The sad state of the used tv market

[JCFitz]

Maybe why the vintage tvs have dried up.Everyone assumes they're worthless so they throw em' away.Anyway after years of getting discarded tvs and when it was more profitable non-working ones bought at auction and selling them at the flea market I have pulled everything out of the flea market.I can sell some of the lighter smaller tvs to a vendor that sells them along with other things he sells.No longer worth it for me to sell used electronics alone.All summer maybe sold 15 tvs and cheap.Went to the only auction around here that used to be the one to sell electronics at and get anything for it(Wilson's auction in Lincoln,De) tonight to try to unload a few that I knew he wouldn't want.They didn't want to bother with hooking them up.The newer tvs were taking up room on the stand.But not that many.2 that I took were the Sony 26" from the mid 80's.They are remote(no bid,not even $1)I know they work good too.1 has a slightly weak green gun but the other is strong all the way.The other was a mid 80's Sony but non-remote.Again no bid.The only one that got a bid on it that I took was a early 90's all black Toshiba19"(modern looking)I admit I rejuvenated the tube and I didn't want to sell it other than anonymously.Got $4.Other tvs with no bids were a mid 80's RCA 25" remote tv hooked up and playing great,another black cased but particle board,not plastic with the glass in front(probably late 80's think it was a Wards)Hooked up and playing great.No bids.He didn't even bother with an RCA console and 2 80's woodgrain 19"tvs.One Sharp,one Panasonic.Both remote control.They did have one Sharp 25" turn knob tv hooked up with excellent color.Don't recall what it brought but I'm sure cheap.Best tvs were late 90's Magnavox 27"($22),late 90's Magnavox 19"($15) and a late 90's Magnavox 13"(again $15).Early 90's Magnavox brought only $5.Surprising but a couple b/ws sold.1 12" for $2 and a cute little 5" with radio for $2.As far as I'm concerned my broken ones aren't even worth fixing.Anyone in Maryland or nearby fooling around with mid to late 70's solid state tvs?I hate to throw those workhorses away.Too much to hope for anyone into vintage tvs wanting later tvs.The other guy on here near me only wants tube tvs.I'm not into filling my house up with tvs.Already got enough with jukeboxes,vintage record players and records.My boss called me stupid for hauling the unsold tvs back home.I asked them what they would do with them if I left them and they said the dumpster.I may be stupid but I hate to see working tvs go in the trash,especially ones I fixed up so I took them home and offered them up on freecycle.I kept up selling used tvs as long as I could.Trying anymore would be :deadhorse .As much as I liked to fix them I'm not a collector and no outlet for them.I repair tvs for a living for someone else.Carry in work has declined but a lot of people will still have their existing tv repaired and plenty of warranty work.Most people have larger tvs and will pay for in home service.I'm on the road a lot and put nearly 100,000 on the van in the last 3 years.He sells some used tvs for far better prices than I do due to having an ad in the local Guide and having a storefront but very slowly.He doesn't want to sell any of my "junk"Already got a glut of them in the shop.Believe me most of you guys wouldn't want to be modern tv repairmen.The pay really sucks unless you have your own shop but no way you could do it alone.My boss is on the phone and the computer doing warranty claims,ordering parts for new crap and getting tech support for new crap a lotwhile I'm burning up the road running to people's houses and doing bench work too.I bet most of you wouldn't want to be so poorly paid you lived in a rented mobil home no matter much you loved repairing tvs.