Last I heard Sonare bodies were being made now in Germany. I am puzzled now because I just ran accross this auction..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Solid-Silver-Powell-made-FLute_W0QQitemZ150239135389QQihZ005QQcategoryZ10183QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This doesn't seem right at all. The Powell factory is in Boston, so how could they be making the bodies? Why do people insist on calling a Sonare a Powell? UGH!

<Added>

Hmm.... okay, so I just found this after I posted this topic.
http://www.sonarewinds.com/?q=FAQ

So what the heck?

Hi K,
I find this an intresting auction:
Item number: 260232867586
http://cgi.ebay.com/Flute-New-Woodwind-Musical-Instruments-YAMAHA-Flute_W0QQitemZ260232867586QQihZ016QQcategoryZ10183QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The shipping and insurance is >$185<
When the high shipping cost was discussed on the Flutelist forum they thought that it was rather high. Now the seller has added a statement about it. "Dear friend, this is a reasonable shipping price in China!" As a side note. I never consider any salesman my friend.

But the interesting thing is that the receiver section does not have the model number on it. So there may be a question as to whether or not it's a Yamaha knockoff. So one asks, how can they sell a brand new "Yamaha" with a starting bid of $1.00?

Here's another Yamaha sale where I really like the photo zoom feature.
Item number: 190216386960
http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-225SII-Silverplated-Flute-Plays-Great-VGC-221_W0QQitemZ190216386960QQihZ009QQcategoryZ10183QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You can zoom in on the receiver writing on that photo by passing the mouse pointer over the spot. You can see that generally the pads are pretty good looking and that the dent in the body probably isn't going to be too difficult to get out.

That is too high for shipping!

I do like that zoom feature. The only bad thing about it is that it may detract buyers as now they can see how dirty the flute really is and nicked up. I can never understand how other flute sellers can sell a flute without cleaning it up at least. Yuck! Maybe I am just super clean, but I could never sell a flute that I am afraid to blow into. lol!

How true but my point (As a realist) is that I want to know what's wrong if I'm going to buy. I don't want blurry landscapes on the ad and then get the nick and dent special in the mail.

My apologies, I didn't realize it was one that you were selling, I didn't look at the ebay ID. I am not trying to be rude at all, but you may be able to sell flutes better and for more money if you cleaned them up. I am only speaking from experience and years of selling and only trying to help I am sure you realize that all those fuzzies in between the keys can get into the mechanism and gum it up. If a flute is going to be re oiled, then it would be to me the logical thing to do. It is not only for looks to clean a flute, but simply part of the process in a COA. I do not mean to offend at all and again my apologies from before.

Yep, no need to clean a flute. What ever was I thinking. So sorry.

<Added>

No, seriously, cleanliness is not all for cosmetic reasons. It is sanitary and also, like I said before, the grime can also affect the playability if getting into the mechanism. I also hate those Yamaha cases. On the newer models they have changed them. A lot of times I re line the cases that come like that or try to find another case for it if I have the time. 10 or 20 flutes that I have at the time, I always clean them for sanitary and functional reasons. To each his own. If it sells, then great. I am just a clean freak to begin with! lol!

What's the point in investing in a new case for a flute that is going for under $100? You would then end up not making very much off of the instrument at all. If the person buying the flute pays under $100 for it they can easily get a new case themselves. Last time I checked fuzz and tarnish aren't health hazards. You can only do so much to a flute that's only going to sell for $70 without ending up with a loss.

My flutes do not go for under $100. I only sell very nice instruments that are close to new. As far as the grim goes between the keys, please read my last statement on it again. Nice to see you sticking up for your buddy though