U2 THREE #902

$

2,758

* First things first: I listed this item on a 7-day auction yesterday, and I cancelled it an hour ago because I am a bit spooked - let me explain!

* Two cases were brought to my attention today by a friend and by a colleague, where they were both stiffed as sellers.  Basically, they received payment by PayPal, sent the goods, and then the payments were disputed ....result? Money returned to buyer - item basically stolen.  Today I saw that there was a great deal of interest in my disc, which is fantastic- but I hated it when someone stole $100 in 1999 (see my about-me). So, frankly - Mr.Shankly - I'm sorry, but the idea of getting stiffed for 3 grand or more scares the bejasus out of me.  Ergo, I now relist the item without PayPal.  Yes, I know that I will get less interest, and will almost certainly achieve a lower price - maybe a lot lower.  But I would rather receive a modest price than risk not receiving an impressive one. I hope you understand. 

* May I take this opportunity to extend my apologies to the good people who honoured me with their bids today, I hope that I haven't entirely frightened every last one of you away!

* PS. I am shortening the auction to 5 days - as I will be in Dublin and Sligo this weekend - and could meet up for a face-to-face if it suited any potential (cash) buyer.

Okay, anyone who considers buying this will know exactly what it is.

It's the very first U2 release - a hand-numbered (#902/1000) 12 inch single.

This is first hand - I bought it myself in 1979 in Dublin on its release, for the equivalent of two euros!

I'm now looking for a modest return on that investment ;-)

Anyway, I have to admit, I'm not a fan now. But I loved Boy, back in the day - actually I have a little anecdote - I used to sell Dutch Poffertjes (little pancakes balls) in the Dandelion Market in Dublin every weekend and they played there every Sat afternoon.  But I never saw them there.…I was working.

Doh!

Anyway, it was just one of my records for some years and when I went to Saudi Arabia in 1984 it was packed in a record box - with several others, and stored at my parents - where it stayed for twenty years.

The condition? Well, I won’t make any extravagant claims - it's not perfect; it was played on a standard (i.e. cheap) family stereo and treated reasonably - but not with kid gloves. I have no idea how it plays, as it certainly hasn't been near a needle in 25 years. I would expect that it is in good playable condition, it has some surface wear, you know - a million micro scratches, and some light visible scratches - but no proper ones that look like they would make it skip.

It's super flat - no warping.

The sleeve is good too - no tears, no repairs.

I was thinking I'd clean it up a little, you know, clean the dust off the grooves - but after doing a little research on the Internet, I decided - nope - I'm not touching it. I'll leave that to you.

I'm afraid PayPal is not an option, but I can take a cheque (Suro, Dollar, Sterling) or a Swiss Bulletin Versement - or a bank transfer. I live on the French Swiss border near Geneva.

If you are near the South Dublin area, and it suits you better, I can arrange for my best friend to make the exchange face to face.  In fact, I will be in Dublin & Sligo this weekend and could do it if you are prepared to meet up.

Once funds have cleared, I'll ship it registered to a real address (no boxes) - so you will have to sign for it.  It will have to be Europe, North America, Japan or Australia, as I’m not shipping this to some flaky Banana Republic – no offence!  Email me if you want an exception, and I’ll consider it.

I will put whatever value you like on the shipping docs, if it will save you tax - but it will be at your risk.  I'd prefer you to insure it for the full amount.

I'll send it registered and properly packaged for 20 dollars, but you can pay extra to have it shipped the way you want (DHL, special packaging, insurance, etc). I’ll charge you only the actual cost incurred, if it goes over $20.

Well, if you have any questions - I'll be happy to answer them. 

These photos won't show in full resolution on eBay, so I’d be happy to email them to you. Otherwise, take look at my gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/burke.kevin/U2Three#

Thanks for looking!

