What's up with Craigslist and SS Equipment?

[bobgroh]

This might be true only in the Kansas City area but the listing for SS in Craigslist have gotten both low in number of offerings and very high in prices. For example, right now there are only 5 listings for Shopsmith: one a rather pathetic and rusty and incomplete ER for $200, one for a DC-3300 (later model but very stock) for $225 (down from $325!!), one for a model 500 (but with scroll saw, bandsaw and jointer for $1100 and one for a 520 (no pictures and very details) for $1200. And that is kind of the way it has been for more than a year. Thoughts?

[rpd]

I suspect it is partially the improved economy. Fewer people motivated to sell quickly due to cash flow problems, more people interested in buying.

Also the ones priced reasonably sell quickly, and the over priced ones stay listed for a looong time, giving the next wave of sellers a skewed idea of the going rate.

[Ed in Tampa]

I do not know how it is in your area but here in Tampa Craigslist users are getting conned and even killed. The Sherriff says everyone should make their Craigslist transactions in police parking lots. About a week ago some poor guy got gunned down in front of his son over a dirt bike Craigslist deal.
My daughter was sold a stolen rental store computer that self locked itself about a week after buying it. Police said the guy which they hadn't caught yet was renting and selling them on Craigslist as fast as he could.

Then the weak minded are now using Craigslist to play games. If you list something they call and tell you they will come and get it, but after waiting for them they never show. Also they are listing things to buy. You call get directions either their house or parking lot but the address is bad or they never show. They get their thrills from causing people to chase after dead ends.

I now only use Craigslist to find garage sales.

[Hobbyman2]

The last guy I called on CL wanted a fortune for a MKV ,w/ band saw ,sounded like a younger fella , said it had set in a damp garage for several years , still wanted $1,800 for it,,said he wouldn't budge on the price.

Some one told him it was worth $2,500???

I just couldn't bring my self to drive 3 hrs one way to go look at it.




Hobbyman2

[reible]

I've only purchased one item off the list and that was a shopsmith for one of my sons. I don't look there often, not much shopsmith stuff at good prices from what I have seen but deals do come along.

I don't enjoy the shopping experience that much that I check there often and have never shopped for anything but the shopsmith item I mentioned.

Ed

[ERLover]

I have found that if the original owner is sell it they think it is worth more then the market value.

[bobgroh]

On the pricing thing - I don't think that, for the one's I see in this area, it is the original owner selling them. Mostly seems to be folks who brought it or inherited it or traded for it and who now want to sell it .... at, IMHO, are quite ridiculous prices. I mean, for example, a rusty old ER for $200?

Regarding misgivings about using Craigslist - yeah, I totally share that. I do very little on CL these days but, when I do, I am very, very careful. There are some very odd people out there.

[recurvearcher]

Out here in Southern California, I've always been envious if the low prices everyone reports for used Shopsmith equipment. Always seemed much higher out here.
I hope the uptick in prices may indicate a growth on the hobby!

[Hobbyman2]

recurvearcher



I have bought things from ebay from there that was cheaper then here!!

Stick with it you will find good deals , ya just have to be patient.


Hobbyman2

[jms]

Bought a 510 in December from CL for a reasonable price and then a 2001 year Model 520 last weekend from CL with bandsaw, sanding disc and lathe tools for $750. Had to drive to Charlotte for the 520 but at that price in truly very good condition it was worth 3 hours each way!

I sold the 510 in less than 2 days earlier this week, again on CL. It comes down to pricing - don't pay too much and don't ask too much.