( 
)This guide is for buyers and sellers seeking information on how to bid and price auctions and some tidbits I have learned along the way.
What is quality? It is usually in the mind of the beholder. However, there should be some definite standards that ascertain what quality is. On auction sites such as eBay and Audiogon you cannot touch and feel nor see. Pictures, the buyers description, communication and reputation are the only means to "feel" this out online.
Don't make up things in your head to answer questions you have. If you wonder about the item for sale, it's validity, or what the seller would do if you have a concern - Ask, look, and compare - know your product you wish to buy. If you are concerned, there is a reason, so trust your instincts. Don't bid, or bid only what you would pay given the concern you have. There will always, always be another of what you are looking for, just wait. Maybe not at the price you want, but price is not the only concern you should have. You should be concerned if the seller does not answer your question, answers a question in a way that makes you uncomfortable or is drunk when answering (all have happened to me). You should also be concerned if there is no picture or a generic picture. If the buyer can't send you a real picture, then do not buy, unless they communicate a real and valid answer to what you want, DON'T BUY! Trust your instincts, THEY WORK! Here is where good research comes in: If the item you are looking for shows up in a past auction with the exact same photos but different seller and price is to low, IT IS A SCAM AND FAKE. Always. This happens most frequently on expensive items like high end audio, camera, electronics, etc.
Total price is relevant. 1. What is the shipping cost? Always look at the Item you want in terms of total cost. Use the NOTES when watching or bidding and put in the shipping cost if not listed, to remind you. 2. Use the advanced search feature and check the completed listings only box to back search the item you want. Look at only the items that sold, not every auction. Don't be anxious and look for some reason to pay more. 3. Also, when buying vintage items, know that even if it is mint, it can break and it is not under warranty, since 30 years ago. I am selling very nice equipment that I take in and out of the shop just to make sure it is running right. It costs $39 just to say hello to a tech in the south. So just like anything old that you USE, know that it costs money to keep it up. If you are not willing to spend $$ on it, then buy something less than 5 years old, and be unhappy. If you love vintage gear, you know what I am talking about.
When to buy? Look for spikes and dips in the market. As I write this in July, auctions are at an all time low historically because of the late summer vacation crunch. If you are selling boat hitches or swimsuits, great. But almost everything else is down every year at this time. Americans are cramming in last minute get aways, Europeans are leisurely enjoying their two weeks in August, sailors have no wind and people who live on islands are to hot to move. Great time to buy!!! The market will crawl back up starting in late September, peak at the end of the year and stay good through Memorial day. There are exceptions to this, but that usually pertains to top quality (Mint) items that are rare and will sell anytime (except July & August) and generic items that are mass produced and don't ever sell for much.
Research: If you are wanting something that costs more than $100, I would recommend purchasing the "Market Research" in subscriptions for a month. It is only $9.99 and worth every penny. It goes back two months and shows current auctions and is customizable in the search. It will help you both sell and buy what you want. Google the item and see what comes up! Also check on Audiogon dot com if it is hifi related.
Don't try to win your auction. Don't do it! (except as noted below) Experienced sellers LOVE to see "newbies" in their auction trying to win! I know, I was one of them. That is MY stereo and NO one is going to get it, I'll show them! Awesome! For the seller. Win your auction with patience and knowledge about the history of that item. Don't be the first to bid (I'm still guilty of this) just because the price is low. Be patient and see if a large number of bidders will drive the price up. Move on if so. I watched a camera bag being sold in multiple auctions (several of the same thing) go for $24 in one auction, the next auction had 0 bidders and I won it for .99! That's nice. * That being said, if the item you want does not come up for auction much and it is vintage, then you better try to get it with all haste!
What is MINT? There is never anything special enough about an item to drive it much above the average sale price, except MINT. Mint is mint, it is original and unmolested and rarely what sellers say it is; unless they are experienced in selling that item and you can trust them. It does happen, but there should be a reluctance to name it so. I have sold some mint Sansui pieces, but I was loath to call them mint, I think I used pristine or factory. (They were definetly mint though, just ask ebayer area51groomlake.) Mint and museum quality should be about the same, dependent on age and rarity. Mint will always have detailed pictures and a guaranty to back it up.
Don't loose your soul on auctions. More on this later. But be yourself. Just because everyone is invisible doesn't mean you should change who you are when bidding or selling. Have fun, be honest, demand honesty and enjoy the 95% of the eBay community that are great people. Trust your instincts, everyone has them, now use them!
Why do I love old stuff? It is unique. It looks cool. It runs hot. It sounds great. It only runs some of the time so I can rotate equipment often. It makes me happy when it sounds good. It makes me angry most of the time. It is always a mystery when it arrives. I tear up when I have to let them go... I can have a relationship with it because of all these emotions, time and money spent and handling. I keep the local economy going with trips to look for obscure parts, Radio Shack, TV fix it dives, gas stations, my trusty fix it shop 25 miles away (Jot's Electronics in Arlington Texas, see Jim). It makes me stronger because it is so heavy. It keeps me warm in the winter. My tube stuff burns me, kills small rodents and keeps the living room warm. It helps me sleep: if I can't, I just dream about the blue glow of tubes. I meet interesting people and get to pass on a little history.
the grillsargeant.
