Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PEARL-501-24K-GOLD-FLUTE-MOVE-OVER-MAESTAS_W0QQitemZ7409663083QQcategoryZ10183QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have seen many of this persons auctions and can't beleive how deceitful someone could be like that! Maybe they really beleive it though, so I will give them the benifit of the doubt. If and when I ever gold plated anything I would NEVER say that it affects the sound, as it does not, it is purely cosmetic. Oh...what people will do to get some cash! Am I the only the one that feels this way? It does look pretty, but I find the description totally false.

Oh my goodness! Gold affecting the tone when it is obviously there for appearance!? I wonder how many people are going to be bought in by that?! It makes me very sad what people will do for money... there are people who understand music and then people who try and sell music without understanding at all. Pathetic, if no one minds me saying...

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I can fully understand if this seller does not realize that the claim is false, but I really hope it is that sort of situation and not just a ploy for money. I know that there are some people who do claim that gold, no matter where on the flute, helps the sound, but it is a heated argument to get into...:)

sad...

I did already. I am sure he or she gets a lot of those type of commments since they go around gold plating everything and making these outragious claims.

Seller of flute in questions response:

THIS IS THE SELLER OF THE PEARL GOLD-PLATED FLUTE.I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. IF GOLD PLATING ON THE INSIDE OF A FLUTE MAKES NO DIFFERENCE , THEN WHY DO FIRST RATE FLUTE COMPANIES OFFER HEADJOINTS THAT ARE GOLD-PLATED INSIDE ? IF THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE , WOULDN'T THEY BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT IT ? BY THE WAY , THERE HAS TO BE A CHANGE IN TONE BECAUSE YOU ARE ALTERING THE MOLECULAR MAKE-UP OF THE INNER SURFACE.AND TONE , WHICHEVER WAY IT GOES , IS A MATTER OF TASTE AND OPINION.WHAT SOUNDS GOOD FOR SOME IS AWFUL TO OTHERS.BESIDES , I STATE IN MY AUCTION THAT THIS IS ALL IN THEORY.GOOD LUCK IN ALL YOUR E-BAY ENDEAVORS. SORRY YOUR SO BITTER.

My response:

Could you possible type in lower case instead of all caps? It is hard for me to read that way. Thanks. I am sorry if I came across as being bitter at all and sorry you took it that way. Those intermediate brand companies such as Armstrong, Yamaha, Pearl, Emerson and Gemeinhardt do this as a pure marketing ploy such as yourself. If you know gold plating and you are tank gold plating (which is the proper way to plate) then you would know that in order to gold plate the lip plate of a flute, it is part of the procedure to gold plate the inside also. All companies do it this way. Gold plating on those INTERMEDIATE brands are for looks or aesthetic reasons and just to make more money. Let me ask you something, have you ever seen a gold PLATED lip plate and interior coming from the factory on a Powell, Haynes, Nagahara, Miyazawa or Williams (just to name a few on the professional brands.) No, I think not. I do know that Powell does a process of bonding (note: it is not plating) on there auramite flutes. If you are hearing a difference, then more power to you, but I find it VERY deceitful to claim it is sounds just like a 14 K solid gold flute. Any professional flutist or even a good armature, would and does know better. Have you ever even played a solid 14K gold flute? Obviously not, or you would not be making these claims. It is so sad what people will tell the public just to make money. So, sorry if I am bitter, I just hate seeing innocent and gullable people taken for a ride. Best of luck to you, selling your gold flutes. PS. If you don't mind I would like to post this on the discussion group for all other readers there. I think some might find this a good leaning lesson and very interesting.

Sellers will say anything to push their product. In that line of business, it is imperative that one has integrity. This seller will not get far.

Oh dear Lord! Go back and look at the auction now and what this seller wrote in the green lettering. They completely missed the point and misconstrued what I had said. There is no hope. Oh well, I can't save all people from false advertising, but I tried.

I am curious why it is that you get so wound up about EBAY sellers. You are preaching to the choir here. We all know that most people who sell instruments on EBAY have no clue what they are doing.

If it bothers you that bad, walk away from it. Leave the sellers alone or report them to ebay for false advertising. Let EBAY police their own site and stop stressing yourself out over something you will never change.

Maybe because I spend a good deal on there as that is part of my job. I do help people a lot on there, so I am not trying to bother anyone. Sorry, if I am human, have a heart and hate to see people getting taken advantage of. Sorry if you wouldn't understand that. What is it to you anyway? Just curious. I will lead my life the way I see fit, thank you VERY much, Jill.

I personally like it when you guys post Ebay links. All that bad grammar and false advertisement makes for quality entertainment. I've sold all my old flutes and piccolos on Ebay - I just hope one of my listings doesn't make it on this board, haha.

I have bought some of my flutes on eBay (where my D.C came from) and I still like to go search, but I just have to laugh at the bad grammer and poor spelling; it is a good tip off to some one who doesn't know what they are selling. (I shouldn't really talk, I am a poor speller, too. Opps. ) But, it's a great tool to find really good instruments, too, and I find just as many quality items as I do bad... I always like finding links here, too, featuring a particular flute. Keep 'em coming, Kara. (I feel really bad that the seller is being so nasty to you, Kara. You don't deserve any of that because you are just trying to warn others of a potential problem with the seller or the item. You go!)

It just seems to me you would be a lot less stressed out if you walked away from them. You make lots of posts about what people on EBAY are doing, so it seems to be a constant frustration for you. Just thought I would pass along a little advice that might make your life a little less stressful.

Kara is just doing the best she can for people. She is a tech., so, naturally, she would want to be on the look-out for an interesting flute or something for herself or a customer. I understand what you mean about stressing about it, but, if there are no people who question confussing or troubling things, then there are going to be a lot of people who might be brought in by what is not right. Kara is just trying to help people out and bring awareness about things like this to people in the forum. That's what this is for, right?

Thanks Celebrian, you are such a sweet heart!


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DottedEighthNote,
It does not stress me out, but thanks for your concern.

Thanks, Kara!!! I don't like it when people concern themselves over things that just bring a negative outlook. And, people shouldn't challenge those who know and care more about some things than they do! Keep awareness coming!