Corneel":1bg1q08q said:
I just checked the Ebay USA website and the first three I clicked on were "barely used" "only used a few times" or words to the exact same effect. One fellow stamped his initials in it but states "I have taken very good care of it. I have used it very little." One plane is "still factory razor sharp" which I assume means the user never honed it and never used it enough to dull it in his opinion, but it could mean something else. And as I clicked on another plane the same description is given so some fellow is in unloading mode.
Here's a partial description accompanying the listing for a 4 1/2 smoother: “Plane has had minimal use, and is in excellent condition..."
If the first page of results are any indication, I would honestly estimate that 70% of the listings on the main Ebay site for Lie-Nielsen tools, today, have a similar description.
Here's a description for a L-N dovetail saw: "Brand new, never used Lie Nielsen Dovetail saw (15ppi) with original leather case - has been opened and examined and is not in original packaging."
And one for a low-angle smoother: "Maybe used once to test it out, has some stains that can be removed."
Same search on Lee Valley not surprisingly yields essentially the same results -- several listings for "barely used," "lightly used," "never used."
L-V skew block: "Lee Valley / Veritas Skew Block Plane - Right Hand. This plane has never been used, and is in 'new' condition."
This is the same situation for both brands day in and day out I'd bet.
Lots of green hobbyists and gear hounds who don't know diddly getting whipped into a buying frenzy spending money they can't afford to spend with unrealistic expectations of performance and utility. They bought the hype.
