The reality is that people are not experts and simply do not know what the “market” price is. Their interests are in some other field and their only easily accessible guide to prices for weird stuff is eBay or Surplus Sales or Fair Radio. 

I believe the vast majority of flea market sellers aren’t jerks and are just trying to make a reasonable guess. And they never know if you are the only guy that might possibly buy that item or simply a bottom feeder who comes along before the rich Budelman collector who just hasn’t gotten around to their table yet. 

The uncertainties are high and nobody wants to be told they were a fool for selling that Helena Rubenstein R-390A for the same price as an EAC. So start high and be willing to dicker, particularly if a potential buyer is willing to explain why they think the offer is reasonable. I’ve seen -6dB and even -10dB price changes (money is power).

If you see something and the unrealistic seller won’t budge, give them your phone number or hang around until they are packing up - most folks would discount a big heavy RBB rather than haul it home. But a Navy 26003 key is easy to take to hamfests for years until the right buyer comes along. 

Definitely give out your phone number at a yard sale. Folks don’t put stuff out at the curb just to spite you. 

But feel free to ignore me. My motto seems to be “Buy high and sell low”.

Above all, try to enjoy yourself seeing interesting gear and meeting interesting people. Ya just never know who or what will turn up………

Nick England K4NYW
www.navy-radio.com


On Sun, May 19, 2024 at 10:12 PM Hubert Miller <Kargo_cult@msn.com> wrote:

Well, i see the Budelman receiver has 2 squelch controls and a switch marked L1  L2, among other settings. So it must have something to do with lowband FM.

I notice it’s also imaginatively marked  with price, $100. Is there really someone out there who would pay $100 for a pig-in-a-poke? Try to be realistic about

about your market.

I often see things at a swapmeet that are sort of intriguing but way unrealisticly priced. You see them once and they’re gone. I suppose some people make a

swapmeet appearance in hopes to sell that “rare thing” they’ve kept for years, done nothing with, but it’s still worth $$$, right. I always wonder what the next

stop for this stuff is. OH, i did see what i call the “Tektronix ARR-15” now on Ebay for $300, after i saw and declined for $75 at the Rickreall hamfest, back some

years before the plague. Oh well, not my problem.

-Hue Miller

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