En vogue means ''ch-ching!''

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roto204

roto204

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http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctId=6140,ptnrid=164,ptnrdata=302074&GT1=10133

With all the discussions of escalating vintage appliance prices, this article piqued my interest. Those of you who collect small appliances especially might want to clutch your children close to you and stare in horror.

Heretofore, I figured that vintage washers, dryers, and dishwashers would be safe, because their performance and capacity are so different from what most people are accustomed to nowadays (and would tolerate). However, I'm finding that this is not always the case--or, as Steve R. mentioned, at the very least, people with neat stuff are getting the hazy sense that it's worth a lot.

I don't know if most of you have experienced this as well, but the thrift stores also apparently think that they're sitting on a veritable gold-mine. Of course, that's good for them if someone will pay the higher prices, but bad for those of us who--just a few years ago--were used to a plethora (there's that word, El Guapo) of cheap, interesting appliances.

As time marches forward, and more things go into the trash with nothing to take their place, I can only guess that the situation will worsen. Nevertheless, in the end, I guess it just goes to show that the value of anything is determined by how badly someone wants it, and what they're willing to pay for it...

*sigh* :-)

The really sad aspect of it all is that now, I feel like I can't be honest about who I am and what I do with these finds--I can't tell people "Oh, I'm a collector and I play with them," because it's like flipping a switch for instant greed. In the face of an evolving market and shift in supply versus demand, I guess I'll have to tell people that I am Mother Teresa of Montgomery Ward, redistributing them to the poor, or something similar that's patently false, but improbable to incite money-grubbing.

*double-sigh* :-)

I'm not looking for an answer...I just long for the days of the appliance underground :-)
 
You couldn't have said it any better! Not only in appliances, but people everywhere are hoarding vintage appliances, car parts, you name it!
As you pointed out, they think they are sitting on a gold mine. One guy I encountered that had a whole basement full or rather common auto parts and remarked to me "You are looking at my retirement funding! All the cars on the road today will become classics someday!"
I think what a lot of people are doing is going back and buying the stuff they always wanted, but for one reason or another couldn't obtain years ago. That's why your NIB,MIB, etc. things go for some outrageous sums on Ebay.
What gets me is you'll find people who find ONE ITEM of value, and then bid for that item in every auction it appears in driving the price astronomically.
An example. There is a bidder on Ebay that bids on a particular type of old Volkswagen manual. He has won the same book many times over. This book normally goes for up to $60.00, he'll get in there and bid it up to over $200. Why would he want to pay that much for multiple copies of the same book? I'm willing to bet he's a hoarder!
In the meantime, we are starting to talk about our kitchen remodel, and I'm leaning towards a 40" space for a stove/range.
We are seriously thinking vintage!
 
I think it might be a good idea to remove the prices that members are willing to pay on the "wanted/reward" page of this site.
 
Thrift Stores

At least in my neck of the woods, it's tough to find a thrift store that even carries large appliances. Goodwill seems to have stopped altogether. The Salvation Army usually has a couple of washers, dryers, fridges or freezers but they are generally in questionable shape and overpriced, and only at their "main" store in town. The SA stores also created their "boutique" section years ago, which is really a crock for the most part and if there's anything truly interesting it's priced higher than at an antique store. Just last week I saw a never-used Sunbeam double decker coffee maker like so many people here enjoy using, it had no box but still had the original info tag hanging off the handle, and they wanted $35 for it. To me, that's too much money even if it's better made than a modern $35 auto-drip machine.

I don't know where these thrift stores find the people who are in charge of setting the price points on their merchandise, but across the board what they think something is worth and the item's actual value tend to be at opposite ends of the spectrum all too often.
 
I agree, but this too shall pass. Anyone in the market for a vintage range or other major appliance will hopefully do a little homework before plunking down a wad of cash on a range that likely will need HOURS worth of work and probably NLA parts to look and perform like new. Look at the infamous $2000 Maytag set that is perpetually on eBay, the handfull of people that might take an interest in them recoil in horror when they see the actual condition. Of course, they belong to him so he can ask whatever he wants no matter how futile their efforts the only thing lost is his listing fees. I'm sure people in hell ask for ice water...

Ralph, if that Coffeemaster you saw has a soft, pliable gasket on it - snag it quick! I wouldn't hesitate to pay $35 for a never used pot and if you don't want one, they bring big bucks on eBay, box or not!
 
People on EPay, or anywhere else, can ask whatever they want

Absolutely. I can also appreciate that something that's new in the box is quite special and different from your run-of-the-mill item.

Again, if someone wants it bad enough, they'll pay for it. I suppose the counterargument could be made that if we were all serious about this, we'd drop $500 for a vintage whatever-it-is, rather than being sad that the days of $50-a-pop ones are over. It doesn't make it easy or pleasant, though :-)

With respect to the "wanted" page--it's a double-edged sword. I've found that few people pay attention to you when it comes to asking about vintage appliances unless you've got remuneration in mind. It makes sense--I am probably not going to put forth the effort to call someone about a vintage washer I have out of the goodness of my heart--$100 or so makes my memory clearer, if you know what I mean.

Appliance and antique dealers seem to know what I mean :-)

Anyhow, I understand, and it's fair; it's almost like a finder's fee. Plus, for some of the super-rare machines, high prices are justified, and serve to get people's attention. I think, in that respect, we do need people to say "oh, wow" and come forward with them, because some of these machines don't grow on trees.

Nevertheless, I see the point that, for the uneducated, they see the page and go "Oh, hey, I have a 1971 BOL whatever! $350!" Of course, as you noted, Kenny, they can sit-'n-spin.

