Some people just don't get it (laugh for the day)!

[radiotvnut]

I have an ad running on a local classified website looking for old stereo equipment. After many deadbeat viewers, I finally got a hit today. This is what they emailed:

"We have a stereo in a wood cabinet it is over 40 years old. Was working ,I think it needs new wiring.Would not take less then $100.00"

Yet another console stereo owner that thinks their stuff is worth a fortune because it's old and in a "pretty cabinet". Notice the part "needs new wiring". I can add that one to "it needs a switch", "it just needs a tube", or "it would work with a fuse". You would have thought they would have at least told me what brand it was since it's obviously so valuable.

This was my reply to them:

Hi,

I appreciate your response but there is no way I can give that for something that does not work. There is almost zero demand for those old cabinet stereo's and it's rare for one to bring over $35, no matter how pretty or how well it works. I would only be interested in yours for what parts I could get out of it and I wouldn't give you over $5 or $10 for it.

Now, I probably just shot down my chance to own a Fisher 500C for $100. No, in reality, it was probably just another late '60's low end Silvertone job!

[Urizen]

Now, I probably just shot down my chance to own a Fisher 500C for $100.

Yep, some people just don't get it.

You'll never know what you have missed.

[Fisherdude]

Yep, some people just don't get it.

You'll never know what you have missed.

:thmbsp:

[radiotvnut]

Yep, some people just don't get it.

You'll never know what you have missed.

Yep, I'll admit this was one of those times that I put my mouth in gear (or, my fingers in this case) before I engaged my brain.

I'll just have to tell myself it was nothing special. This is poor folks country and not many could afford decent Hi-Fi, even back then. Around here, most of the consoles were lower end Silvertone, Truetone, Arvin, Soundesign, Capehart, etc. Every now and then, I'll see a better Magnavox, RCA, Motorola or Zenith. I've NEVER found a console in this part of this area with "high end" components stuffed in it's cabinet.

Who knows, maybe they'll call me in two years and beg me to haul it off.

[Urizen]

Yep, I'll admit this was one of those times that I put my mouth in gear (or, my fingers in this case) before I engaged my brain.

You just never know what you'll find. Last week, I ran across a c/l ad for a set of Polk 10s about 10 minutes from my home. $100 firm. I could tell by the small and dark pic that they had no badges, so I sent an e-mail expressing interest, not asking condition or anything, and set up an appointment. They ended up having mis-matched tweeters and a couple of dented dustcaps. I thanked the seller for her time and told her I wasn't interested, and I told her why. She asked, "how much would you give me for them"?

I snagged them for $25.

Firm is not always firm.

[JJJimmy]

Who knows, maybe they'll call me in two years and beg me to haul it off.

I hope not. Like the story above, I'd rather see someone willing to make an effort get it for a mutually agreeable bargain.

[Sandy G]

A lot of the ones I see 'round here were designed to appeal to the "Double-Wide 'n' '69 F-150" set- Vinyl covered beaverboard construction, w/massive plastic "Appliques" that are meant to invoke something vaguely English/Tudor half-timbered style, w/red & black houndstooth chek speaker fabric covering. Inside, you'll find an AM/FM/FM STEREO radio, 8-track player, & a 4-speed automatic TT that may actually still TURN after all these years. The stylus is long gone, after 2 or 3 sets of babies had their way w/it. It was absolute rubbish when it was new in 1970, & is barely worth even a sneer now, let alone the $150 the original owner's step-grand-nephew thinks it is...

[Tugboat]

I have an ad running on a local classified website looking for old stereo equipment. After many deadbeat viewers, I finally got a hit today. This is what they emailed:

"We have a stereo in a wood cabinet it is over 40 years old. Was working ,I think it needs new wiring.Would not take less then $100.00"

Yet another console stereo owner that thinks their stuff is worth a fortune because it's old and in a "pretty cabinet". Notice the part "needs new wiring". I can add that one to "it needs a switch", "it just needs a tube", or "it would work with a fuse". You would have thought they would have at least told me what brand it was since it's obviously so valuable.

This was my reply to them:

Hi,

I appreciate your response but there is no way I can give that for something that does not work. There is almost zero demand for those old cabinet stereo's and it's rare for one to bring over $35, no matter how pretty or how well it works. I would only be interested in yours for what parts I could get out of it and I wouldn't give you over $5 or $10 for it.

