posted on July 1, 2004 04:45:14 AM new
Hi. I have a question and thought I'd seek some opinions on it to decide what to do.
If you have an item thats fairly rare (not rare, rare) do you list it when there is some activity on another listing, or wait until the supply for demand has subsided - and then list? I have an old radio to list. There is one listing with a clamoring of 4-5 bids and then two others listed with 100 or so hits, and no bids. All are still within 6-7 days listing period left to run. So what would you do? List or wait?
Thanks for any ideas.
[ edited by neroter12 on Jul 1, 2004 04:49 AM ]
if i can outmarket competition; i will DO IT.
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better price??...better item??[bakelite arvin be ttuff compete with]...better condition??[who has the one that plays, or is complete, or neat]...
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MHO is that i wouldnt wait til competitions are over, or almost over, before listing, many bidders dont surf like we do...if i can beat the competition, i would list...
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posted on July 1, 2004 05:37:29 AM new
neroter:
i think i may have to rescind my earlier thread - from what you state; you may have a category with "not so many auctions running." you may have little competition!!
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i ran search:
tube radio..1300 auctions;
bakelite radio...250 auctions;
circa 1940, or 1950 auctions...+100 auctions;
vintage auctions...+500 auctions...
this seems to be a busy category...
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i am curious what category are you considering...unless i am presuming too much, you may have a more rare item...
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myoldtoy
posted on July 1, 2004 07:58:57 AM new
thanks for suggestions MO/toy and Cheryl (sorry dnt feel like spiffing my typing much today!)
I usually give consideration to those things, too. But I am caught in a bind here because I know I got really good prices on all this stuff recently acquired, so I can undercut the competition and probably force a sale - but do I really want to do that? you know; *I got a good price but I dont want to give it away either....and of course since she gave me rock bottom prices, I have no clue where to price it at or what some of its worth. lol! So I got a lot of researching to do-good thing I bought some books!
Thanks again for your suggestions! I may just watch the category a bit and try to figure out what I am doing. Or I might, if the mood strikes me just list and let it ride - let the collectors take it where they want to, or the buyers/resellers, probably more appropriately.
Which is another conundrum: Many think this totally the wrong season to catch many of collectors online. I tend to agree, yet there is still activity going on in alot of the catagories...so..
lol! decisions, decisions...
btw, cheryl, I pulled out that plate. Its Frae Bonnie Scotland, by browie downing ceramics by JH weatherby. It is so cute!! I almost want to keep it for myself.
posted on July 1, 2004 08:01:18 AM new
nah, my old toy. I dont think its that rare. Its a sears silverstone radio. not sure, but I think its not older than 30ties and thats a good estimate. have no idea about anything more until i look it up. but it seems something the radio collectors are interested in if anything? I dont know.
posted on July 1, 2004 08:05:11 AM new
If they're selling, I will jump into the fray with a bid starting a few dollars under what the bids are running.
Sometimes you'll attract a bidder who doesn't want to fight it out with 4 or 5 others. This way if the ones already listed go sky high, yours would be the fall back and you may get 2 or 3 bidders at the last minute hoping to snipe the competition.
They're looking and bidding. Strike while the audience is hooked!
posted on July 1, 2004 08:09:22 AM new
welllll, i hear eveything you saying; and i had a feeling your might have a "goodie," or be in a good position..
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i know the following wont influence you
but, after weeks of really being in the doldrums, the following has happened to me...just sold unusual glss r.r. sign;; have a starting minimum bid on a pianolodeom for $99 right now...havent seen one bring more than 75 bucks this year...mine is only competitive,nothing really special...sold piece cbalt last night[small ticket], had nothing in it, so i let it go...
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i have fitted into all those situations you are considering..and i know i not creating a pattern of sales or anything...but after last couple months, 4 sales in week been good for me...especially since i didnt list for 2 weeks...i hope its picking up...who knows.
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at any rate, good luck, i sure you will do good with it...myoldtoy
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posted on July 1, 2004 08:21:09 AM new
lol, thankyou, MOT you are very kind! Yes, I did see that one but mine is not as old or complicated as the one with all the bids, mine is more like the ones with lots of hits and no bids ...lol. I think its fifties most of this lady's stuff was if I am correct. Few pieces maybe older.
Ice, I have moved along that line of thought before, and my item went nowhere! so i still dont know. guess its all a gamble.
ed to add: thats great about your 'lift' my old toy with your item!!! Congrats! - I know that works wonders for me some days! heh. The wonder of ebay in motion!
[ edited by neroter12 on Jul 1, 2004 08:27 AM ]
posted on July 1, 2004 10:40:14 AM new
In addition to the regular pictures, remove the case and get a picture of the chassis showing the tubes, etc. This can be very important to a collector, in addition to a close-up of any labels or information stickers. Don't forget to welcome international bidders. It could be considered extremely rare in many parts of the world.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 1, 2004 11:14:37 AM new
thanks for that info, sparkz. Appreciate it, as that also sounds like a smart selling technique to include. You know what, though? I am a bit afraid to open it up because I might not be able to get it back to together, or what if some tiny fuse or piece falls out? Right now it works, the radio does anyway. But thank you again for reminding me to think of that. Maybe if I look at it more closely - I can do it since its not a made in china - or is it? lol and should be fairly simple with screws somewhere.
- ever open some of these newer gizmos up and cannot get them back together? I wind up throwing them out. To me they are such a piece of junk. Its like everything is purposefully made disposable!
posted on July 1, 2004 12:14:00 PM new
These were made to be able to be serviced, unlike the modern devices which are disposable and have to be replaced. You will most likely need to remove the knobs for tuning and volume control. They may be on a splined shaft and pull off with a slight amount of pressure, or they may be fastened with set screws which will require a small screwdriver or hex wrench to loosen. There will be a couple of screws on the bottom or the back which need to be removed and the case should slide off the chassis. Use a soft bristled paint brush to sweep the dust off the tubes, components and chassis and blow off well. Look on the underside of the chassis where all the wiring is and see if there are any dust balls. If so, remove them as they can cause a short circuit if they are in the wrong spot.(I found out about that the hard way) Take a couple pictures and then put it back together. I wouldn't worry about anything falling out or damaging it if you're careful. Those things were built to last by people who took pride in the quality of their products. It's still working after 75 years. What can you buy today at Wal Mart that will last that long?
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on July 1, 2004 12:22:21 PM new
spark:
i hope you dont mind if i add to your cautious words of instruction...BE CAREFUL OF THE SPEAKER..it will be FRAGILE FRAGILE...
i found this out the hard way...
myoldtoy
