On Aug 6, 8:55*pm, sparky wrote:
On Aug 5, 11:30*pm, Fred Cameron wrote:

*Due to recovery from surgery, *I missed responding to an interesting
topic or thread a few weeks back lamenting the high prices for used
equipment; my experience on here and other sites is that the person
who asks for less than 50% of the new value for a piece of used
equipment is a rare person. Even still I have purchased items with
scratches and flaws that never were mentioned.

It comes down to ones value system, but please, list every noticeable
fault and then set the price to where the item is a bargin for
someone- just like it is.

Anyone with money who is older than 60 will forever raise my suspicion
when selling or repairing something for me.

Thanks for letting us know not to get involved with your shady deals.

You know, I have remained silent on this subject for many years. But
finally have come to the conclusion that a majority of the ham
population is beginning to lose it. I have been licensed for over 50
years, and am over 60 years old. I still buy, sell, trade older
equipment. There are so many times I have seen this subject discussed
that it really irritates me. If you want a piece of gear, and can
afford it, but it! I can truly say that I have paid more than a piece
of gear was worth, but on the other hand have bought things that I
thought were under priced. So in the long run, it all evens out. I can
still remember back in the 70's that I bought a Hallicrafters SX-115
for less than $200.00. A year or so ago, I watched one go for well
over $6000.00. So, as one of the posts, the less there is of a given
piece of gear, the higher the cost. One of my pet peeves is the guy
wanting a service manual copy for the cost of postage (maybe) when
there are many sources for manuals for sale. I recently took on an old
FT-101EE and found a complete service manual for $22.00. Without it I
probably would not have been able to repair the rig, and have a very
unhappy ham on my hands. Yes, I'm on a fixed income, but if you need
something buy it and stop crying. Just my thought of the day!

73,

Mike-K5VSE


--
Formerly WB6VSE, Senior Tech. Amateur Division
SBE/Linear Systems, Watsonville, CA
On 3922 nearly every night.
WEB Site: http://members.tripod.com/~sjsharks/index.html
Restoring and using Drake Radios, TR-4, TR-4C, RV-4C,
Drake Twins: "C" line, W-4 Wattmeter, L4-B amplifier
APA 220, USS Okanogan, LSD31, USS Point Defiance
All email scanned with Norton 2008
"In God We Trust"

Mike

I gladly pay fair prices for everything I buy.


I simply made a personal observation that I have found the older a
person becomes, the more greedy and self-absorbed they become.


It will remain one of life's ironies that those who have seem to
horde,and those who do not give.

Please read the lines and not between them

73's & Happy Hording .. Fred


=====
You know, I have remained silent on this subject for many years. But
finally have come to the conclusion that a majority of the ham
population is beginning to lose it. I have been licensed for over 50
years, and am over 60 years old. I still buy, sell, trade older
equipment. There are so many times I have seen this subject discussed
that it really irritates me. If you want a piece of gear, and can
afford it, but it! I can truly say that I have paid more than a piece
of gear was worth, but on the other hand have bought things that I
thought were under priced. So in the long run, it all evens out. I can
still remember back in the 70's that I bought a Hallicrafters SX-115
for less than $200.00. A year or so ago, I watched one go for well
over $6000.00. So, as one of the posts, the less there is of a given
piece of gear, the higher the cost. One of my pet peeves is the guy
wanting a service manual copy for the cost of postage (maybe) when
there are many sources for manuals for sale. I recently took on an old
FT-101EE and found a complete service manual for $22.00. Without it I
probably would not have been able to repair the rig, and have a very
unhappy ham on my hands. Yes, I'm on a fixed income, but if you need
something buy it and stop crying. Just my thought of the day!

73,

Mike-K5VSE

On 8/11/08 10:50 AM, in article
,
"Mike-K5VSE" wrote:

On Aug 6, 8:55*pm, sparky wrote:
On Aug 5, 11:30*pm, Fred Cameron wrote:

*Due to recovery from surgery, *I missed responding to an interesting
topic or thread a few weeks back lamenting the high prices for used
equipment; my experience on here and other sites is that the person
who asks for less than 50% of the new value for a piece of used
equipment is a rare person. Even still I have purchased items with
scratches and flaws that never were mentioned.

It comes down to ones value system, but please, list every noticeable
fault and then set the price to where the item is a bargin for
someone- just like it is.

