Lots of radios to be sold.

[Gailmeza]

Hi there.

My Dad has a big collection of radios and my Mum wishes to now sell them. Can anyone help as to the best way of doing this? Any help would be greatly appreciated - I have taken pictures of some but there are lots more that are stored still in my Dad's old workshop.

Many thanks in advance for any help/advice.

[Cobaltblue]

Hi Gailmeza

There are several avenues you can take.

There are specialist Auctions by Chas Miller and the BVWS.

You can put them into a local auction.

You can sell via Ebay thats a lot more work but likely to achieve the best return.

You can offer the sets on this Forum but you must quote a fixed price.

If you are using Ebay as a pricing guide make sure you only look at sold listings there are some very high prices being requested which are not achievable.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Mike T

[The Philpott]

Research values of ALL of them before advertising. Many collectors of heavy items like these will arrange to collect rather than trust a courier- but if they see what you have they may make an additional purchase on the spot. If you know your asking price for the impulse purchase this makes things easier-for both of you.

Dave

[paulsherwin]

Don't get your hopes up too much about prices. A few highly collectable radios can be worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds, but most are worth much less and may struggle to sell even at £10. The same is true of valves - there are a few that are in great demand from hifi audio enthusiasts, but most are only worth a pound or two, especially if used or untested.

As Mike says, check eBay completed sales for a realistic indication of what things are worth.

[David G4EBT]

In my experience, least hassle, least risk of 'comeback' and highest prices will generally be via local auctions, albeit the fees will be higher. Most auction houses segregate items to be put into sales which will achieve the best prices - in the case of vintage radios, as 'collectibles'.

From vintage radio auctions I've attended over the years, (BVWS at Harpenden and Radiophile at Cowbit), despite the best efforts of auctioneers who do a sterling job, unless the radio is especially collectible the prices raised can be pitiful, primarily because the only bidders are those in the room, only a few of whom actually bid for anything but go along for interest and for the few non-auction sales tables for bits and bobs. Many sets sold (or were left unsold) even at a fiver, which is no more than at a car boot sale.

I don't wish to 'talk down' such events, simply to relate my experiences in having attended them.

Ebay reaches a much larger audience of course, but you have the hassle of taking pictures, listing the radio, describing it accurately, highlighting any defects, packing and posting and risking comebacks (damage in transit, set not as described), or non-paying bidders. You have the choice of setting what you consider it is likely to sell at, and apply a 'buy it now/make an offer', or as an auction in which you decide on the starting price. Then you have the e-bay and PayPal fees.

If you sell via a local auction house, if it's in an area of high population density the auction will attract quite a lot of bidders in the room, but also, on internet and many items do sell via internet bids (or commission bids by non-attendees), rather than to those in the room. You don't have the hassle of packing and shipping, nor the description of the item or its condition - all of that is between the auction house and the buyer.

Some years ago I sold several radios on e-bay, and two laptops. I had problems with two buyers of radios, which I know were pristine when packed but which appeared to have minor damage when received, which could not have occurred in transit. Rather than have the hassle and expense of getting them returned, I agreed a lower price, which is of course what the buyers were angling for. The laptops were bought by non-paying bidders so I had to go through the Ebay procedure to allow the buyers time to pay, which they didn't. I then listed them at 'buy it now' prices and until the PayPal payment is received, they're not sold.

Conversely, I've sold unrestored valve radios of no particular note at a local auction house at prices I was very pleased with even after commission charges. I'm confident that they would have received much lower prices at a vintage radio auction if they'd have sold at all. No hassle - take the sets to the auction house, decide if you want to apply a reserve price then wait for the cheque or go and collect it.

If there are lots of sets, they'll collect them.

I've also sold radios - both restored and unrestored - at the National Vintage Radio Fair, and radio rallies, so have a reasonable grasp of what the vintage radio fraternity is prepared to pay, which generally, is not a lot.

I'm only relating my own experiences - doubtless others will have sold many radios and other items on e-bay with no comebacks whatsoever, and will have put stuff into vintage radio auctions and been delighted with the outcome.

Every success in your endeavours.

[MurphyNut]

If you can post up some pictures i'm sure some of us would be able to give you a rough idea of value.
But to be honest 90% of old radios aren't really of great value commercially, though many of these are still of interest to collectors.