Now, I probably just shot down my chance to own a Fisher 500C for $100. No, in reality, it was probably just another late '60's low end Silvertone job!

I've found the following statements all mean the same thing (most of the time); It doesn't work:

I had no power cord to test it
I had no antenna to test reception
I had no batteries to test with
It worked when I put it away
I'm selling for a friend and they said it works/worked
I didn't have a tape/record/CD to test it
It turns on, but I tested no further
I don't know how it works

Of course there are more than that, and if they also add "being sold as is" to any of the above....

It's also amazing how people pull prices out of thin air instead of doing a little research on value.

[PakProtector]

hey TB,
I can be quite confident in your 'doesn't work' list only with additional information. I have got '91 CTD Ram loads full of good stuff by presenting just a bit more civility and manners to the current caretakers of said gear...:)

I join JJJimmy and Urizen in the faith that good gear goes to those who make the right effort. I have needed it for my acquisitions, and have seen it presented it for all the scores that make me feel envious...:thmbsp:
cheers,
Douglas

[af0h]

I had no power cord to test it
I had no antenna to test reception
I had no batteries to test with
It worked when I put it away
I'm selling for a friend and they said it works/worked
I didn't have a tape/record/CD to test it
It turns on, but I tested no further
I don't know how it works

Heh, sounds like buying a used car around here out of a newspaper ad-

'Clean One-Owner, Custom Paint, Custom Interior,
Low Pay, Easy Finance, Smokes a Little!':thumbsdn:

[NYListens]

I have an ad running on a local classified website looking for old stereo equipment. After many deadbeat viewers, I finally got a hit today. This is what they emailed:

"We have a stereo in a wood cabinet it is over 40 years old. Was working ,I think it needs new wiring.Would not take less then $100.00"

Yet another console stereo owner that thinks their stuff is worth a fortune because it's old and in a "pretty cabinet". Notice the part "needs new wiring". I can add that one to "it needs a switch", "it just needs a tube", or "it would work with a fuse". You would have thought they would have at least told me what brand it was since it's obviously so valuable.

This was my reply to them:

Hi,

I appreciate your response but there is no way I can give that for something that does not work. There is almost zero demand for those old cabinet stereo's and it's rare for one to bring over $35, no matter how pretty or how well it works. I would only be interested in yours for what parts I could get out of it and I wouldn't give you over $5 or $10 for it.

Now, I probably just shot down my chance to own a Fisher 500C for $100. No, in reality, it was probably just another late '60's low end Silvertone job!


Why didn't you ask which model it was before you said no?

[radiotvnut]

A lot of the ones I see 'round here were designed to appeal to the "Double-Wide 'n' '69 F-150" set- Vinyl covered beaverboard construction, w/massive plastic "Appliques" that are meant to invoke something vaguely English/Tudor half-timbered style, w/red & black houndstooth chek speaker fabric covering. Inside, you'll find an AM/FM/FM STEREO radio, 8-track player, & a 4-speed automatic TT that may actually still TURN after all these years. The stylus is long gone, after 2 or 3 sets of babies had their way w/it. It was absolute rubbish when it was new in 1970, & is barely worth even a sneer now, let alone the $150 the original owner's step-grand-nephew thinks it is...

I remember seeing a POS mid '70's Soundesign all in one console at a sale. It had been sitting in a hot storage shed for years. The plastic BSR TT was frozen solid. The young granddaughter wanted $50 and would not budge, claiming it worked fine. I pointed out the frozen TT and she said "it will turn if you put power to it". I should have told her to plug it in and if it properly played a record, I'd give her $75 for it.

[radiotvnut]

Why didn't you ask which model it was before you said no?

I know I should have found out what they had before blowing my top and saying no. Of course, had they told me it was an Electrophonic, I would have probably been a bigger smart@$$ than what I was.

I think the reason I get so uptight about this sort of thing is because I can't even get those sort of prices for the stuff that I fix. Then, these clowns come along and think I'm going to give them big bucks for some broken stereo just because it's "old and pretty".

[Paul C]

I think it needs new wiring.


Wow! That's real technical!

[Tube Radio]

I snagged a Mgnavox Astro-Sonic console at a flea market for $25.00. It had 16 ohm 15 inch woofers and horn tweeters. I listened to the console for awhile then dissasembled it for parts as I didn't like the fact that it sounded muffled and lacking a little in the bass. It also had a lower power audio amp with transformers to drive the output transistors.

