna shirt is the best. I can’t believe the illustrator snuck a Zorlac logo on there. I also can’t believe the damned fish has kneepads on his tail.

    I get what you are saying abouthtat Nolder graphic (maybe he couldn’t hear what they said when they told him what it was going to be… har.) but That Chris Miller graphic is dull, dull, dull.

    Funny what you said about Brad Baxter, I think he actually ended up living in Champaign in 90 or 91 approx while going to school. Dr Krohn, didn’t we skate a mini with him when I came down to visit you? Oh wait, it gets better. I think the mini was actually my old vert (OK no-vert) ramp that was scavenged and cut down after I abandoned it and moved to Chicago.

    Bernie O

  2. The Hobie Gregg Weaver is a mid-70’s deck. Majerajah was a separate company that made some beautiful inlayed wood decks. This deck was the first one that I saw in a surfing mag and really craved, but I had to settle for the fiberglass “Freestyle” model. Oh, well. Very cool to see a Gregg Weaver out there. Great, stylish skater (I think he was on the cover of the first 70’s issue of Skateboarder carving a pool…).

  3. bernie o'dowd on June 16, 2008 - Reply

    That’s pretty funny about my board. I think like $60 would have been a fair value. I can’t imagine who’s looking for one since my mom already has one.
    It actually is a tracing of Iron Man and the stuff coming out of his head was supposed to look like fire. Y’know, like from Hell.

  4. Hateboard on June 16, 2008 - Reply

    i have a really nice rat bones mechanic jacket circa about ’87.. maybe it’d sell for something..hmmmm.

  5. Make with the skate photos Bernie, let’s see ’em!

  6. great job neil.

  7. I’m seriously bummed I missed that powerflex deck, it looks awesome. I think it’s a Teri Lawrence, though i’m not quite sure…and the Powerflex 9’s are rad. Time was, here in the UK, where they were the ONLY wheels to ride vert on…

  8. I won the Powerflex auction.

    As far as being plain, like Sims and most of the other decks at the time, they simply featured the logo. It was all about shape. That’s what I love about these boards, at the time these pigs were a whole new game, they looked very different. I think this is a generic board, Lawrence and Valdez decks both featured their signature behind the front truck.

    This is the only 10 inch (apart from the later red Webb) deck I’ve ever seen on ebay. And it’s NOS, I couldn’t believe it when I got it.

    It’s now set up with NOS Lazer 8s and 4 colour NOS Powerflex 9s.
    I’ll probably let the other 9s go.

    Here’s how it looks…

    http://www.skullandbonesskateboards.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=89058

    Great article as always!

  9. And just for the record, the ebay auction doesn’t give the true picture.

    I actually paid $900 to end the auction.

    As you say Iain, the 9s were/are great wheels, I’m surprised they don’t sell for more on ebay- I love them 🙂

  10. xfryarx on June 17, 2008 - Reply

    Jays potato chips? how midwest is that reference.

  11. Killer- I’l go listen to that album. I got into a Zounds record last year that5 was pretty good too.

    Vintage stickers on the Alva Santa Monica? Not the Thrasher diamond logo though right?

    Brad Baxter lived in Champaign in 1991(construction job) and we skated all year. Clancy’s ramp, Poor’s mini (which was Randy’s old ramp?), and on campus. He’d chill in my apartment above Green Street after sessions and was real low maintenance, mostly into smoking cloves and chasing girls- so we got on fine.

    BOTM: Vision wings

  12. Rod – So how come you had to pay so much extra to end the auction? Sounds like seller fraud, or maybe I just don’t understand what you mean.

    The fully set up deck looks nice. nice enough to ride? I was going to comment on those Powerflex wheels. They look nice and chunky. Nice touch alternating the colors. I miss that.

  13. Hateboard on June 17, 2008 - Reply

    red hot ripletts?

  14. Hi Kilwag.

    The seller was cool.

    Basically, I offered the seller what it took for him to end the auction.

    I was the highest bidder, but there was always the chance I’d end being sniped or outbid.

    A tempting offer to the seller was my chosen route.

    Frowned on by some people but I wanted that deck BAD! 🙂

  15. flynnaryd on June 18, 2008 - Reply

    I still have to send you that Canadian cider and a clash tape. Whats you address that works the best? Do you have Joe Strummers last gig at Acton hall? Where Mick Jones gets on stage and plays Bankrobber and londons burning etc? I keep missing half the boards you show where am I going wrong. You must have 100 search categories on ebay?

  16. I hit the O’Dowd second time around at 250. I’ve been waiting for one to show for some time now. I’ve missed being able to get a complete from the UK and one from Italy because of one thing or another.
    The connection?
    My friend got one straight from Bernie when we came down to Stonedge in the summer of 90 from Virginia.
    That one is long gone now. But none the less, brings back some good memories that whole time frame. That and knowing those dudes were some of the East Coast heavies.
    So besides your mom someone else is stoked to.

  17. C Hall on June 19, 2008 - Reply

    Great article again Neil, I’ve seen the Bullet deck in black as well as red

  18. enemy combatant on June 30, 2008 - Reply

    $7500 70’s speedboard:

    Speedboard

  19. houseofneil on July 1, 2008 - Reply

    Thanks for the link, but the $7500 is the starting bid price set by the seller, and so far there are no bidders. Yes the thing is rare as can be, but rarity alone doesn’t influence price. Somebody has to want it, and be willing to spend that kind of cash. I don’t think it’s going to happen. Not even close. I see that as a $2000 item, if that.

  20. enemy combatant on July 1, 2008 - Reply

    “Somebody has to want it, and be willing to spend that kind of cash. I don

  21. I’d fork out $7500 for a nos 1979 Steve Olson dot with indy 169s and blackharts.

  22. I had no idea people are paying this much for 80’s SK8ica. Too bad most of us dumped that stuff off getting through the 90’s.

    I sold a stack of those ‘Bullet’ Crabke clearance re-paints for $20 a pop! That’s right…not a team deck.

  23. Do you have any Jeff Phillips decks available?

  24. Talentlessquitter on April 21, 2010 - Reply

    The Danforth skulls is an ’88.

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