** Attention please - to pay with PAYPAL there are strict rules outlined below --- READ THEM **

====== Description revised on 24th September, with the following new text  =======

Hi Folks - I'm going to attempt to address this business of PayPal, Buyer Confidence and Seller Confidence to everyone's satisfaction. Because I want to get a good price, and because - come on, admit it - you want to buy my disc ;-)

I will accept PayPal from anyone who :
 (a) Can show they are U2 collector from recent feeback, AND
 (b) Have a feedback of at least 50, AND
 (c) Have no more than 1% Negative LIFETIME Feedback (not just the last 12 months).

If you chose to pay with PayPal, this - and ONLY this - is how it will work:
 (1) You send me full Auction price + shipping with PayPal
 (2) I will send you the disc WITHOUT THE SLEEVE AND ITS LABEL
 (3) You examine the disc - as you know, it is unique and easily verifiable.
 (4) If FOR ANY REASON you are not satisfied, return it (see the return conditions below)
 (5) If satisfied, use the eBay "Contact Member" facility to send me a clear message to that effect
 (6) I will forward the unique numbered sleeve
 (7) Mutually satisfied feedback ensues... :-))))

If you pay with cash or cheque, and wish to feel safer too ...

 (1) You send me 65% Auction price + shipping with cheque or transfer
 (2) I will send you the disc WITHOUT THE SLEEVE AND ITS LABEL
 (3) You examine the disc - as you know, it is unique and easily verifiable.
 (4) If FOR ANY REASON you are not satisfied, return it (see the return conditions below)
 (5) If satisfied, let me know and send the remaining 35% of the funds
 (6) I will forward the unique numbered sleeve
 (7) Mutually satisfied feedback ensues... :-))))

Why will this be a good solution? Well to spell it out if you haven't worked it out for yourself:  The disc without the label is of very much reduced value. Equally the labeled sleeve is some worth, but not much, without the unique edition of the vinyl it is paired with.  But you all know that already...so I won't go into lenghty details.

Now, I hope that you all feel better - I do !

Best Regards,

Kevin

PS Please disregard any previous text that conflicts with these latest conditions - but I can't (and don't want to) remove anything that was there at the beginning of the auction.

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====== Description revised (again) on 24th September, with the following new text  =======

PPS. In case you haven't been following this auction, the PayPal option was not offered initially...(yes, I know it was in the previous cancelled auction)... but I put it back on the table as I was getting several enquiries from honest collectors who wanted protection.  Ok, that's a very valid concern. 

I hope you will agree with this two-staged shipping idea. It will deliver you the buyer protection that you need, and satify my insistence on getting paid.

What I hope is obvious from all of this, is that:

(1) If I did not send the disc, PayPal will remburse you - no question, that's what it is there for. Then they will come after me.

(2) When you receive the disc, then the only way you will see the sleeve is if you honestly report through ebay that the disc arrived safely and that you are satisfied with its condition. So cheating me would not really be worth the effort. A disc with no sleeve?.... you'd be better off trying to cheat some scmuck out of his iPhone. Of course, you are welcome to add in the email that you now wait for the sleeve before the sale is concuded - of course!  But this email will help my case in a dispute.  I am certain that any would-be ebay thieves would prefer to pick an easier target than me and my disc.

(3) And if I did not send the sleeve? I would lose my hard won and much valued ebay reputation, I would have a battle-royale with PayPal which I suspect I would lose, and I would have a piece of paper which would be an interesting U2 artifact (I'm not even a fan) but worth little in the way of hard cash, and finally, the list on www.U2-3.com would mark #902 forever as a stolen item. I would be crazy not to follow through!

One final word.    It may seem as if I think everyone out there is a thief, and I that trust no one.  That is not true, the problem is this: If there is 100 folks bidding, and just one thief, guess who will win the auction?

Ok, ok, I'm going to shut-up now!!!    And don't forget to check the high res photos at Picasaweb (I hope you see the link above in the sea of text).

Bid with confidence!

Peace!

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