20100309.ba v04_n321.bam.20100309 >From ???@??? Tue Mar 9 21:41:53 2010 -0500 Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:41:48 CST From: Old Tube Radios To: Old Tube Radios Subject: BOATANCHORS digest 4321 Message-Id: <20100310034149.6033A4C7795@minime.theporch.com> BOATANCHORS Digest 4321 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by john 2) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by spr@earthlink.net 3) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by "Bob Kemp" 4) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by Kim Herron 5) RE: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by RICHARD SOLOMON 6) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by Steve Berg 7) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by john 8) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by "RICHARD GEORGE" 9) Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. by "Arden Allen" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-Id: <6.2.1.2.2.20100309204831.039dd030@pop-server.nc.rr.com> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:51:37 -0500 To: Old Tube Radios From: john Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Hi Dave Somethings wrong. 8 lbs doesn't cost that much to ship, unless you've selected Priority Mail..and even that doesn't cost $40. Parcel Post is still available for all transactions paid through paypal, OR at the PO counter. That having been said, shipping costs are not cheap, that's a fact. Unless of course all this changed since Saturday when I last mailed stuff . John K5MO At 08:46 PM 3/9/2010, David Stinson wrote: >Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >However- those days may soon end. >Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 >transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office >demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >People already bid less or not at all because shipping has become a major >part of the expense of collecting. >There are many modest-sized items >I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >and weight restrictions. >And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail" as an option has >also damaged the hobby collecting of our friends overseas. >"Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far, >and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) to >participate. Moreover, a hamfest is a severely limited, local market. I >can go to every hamfest in Texas >for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >because they couldn't market it. >What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5 a lousy 300 miles costs $40? >Your thoughts? ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4072063.1268186339105.JavaMail.root@elwamui-mouette.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:58:58 -0500 (EST) From: spr@earthlink.net To: Old Tube Radios Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Hi David, Well, although I enjoy being in Europe and quite like it, for this purpose be glad you're not there, and here's why: No-one that I have bought anything from there will even consider any shipment method but their postal service. UPS, FedEx DHL--who's that!? And now comes the worst part: the European post offices seem to have agreed on a maximum size package, and it's too small for, say, a double boxed and well padded large wood table radio or SX-42. In several cases where I got stuff with next to no padding, I expect what happened is that the seller got to the post office and they refused the box due to size, so (s)he just shipped the inner, nearly un-padded box. At least Americans have some notion of multiple shipping methods. As to the demise of the eBay collectibles market, I expect this will be more due to the demise of us, those who value these things than to shipping hassles and cost. Regards, Scott -----Original Message----- >From: David Stinson >Sent: Mar 9, 2010 8:46 PM >To: Old Tube Radios >Subject: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. > >Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >However- those days may soon end. >Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 >transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office >demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >People already bid less or not at all because >shipping has become a major part of the expense of collecting. >There are many modest-sized items >I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >and weight restrictions. >And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail" >as an option has also damaged the hobby >collecting of our friends overseas. >"Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far, >and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) >to participate. Moreover, a hamfest is a severely >limited, local market. I can go to every hamfest in Texas >for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >because they couldn't market it. >What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5 >a lousy 300 miles costs $40? >Your thoughts? > ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "Bob Kemp" To: Old Tube Radios Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 20:09:01 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="UTF-8"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit There's a BIG difference is shipping costs between a UPS store, Post Net and the like and just setting up an account on your own for Fed Ex or UPS. (Quite substantial as I found out) Parcel Post is pretty good for your surrounding area (say 4-5 states) or within