[ARC5] Pricing an SCR-274-N (sigh...)

[David Stinson]

----- Original Message ----- 
>....Can anyone give me a rough price
  (for a complete SCR-274N).

OK... I'm probably being an idiot for even attempting
to answer this eternal and unanswerable question, 
but it isn't the first time I've been an idiot so...

I'm assuming by "antenna tuner" you actually 
meant "antenna switch," since only the AN/ARC-5 
MF set used a tuner.

I often get this "what's it worth" question 
and I tell you truly-
there is no "correct" answer other than:
"whatever you and a purchaser can agree upon."
The market is fickle and more than a little crazy.
I have seen actually "rare" pieces sell for peanuts
and sets as common as salt sell for hundreds,
then turn around the next week and go the other way.
It depends on who has "mad money" when.
I do feel comfortable in saying $5000 is laughable
and only a doofuss with more money than sense
would pay anything like that.

Unlike some people stricken with covetousness and envy,
I see nothing wrong with getting as much as you can 
for your family's assets.  "Profit" is not a dirty word,
save to the covetous.  
Socialists who have run out of other people's money 
to give-away now want to give-away other people's radios ;-)
In fact, you have a fiduciary duty to do the best you can
with your family's assets.

If, for your own reasons, you wish to keep it all together,
you will ultimately receive far less money, but the work
involved in marketing individual pieces may not be worth
it in your particular circumstance.   Sales of individual pieces
will bring the most money for your family and also please
the most people, as many more sets will have "holes" filled
rather than it all going to one rich guy.

Either way, if your goal is maximize return on your assets,
Ebay is the only way to go.   They offer you a market of
millions of potential buyers vs. six old guys at a hamfest
who will waste your time telling you 
how they used to buy all that for 27 cents, offer $10
for your flawless BC-456 modulator, then walk away.
Ignore the sneers and smears by people who either 
won't offer at all or will offer you a silly pittance.  
They don't pay your bills so they have no say.

If a dear friend (and only for him!) asked me to market
such a set for him and insisted- against my advice-
on keeping the set together as one piece,
and assuming there were no authentically "rare" 
or "scarce" pieces in the set,
I would remind him of the insanity of the market,
and that any starting price can only be a "best guess," 
then break it down to an "opening bid" this way:

(YES; I know you can point to some fool who paid $387.96
  for a common BC-455 receiver.   I'm trying to quote
  "starting" prices that will end in a sale.  I've already said
  that even attempting to price such as this in this market
  is nearly impossible.  I invite you to offer your opinion
  as long as it's not a childish "profit is evil" whine.)

3 MC RX  45
7 MC RX  45
LF RX  35
3 Dynamotors 60
Rack  55
Shock 35
RX cntrl box 30 (common as dirt-
  I do not understand people who pay 
  big money for this control box)
Set 6 connectors 60

3 MC TX  35
7 MC TX  35
Rack  55
Shock  35
TX cntrl box  35
Set of 2 connectors  20

Modulator  75
Shock  35
Dynamotor 45
Set of 4 connectors  40

Antenna Switch  35
Connector  10
Shock  25

Then I'd give a small "premium" for the fact that it's a complete set.
I'd remind my friend he's being foolish and open the auction at $999.
Frankly, I'd bet even money you don't get a bite at that price.
People are funny.  They'll pay three times that in individual part sales
but they won't bid that "big" straight-up.

OK- that's my "best shot," but it's based on twenty years 
of buying and selling this stuff.  
I invite your (constructive) input.

GL OM ES 73 DE Dave AB5S