[Boatanchors] INFLATION

[Todd Bigelow - PS]

"Duane Fischer, W8DBF" wrote:

> You missed the HA-10 that went for $450 a while back! Just remember John, when
> these people try to sell these items, there will not be buyers willing to pay
> the bloated prices the seller will have to ask just to break even. No matter how
> discuss it, or rationalize it, it is still old gear and subject to a lot of
> problems because it is old gear.

Which is why "investing" in old gear is such an foolish thing to try to do. Unless
you get VERY lucky, VERY often there isn't a lot of hope of getting rich quick (or
ever). Always better if you enjoy owning, restoring, and using the gear. Problem
then is, you don't want to part with it, for any price!

This probably explains too why so many people get hosed trying to buy an instant
collection of Collins or other vintage gear. They lack the necessary knowledge to
know exactly what they're buying or what to look for, as well they lack the
experience to know what 'real' prices are: a combination of many factors and not
simply determined by the most one person was willing to pay for an item at auction.

I think most of us who are involved in vintage gear probably have at least one or
two rigs that would bring a fair amount of money today from one source or another.
So, if we sell those items (likely the ones we enjoy most), and get a handful of
cash, what then? Can we go out and buy the same thing all over again for
considerably less? Perhaps, but it might take a lot of time and patience, if it ever
happens at all. If I upgrade a piece of gear (newer model, better condition, etc)
I'm always careful to make sure I have the replacement in place first before parting
with the other. It's just too easy to end up spending the money on other things and
ending up with an empty spot.

Probably the worst part about a high priced sale like the recent SX-88 is that so
many others take it as reason to start asking higher prices for their gear because
so-and-so got this much for his. It gets protracted and reflected in the prices of
other items as well. There might be a basic feeding frenzy for a brief period, then
it starts to slide back. Same high bidder on the SX-88 was one of the first (if not
*the* first) to pay over $4K for an SX-115 on ePay. After that prices got up to $6K
and higher for that particular model. In the last year I've seen several sell for
under $1K and none above $2K. I've also seen a couple offered repeatedly and not
make reserve, no doubt either someone who 'invested' too much money or else someone
who decided they deserved at least that much since others had gotten similar. Greed
is a funny thing. Misplaced greed is downright hilarious.

Fact of the matter is, when someone pays that much for a rig, chances are really
good that they actually want it badly - to use, to enjoy, to have. The bid history
shows a dealer from the south who is notorious for high prices and other....things.
They dropped out about midway through the bidding. Must be business isn't so good?

If you procure old radios for the sake of enjoyment and use, you'll never go wrong.
If you buy them on speculation or because it's the latest fad, you'll probably get
hosed. Price only becomes important when money is an issue or the focus.

Boomer,  KA1KAQ (Pack Rat extraordinaire)