Anyone with money who is older than 60 will forever raise my suspicion
when selling or repairing something for me.

Thanks for letting us know not to get involved with your shady deals.

You know, I have remained silent on this subject for many years. But
finally have come to the conclusion that a majority of the ham
population is beginning to lose it. I have been licensed for over 50
years, and am over 60 years old. I still buy, sell, trade older
equipment. There are so many times I have seen this subject discussed
that it really irritates me. If you want a piece of gear, and can
afford it, but it! I can truly say that I have paid more than a piece
of gear was worth, but on the other hand have bought things that I
thought were under priced. So in the long run, it all evens out. I can
still remember back in the 70's that I bought a Hallicrafters SX-115
for less than $200.00. A year or so ago, I watched one go for well
over $6000.00. So, as one of the posts, the less there is of a given
piece of gear, the higher the cost. One of my pet peeves is the guy
wanting a service manual copy for the cost of postage (maybe) when
there are many sources for manuals for sale. I recently took on an old
FT-101EE and found a complete service manual for $22.00. Without it I
probably would not have been able to repair the rig, and have a very
unhappy ham on my hands. Yes, I'm on a fixed income, but if you need
something buy it and stop crying. Just my thought of the day!

I agree, you win on a few and lose on a few. But those of us who have the
test equipment and the knowledge to do our own repair do have a large
advantage and can most often win anyway. For example, I bought an R-71A at
auction a few years ago for about $200. It was much worse than advertised.
Clearly, someone prodded and poked around in it in the belief that wiggling
components with the power on might fix it, and failing at that, flipped it
on eBay. With the full documentation and a pile of decent test gear it's up
and running for less than $20.00 (and a few parts from my QST junkbox :^)

3922 most every night, hey? If I can relocate the post from the
teeny-bopper who is down on us old people, I might requisition his call for
an evening and drop in on 3922 to say hi. Might as well get some use from
his post.


73,

Mike-K5VSE


--
Formerly WB6VSE, Senior Tech. Amateur Division
SBE/Linear Systems, Watsonville, CA
On 3922 nearly every night.
WEB Site: http://members.tripod.com/~sjsharks/index.html
Restoring and using Drake Radios, TR-4, TR-4C, RV-4C,
Drake Twins: "C" line, W-4 Wattmeter, L4-B amplifier
APA 220, USS Okanogan, LSD31, USS Point Defiance
All email scanned with Norton 2008
"In God We Trust"

On 8/11/08 12:19 PM, in article ,
"Fred Cameron" wrote:

Mike

I gladly pay fair prices for everything I buy.


I simply made a personal observation that I have found the older a
person becomes, the more greedy and self-absorbed they become.

You are pathetic in your universal generalization of us older folk. It
certainly says more about you than it does us elderly types.

It will remain one of life's ironies that those who have seem to
horde,and those who do not give.

More ignorant nonsense.

Maybe people react to you negatively because you **** them off.

Please read the lines and not between them

73's & Happy Hording .. Fred


=====
You know, I have remained silent on this subject for many years. But
finally have come to the conclusion that a majority of the ham
population is beginning to lose it. I have been licensed for over 50
years, and am over 60 years old. I still buy, sell, trade older
equipment. There are so many times I have seen this subject discussed
that it really irritates me. If you want a piece of gear, and can
afford it, but it! I can truly say that I have paid more than a piece
of gear was worth, but on the other hand have bought things that I
thought were under priced. So in the long run, it all evens out. I can
still remember back in the 70's that I bought a Hallicrafters SX-115
for less than $200.00. A year or so ago, I watched one go for well
over $6000.00. So, as one of the posts, the less there is of a given
piece of gear, the higher the cost. One of my pet peeves is the guy
wanting a service manual copy for the cost of postage (maybe) when
there are many sources for manuals for sale. I recently took on an old
FT-101EE and found a complete service manual for $22.00. Without it I
probably would not have been able to repair the rig, and have a very
unhappy ham on my hands. Yes, I'm on a fixed income, but if you need
something buy it and stop crying. Just my thought of the day!