the state you live in(I've found anyway). Otherwise it's one of the other carriers like UPS or Fed Ex, but again, set up an account and you might be surprised at the difference in cost. Bob wa0vrc ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Old Tube Radios" Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 7:58 PM Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. > Hi David, > > Well, although I enjoy being in Europe and quite like it, for this purpose > be glad you're not there, and here's why: > > No-one that I have bought anything from there will even consider any > shipment method but their postal service. UPS, FedEx DHL--who's that!? > > And now comes the worst part: the European post offices seem to have > agreed on a maximum size package, and it's too small for, say, a double > boxed and well padded large wood table radio or SX-42. In several cases > where I got stuff with next to no padding, I expect what happened is that > the seller got to the post office and they refused the box due to size, so > (s)he just shipped the inner, nearly un-padded box. > > At least Americans have some notion of multiple shipping methods. > > As to the demise of the eBay collectibles market, I expect this will be > more due to the demise of us, those who value these things than to > shipping hassles and cost. > > > Regards, > > Scott > > > -----Original Message----- >>From: David Stinson >>Sent: Mar 9, 2010 8:46 PM >>To: Old Tube Radios >>Subject: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. >> >>Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >>to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >>However- those days may soon end. >>Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >>and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 >>transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office >>demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >>People already bid less or not at all because >>shipping has become a major part of the expense of collecting. >>There are many modest-sized items >>I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >>and weight restrictions. >>And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail" >>as an option has also damaged the hobby >>collecting of our friends overseas. >>"Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far, >>and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) >>to participate. Moreover, a hamfest is a severely >>limited, local market. I can go to every hamfest in Texas >>for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >>receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >>because they couldn't market it. >>What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5 >>a lousy 300 miles costs $40? >>Your thoughts? >> > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <573454.6102.qm@web81403.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:41:36 -0800 (PST) From: Kim Herron Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. To: Old Tube Radios MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0-1573906376-1268188896=:6102" --0-1573906376-1268188896=:6102 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I've been hearing this for quite a while.=A0 What I've fouind is that the s= eller (E-Bay) wants to make all his money on the shipping.=A0 So the exorbi= tant rates.=A0 Yes, if you ship Priority mail and a larger heavy package, y= ou're gonna pay, but parcel post and UPS?FEDEX can do it cheaper, if you ge= t the accounts and discounts.=A0 I work for the Postal Service here in the = states, and I have an account with UPS.=A0 My thoughts from here, Dave, are= that you need to research your options before you ship anything.=A0 There = are at least 5 ways to ship with USPS (not all are available for every item= ) and you've forgotten about the big grey dog (Greyhound Package Express).= =A0 They are the ONLY way to ship a BIG HEAVY item, and have it get there i= n one piece.=A0 Overseas shipping is another can of worms, but people who w= ant things of that nature and live there, usually expect to pay to get them= .=A0 I've dealt with all of that within the last six months.=A0 I still say that the items that sell, will continue to sell and people who want them w= ill pay the shipping to get them.=A0 Right now I have a lady=A0in TX that w= ants a Zenith console radio.=A0 I quoted her a rough extimate of $150 to sh= ip it by bus, plus the cost of the radio.=A0 She's on board=A0so we're gett= ing pics around and getting them sent.=A0 You will always =A0=20 Kim Herron W8ZV kim.herron@sbcglobal.net 1-616-677-3706 --- On Tue, 3/9/10, Bob Kemp wrote: From: Bob Kemp Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. To: "Old Tube Radios" Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 9:09 PM There's a BIG difference is shipping costs between a UPS store, Post Net an= d=20 the like and just setting up an account on your own for Fed Ex or UPS.=20 (Quite substantial as I found out) Parcel Post is pretty good for your surrounding area (say 4-5 states) or=20 within the state you live in(I've found anyway). Otherwise it's one of the other carriers like UPS or Fed Ex, but again, set= =20 up an account and you might be surprised at the difference in cost. Bob wa0vrc ----- Original Message -----=20 From: To: "Old Tube Radios" Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 7:58 PM Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. > Hi David, > > Well, although I enjoy being in Europe and quite like it, for this purpos= e=20 > be glad you're not there, and here's why: > > No-one that I have bought anything from there will even consider any=20 > shipment method but their postal service. UPS, FedEx DHL--who's that!? > > And now comes the worst part: the European post offices seem to have=20 > agreed on a maximum size package, and it's too small for, say, a double= =20 > boxed and well padded large wood table radio or SX-42.