Nostalgic dialog: buying & selling used TVs

[radiotvnut]

And, I failed to mention one other thing. When he was over here on Saturday for me to fix the TV, he spotted a stereo system in my shop and wanted to know if I wanted to sell it. I told him what I wanted for it and he offered $5 less, which I didn't mind and accepted his offer. Then, he told me that he wouldn't have any money until next week. Now, that ticked me off. Don't bargain with me if you're not prepared to deal. He said he'd be back after the stereo; but, I don't think that will happen now. And, it will be just fine with me if it doesn't. He'd probably take it home, blow it up, and then be back on my butt with it.

[radiotvnut]

A woman just called, wanting to buy a $30 Zenith floor model TV that I had listed in the paper for sale. I had to explain to her what a floor model TV was; but, I still don't think she got the concept. I then told her about a newer SPC 25" TV that I was selling. She told me that they had just moved to the area and simply needed something to "get them by" until they could move their TV's here and then she added that she really missed her 70" TV. Then, I heard the "I'll talk to my husband and get back to you" line. Over the years, I've learned that "talk to my husband/wife" actually means "I'm not interested". Hell, she probably expected a flatscreen TV for $30 (that seems to be the way most people think today). I'm already pissed off enough by having to sell a 25" color TV for such a low price and people calling expecting a later model TV with all the "bells and whistles" for $30 doesn't help my mood any.

[truetone36]

I go to the auctions around here, and TVs with a CRT are only bringing $3-$5 no matter what the screen size. A friend of mine who owns one of the auction houses usually gives me any that he gets in since they just aren't worth the effort for him to sell any more.

[radiotvnut]

I'm about to the point of no longer taking them, unless it's something I want for myself. Even if someone gives me a late model TV and all I have to do is resolder the vertical IC, it's not worth the hassle of trying to get a few dollars out of it while listening to everyone whine because it's not flat enough for them.

Twenty years ago, I would have never dreamed that we'd be at this point today. Back then, I was selling 12" B&W TV's for more money than I'm getting for big color TV's today. Back then, people were not as snobby about what they'd own. All they cared about back then was that it was a working TV.

[hi_volt]

I gave up buying and fixing up TVs back in 1982. Prior to that, while I was in college, I was selling used color sets at the rate of several per week. In the late 70s, consoles sold much better than portables. I could get around $150 for an all-tube rectangular console set, like CTC-38, etc. For a hybrid set, I could get around $200. A color roundie was worth around $100 to $125. Portable sets (usually 17" or 19") sold for between $100 to $150, depending on what they were. In the late 70s, I did a lot of picture tube replacements on the older rectangular sets. There was a guy that lived a few miles away from me that rebuilt 25AP22 picture tubes in his garage. I could get a rebuilt tube for $50 exchange, and I charged $200 parts and labor to change the tube out. Good money in those days. After about 1982, it got to the point where nobody would buy a used set anymore and I got out of the business.

[DavGoodlin]

Hi-Volt;
I had similar experiences in this corner of the US also. I started repairing sets in 8th grade and because I rarely made anything worse, word got around. I started amassing the collection of non-salable sets, some that I have today. When I moved to Dallas with a 1967 Philco 19" color and 1969 Zenith 25" 16Z7C50) alot of this collection went in a big dump truck including some roundies, my parents saved a few after I begged them to save some from 1600 miles away.

However, sales after moving back from TX got me through college too!In the early 80s when I part-time jobs at TV dealer-repair shops, I was hauling home "old sets" like 1968-75 vintage, finding similar stuff at curbs, etc.
I could sell any 25" color set for $100-150 and 19" sets for $75-100. Real good money then as few of "MY customers" had the $400+ for a new set. It was great to hear someone say 2-3 years later "that thing STILL looks good" beacuse I only sold stuff I knew the "trade tricks" on.

By 1989, I got a different job, owned a home and did not like where the market was going as I saw BPC's selling for less than $400. I stopped mainly because my parts sources were getting scarce. Now customers are like RadioTV-Phono nut says, so i fix anything Im asked to and sell only old radios. TVs are now a nostalgic hobby but an obsessive one. You never get over the thrill of finding a diamond in the rough.