73,

Mike-K5VSE

On Mon, 11 Aug 2008, Mike-K5VSE wrote:

On Aug 6, 8:55*pm, sparky wrote:
On Aug 5, 11:30*pm, Fred Cameron wrote:

*Due to recovery from surgery, *I missed responding to an interesting
topic or thread a few weeks back lamenting the high prices for used
equipment; my experience on here and other sites is that the person
who asks for less than 50% of the new value for a piece of used
equipment is a rare person. Even still I have purchased items with
scratches and flaws that never were mentioned.

It comes down to ones value system, but please, list every noticeable
fault and then set the price to where the item is a bargin for
someone- just like it is.

Anyone with money who is older than 60 will forever raise my suspicion
when selling or repairing something for me.

Thanks for letting us know not to get involved with your shady deals.

You know, I have remained silent on this subject for many years. But
finally have come to the conclusion that a majority of the ham
population is beginning to lose it.

Well, you did not say what you meant by "lose it."

I have been licensed for over 50
years, and am over 60 years old.

I have been licensed close to that and also am over 60.

I still buy, sell, trade older
equipment.

As I have seen in the last year, and in the decade or two up to now, the
quality and quantity of ham gear decline at hamfests--and as my
junkbox and test equipment (including three tektronix oscilloscopes)
has become adequate--my buying of gear has fallen off considerably.

There are so many times I have seen this subject discussed
that it really irritates me. If you want a piece of gear, and can
afford it, but it! I can truly say that I have paid more than a piece
of gear was worth, but on the other hand have bought things that I
thought were under priced. So in the long run, it all evens out. I can
still remember back in the 70's that I bought a Hallicrafters SX-115
for less than $200.00. A year or so ago, I watched one go for well
over $6000.00.

$6000 for an SX-115? Pretty good catch for the seller. I'd like to hear
the buyer's rationalization for paying that kind of money. Certainly if
one's kid were taken by kidnappers, then I could easily understand high
figures for ransom. Maybe collectors who did some heavy dreaming all their
life, or who are filthy rich and can drop that kind of money with no
effect on their resources for an SX-115. Maybe auctions, which "play"
human psychology on one bidder against another bidder who bids back, in an
upward spiral to way "over the top" prices exploit the same mentality that
plays lottos operated by governments (to moneyharvest suckers to help
their spending programs). Me, I can't justify anything near that kind of
price. Yeah, I've bought stuff at hamfests for more than the stuff was
worth, but nowhere near $6000 for SX-115 levels. That is definitely crazy.

So, as one of the posts, the less there is of a given
piece of gear, the higher the cost. One of my pet peeves is the guy
wanting a service manual copy for the cost of postage (maybe) when
there are many sources for manuals for sale. I recently took on an old
FT-101EE and found a complete service manual for $22.00. Without it I
probably would not have been able to repair the rig, and have a very
unhappy ham on my hands. Yes, I'm on a fixed income, but if you need
something buy it and stop crying. Just my thought of the day!

Some of my wisdom for the day: For a decade now, I have been going to used
book sales where the price is usually a dollar for a hardback. My other
hobby in my old age is reading history books, mainly ancient and medieval.
Considering how many hours of "entertainment" (not to mention education
from a non-fiction books) and enlightenment I get from each of nearly
200 books I've read in the last ten years for a total investment of $200,
my opinion is that I'm getting much better bang for the buck on the books.
I've spent a fair bit more on ham gear over the same period and have spent
quite a lot less hours "playing with the knobs and switches." Another
inexpensive but entertaining hobby is watching the birds and squirrels in
my birdfeeders and hummingbird feeder. Probably about 30 cents per day and
wife and I get live, commercial-free, no viruses/spyware, no-pet-problems,
low maintenance entertainment.

Sure, anyone can take thousands to tens of thousands of dollars (or use
debt) for foolish expenses. And, there are guys out there that look for
suckers every day.

$6000 for an SX-115?

When rich people bid up at Christies or Sotheby's, its for the purpose of
driving up prices so they can donate at the end of a "run up" period and
get a big tax write off, not because they _want_ that Picaso for bragging
rights. Or, they also play "high-roller" social networking for entre'.

Y'all think what you want.