=A0 In several case= s=20 > where I got stuff with next to no padding, I expect what happened is that= =20 > the seller got to the post office and they refused the box due to size, s= o=20 > (s)he just shipped the inner, nearly un-padded box. > > At least Americans have some notion of multiple shipping methods. > > As to the demise of the eBay collectibles market, I expect this will be= =20 > more due to the demise of us, those who value these things than to=20 > shipping hassles and cost. > > > Regards, > > Scott > > > -----Original Message----- >>From: David Stinson >>Sent: Mar 9, 2010 8:46 PM >>To: Old Tube Radios >>Subject: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. >> >>Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >>to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >>However- those days may soon end. >>Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >>and costs are climbing quickly.=A0=A0=A0I recently sent an ARC-5 >>transmitter to a gentleman in the next state.=A0 The Post Office >>demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >>People already bid less or not at all because >>shipping has become a major part of the expense of collecting. >>There are many modest-sized items >>I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >>and weight restrictions. >>And the no-explanation discontinuance of=A0 "surface mail" >>as an option has also damaged the hobby >>collecting of our friends overseas. >>"Hamfests" are no answer.=A0 They are few and far, >>and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) >>to participate.=A0 Moreover, a hamfest is a severely >>limited, local market.=A0 I can go to every hamfest in Texas >>for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >>receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >>because they couldn't=A0 market it. >>What to do in a world where shipping an=A0 ARC-5 >>a lousy 300 miles costs $40? >>Your thoughts? >> > >=20 --0-1573906376-1268188896=:6102 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---REMAINDER OF MESSAGE TRUNCATED--- * * This post contains a forbidden message format * * (such as an attached file, a v-card, HTML formatting) * * Mail Lists at theporch.com only accept PLAIN TEXT * * If your postings display this message your mail program * * is not set to send PLAIN TEXT ONLY and needs adjusting * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --0-1573906376-1268188896=:6102-- ------------------------------ Message-ID: Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="_e6b167f7-eda6-4f18-af14-7aa565ac21a5_" From: RICHARD SOLOMON To: Old Tube Radios Subject: RE: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:46:18 +0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 --_e6b167f7-eda6-4f18-af14-7aa565ac21a5_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable $40 to ship an ARC-5 ??? How were you shipping it ? Even Priority Mail doesn't cost that much. 73=2C Dick=2C W1KSZ > From: arc5@ix.netcom.com > To: boatanchors@theporch.com > Subject: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. > Date: Tue=2C 9 Mar 2010 19:46:35 -0600 >=20 > Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available > to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. > However- those days may soon end. > Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive > and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 > transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office > demanded nearly $40 to ship it=2C and that price is going to go up. > People already bid less or not at all because=20 > shipping has become a major part of the expense of collecting. =20 > There are many modest-sized items > I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size > and weight restrictions. =20 > And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail"=20 > as an option has also damaged the hobby=20 > collecting of our friends overseas. > "Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far=2C > and as we all age we will be less willing (or able)=20 > to participate. Moreover=2C a hamfest is a severely=20 > limited=2C local market. I can go to every hamfest in Texas > for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV > receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump > because they couldn't market it. > What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5=20 > a lousy 300 miles costs $40? =20 > Your thoughts? >=20 = --_e6b167f7-eda6-4f18-af14-7aa565ac21a5_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---REMAINDER OF MESSAGE TRUNCATED--- * * This post contains a forbidden message format * * (such as an attached file, a v-card, HTML formatting) * * Mail Lists at theporch.com only accept PLAIN TEXT * * If your postings display this message your mail program * * is not set to send PLAIN TEXT ONLY and needs adjusting * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --_e6b167f7-eda6-4f18-af14-7aa565ac21a5_-- ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4B96FCFB.5010300@tbc.net> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:59:23 -0600 From: Steve Berg MIME-Version: 1.0 Cc: Old Tube Radios Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To: Old Tube Radios What may change things even more is that the IRS is now going to be collecting information from electronic payment schemes like paypal, and sellers will get a type of 1099 form from them. Selling stuff as a hobby might well put you into the self employed tax category, and that will really dampen things. Your Mileage May Vary... Steve WA9JML john wrote: > Hi Dave > > Somethings wrong. 