[Arkay]

The sad thing is, their (about) 40-year-old stereo in a wooden cabinet was actually a Marantz 2325 in a wooden case... or was it a McIntosh system in a custom carved, solid Cuban mahogany console? Anyway, I'm pretty sure it started with "M"...
:D

It might have been smarter to ask them to please look for a brand name and model name or number, first.... then you could let them down gently with the truth about their big Soundesign 8-track system with pressboard back and bottom.

Anyway, there is a BIG chance it was a mediocre old console that no one would want, as you say. Let it go and keep looking. Good stuff is still out there, somewhere. Keep going and you'll get it, eventually.

[Goodwill_HiFi]

I appreciate your response but there is no way I can give that for something that does not work.

Bad bad move...... you just perpetuated the very common false notion that anything that doesn't work is worthless junk. :no:

If you still have the email address for the person, send a message back saying that your friends encouraged you to at least have a look.

[Old1625]

While there were some decent-sounding stereo consoles (home entertainment centers) back in the day such constituted about .5% of the whole mess. There were Fisher models out there--about 1 per about (I guess) 10,000 Electrophonic, Muntz, Soundesign, Slivertone, Sonora, etc.

The important think to remember in choosing vintage audio gear is that while the serious audiophile back in the day would invariably pick separate components to make a system the stereo consoles of the day largely targeted a market that sought convenience over aural accuracy.

I'm not saying both cannot be had in one package, but I sure as heck never saw that many examples. And most consoles I heard were operated by their owners with the bass at max boost and the treble at max cut--Assuming, of course, that they indeed had separate controls for each register.

If ya wanna have a nice trip down memory lane then by all means explore consoles.

If you are seriously seeking decent audio equipment then your wanted ad needs to have specific wording that hopefully will be heeded by responding parties. And leave the burden of proof on would-be sellers that what they have is worth much more to you than a fin.

[Old1625]

A lot of the ones I see 'round here were designed to appeal to the "Double-Wide 'n' '69 F-150" set- Vinyl covered beaverboard construction, w/massive plastic "Appliques" that are meant to invoke something vaguely English/Tudor half-timbered style, w/red & black houndstooth chek speaker fabric covering. Inside, you'll find an AM/FM/FM STEREO radio, 8-track player, & a 4-speed automatic TT that may actually still TURN after all these years. The stylus is long gone, after 2 or 3 sets of babies had their way w/it. It was absolute rubbish when it was new in 1970, & is barely worth even a sneer now, let alone the $150 the original owner's step-grand-nephew thinks it is...

Aw man! Well said! :thmbsp:

Whenever I think of entertainment centers like those being proffered in the classified as gold mines in value I think back to something that adorable little brat said in the movie, Uncle Buck: "He's cooking our garbage!"

[PakProtector]

I remember seeing a POS mid '70's Soundesign all in one console at a sale. It had been sitting in a hot storage shed for years. The plastic BSR TT was frozen solid. The young granddaughter wanted $50 and would not budge, claiming it worked fine. I pointed out the frozen TT and she said "it will turn if you put power to it". I should have told her to plug it in and if it properly played a record, I'd give her $75 for it.


Now that got me giggling...:) I been known to make similar bets, and occaisionally whilst packing the cash( 'specially whilst being sure of my ability to analyze the mechanical condition of such things ). The devil on my left shoulder would've wanted to lay $200 on it with your same conditions.

There is really some interesting suprises out there waiting to be snagged. Here's to getting paid to snag them!
cheers,
Douglas

[joshuahhhhhhh]

http://members.cox.net/cablefreak1/7189se.jpg

one dudes garbage is another dudes treasure

[radiotvnut]

Aw man! Well said! :thmbsp:

Whenever I think of entertainment centers like those being proffered in the classified as gold mines in value I think back to something that adorable little brat said in the movie, Uncle Buck: "He's cooking our garbage!"

Speaking of cheap consoles, I think the prize would have to go to an Electrophonic that I bought for $5 from a rummage sale at my church. The thing had sliding doors on the front with a pull out four speed bsr changer and AM/FM/8-track stereo. The cabinet was all particleboard and plastic and it had those "disco lights" that flashed to the music. The real funny part was the power output rating stamped on the back. It was something like 200 WPC. They failed to mention that rating was IHF and not RMS. I saved the speakers and the TT (for some odd reason) and threw out the rest.

