I agree with your comments Abe. I am one of those "purpose" buyers and
get very frustrated that items I seek are sometimes already sold when I
get into the show. I don't get the early pass or anything, but I can
briskly walk the aisles and find something I would have paid X amount
more than it already sold for, but it was either traded or sold
outright to one of the other dealers prior to opening the show to the
general public. I'm not much of a fan of the "retail" part of the
shows. Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: Abe Feder <abefed...@gmail.com>
To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Wed, Aug 18, 2010 1:30 pm
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] CAPS
Hi All,
While my view of the show was a short one-I drove in from Mesa Az. with
my
wife to pick up a machine that I had bought from CL in Portland that
Jerry
was kind enough to go look at and haul to the show-and turned around in
an
hour or so and drove back-I think it is just a reflection of what is
taking
place in the economy. While I do art restoration I do own a retail
picture
frame and art shop and I can tell you business stinks!. It has for 3
years
and I think it will for at least 3 more. The "retail" side of this show
is
just Sunday and while some machines may change hands before and there
may
have been a lot of good ones at the show that is not a true indication
of
what has taken place. Sunday is. That is when someone who may have a
casual
interest in just getting a machine, or who has just gotten into the
hobby is
going to show up and "shop". I know that the dealers and hobbyists that
I
talked to at around 1:30 or so said that they had sold some small stuff
and
that makes sense it fits what is taking place on the street. Here in
Az. CL
has exploded with common machines that people have listed because they
need
to sell stuff to get some money or they are leaving to get work and they
don't want to haul stuff that they do not use or need. I had some money
to
spend- that I had saved during the year but I was already tired and
when we
got the credenza loaded into my wife's Jeep Liberty there was no room
anyway. There was a really nice-God Forbid Me-Zenith radio that I would
have
bought but I had no room. But what took place at the show is what is
taking
place at my shop. There are no "causal" buyers coming in anymore-but
there
are still "purpose" buyers out there and you just have to hope that one
comes your way. Next year I will come again-maybe get a table but the
show
was a good one and we just have to keep at it. I really liked the fact
that
there were some good machines there and a fair number of them as well.
But
as I said before collectors and dealers selling to each other does not
tell
the story-the show is spot on to our economy.
Abe Feder
On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 11:01 AM, harvey kravitz
<harveykrav...@yahoo.com>wrote:
I have been going to CAPS since 2002, and always had a blast there. I
didn't
attend CAPS this year. My friend had too many obligations. Yes, the
economy is
bad for sellers because people are unsure about their finances. I did
poorly at
the Salem show, and the recent show in Seattle. I did buy some great
things
there. As I see it, I'm not in this hobby for the money. I just enjoy
working on
phonographs and listening to records. I sell at fair prices, and I am
not
going
to give them away. I'll wait until the economy gets better and try
again.
Like
so many others mentioned before, I go to these shows for the
fellowship,
gaining
knowledge, and passing knowledge. If I sell something, fine. If not,
oh
well. At
least I had a good time being among old friends and making new ones.
Harvey Kravitz
________________________________
From: Daniel Melvin <d...@old-phonographs.com>
To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l@oldcrank.org>
Sent: Wed, August 18, 2010 9:15:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] CAPS
I did not attend CAPS (even thought I did originaly plan to), but
after reading the comments it appears to me that the expierience very
much follows what was seen at the Union show in June. Tons of great
stuff, some of it for terrific prices, but very little actually sold.
It was a very slow show as far as selling went for many dealers. I
really believe we are seeing the effects of the economy and fear of
spending. I don't think it really had much at all to do with CAPS
itself. I think it's just the way things are going right now and that
it will turn around. So, it's been a slow year. That's all it is. It
isn't an issue of the hobby or the shows that is keeping folks from
buying. It's just fear of the unknown.
My 2 cents...
Dan
On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 7:52 AM, DeeDee Blais <deedeebl...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> I'm glad to have an open discussion about the sale and I think it's
healthy.
> The club did a great job. There were plenty of sellers providing a
variety of
> items at very good prices. It was simply a buyers market and
buyers did
not
> open their billfolds very often. I thought attendance was OK and
I'm
glad to
> read that it was a bit higher than last year. I noticed new faces
late
into
the
> sale. I did close a couple of sales but it was difficult and
probably
not
>worth
> the effort. The sale of my Edison Standard B (2 min only) was a good
example.
> I
> paid $175 for the machine, refinished the case (decal & materials
about
$20
>plus
> several hours effort), repaired the belt tensioner (another hour),
disassembled
> the top works to clean & oil (another hour), and provided a
reproduction
14"
> horn ($20). My out of pocket cost was $215 with at least five hours
of
labor.
> I
> sold it for $280 very late in the sale. I attempted to sell a Vic I
for a
>friend
> and it was priced at $725. It had a nice original finish, the parts
were
all
> original right down to the slotted crank and little brass bell
horn. The
nickel
> finish on the old elbow and tone arm were not great but at $725, the
machine
> should have flown out of the sale. The price was prominently
displayed
but
> buyers did not even make an offer. You can't close a sale if
there's no
sale.
> Is there anyone on this list with a nice Vic 1 that they'd sell
for that
> amount? The buyers were just not buying. I'll be back next year and
hope
things
> are better. Thanks to CAPS for a great effort and thanks to the
vendors
for a
> good selection. Thanks to the buyers... well,thanks for nearly
nothing!
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Phono-L mailing list
> http://phono-l.oldcrank.org
>
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