It's getting bad...

[technicolor]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

Bringing this subject back up, someone recently gave me a nice RCA 26" CTC177 console that needed minor repair. The cabinet is nice, it has A/V jacks, and the picture is excellent. I've advertised it for $50 OBO and not a single call. I'd probably give it to the right person; but, even giving away a console is getting hard to do.

Lately, people have been claiming that they want a good console stereo to play their records; but, what they really should say is: "We want a '60's console stereo in excellent shape for $10". I guess these people think that I should be able to find them at a yard sale for a dollar or two and then magically pull the parts needed to fix them out of my butt or they think an overhaul only involves replacing the stylus and hosing down the turntable mechanism with WD40. Just last weekend, a friend of a friend posted on facebook about how she'd love to find a '60's console record player so that she could play her Beatles records; so, I sent her a message and told her that I had a nice '65 Magnavox console record player and I told her what I wanted for it. She claimed to be interested and was all fired up about wanting to see it over the weekend. Guess what, I haven't heard a word from her.

Then, another friend told me that his cousin wanted a console with a record player and 8-track player. I told him about a TOTL '66 Philco-Ford that I had; but, I told him up front what I expected the final selling price to be and that if his cousin was willing to pay that; then, I'd dig it out and fix it. Otherwise, it can stay buried in the shop.

My Dad used to do woodworking as a hobby and he wanted his work to be as near-perfect as possible. People were all the time asking him to build items; but, they'd usually back out when he told them the price. Like the stereo's that people want from me, I think people assumed that my Dad could simply pull the needed lumber/materials out of his butt and since he was a hobbiest; then, he should do it for nothing.

I know I'm about sick of these people who want something for nothing. Concerning these stereo's, they are not likely to find one at a flea market/thrift store that is actually 100% working and ready to play. Anything I sell will be working as good as it did the day it left the factory and my asking prices are often not much higher than what these clowns at the flea market want for their non-working junk. I know I don't have to tell most of y'all this; but, overhauling a turntable/record changer is often not cheap. By now, one can figure on an idler wheel rebuilt ($35), a new cartridge ($20-$30), and new motor mounts ($5), not to mention the labor involved in cleaning and lubricating the mechanism and any electronic parts that the amplifier/receiver chassis needs. So, I can't very well invest $75-$100 in these things and sell them for $10-$20 without seriously losing my butt. Yeah, it would be nice to still be able to run down to the local parts house and get an idler wheel for $3 and a cartridge for under $10; but, those days are over and these people need to realize what all is involved before claiming they want one of these things for nothing. It brings to mind that old saying, "people in hell want icewater".

I'm about to the point of not going out of my way to find stuff for people and just let them go pay $200+ on a plastic chinese Crosley that won't last six months.

your problem with the stereo's is old people die. Then their family members get rid of their stuff for nothing.

I got lucky with my allegro, paid $30 in pristine shape, but you are right. People are seeing those $25 and less prices for old console stereos and they think they're getting a working set when in fact i would say 80% of all craigslist antique stereos are broke.