In the last couple of weeks I have purchased four or five lots of
88-note player piano rolls on eBay.  These lots consisted of anywhere
from one to seven rolls.  All of the lots had rolls that were in
extremely poor condition and were only useable as fire starter in
my fireplace.

I notice that some people take great pains to describe the rolls as
best they can.  I don't remember what the descriptions said on these
rolls that I bought, but I am certain that the descriptions did not
say that they were only suitable as fire starter.  I am going to be
much more careful in the future about asking for the condition.

I have never left any negative feedback on eBay and I think many of
these people just pick the rolls up at an auction or estate sale and
have no idea how to check the condition.  However, many of the rolls
that I received literally crumbled in my hands or the ends looked like
they were run through a buzz saw with loose scraps of paper hanging
out.  It should have been obvious to even a casual observer that these
rolls were not suitable for playing.

A person just needs to be careful in bidding on these rolls.

Brian Tate