8 lbs doesn't cost that much to ship, unless you've > selected Priority Mail..and even that doesn't cost $40. > > Parcel Post is still available for all transactions paid through paypal, > OR at the PO counter. That having been said, shipping costs are not > cheap, that's a fact. > > Unless of course all this changed since Saturday when I last mailed stuff . > > John K5MO > > > At 08:46 PM 3/9/2010, David Stinson wrote: >> Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >> to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >> However- those days may soon end. >> Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >> and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 >> transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office >> demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >> People already bid less or not at all because shipping has become a >> major part of the expense of collecting. >> There are many modest-sized items >> I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >> and weight restrictions. >> And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail" as an option >> has also damaged the hobby collecting of our friends overseas. >> "Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far, >> and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) to participate. >> Moreover, a hamfest is a severely limited, local market. I can go to >> every hamfest in Texas >> for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >> receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >> because they couldn't market it. >> What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5 a lousy 300 miles costs >> $40? >> Your thoughts? > > > ------------------------------ Message-Id: <6.2.1.2.2.20100309215713.039f2150@pop-server.nc.rr.com> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:57:46 -0500 To: Old Tube Radios From: john Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Cc: Old Tube Radios Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Another great reason to use Postal MO's Better living though underground transactions John At 08:59 PM 3/9/2010, Steve Berg wrote: >What may change things even more is that the IRS is now going to be >collecting information from electronic payment schemes like paypal, and >sellers will get a type of 1099 form from them. Selling stuff as a hobby >might well put you into the self employed tax category, and that will >really dampen things. > >Your Mileage May Vary... > >Steve WA9JML > >john wrote: >>Hi Dave >>Somethings wrong. 8 lbs doesn't cost that much to ship, unless you've >>selected Priority Mail..and even that doesn't cost $40. >>Parcel Post is still available for all transactions paid through paypal, >>OR at the PO counter. That having been said, shipping costs are not >>cheap, that's a fact. >>Unless of course all this changed since Saturday when I last mailed stuff . >>John K5MO >> >>At 08:46 PM 3/9/2010, David Stinson wrote: >>>Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >>>to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >>>However- those days may soon end. >>>Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >>>and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 >>>transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office >>>demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >>>People already bid less or not at all because shipping has become a >>>major part of the expense of collecting. >>>There are many modest-sized items >>>I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >>>and weight restrictions. >>>And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail" as an option >>>has also damaged the hobby collecting of our friends overseas. >>>"Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far, >>>and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) to participate. >>>Moreover, a hamfest is a severely limited, local market. I can go to >>>every hamfest in Texas >>>for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >>>receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >>>because they couldn't market it. >>>What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5 a lousy 300 miles costs $40? >>>Your thoughts? >> ------------------------------ Message-ID: From: "RICHARD GEORGE" To: Old Tube Radios Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:03:57 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I ship only with Fedex. For several reasons. USPS will not pay on lost or damaged insured items. The most important reason is when you go to my local post office they have 6 counter positions, all closed but maybe 2, And the lines are out the door. And the government wants to run my health care? K6KWQ Dick Amps by "MORE POWER" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kim Herron" To: "Old Tube Radios" Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 6:41 PM Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. I've been hearing this for quite a while. What I've fouind is that the seller (E-Bay) wants to make all his money on the shipping. So the exorbitant rates. Yes, if you ship Priority mail and a larger heavy package, you're gonna pay, but parcel post and UPS?FEDEX can do it cheaper, if you get the accounts and discounts. I