[Drake] Drake Rant

[Garey Barrell]

No flames indicated.....

It's that nasty old "supply & demand" ogre.  Drake equipment is highly 
prized among knowledgeable or just nostalgic people, and the supply is 
drying up.

Certainly  _DECENT_  A & B versions with copper plated chassis that do 
NOT look like they have been stored under the chicken coop are becoming 
quite scarce.

Just like any other auction item, if nice one sells at $500, the guys 
that have one out in the barn dig it out (or up!) and put it up with a 
ridiculous minimum.   Often it receives no bids.  BUT ....  If it DOES 
sell, then that encourages further digging.   When a scarce unit shows 
up, and there are two guys who have been looking for one of those for 
years see it, the sky's the limit!!  If six more show up the next week, 
the first "loser" gets his for half that and the rest go for a 
"reasonable" price.

A good place to see "A" current price structure is at

<http://www.wb4hfn.com/DRAKE/DrakeSalePriceHistory.htm>

The B-Line units seem to have gone up recently, which may at least in 
part be because of me....   I believe it is the epitome of Drake gear 
for day-to-day hamming (not necessarily "big gun contesting"), and have 
made no secret of it.

Also, prices seem to come down after Christmas when everyone gets their 
credit card bills!!

73, Garey - K4OAH
Glen Allen, VA

Drake 2-B, 4-B, C-Line&  TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
<www.k4oah.com>


Richard Bell wrote:
> I intended this for the Drake reflector but inadvertenly sent it to the wrong one.  I can already feel the flames......
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> Please don't respond to me via the reflector but I have to get this off my chest.
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> WHY do I see Drake stuff on a certain auction site, e-sumthin', and the prices go from crazy to ridiculous?
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> I'm not knocking the guys who run a valid business that sells stuff but the run-of-the-mill auction stuff.  The prices seem to head for the stratosphere and I'm not going to participate.
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> I could point out stuff, today, that is out there that I wouldn't pay more than two-third the current bid.  It's just insane, inane or both!
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> OK, I feel better after refusing to pay what appears to be artificially inflated prices for gear.
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> If you must, please respond to me directly.  I am willing to endure any flaming that is deemed necessary.
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> 73 W5BXE
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