There is also a stand-up Electrophonic w/ disco lights that looks like a '70's juke box at the local flea market. I think they want $50 and it's been there for months.

[markus]

my recent 'cheap console' for $20 contained the following:

Electrovoice 12TRXB (mint)

Scott 99D (needs recap - all original tubes test like new)

Garrard RC88 TT

Lafayette LT- something AM/FM tuner - all mullard tubes . . .

did it work upon pickup ? NOPE. Do I care ? NOPE

here's the thread with eye candy:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=172253&highlight=scott

I chase every console down I can . . . you never know when you'll strike gold . . or silver . . or copper . . or sadly, tin :D

SO SPEAKITH THE CONSOLE KING

email those people back ! ya never know ! :thmbsp:

[gogofast]

I think the reason I get so uptight about this sort of thing is because I can't even get those sort of prices for the stuff that I fix. Then, these clowns come along and think I'm going to give them big bucks for some broken stereo just because it's "old and pretty".

are you kidding me????!!!

do you have any idea how many idiots are out there? we are surrounded by idiots, and we may as well be clueless idiots to some people also in certain situations. anyways, it's loose-loose situation if you treat those clueless people like that. you gotta work with them and get what you can and then get out. i'm not all bright and better than anyone by any standard, but what i figured is that if i get all worked up about these morons out there, i'll just destroy myself and people around me in the end.

i see ads of solid state magnavox for $300 - 600 all the time in CL.:no:

[aperh]

I don't see why everybody is getting upset over radiotvnut's reply to these people. He wasn't rude or anything, he just gave them the straight facts. People don't want to believe you when you tell them their shit is worth less (pun intended?) than they think it is. I think you did the right thing by sticking to your guns.

somewhat off topic:
At a yard sale a lady wasn't sure of what a stack of lps was worth (beatles, stones, assorted goodies in vg-vg+ condition) when some yahoo said that shit was probably worth $100 on ebay at which point she said she'd give them to me for $50. I told her the other guy can have em for $50 and left. There's no point in dealing with these people when there is always more gear and more music to be had, don't beat yourself up trying to convince somebody of the truth, they'll figure it out eventually when they have to take it out to the curb.

[radiotvnut]

I don't see why everybody is getting upset over radiotvnut's reply to these people. He wasn't rude or anything, he just gave them the straight facts. People don't want to believe you when you tell them their shit is worth less (pun intended?) than they think it is. I think you did the right thing by sticking to your guns.

somewhat off topic:
At a yard sale a lady wasn't sure of what a stack of lps was worth (beatles, stones, assorted goodies in vg-vg+ condition) when some yahoo said that shit was probably worth $100 on ebay at which point she said she'd give them to me for $50. I told her the other guy can have em for $50 and left. There's no point in dealing with these people when there is always more gear and more music to be had, don't beat yourself up trying to convince somebody of the truth, they'll figure it out eventually when they have to take it out to the curb.

You are correct about people not wanting to believe when you tell them that their junk is worthless. They just think we're trying to get their stuff for a song so that we can flip it and make big bucks. The only mistake that I made was not finding out what they had. I had an old friend that would get very rude when he ran into a seller that thought their junk was gold. He didn't care how mad they got. I think he sort of got off on it.

Talking about records, there was a flea market / yard sale set up along the roadside. This lady had a box of used and abused LP's and 45's sitting where the sun could hit them. It was stuff like the Cowsills, Herman's Hermits, Dave Clark Five, etc. I asked her the price and she said the LP's were $10 each and the $45's were $5 each. I just laughed and moved on. She would have been lucky to get $10 for the whole box! It has to be something I really want or a rare record for me to give over a $1. I bought 4 LP's at a sale the other day (Bill Monroe, Bread, Kansas, Alan Parsons Project) that looked very nice for $0.25 each. A friend of mine who's in the resell business just gave me a crate of LP's. He said he rarely sells a record and can't get over 25 cents when he does sell one. He said CD's are all he can sell and it just about has to be that gangster (c)rap $h!t before they will sell!

[aperh]

I can understand your friend enjoying the process of telling people their crap is worthless. Really it can feel pretty good at times, especially when you get some really stubborn douche. On the other hand I feel that being unnecesarily rude isn't the best course of action. I usually just let them know what their stuff is worth and they can accept my advice or not. I never mention what I think something is worth until I know for sure they won't sell it to me at the price I want to pay for whatever I'm looking at. When I get to this point I usually let them know what it's worth and just peace out.

