Bean wheel balancer

[J Franklin]

I have this listed on ebay Item # 331267429236. It i pretty old but might fit in with a replica garage/gas station setting. my reserve is at $500. do you think that is too much? I need to clean out my space.

Thanks, J

 

[stratman977]

I don't know if theres anything collectable about that machine or not but basically as an old piece of obsolete machinery maybe between $100 to $200 to the right buyer.

I'n all honesty, I'd be suprised if your auction breaks $100. You probably will do better by parting it out. The local pickup really kills values on ebay.

 

[J Franklin]

Thank you stratman977, that is probably quite true. I was offering delivery although.

 

[balane]

Why the reserve? Genuine question, honestly. I buy and sell a lot on ebay myself, most always by auction and I never understood why bids are wanted, or even allowed, when they're beneath what the seller will accept. Why wouldn't you just start out the auction at your minimum price? When I see a reserve I tend to just move on down the road.

Good luck though, hope it sells for you.

 

[J Franklin]

I guess my reasoning on a reserve would be that this item easily would bring something as scrap but I don't know how much and on an old thing I much prefer to offer it to hobbyists first. with a reserve it can be offered to the highest bidder after an auction. I did lower the reserve.

 

[48RON54]

I agree. A reserve and local pick up is a bid killer.

 

[Marvelicious]

Yep, I've gotta really want something to bother with a reserve auction... but I'm not really the normal eBay bidder: if I want something, my only bid goes in at the last minute - I bid what I'm willing to pay, and I either get it, or I don't. It kills that stupid competitive impulse to bid again.

 

[joe_padavano]

I agree. A reserve and local pick up is a bid killer.

Even better is a $0.50 opening bid with a $500 reserve (the O.P. said he lowered it, but not how much). Sorry, but why waste people's time.

The reality is that one can buy used, functioning computerized balancers for $350-450. If you are lucky, you'll find the one buyer who absolutely can't live without this item. Just don't count on it. As for selling at scrap value, you have to deduct the cost of picking the item up and schlepping it to the scrapper from the asking price. Where I live (mid-Atlantic area), ferrous scrap goes for about $200 a ton. I'm guessing that balancer weighs somewhat less than a ton.

 

[J Franklin]

You guys are absolutely right. I did not think of it as for its function rather than a prop. I know from car club experience, a few back-yard gas station replicas where they add a few pumps & can racks out front of the shop/barn & etc. I have successfully sold on ebay with local pickup for other heavy type items. I am just always experimenting with my sales plan. Since I already have a bid I doubt I can modify the listing much. I will most likely sell it to the highest bidder regardless of the reserve. Like I say it is somewhat an experiment.

 

[J Franklin]

You guys nailed the estimate. It went for $140. and to a shop that will use it for vintage wheels that don't fit on their 2 side spin balancers. thanks for the advice.

J