73,

Mike-K5VSE


--
Formerly WB6VSE, Senior Tech. Amateur Division
SBE/Linear Systems, Watsonville, CA
On 3922 nearly every night.
WEB Site: http://members.tripod.com/~sjsharks/index.html
Restoring and using Drake Radios, TR-4, TR-4C, RV-4C,
Drake Twins: "C" line, W-4 Wattmeter, L4-B amplifier
APA 220, USS Okanogan, LSD31, USS Point Defiance
All email scanned with Norton 2008
"In God We Trust"

Fred Cameron wrote:
Due to recovery from surgery, I missed responding to an interesting
topic or thread a few weeks back lamenting the high prices for used
equipment; my experience on here and other sites is that the person
who asks for less than 50% of the new value for a piece of used
equipment is a rare person. Even still I have purchased items with
scratches and flaws that never were mentioned.

It comes down to ones value system, but please, list every noticeable
fault and then set the price to where the item is a bargin for
someone- just like it is.

Anyone with money who is older than 60 will forever raise my suspicion
when selling or repairing something for me.

Excuse my cynicism, but it is a bit ironic that a person in their
sunset years who is closer to leaving every earthly possession behind
would have an inordinate affectionfor money and the tightest squeeze
on things.

It must be the pride of life stage, but the bubba with little more
that a pair of Kmart shoes and a push mower to his name is the one who
tends to be the most generous among, not those with worth!



kicked one too many times when I was down on money in SC
W4FCM
Fred

Hmmmmm. Wealth re-distribution? Boatanchor welfare? I think I've
heard of those concepts somewhere else. Now, let me see.......

de K3HVG

Well, in one respect, vintage equipment is a real bargain.

This past year I purchased a set of Heathkit SB-series amateur radio
“twins” for the collective price of about $350. If you include
related expenses need for getting the set on the air, the total cost
was probably about $500. That’s in current dollars (2008).
Accounting for inflation, this is equivalent to $80 in 1968, a year
during which the same and equivalent items could be purchased. Going
the other way, I’d say that in 1968, the same Heathkit station would
have cost about $650, which in today’s dollars is about $4000. So,
even if I had been ripped off and paid twice what I did this year, I
still would have paid a low price.

-Dave Drumheller, K3WQ

On Aug 14, 1:27*pm, wrote:
Well, in one respect, vintage equipment is a real bargain.

This past year I purchased a set of Heathkit SB-series amateur radio
“twins” for the collective price of about $350. *If you include
related expenses need for getting the set on the air, the total cost
was probably about $500. *That’s in current dollars (2008).
Accounting for inflation, this is equivalent to $80 in 1968, a year
during which the same and equivalent items could be purchased. *Going
the other way, I’d say that in 1968, the same Heathkit station would
have cost about $650, which in today’s dollars is about $4000. *So,
even if I had been ripped off and paid twice what I did this year, I
still would have paid a low price.

-Dave Drumheller, K3WQ

Am a bit older than most who have mentioned it here!!!!
No problem; on eBay for example; see an item and before bidding
decide,
a) Do I really need/want it? Or am I just being nostagically old and
foolish.
b) If yes; what sort of cost limit am I prepared to go to. If bidding
is 'brisk' do I want to go a 'little more' either in dollars or a
percentage? Usually that answer 'no'.
c) Forget about it. Noting however the price that it eventually sells
for future info.
d) End of discussion.

On Aug 14, 10:48*pm, terryS wrote:
Am a bit older than most who have mentioned it here!!!!
No problem; on eBay for example; see an item and before bidding
decide,
a) Do I really need/want it? Or am I just being nostagically old and
foolish.
b) If yes; what sort of cost limit am I prepared to go to. If bidding
is 'brisk' do I want to go a 'little more' either in dollars or a
percentage? *Usually that answer 'no'.
c) Forget about it. Noting however the price *that it eventually sells
for future info.
d) End of discussion.

Yup--this is essentially the same approach I use for making Ebay
purchases.

Generally speaking, if bidding is brisk on an item I’m interested in,
I’m not inclined to get in on the action. And that’s not a problem,
because all I have to do is wait and sooner or later it pops up
again.

-Dave Drumheller, K3WQ

"terryS" wrote in message
...
On Aug 14, 1:27 pm, wrote:
..
a) Do I really need/want it? Or am I just being nostagically old and
foolish.


Nostalgia sometimes wears rose colored glasses

I've bid foolishly on things from my radio past, only to discover
what I remembered and the reality of how bad some of
those radios really were are two different things.

Pete