[radiotvnut]

I can understand your friend enjoying the process of telling people their crap is worthless. Really it can feel pretty good at times, especially when you get some really stubborn douche. On the other hand I feel that being unnecesarily rude isn't the best course of action. I usually just let them know what their stuff is worth and they can accept my advice or not. I never mention what I think something is worth until I know for sure they won't sell it to me at the price I want to pay for whatever I'm looking at. When I get to this point I usually let them know what it's worth and just peace out.

Before I get started, let me say that I don't have anything against "little old ladies". Many of them have been very nice to me over the years; but, it's usually snooty women that think this stuff is so valuable. These are the ones that think their broken 30 year old GE console TV is worth big money just because they paid $700 for it new. After all, "there can't be much wrong, it just cut off". IMHO, if they got 30 years out of a $700 TV, I'd say it has long paid for itself. Try convincing them of that, though.

What really ticks me off are these "antique store" owners that act like you're not good enough to be in their store unless you pull up in a Mercedes and are dressed in your Sunday best. I recently walked into a local antique store looking for old radios, record players, etc. The people "working" there showed me several scattered around; but, there were no prices on them and they didn't know what to ask. Me and my neighbor walked in the other Saturday. The owner turned her nose up at us from the start. When I asked about old radios, she quickly said "I don't have anything like that". I told her that her hired help showed me some in the other room. She said "Oh, those radios; well, they are the old Bakelite ones". One was an early '50's GE AM/FM in a brown Bakelite case and the other was an early '50's Admiral AM/phonograph combination in a brown Bakelite case. She wanted $85 for the GE and $110 for the Admiral. I told her I couldn't do that and she said "well fine then". I thanked her for her time and left. Judging by her attitude, she was not willing to lower the price and she didn't care if I bought anything or not. Many of these antique stores are that way. They have a lousy attitude, price the stuff too high, and then wonder why they go out of business.

Another antique store owner told me in a real snooty tone, after giving me the once over, "Oh, I figured you were looking for the thrift store".

[gogofast]

if you think $100 is crazy, check this out.....

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/ele/746362867.html

[Old1625]

Before I get started, let me say that I don't have anything against "little old ladies". Many of them have been very nice to me over the years; but, it's usually snooty women that think this stuff is so valuable. These are the ones that think their broken 30 year old GE console TV is worth big money just because they paid $700 for it new. After all, "there can't be much wrong, it just cut off". IMHO, if they got 30 years out of a $700 TV, I'd say it has long paid for itself. Try convincing them of that, though.

What really ticks me off are these "antique store" owners that act like you're not good enough to be in their store unless you pull up in a Mercedes and are dressed in your Sunday best. I recently walked into a local antique store looking for old radios, record players, etc. The people "working" there showed me several scattered around; but, there were no prices on them and they didn't know what to ask. Me and my neighbor walked in the other Saturday. The owner turned her nose up at us from the start. When I asked about old radios, she quickly said "I don't have anything like that". I told her that her hired help showed me some in the other room. She said "Oh, those radios; well, they are the old Bakelite ones". One was an early '50's GE AM/FM in a brown Bakelite case and the other was an early '50's Admiral AM/phonograph combination in a brown Bakelite case. She wanted $85 for the GE and $110 for the Admiral. I told her I couldn't do that and she said "well fine then". I thanked her for her time and left. Judging by her attitude, she was not willing to lower the price and she didn't care if I bought anything or not. Many of these antique stores are that way. They have a lousy attitude, price the stuff too high, and then wonder why they go out of business.

Another antique store owner told me in a real snooty tone, after giving me the once over, "Oh, I figured you were looking for the thrift store".

I remember going into one of those so-called antique stores and seeing a rusty old "kitchamajig" strainer with a $7.50 price tag when they sold brand new ones in supermarkets for 69 cents. My brother visited the same place some time later and saw a violin that he remembered was priced at $125. He walked away, and then a few days later after some thought decided that he should've picked it up.