work for the Postal Service here in the states, and I have an account with UPS. My thoughts from here, Dave, are that you need to research your options before you ship anything. There are at least 5 ways to ship with USPS (not all are available for every item) and you've forgotten about the big grey dog (Greyhound Package Express). They are the ONLY way to ship a BIG HEAVY item, and have it get there in one piece. Overseas shipping is another can of worms, but people who want things of that nature and live there, usually expect to pay to get them. I've dealt with all of that within the last six months. I still say that the items that sell, will continue to sell and people who want them will pay the shipping to get them. Right now I have a lady in TX that wants a Zenith console radio. I quoted her a rough extimate of $150 to ship it by bus, plus the cost of the radio. She's on board so we're getting pics around and getting them sent. You will always Kim Herron W8ZV kim.herron@sbcglobal.net 1-616-677-3706 --- On Tue, 3/9/10, Bob Kemp wrote: From: Bob Kemp Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. To: "Old Tube Radios" Date: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 9:09 PM There's a BIG difference is shipping costs between a UPS store, Post Net and the like and just setting up an account on your own for Fed Ex or UPS. (Quite substantial as I found out) Parcel Post is pretty good for your surrounding area (say 4-5 states) or within the state you live in(I've found anyway). Otherwise it's one of the other carriers like UPS or Fed Ex, but again, set up an account and you might be surprised at the difference in cost. Bob wa0vrc ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Old Tube Radios" Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2010 7:58 PM Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. > Hi David, > > Well, although I enjoy being in Europe and quite like it, for this purpose > be glad you're not there, and here's why: > > No-one that I have bought anything from there will even consider any > shipment method but their postal service. UPS, FedEx DHL--who's that!? > > And now comes the worst part: the European post offices seem to have > agreed on a maximum size package, and it's too small for, say, a double > boxed and well padded large wood table radio or SX-42. In several cases > where I got stuff with next to no padding, I expect what happened is that > the seller got to the post office and they refused the box due to size, so > (s)he just shipped the inner, nearly un-padded box. > > At least Americans have some notion of multiple shipping methods. > > As to the demise of the eBay collectibles market, I expect this will be > more due to the demise of us, those who value these things than to > shipping hassles and cost. > > > Regards, > > Scott > > > -----Original Message----- >>From: David Stinson >>Sent: Mar 9, 2010 8:46 PM >>To: Old Tube Radios >>Subject: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. >> >>Ebay has made many scarce and even rare items available >>to collectors and has saved thousands of pieces from the dumpster. >>However- those days may soon end. >>Shipping restrictions are becoming prohibitive >>and costs are climbing quickly. I recently sent an ARC-5 >>transmitter to a gentleman in the next state. The Post Office >>demanded nearly $40 to ship it, and that price is going to go up. >>People already bid less or not at all because >>shipping has become a major part of the expense of collecting. >>There are many modest-sized items >>I can't ship internationally due to stricter box size >>and weight restrictions. >>And the no-explanation discontinuance of "surface mail" >>as an option has also damaged the hobby >>collecting of our friends overseas. >>"Hamfests" are no answer. They are few and far, >>and as we all age we will be less willing (or able) >>to participate. Moreover, a hamfest is a severely >>limited, local market. I can go to every hamfest in Texas >>for the rest of my life and I will never see that RAV >>receiver someone's kids in New Jersey threw into the dump >>because they couldn't market it. >>What to do in a world where shipping an ARC-5 >>a lousy 300 miles costs $40? >>Your thoughts? >> > > ------------------------------ Message-ID: <002001cac003$55d50860$7d9e480c@KB6NAX> From: "Arden Allen" To: Old Tube Radios Subject: Re: Scarce Items and the Coming Demise of Ebay "Hobby" Selling. Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:39:43 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit No, Dooms Day is not at hand except for us old farts. Ya just gotta roll with the punches - which ain't hard to do if sitting in a rocking chair. Packing and shipping stuff is a pain in too many organs and I suspect is the real cause of all the griping. If you think things are expensive now wait until you need your medical insurance to kick in while hooked up to tubes and wires. As the US economy continues downward in order to be "competitive" with the rest of the globe human population continues to overflow into the streets. How ya gonna fix that? Buy condom shares? Not with the Viagra lobby around. Leave the poor dears at the post office counters be, no one there is getting rich. The idiots we let get into Congress because of our own ignorance and laziness will continue to destroy the country so just stay in the rocking chair. The ride is going to get rougher. Arden Allen KB6NAX Adopt a shelter dog, save an innocent life, and make a friend forever =:-) ------------------------------ End of BOATANCHORS Digest 4321 ******************************