Diane,

For the price listed on the Ebay auction your friend could buy the no name vise from Hook and Hackle. I have heard it reviewed favorably on this and other boards and also you have Hookhack standing behind the vise. Their customer service and willingness to "make it right" are legendary (even if they are under new ownership). That would be the direction I would send them if it were me. Besides the one on Hookhack just looks like a lot better vise than the one on Ebay. Too many words in that description that make me wary. Just my opinion.