It's getting bad...

[radiotvnut]

As far as selling used TV's, that is. I recently took out a $15 ad in one of the mailbox stuffer classified papers that I usually have good luck with. I advertised an '07 35" Sanyo for $150 and an older 27" RCA CTC169 for $75. I listed them at a high price on purpose for the benefit of those who like to haggle. Just a few months to a year ago, I would have had no problem with unloading those 35" sets; but, now, I have not gotten a single call. I did get a call on the 27" and the guy offered $60; which, I accepted. Once upon a time, I would have laughed him out of the shop and he wouldn't have gotten it for under $150.

Then, I saw an ad from one of our local electronics stores and I was reminded why I didn't get any calls on the 35" sets. They were advertising a 32" LCD TV for under $300. People see that and the first thought is, "Why pay him $150 for an obsolete CRT TV when i can get an HD flatscreen for $299".

Every CRT TV that I've sold during the past year has been to people who have expressed a dislike for flatscreens. I sold one guy a bunch of 19" sets for $25/each and a 27" set for $75. He told me that he works for the cable company and sees too many of the newer flatscreens in the trash and he said his own 2 year old expensive flatscreen was starting to fail. He said that he'd rather spend $25 on an "old school" TV and when it fails, he's not out much. Heck, the $25 CRT set will probably outlast most flatscreens, anyway.

As far as the 35" set, I listed it for $125 in one of the free papers. If it doesn't sell, I'll keep lowering it. It will be interesting to see what I finally have to drop the price down to before it will sell. Heck, I may end up having to give it away.

I wish I could rewind back to 1990, when any kind of working TV was still sellable for decent money and people weren't so picky. Just the other day, I offered a clean mid '80's 19" Sony Trinitron to a guy for $25. He wouldn't buy it because it didn't have A/V inputs. I told him how to use a VCR or RF modulator to do the same thing; but, he said that was too much trouble. Back in the early '90's, I would not have considered $25 for such a set. Back then, that would have easily been a $100 TV.

I have a flea market friend who used to sell loads of TV's for me at good prices. Now, about all he can sell is 13" and 19" sets for $15-$25 each. And, they must be late model sets. Even at those prices, I think his days are numbered because that same place that was advertising the 32" LCD TV for under $300 was advertising a 13" LCD for $99. Before long, you'll probably be able to buy a 40" TV for $125 brand new.