ANTIQUE RADIO PRICES THROUGH THE ROOF!

Whats a collector on a budget going to do?

Some collectors are priced out of the market while some are trying to hang in there with better bidding tactics.

+ Bid late at night. It might reduce the bidding competition a little, but remember bidders can be international or on the opposite coast from you. For example, a bidder in New York will be 3 hours ahead of  a California bidder.

+Always bid at the last minute. It still works folks, and it is usually in the buyers interest.

+Watch for sellers who are getting basicly nothing in the sale. A 99 cent sale doesnt leave much of an incentive for a seller to deliver the goods properly. All that packing and going to the post office and standing in line for nothing. Sellers should ALWAYS perform regardless of whether they got what they wanted in the sale price but lets be realistic folks. A realistic profit might assure a sellers performance better than a loss.

+Sellers should realisticly list a minimum price they will sell for or set a reserve price that is proper. If NO RESERVE is set dont whine about a low sale price. Sellers know the risks of no reserve listings. Sellers and buyers each act in their OWN interest or it wouldnt be a auction.

+Watch out for inflated shipping to make up for what is seen as a low price. Same items from the same area should reflect similar shipping prices. If they dont seem right email the seller and ask why. Antique radios are heavy and breakable. If your shipper doesnt know how to pack radios be sure to instruct them how to do it in a economical manner. If you ask for lots of expensive packing beyond reasonable needs prepare to pay for it.

+Overseas buyers pay a high premium for shipping. Their shipping costs are a major factor. You might win an auction if you are near an item and they are paying hundreds in shipping.....if the bid price is about the same for each of you.

+If your in the same city/area arrange to pick up the item and save big bucks and shipping damage.

+Search by "low price first". How can you find low prices if you dont search for them. You WILL find junk as well as jewels there. Be prepared to search and sort for your low price. You might find those knobs you needed for the Philco youve been looking for cheap as well!

Search by 'distance nearest' to find items in your area. Many old consoles are "pick up only". You will pay more shipping on these heavy old beautifull beasts than you pay for the item. I basicly wont buy consoles out of my geographic area.

+ Use Paypal as a quick reliable payment method. Its trackable,secure, and fast. I cant fiqure out why a BUYER would not want to use Paypal. Print out your receipt on the home computer and keep it. If you want to keep it real simple use a seperate credit card just for Paypal.

+Make sure your shipper marks all radios shipped "Fragile this side up' on all sides. Its a simple thing ,but they do overlook this simple way to avoid damage. It doesnt always work but i have found it works a majority of the time with radios.

+ Insurance will give you only money. It will NOT replace a antique radio that is truly unique if you cant get one for the same amount of money. If insurance isnt a realistic option to replace a truly unique item then dont waste your money buying it. I insured a truly beautiful Philco baby grand and spent money repairing it rather turning it in to the shipper because I didnt want to lose the item. I could have saved money by not insuring the item at all.

Ok Now for some fun! What are some of the strangest reasons for a radios price being sky high? I have read radio listings for years and Ive seen some interesting reasons listed for high prices. Here is a few.

1. This is the nicest one I have ever seen. Question: How many have they seen? 

2. Complete with tubes.  I hope so.

3.Ivory Inlay. Ok but so what.

4.Museuum quality. According to whom?

5.Radio gets one local station with hum. Ok but not a big price changer to me.

6. Doesnt work but probably just needs a tube or something simple. Yeah well maybe and maybe not!

and my favorite: This was Henry Fords personal radio. Better be able to substantiate with more than a COA.

For radios priced at $5000 to $10000 I would be very much from Missouri. Show Me!

Good luck in finding more ways to reduce the skyrocketing costs of collecting Antique Tube radios.

Further info at EdisonSite.com

See you in the auctions!

Phil

Philtechltd