It's getting bad...

[Electronic M]

I'm 19 and I refuse to get an HDTV because the way the FCC (I call em the F'n Commy Comission) snuffed out the old OTA standard for non backwards compatible HD. And when I do get over my grudge I'll get a CRT HDTV. The only flat pannels welcome here are the one on my folks computer, and on my laptop (which I'm stuck with ).

Wish I had been born a few decades earlier, I had a feasible idea for the design of a very thin large screen CRT that now has no patent value.

Tom C.

[bgadow]

I figured I'd get a flatscreen in the year 2015 or so, but had a Sharp LCD given to me last year. It has some quirks, though. (turns itself on in the middle of the night, something in the audio is shot so I have to run it through the stereo) Kim is fed up with it, though she loves the picture. I had a 25" Zenith (late 80s) given to me so I showed it to her, too big she sez. So, looks like the next working 19" crt set that comes my way (I usually get several in a year) will go in the living room. She also won't let me replace the 13" Samsung in the bedroom, just the right size she sez. Okay by me. I wanted to sneak a 70s Sylvania in the living room but I don't think she'll go for knobs. Maybe I can fix up the System 3 Space Command out in the shed?

Just got back from vacation, and stopped by to see some distant relatives that we last visited 2 years ago. They all have new TV's now. One replaced a NAP Philco console with a SPC Sony, another replaced their BPC with an LCD. (they are still trying to give away their broken System 3/Space Phone console. Anybody want to drive to Ashland,KY to pick it up?)

[radiotvnut]

I took the big Sanyo, a mid '80's 19" Sony Trinitron, and an Audiotronics school record player to my flea market friend, who was having a big yard sale at his house this weekend. I told him to get what he could out of the TV's and he said no one even paid attention to them. He said that a young man wanted the record player; but, his mother wouldn't buy it for him.

We know a lady who has yard sales in order to raise money for her church to feed the needy. I told her that she could have the big Sanyo to put in her sale to go towards the food pantry at her church. I also have a 35" RCA CTC187 that she will probably also get. I'm just tired of looking at the Sanyo, I'm tired of moving the heavy thing around, and it's not coming back here.

I don't really care if the Sony sells or not. About ten years ago, that set was being tossed by a TV shop. It's just a basic mono set with no jacks and a woodgrain plastic case; but, it only needed minor repair to produce a great picture. In fact, I watched it for years until I replaced it with a Zenith CCII. I'd planned on keeping the Sony as a spare; but, I'd sell it if someone wanted it. I actually offered it to a guy for $25 and he went on about how good the picture was; but, wouldn't buy it because it didn't have jacks. Whatever, what the hell do these people expect for $25.

The record player is a late '60's solid state model that someone brought me to repair, approved the estimate, told me my money was waiting when I fixed it, and then never paid me when it was fixed. All I got was excuses out of him. His bill was $35 and I doubt the record player will bring that much. I wish some people were as excited about actually paying me as they are about approving an estimate.

All the more reasons why I need to stop wasting my time on BPC TV's and to stop taking in everyone else's garbage for repair.

[reelman1968]

Originally Posted by 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.

I recently Bought a Memorex 19" CRT tv for $0.50. No remote Included but the Cable remote works with it just fine. No av inputs either but my vcr/dvd combo takes care of that. It works great. Made in 1999. Cant beat it for that price. ALso got a sony tc 252 d reel to reel tape deck for $15.00 at the same Garage sale. It needed a little help to get it going but it too works great.

[radiotvnut]

Just last night, I sold the 35" RCA CTC187 for $85. And, it was a younger girl in her 20's who bought it; which, is even stranger in today's times. She said that her old TV died and that they'd tried a flatscreen; but, didn't like the picture. After not being able to find a new CRT set in any store, she looked in the local free paper and found my ad. I'm just glad to see it gone and I hope it don't come back to bite me in the butt.

Two weeks ago, a friend at church gave me 3 TV's. A silver '02 27" Sanyo flat CRT set, a Silver Emerson (Funai) 27" flat CRT set from '02, and a 20" RCA CTC177 from the '90's. The two big sets only needed the vertical IC resoldered and I replaced, for good measure, the cap that always fails in the vertical circuit that causes lines at the top of the screen and will eventually take out the vertical IC. Both of them have great pictures and I was actually shocked at how good the Emerson set looked. The RCA has a good picture; but, has the usual loose connections in the tuner.

[Electronic M]

Smart girl.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Smart girl.

Yeah, had she not mentioned a hubby, I would have asked her on a date (LOL, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!)

[zenith2134]

I woulda..been remember I'm 23. Lately more and more women I talk with tell me that they admire things like vinyl records and old television sets....I say GOOD! It's about time haha.

[Electronic M]

Well I'm close to twenty so had she really been single I'd have a better chance at hitting on her than the primary demographic of this forum. I'm not the type to hit on girls who are dateing someone else much less maried women though.

[radiotvnut]

I'm not either. If I know they are married or involved, I leave them alone.

[classictv80s]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

Yeah, had she not mentioned a hubby, I would have asked her on a date (LOL, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!)

radiotvnut:

Don't lose all hope. With all the marriages failing right now in this country there's a good chance she'll eventually be back on the market. You could then ask her on a date, and I'll bet she'd probably accept. Just consider yourself lucky that you're not where I am in California, because, like me, you definitely would have no hope here.

[radiotvnut]

Seriously, I stopped worrying about finding a date a long time ago. I'm now to the age where I'm getting grumpy and I'm used to my daily routine. If it happens, that's fine; but, I'm not going out of my way to make it happen. Most girls today are only interested in status and money. If you can't provide those "basic needs"; then, you haven't got a chance in hades. And, it's sad that many marriages today fall apart because of selfishness and lack of commitment on one, or both, parties involved. You know, grass looks greener on the other side; so, I'M OUTTA HERE!

[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.

[DaveWM]

I have thought now and then of doing repair and resale professionally, but like you I figure most of the time it would be a losing game.

One idea that I have thought of would be to target my sales toward the local high end retro area in downtown. this is where all the 1940's bungalow style houses are. It seems to me the pitch would be "you have a mid century house with era correct furnishing, and then mess it up with a modern TV or stereo"

The key would be not to under price it, The folks that live there have money, and I would hope would understand that quality cost money.

The biggest problem I would have would be the liability, I suppose I could get insurance, but I dont think I would want to hassle, people sue way to easy.

Lastly by the time you factor in all the cost of a business (license,taxes etc....) you would have to really charge a lot just to get a decent return for your efforts. So for now I will keep my day job.

[zeno]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

I'm 19 and I refuse to get an HDTV because the way the FCC (I call em the F'n Commy Comission) snuffed out the old OTA standard for non backwards compatible HD. And when I do get over my grudge I'll get a CRT HDTV. The only flat pannels welcome here are the one on my folks computer, and on my laptop (which I'm stuck with ).

Wish I had been born a few decades earlier, I had a feasible idea for the design of a very thin large screen CRT that now has no patent value.

Tom C.

I am with you kid
Killing NTSC was one of the most wasteful & dispicable things the
feds ever did. Just wait for IBOC on AM, I hope that fails big time.

73 Zeno