[Boatanchors] Hamfests vs. Online Sales was:Hosstraders Fall 2005 hamfestreport (Long)

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Hello Carl & group -

On 10/12/05, Carl Nord <chnord at comcast.net> wrote:

> 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.

That's usually the case, Carl - even the few times you've actually
been at your table, I end up breezing by in a hurry or I see you as a
blur out of the corner of my eye as you flash past. No problem on the
receiver, I know you've beat me to more than a few goodies over the
years. Hey, it's guys like us who keep the 'fests going!

> 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.....

All very good points, Carl. I take an almost opposite view in some
ways, since I can look a piece of gear over top to bottom and
inside-out to find those little things cleverly hidden by camera angle
or vague descriptions online. There are also plenty of places to plug
it in and try it out to an extent. And while it's not really possible
in most cases to give a transmitter a good test, you can get some idea
of minimal working and overall cosmetic conditions better in person.
This allows me to walk away from something I otherwise might pay to
ship and then have to pay to ship back. And shipping is also another
opportunity for damage, even if it's packed well.

I also find that most folks bring stuff there to actually sell, not
simply test the water for a deep pocket buyer. In fact, when I had
stuff to sell I can still remember that finding a motivated buyer was
sometimes difficult. One guy said something like " Gee, that's in
really nice shape and I've always wanted one of those and the price is
really good too - but if I buy it I'll have to carry it back to my
car, and I don't really wanna." I didn't want to sell it badly enough
to carry it for him. (o:

I do think that the ebay feedback can be a very useful tool in
determining a lot about the seller. Checking past auctions that are
still active and so on also helps. And best of all, you see things
online often that you're not very likely to see locally. This is the
offset to shipping costs for me, the chance to get ahold of something
I've seldom or maybe never seen but always drooled over.

The very amusing case this time was the guy selling the two ARC-5 and
AAF antenna relays: for the prices he was asking, they turn up more
often online complete and in better shape.

Interestingly, even with the bad wx at the 'fest, activity was still
pretty brisk on Friday. The folks who want to sell do, and the one who
want to buy do, and the rest sorts itself out. I enjoy the social
aspect of a good hamfest as much as finding the old gear or parts,
something lacking online. But I find things online that either don't
show up or are gone as soon as they do at the 'fests (Just ask W1RC
about the CY-979 cabinet he found under a table last spring for $5).
Both are very useful tools, one is just more fun (weather-permitting).