[Boatanchors] Re: [Milsurplus] Hosstraders Fall 2005 hamfestreport (Long)

Carl Nord chnord at comcast.net
Wed Oct 12 21:08:18 EDT 2005



Carl
WA1KPD
Visit My Boatanchor Collection at
http://home.comcast.net/~chnord/wa1kpd.html

Hi Todd,
Great to se you as always at Hosstraders although our visit was way too
short. We seem to bump into each other on the run! Congrats on the rcvr you
got. Sorry that you saw it before me.

Had a thought about eBay prices on the way home. Why will I consider X piece
of equipment for $300 plus shipping on eBay, but not the same amount at a
hamfest? I have wondered that myself. After all I get to see it, touch it
and look the seller in the eye as we talk. All things I cannot do on eBay.

And then it hit me. On eBay, I have some record on the stranger who is
selling to me. I can see his/her feedback, I have an idea of how they
conduct themselves. I have (and have used) payment alternatives that give me
recourse if needed and I am free to express my opinion of the transaction
for others to see.

Now, at a hamfest there is a chance I do not know the individual or someone
who does (six degrees of separation not withstanding) and have to take a
chance on the rig. My history and recourse is limited.....

Just my 2 cents


Todd, KA1KAQ wrote:
> On 10/11/05, David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> 
>>Many of these are examples of people trying to get Ebay prices
>>without the massive Ebay market.  A lot of conventional antiques
>>dealers with high prices and the time-value of their items trickling away
>>are learning the same, hard lesson:  20 people walking
>>through your booth do not have the pricing muscle of
>>20 million looking online.  IOW: if you take it to a hamfest and
>>try to get an Ebay price ($44 BC-422), you're probably going to
>>be taking it back home.
>>73 D.S.
> 
> 
> Absolutely Dave, and while ebay no doubt does cut into hamfest
> activity somewhat, it doesn't appear to me to be having much, if any
> more affect than the natural aging process. Plenty of good stuff at
> hamfest prices is still there to be had. The cheap stuff sold fast,
> the overpriced stuff went back home, and the rest was haggled over if
> anyone was interested.
> 
> In other words, a pretty typical hamfest.
> 
> ~ Todd,  KA1KAQ
> 
> 
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