Steve,
I’ve been really wanting to get into vintage high end audio equipment like you. I feel I’m pretty technically minded. Do you have any videos showing how you go about testing this old equipment?
I do a simple bench test on receivers and amps to see if the lights are working and use a small speaker to see if sounds are coming out then proceed to clean the dust off the inside and clean the years of grimey build up on the outside.
I can change out lights and clean potentiometers and switches but I don’t usually do any circuit repair.
I then make a video, testing all the inputs like this one for the listing:
Turntables quite often need a belt and or stylus replaced. Cassette deck belt replacement is usually beyond my capabilities.
Great stuff, Steve! I pass on all that old old stereo equipment when I see because of the storage space needed… seeing your videos I want to get rid of everything else in my store and only do the electronics.
Some of my interesting sales over the past week:
c1930s Gillette Somerset safety razor: http://www.ebay.com/itm/201717670118
Just listed on Sunday. Part of a box of razors I picked up at an estate auction. Average price per razor was about $2, this one sold for $45 best offer.
1980s Geneva cassette head demagnetizer: http://www.ebay.com/itm/192026715579
I’ve had several Sony, Maxell, TDK demagnetizers over the years (and they sell well), but never heard of Geneva before. This was at the bottom of a box of cassettes I bought and threw it up for $30 to see what happens. Posted Sunday, sold Tuesday and it’s en route to Canada.
c1991 Sony Sports FM/AM Walkman: http://www.ebay.com/itm/191979894944
Another piece that was at the bottom of that cassette box lot. It looks like garbage with switches & buttons missing, but when I put batteries in it fired right up. Listed as is and showed close ups of the damage. Sold for $30 best offer and the buyer paid $42 for Priority Mail to Mexico. Hope they love it!
c1960s MCM Good Day Shirt & Tie coffee pot: http://www.ebay.com/itm/201624093691
Cute piece that I’ve had listed for nearly 2 years. Bought it at an estate sale for probably $5 and I thought it would sell quickly and for a lot. Well, finally sold in my clearance section for $30. Still good, just not the $80 I originally listed it for.
OK Steve what is your secret for selling cabinet card portraits for $30? I couldn’t give away that card if it were in my shop, LOL. Anyway, thanks for doing these–they are always interesting and I live vicariously through your electronic sales (I wouldn’t know a good piece of electronica if it bit me on the arce.)
Sales continue to be very slow for me on both ebay and etsy. In times like this I get so tempted to buy clothing, but I resist because I hate listing clothing. Still buying though…
1) Download the YouTube app
2) Click the button in the lower right corner that looks like a camera
3) You can record directly from there or upload an existing video 🙂
Thanks for sharing your electronics process, Steve. I’ve got a stack of components I picked up at an estate sale and have been procrastinating on testing them. Two of the first components I tested had problems, and the fear of finding the others have issues has me stalling and posting other things. Fortunately, I sold the Realistic equalizer for what I paid for the bunch, so at least I’m even. Lots more work than tshirts and shoes for sure, but what returns!
Mom used to say ” If you can’t figure out what something is or what it’s used for – flip it over ” . Beautiful cake stand by the way ! Bet you were happy to see a few other things sell weren’t you ? You sure have the knack for selling that stereo equipment though ! Great and informative video as always Steve !
A friend gave me some electronics to sell such as VCRs, receivers, amp, etc. I haven’t listed any of it yet because I am dreading the process of testing each piece. It is down on my priority list.
I have a milk glass cake plate similar in shape to the one in the video. I knew how it was supposed to sit, but, when I went to list it, I noticed I had photographed upside-down! I must have been “in the zone”/spaced out, so I had retake the photos.
The plate has 12 watchers now. I realize that that doesn’t always mean anything, but I’m pretty sure it will sell in the next few weeks. I had someone ask me whether I would ship it directly to a PO Box in the UAE, and I said I only shipped through the GSP. That isn’t actually true, but I didn’t want to ship direct in this case.
I started out selling vintage electronics and toys 1.5 years ago. I had a lot of spare time as I was unemployed. Once I went back to work and ebay went to part time, that spare time to do extensive cleaning and testing went out the window. I have several shelves full of AV equipment I could get really good money for, but I just don’t have the desire to commit to testing it all. I also don’t really want to pack it.
I NEED to commit to this so I can clear out that valuable shelf space. Shoes are just sooo much easier though. “I need to test this amp and these speakers toda…..or I could list these two tubs of shoes. Shoes it is!” I’ve had this internal conversation many times over the last year. Lol!
Steve, out of curiosity where do you get all your manuals from to print out? Do you have a specific website that you go to or do you just do a google search?
Today I’m (almost sadly) packing up my most favorite purchase ever – super-cool vtg 60s linen daisy outfit purchased for the super-groovy price of 50 cents! Sold for $44 + shipping.
Thanks again Steve for taking the time to make and post your video each week. I am always amazed at how well the vintage electronics sell! So happy for you:)
October Sales Report came in this morning and no wonder it felt like a slow month! Our sales were down about 25% from the summer months. We did do some traveling for 3 weeks in October but left our store turned on with extended handling time. Funny thing, two of the three weeks of travel is when we had our highest sales for the month. Hopefully our sales will increase in December but I am seeing the same numbers for November. I’m going to blame it on the election ruckus. LOL…but then again, some have had terrific sales the past few weeks…and I’m thankful they posted their numbers! Makes me feel a lot better knowing that sales are NOT down across the board.
Cheryl, I peeked through your sold listings. Do you have any advice on selling completed embroidery/cross stitch pieces? I find them all the time, but I stopped picking them up, because they moved so rarely for me.
@ My cottage: Thanks for catching the incorrect link and posting the correct one for me:)
@stuff my mom threw away: I wish I could give you some super advice on completed needlework, but truthfully I fly by the seat of my pants and instinct. I will usually pick it up if it’s around 2.00. Take it out of the frame most times unless it’s a great framing job. A few years ago I read about a seller who sold only kits and completed work…Cindy, her ebay id is Bubbacandance. Check out her store. I just started picking them up after that. I will go weeks without selling any and then they will sell like hotcakes. Definitely a long tail item. I was so please when the same buyer purchased 5 of my needlework items last week…that was a first for me!! Hope that helps a little.
I immediately thought of Jay and Ryanne today when I dug in a dumpster and came out with two boxes of brushed stainless steel drawer handles .Not because of the dumpster , but because of the variety of things y’all sell ! LOL ! Brand new and still in the packages ; including the screws . Three sizes and a total of 52 when I counted them at home . I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them ! Oh and a matching towel holder ! It is still beyond me the amount of brand new stuff that goes in dumpsters and trash cans every day ! Thank you for the podcast and videos . There are so many things I never would have thought about selling on Ebay if not for y’all !
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