What's sad are the in-between machines, where yeah, they're cool, and yes, people can name their tickets, but it's a combination of the seller not being educated about value and what helps to determine it when it is not someone else's lust for the item doing the determination, and the fact that, over time, I think a lot of people take a stab at it and then dump it in the trash or the thrift-store if it doesn't pan out. (I'm guessing based on experience, since that's what happens to my appliance odds-and-ends if they don't sell.)

It's almost like we need a KBB for appliances :-) I wish I had a more extensive knowledge of prices than my typical Kenmore/late Frigidaire bevy--I think it'd be a good project to put together. We all know that a cherry '55 Caddy is a different ballgame than a so-so '72 Newport, but it'd be nice to say "$2500 for the Newport" off of a sort-of de facto list of prices versus condition.

None of it's a science, and it's mostly a rant, but it's a thought :-)
 
Hell, I stopped off in a small town in North Carolina a year or so ago and dealt with an "interesting" guy who claimed to have a "fortune" in rare vintage appliances hidden away to sell. When I asked him to describe some of them he also rattled off some pretty high prices. When I questioned where he came up with those numbers----BINGO----the good 'ole "Pie-in-the-Sky" list---OF COURSE!!!! I quickly pointed out the oft ignored "disclaimer" at the bottom of the page, but his eyes had seeeeen the glooooory of the "Wanted:Dead or Alive".

After a while of trying to convince this turkey that he was NEVER going to get rich off of these things, and likely no one had EVER been paid the amounts of money the list offered, he decided to take me to see them. They were off back in an abandoned warehouse in the woods nearly completely covered over with kudzu and poison ivy. The windows had all been broken out and missing for years. As soon as I stepped into the building I was confronted with some of the worst rusted-out hulks I had ever seen. Some were o.k. once you opened the lid, but the years of exposure to the weather, in that nearly wide-open warehouse had taken its toll.

So the guy wants to know what I think about his treasure. While I am trying to think of something tactful (not one of my strong points)I am trying to fend off some of the assorted critters inside the damn place. (What didn't drop on my head bit me on the ankle.)

I had to explain to him that he had a great collection of junk that he would be lucky if anyone would pay much of anything at all for. As an example, there was a '58 Kelvy, that I thought would at least be worth a few bucks as a parts donor but this guy was looking for hundreds! I just told him to "keep on enjoying that dream".

I ended up calling in a friend who did finally get the guy off of his cloud, but still the prices this guy wanted were just way over the top for the junk he had.

All that trouble because of that f@#%$#g "Pie-in-the-Sky" price list.

It needs to go away NOW, "Dead or Alive".
 
Oh, and Nate----

When I'm in a shlock shop and they have, lets say, a dust and filth covered old coppertone 'Noge Burpolator for $400.00 I like to ask them why they want so much money for an obvious piece of s#$t as compared to the fairly new 'Kenmo DD right next to it (equally filthy, but hey, just for example). I always point out that people aren't shopping in thrift stores because Nieman-Marcus turned them away. I also love to suggest the go look on one of those shmootzy shelves full of old books and look up the word "thrift" in an old dictionary.

O.k., so I don't make any friends, but I don't pay $400.00 for some nasty old Burpolator either! They also tend to remember the "sale that got away". The old addage about how "half a sale is better than NO SALE" still rings true and I don't mind reminding them!
 
Stolen Merchandise and Parts?

Let's also not forget the potential for encountering stolen new and "classic" merchandise and parts. Recently, a local dealer arrived at work only to find his entire lot *once filled with new ATV's,* empty! Also, there have been cases where washers, dryers, stereeos, televisions, etc are stolen, only to end up in some far off auction, *whether online or by land.* Therefore, be as diligent and discerning as possible in determining the genuineness, trustworthiness, and honesty of any potential seller of any goods and services *no matter how enticing, convincing, or seemingly good in appearances.*--Laundry Shark
 
who sets the prices

The ARC in Fort Collins has radically different prices for vintage appliances depending on who is setting them. The man who usually does the pricing has an eye out for the poor people who need these things.
But there is a woman who (increasingly) sets prices, and boy oh boy...I have learned:
*Dress cleanly, but poor. Polyester helps. (Polyester is what straight men wear when they do their own shopping.)
*Do not buy books. Do not buy anything which indicates you have an education above sixth grade.
*Do not swoon over anything, even if it IS that faux-fox which would just go perfectly with your handbag.
*Do not snark about wearing white after Labor Day...
I won't lie, and I try not to be greedy - there are folks out there who really have nothing. The other day a young mother saw I had picked up a BRAUN coffee grinder in our local thrift store and she was just distraught (in German that comes out to mean she lowered one shoulder 1/64") so I quickly put it back...it was only 1.5€ but I have two already...)

As for the e-bay and craigslist jerks, I ignore them.
Of course, it doesn't help when a sister bids prices up at a flea-market. Just last week I saw a beautiful razor-strap. Leather in perfect condition, springs fine...original packaging in pre-war German - even the original price of 16Marks still on it. I'm thinkin', ok a little expensive, but my sweetie collects junk like this (I mean, he has a valuable and artistically displayed collection of beauty utensils) And then comes this absolute bitch in her Dolce e Gabanna sunglasses and her oh-so-upper-class accent and her boy-toy in matcing his and his designer jeans and bowling shoes (when will that fashion pass!) and saws: Look dahling, oh wouldn't that just be soooo sweet in our 1920's bahthroom?.
I could have pulled every single one of his mustache hairs out..one by one.
So of course the seller immediately trebled her prices. She wasn't dumb.
Damn it.
Of course Miss Thang didn't buy anything...and after she was done, I couldn't afford to, either.
 

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