[Milsurplus] Boatanchors & milsurplus at Dayton

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Mon, May 20, 2013 at 12:59 PM, David Stinson <arc5 at ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Nickels" <ranickel at comcast.net>
>
>  .. I couldn't believe I had to haul my buddys Ranger back home after
>> dropping it to $225, including a Dow Key relay, but that's pretty rock
>> bottom IMHO
>>
>
> <snip>
> If it didn't sell at $225, it was priced too high to sell to that crowd.
> I know- I don't like it either.
>

Something we need to get use to. Demand overall is still dropping like the
proverbial rock. Folks have much of what they want it seems, though some
are always looking to upgrade to a better example. We got used to the
nosebleed high (in comparison) prices that relatively common sets were
bringing on ebay, including Collins, so now it seems like things are
undervalued. Simple supply & demand working in reverse from the last decade
or so. The rare/scarce/odd/clean examples will always have a market. The
common/unspectacular, less so.

I was amazed at the R-388/51J prices in Nick's photos. Bet a lot of them
went home with the sellers as Bob was seeing. I picked up two of these in
the last year. First was a plain jane R-388 that was part of a trade with a
friend in the UK who sent me a Murphy B40D. It was an ebay purchase for
$350. It arrived with all covers, tags, hardware, tools in/on the cover and
even the elusive alignment wands inside. Barely any rack rash or paint
loss, doesn't appear to seen much use. Yet when I was looking for one,
folks insisted if I could find one for $350 it would need a lot of work.

The second was a 51J-4 in great shape also, with all 3 filters, covers,
tags, tools, for $400. It was a private sale. This is one of the later ones
that originally had the S-Line type knobs on it. Again, I was told
$700-$800 minimum, if I was lucky. Best part about that was the original
R at RE LQQK cabinet I had sitting here for it, purchased at a hamfest 7-8
years back for $100 in great shape.

When all is said and done, it comes down to what you want to do with
something you take to the 'fest: sell it or bring it home. If I bring it
home it's under foot and I've got nothing for my work and trouble. If I
took it to sell, it's because I didn't want it anymore. After hauling the
same things to and fro a few times, I discovered the simplicity of your
statement, Dave. In the last year I've sold more stuff at 'fests here in
the south than the ten years previous up north. Let this serve as a warning
to anyone who even shows the slightest interest in anything I'm selling.

Between the numbers of estate sales showing up on ebay, Craigslist, or at
hamfests, you can bet it'll only get more pronounced. I started downsizing
around 2005. My only regret is that I didn't start 5 years sooner.

~ Todd/KAQ