More coming (need to go fix something...).
What is quality? It is usually in the mind of the beholder. However, there should be some definite standards that ascertain what quality is. On auction sites such as eBay and Audiogon you cannot touch and feel nor see. Pictures, the buyers description, communication and reputation are the only means to "feel" this out online.
Don't make up things in your head to answer questions you have. If you wonder about the item for sale, it's validity, or what the seller would do if you have a concern - Ask, look, and compare - know your product you wish to buy. If you are concerned, there is a reason, so trust your instincts. Don't bid, or bid only what you would pay given the concern you have. There will always, always be another of what you are looking for, just wait. Maybe not at the price you want, but price is not the only concern you should have. You should be concerned if the seller does not answer your question, answers a question in a way that makes you uncomfortable or is drunk when answering (all have happened to me). You should also be concerned if there is no picture or a generic picture. If the buyer can't send you a real picture, then do not buy, unless they communicate a real and valid answer to what you want, DON'T BUY! Trust your instincts, THEY WORK! Here is where good research comes in: If the item you are looking for shows up in a past auction with the exact same photos but different seller and price is to low, IT IS A SCAM AND FAKE. Always. This happens most frequently on expensive items like high end audio, camera, electronics, etc.
Total price is relevant. 1. What is the shipping cost? Always look at the Item you want in terms of total cost. Use the NOTES when watching or bidding and put in the shipping cost if not listed, to remind you. 2. Use the advanced search feature and check the completed listings only box to back search the item you want. Look at only the items that sold, not every auction. Don't be anxious and look for some reason to pay more. 3. Also, when buying vintage items, know that even if it is mint, it can break and it is not under warranty, since 30 years ago. I am selling very nice equipment that I take in and out of the shop just to make sure it is running right. It costs $39 just to say hello to a tech in the south. So just like anything old that you USE, know that it costs money to keep it up. If you are not willing to spend $$ on it, then buy something less than 5 years old, and be unhappy. If you love vintage gear, you know what I am talking about.
When to buy? Look for spikes and dips in the market. As I write this in July, auctions are at an all time low historically because of the late summer vacation crunch. If you are selling boat hitches or swimsuits, great. But almost everything else is down every year at this time. Americans are cramming in last minute get aways, Europeans are leisurely enjoying their two weeks in August, sailors have no wind and people who live on islands are to hot to move. Great time to buy!!! The market will crawl back up starting in late September, peak at the end of the year and stay good through Memorial day. There are exceptions to this, but that usually pertains to top quality (Mint) items that are rare and will sell anytime (except July & August) and generic items that are mass produced and don't ever sell for much.
Research: If you are wanting something that costs more than $100, I would recommend purchasing the "Market Research" in subscriptions for a month. It is only $9.99 and worth every penny. It goes back two months and shows current auctions and is customizable in the search. It will help you both sell and buy what you want. Google the item and see what comes up! Also check on Audiogon dot com if it is hifi related.
Don't try to win your auction. Don't do it! (except as noted below) Experienced sellers LOVE to see "newbies" in their auction trying to win! I know, I was one of them. That is MY stereo and NO one is going to get it, I'll show them! Awesome! For the seller. Win your auction with patience and knowledge about the history of that item. Don't be the first to bid (I'm still guilty of this) just because the price is low. Be patient and see if a large number of bidders will drive the price up. Move on if so. I watched a camera bag being sold in multiple auctions (several of the same thing) go for $24 in one auction, the next auction had 0 bidders and I won it for .99! That's nice. * That being said, if the item you want does not come up for auction much and it is vintage, then you better try to get it with all haste!
What is MINT? There is never anything special enough about an item to drive it much above the average sale price, except MINT. Mint is mint, it is original and unmolested and rarely what sellers say it is; unless they are experienced in selling that item and you can trust them. It does happen, but there should be a reluctance to name it so. I have sold some mint Sansui pieces, but I was loath to call them mint, I think I used pristine or factory. (They were definetly mint though, just ask ebayer area51groomlake.) Mint and museum quality should be about the same, dependent on age and rarity. Mint will always have detailed pictures and a guaranty to back it up.
Don't loose your soul on auctions. More on this later. But be yourself. Just because everyone is invisible doesn't mean you should change who you are when bidding or selling. Have fun, be honest, demand honesty and enjoy the 95% of the eBay community that are great people. Trust your instincts, everyone has them, now use them!
Why do I love old stuff? It is unique. It looks cool. It runs hot. It sounds great. It only runs some of the time so I can rotate equipment often. It makes me happy when it sounds good. It makes me angry most of the time. It is always a mystery when it arrives. I tear up when I have to let them go... I can have a relationship with it because of all these emotions, time and money spent and handling. I keep the local economy going with trips to look for obscure parts, Radio Shack, TV fix it dives, gas stations, my trusty fix it shop 25 miles away (Jot's Electronics in Arlington Texas, see Jim). It makes me stronger because it is so heavy. It keeps me warm in the winter. My tube stuff burns me, kills small rodents and keeps the living room warm. It helps me sleep: if I can't, I just dream about the blue glow of tubes. I meet interesting people and get to pass on a little history.
the grillsargeant.
More coming (need to go fix something...).
Guide created: 06/20/07 (updated 11/24/08)
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