[ghettalife]

Times have moved on and well, CRT is dead to anyone other than collectors. People always have wanted the latest and greatest. My parents are in their 70's and still have a 1983 MGA in their bedroom they bought new and has never given issues. They also had a "32 CRT Toshiba that died twice over its 20-year lifespan, then my mom shocked me by going full out and buying a Sony "55 3D smart tv, Blu-ray player, soundbar, etc. I used to pickup/fix/sell various televisions curbside in the 1980's and early '90's to help out towards my college expenses. See televisions often on the streets but don't bother anymore unless it is LCD or plasma (can still flip them if they have unbroken screen). I have both a BPC in the backroom and a "30 CRT HDTV that I know I couldn't sell if my life depended on it. But that's how it goes sometimes..

[radiotvnut]

I've got a 2010 47" Sanyo LCD that I could fix and sell if a main board would come along; but, I'd be afraid to sell it even if I fixed it. These idiots around here would crack the screen in the process of taking it home and then they'd be back on my butt, claiming that I sold them a bad TV and demanding their money back.

Also, the price of flat panels keep coming down and it's almost to the point that most people can afford to buy a new TV and used ones don't bring that much.

I remember the first TV I ever sold was back around '90-'91 and it was an early '60's 17" VHF-only RCA portable B&W. I sold it to a young married couple for $25 and they were happy to get it. Now, 99% of most young couples think they are "entitled" to the best of everything because their parents spoiled them rotten by giving them everything they ever wanted.

[marty59]

Well, I feel fortunate when I got involved in TV's in the mid-seventies. After the larger market volumes and popularity of color sets in the sixties, many folks and those starting out were thrilled to have a nice looking 10 year old set. At most they either needed a CRT or a flyback and I usually had a stream of parts coming in and good distributor/wholesaler's I could deal with too.

What a high point I believe this was. During the eighties and with the advent of solid state and cheap(er) imports things had become to change...

[radiotvnut]

I've got a friend who's in his mid 70's and started fixing/repairing/selling TV's in the '60's. He told me that during the '60's and '70's, he could get $50-$60 for 12" B&W's and $75 for 19 B&W's. Color TV's of any kind were big bucks.

One day in the late '90's, I was at his house and witnessed a woman give him $125 without blinking an eye for one of those RCA 13" TX82 chassis TV's. I think that was a TV that he ended up with too much money invested in and he was lucky to be able to sell it for that.

In the early 2000's, someone gave me a near-mint mid '80's 13" knob tuned GE with a bad flyback. After I fixed it, an older man came over and fell in love with the TV. He asked the price and I told him it was $85. I figured he'd squeal to high heaven; but, he handed me the money and took the TV. Later, I was talking to someone who knew him and they said he was the type of guy that if he wanted something, he'd buy it, regardless of cost. They added that I probably could have asked $150 and he would have still bought it.

In the early to mid '90's, I used to sell a lot of 19" B&W sets to older people who didn't care for color and I usually got between $35-$50 for such TV's. The last 19" B&W I sold was a nice mid '70's Zenith that I let me friend sell at his second hand store. That was back around '01 and I think he finally was able to get me $10 for it. The last 12" B&W I sold was around the same time for $5. Now, I wish I still had that 19" Zenith. Today, most B&W's that I find either stay here or go to collector friends.

As recent as a few years ago, the SA was still trying to get $20-$25 for their 12" B&W's.

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

In the early to mid '90's, I used to sell a lot of 19" B&W sets to older people who didn't care for color and I usually got between $35-$50 for such TV's

Wow... those people must have been from the stone age!! Imagine that... people that didn't care for color! They must have never experienced true "lolypop" color!

[holmesuser01]

I'm no longer fixing and selling used sets. But, when I did, I'd often replace parts that I'd seen fail in the past on other sets. My Sears service days taught me to do this.

I had a few sets come back, but not many. I know of one set I sold that had a new rebuilt CRT that I installed that is still running, poorly, 22 years later. I had to tell her that the picture tube was worn out. She actually got pissed because it didnt last longer!!

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Wow... those people must have been from the stone age!! Imagine that... people that didn't care for color! They must have never experienced true "lolypop" color!

Old people used to tell me that color hurt their eyes.
I used to tell them that a good well adjusted color set was actually easier on your eyes.

[Bill R]

I had customers in the 70's that wanted no part of color tv. Then there was the customer with the stick on plastic color on their tv that would warn you not to take their color off. Those were fun days.

[holmesuser01]

I had a customer almost to the end that had a B/W Zenith console in constant use in the living room. I put a rebuilt CRT in it around 1979. They are in their 80's now.