He sent me in there to buy it and bring it to him. I got there, and eyed an old Victor floor model Victrola, complete with lifting veneer and busted main spring--for $125...and the violin had been marked up to $240!!!!! I gave the Victor a good looking over, and felt that while it had everything wrong with it except that it did have a decent soundbox, and then looked at the priced-up violin....I called up little bro on the cellphone and described the instrument to make sure we were talking about the same one. We were. I went to the lady attending the store, and told her what had happened. She said the owner had bucked up the price on the violin, as he is a whimsical cuss, and does as he feels, and decided that one-and-a-quarter was a bit low. I waxed vituperative, and coolly informed her of a lengthy laundry list of faults with the Victrola, and that it would be a cold day in perdition before they every got the asking price for it. I said as for the violin that I'd pay $200 for it--if she threw in the Victor. She got the store owner on the phone, and I heard the handset fairly crackle with his string of expletives, but then it subsided, she said OK, and rang off, and gave me the nod. I handed her $200, and loaded the violin and Victrola into my '68 Wagoneer. It's probably just as well I chose that car for that errand over my daily driver--a Mercedes. :D

Bro was happy with the instrument, and reimbursed me the whole $200 for my trouble! And I later exteriorized the broken loop of spring in the motor of the Victor, welded it and replaced it, did a complete GM on the machine, and now the gramophone works fine.

[radiotvnut]

if you think $100 is crazy, check this out.....

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/ele/746362867.html

I've also found out over the years that anytime they mention that "it belonged to Grandma", you can almost always expect a high price.
I wish him luck, though.

I did turn down a $200 '60's Motorola console tube stereo from an old DJ friend of mine. The radio was fine but the TT was messed up and the cabinet had water damage to the top. He made me a good deal on other stuff; so, I just let the stereo issue drop. I didn't want to make him mad. He probably would have sold it to me cheap; but, his wife didn't really want to let it go. It was one of those deals where "I'll let it go if the price is high enough."

[jln1966]

Theres a Zenith console item#320270705387 from 1966 on ebay right now with a starting bid and buy it now for only $1000.00. I think I will jump on that one. Some people are nuts.
John

[markus]

Theres a Zenith console item#320270705387 from 1966 on ebay right now with a starting bid and buy it now for only $1000.00. I think I will jump on that one. Some people are nuts.
John

$1000 and no Reel-2-Reel Player ?!?!? DAMN ! :lmao:

a few of the guys on Antique Radio Forum have a few theories about auctions like this:

1) stupid high price means it doesnt sell, and they get to keep it (see honey - I TRIED to sell it, but noone wanted it!)

2) stupid high price to get a rise out of us audio geeks

3) general stupidity

[radiotvnut]

There's a '67 solid state Motorola console on epay right now for $1000 opening bid. It looks to be a nice cabinet; but, not $1000 worth. DREAM ON DUDE!

[jln1966]

I got a real nice 63 Motorola tube console with 3 channel amplifier at a Goodwill last year for 6.99. I just got done spinning some 45s on it tonight.
John

[StarMover]

Just my 2 cents worth, but I think we all become 'frozen in time' at some point in our lives.

My uncle for example has a house full of really neat danish modern furniture including a very cool old Telefunken console. Walking in his house, you immediately go back in time 40 years. In his mind that furniture isn't old, it's just his furniture, and it is coupled with his familily's life. Most people don't know what such things are worth; they have no idea, and until some life-shattering event comes along (death of a spouse, illness, forced down-sizing, move to a nursing home), and the person (or a close relative) is suddenly forced to sell many (sometimes very dear) personal or family possessions.

Also, don't forget, given the precieved rate at which time passes (i think we all understand this) in the mind of the owner, the property is still as my late Grandmother used to say "perfectly serviceable". (She wasn't a product of today's 'disposable' economy).

Put yourself in the position of someone who suddenly has to liquidate a lifetime of memories and sentimental treasures. The very last thing they want is for some greedy SOB to low-ball them and then gut the stuff for parts.

While it may be true that whatever they're selling is junk, if you go in with an attitude of dis-respect, you'll walk away frustrated, empty-handed and a little bit lower down the respectible human-being scale.

Long story short, a life lived is owed a certian amount of respect. If you aren't willing to take the time and effort to approach such people in the right way (with empathy, respect, understanding and patience), then you deserve to get booted off the front porch.

[similost]

I have noticed one thing here... and not just in this thread...

RadioTV dude.. you seem to always be slamming prices of things. It seems you are always looking for the best bargin possible. I don't fault you for trying to get a good deal, as we all like that, but you seem come off as saying if anyone wants to get a fair price for their stuff, and it's not fair to you, then they are crazy...

Myself, along with a lot of others around here, aren't afraid to pay more than $1 for an album. Yes, if we can get them for a quarter each, we love it, but there are MANY used LPs out there that are worth well over $1 that aren't "super special". You seem to say we are crazy if we pay more than $1

I see ads all the time, and pass up on things all the time that TO ME, aren't worth what the asking price is.. but I sure don't think someone else is crazy for asking that price, or if someone pays that price..

Money is something we collect when we are alive, and let our relatives squander after we are gone... why not just enjoy it yourself, and realize, it's only money... Being tight could have just cost you something really nice..

[soundmotor]

Before I get started, let me say that I don't have anything against "little old ladies". Many of them have been very nice to me over the years; but, it's usually snooty women that think this stuff is so valuable. These are the ones that think their broken 30 year old GE console TV is worth big money just because they paid $700 for it new. After all, "there can't be much wrong, it just cut off". IMHO, if they got 30 years out of a $700 TV, I'd say it has long paid for itself. Try convincing them of that, though.

What really ticks me off are these "antique store" owners that act like you're not good enough to be in their store unless you pull up in a Mercedes and are dressed in your Sunday best. I recently walked into a local antique store looking for old radios, record players, etc. The people "working" there showed me several scattered around; but, there were no prices on them and they didn't know what to ask. Me and my neighbor walked in the other Saturday. The owner turned her nose up at us from the start. When I asked about old radios, she quickly said "I don't have anything like that". I told her that her hired help showed me some in the other room. She said "Oh, those radios; well, they are the old Bakelite ones". One was an early '50's GE AM/FM in a brown Bakelite case and the other was an early '50's Admiral AM/phonograph combination in a brown Bakelite case. She wanted $85 for the GE and $110 for the Admiral. I told her I couldn't do that and she said "well fine then". I thanked her for her time and left. Judging by her attitude, she was not willing to lower the price and she didn't care if I bought anything or not. Many of these antique stores are that way. They have a lousy attitude, price the stuff too high, and then wonder why they go out of business.

Another antique store owner told me in a real snooty tone, after giving me the once over, "Oh, I figured you were looking for the thrift store".

Yep, there are assholes everywhere and some of them do run antique stores. When I used to beat the bushes I got to be known as a regular by some and discovered that many of the dicks were really great people. The more I came by the more likely I got a "Hey, I got this Sunday and didn't put it out because I know you look for this kind of stuff....." And the true assholes I stopped frequenting because they never ever had anything close to what I was looking for and quite frankly I was a distraction to them. Their business mix catered to one type of client and if they ever actually had something it was by accident and not by design. Further, most don't like to deal with the "quick hit" mentality. By that I mean someone looking to score off them. I've found that provokes the "What, do you think I'm stupid?" reaction more often than not.

Regarding ads, I used to run them too. You have to sift through a lot of dirt to find a gold nugget. But isn't that the point of running the ad to begin with? I always tried to look at it that if someone took the time to respond to my ad I would at least go talk to them and leave my card. Since I only advertised locally, that was not too difficult. They may not have audio gear I wanted but you never know what other things they might. Things like Redline Hot wheels, a few T-Jets, a 60's Italian racing bike, militaria, and so on. I truly have made some great scores on items I was not advertising for. You just never know until you speak to the person face to face. If you treat them decently they will remember you and what you are looking for. And who knows what their friends and extended family have? You can surely ask. That's how I got the most out of my ads.

[aperh]

Put yourself in the position of someone who suddenly has to liquidate a lifetime of memories and sentimental treasures. The very last thing they want is for some greedy SOB to low-ball them and then gut the stuff for parts.

First of all if they're selling their stuff, they can't control what happens to it when it's gone. Second of all sentimental value only applies to one person. That crappy plastic/pressboard console may be worth something sentimentally to the owner, and if that's the case then fine, don't sell it. If you do sell it, you don't pass on the sentimental value of the item, thus the price should reflect the material price of the item. It's not that people go out with a rude attitude looking for amazing deals on vintage units in amazing condition just to turn around and flip them on ebay, it's just that when something is overpriced you let the seller know because eventually that information is going to help them. Even if they don't sell to you (I never buy anything after I comment on the price) they'll be better equipped to deal with other potential buyers.

The point here is you don't sell sentimental value, you sell hard real physical objects that have nothing to do with the emotional attachment some people feel towards those objects. You are buying a console and you shouldn't have to pay for those nights when grandpa used to spin kiddy 45s for his grandchildren.

[tentoze]

This one has more than run its course. Move along.