Soft market

[Papaw]

As you may know, I retired last year on December 19th and have had some medical issues since. I am relatively healthy at 73, but realize that I won't last forever.
I have been considering letting go of the many wrenches I have accumulated over the last 20 years, and have sold a few this year. I have seen that the market is quite soft and I probably will take a loss on a bunch of them.
Ebay offers the largest pool of possible buyers, but "Sold" prices seem way down. Guess I will just have to take my lumps and move them out slowly.

[john k]

I have noticed that ebay prices drop near the holidays, also watch the numbers of offerings in each category.   Will be watching the market come the new year, I should sell some of the excess too. 

[turnnut]

yes, the market is soft, but today on ebay, the Rufus H. Woodbury 1985 (unmarked) adjustable wrench just sold for $2,433.oo

it had 3 bidders.

[oldgoaly]

I haven't bought anything off ebay for the 6 months, all over priced,  not near as many "cool" things on there.

[Lewill2]

That is a 1885 patent. The Petrie adjustable bicycle wrench and air pump sold for $400.00. The rare stuff seems to still bring the money with some of the buyers. I know of one other Petrie but never saw another Woodbury although Woodbury is listed in Copes and Petrie isn't.

[rustcollector]

I'm not convinced that ebay offers the biggest pool of "buyers" anymore. I think it's more the biggest pool of people wanting to watch and see what comes up for sale. It's hard to sneak in on a rare wrench on there, even if poorly listed, but the middle-high to mediocre wrenches will hardly command much interest.

The one plus with ebay right now is that you can list 50 things for free each month. That way you can list stuff at the minimum you think it should be worth and let it run a couple times if needed. I recently watched a wrench not sell for the starting $75 for 3 weeks. The fourth listing it brought $191.

[krusty the clown]

I have noticed prices are about double what they were 10 years ago. of course most of you have different interests in tools than I do so that may explain why I see a different trend than you. of course I realized when I started collecting that it was kind of the "ground floor" so to speak and tool collecting was an affordable hobby and naturally prices would go up. although it is an investment I prefer to look at it as an obsession and i'm more of a hoarder than a collector.

[snapmom]

Prices are down, except for the rare items.  There seems to be less starting collectors, and many of the advanced collectors are just not into it as they use to be.  Also, many advanced collectors are only needing the rare items.

You may want to start your auctions at the least amount you will take,  if they do not sell,  you can relist them in a few weeks at a slightly lower price.

[Papaw]

I have been taking advantage of the free relistings, starting at a reasonable price, then dropping a bit each time. Some just end up on a 30 day fixed price listing hoping to sell, and then I'll get a very lowball offer.

[oldgoaly]

I've heard the shipping "damage scam"  and the seller getting ripped off is way up. One guy I know said he was 1 in 5 being out of his money. Is that true?  he sell bottles.   They way some package is horrible.  One guy got a batch of bad tape, the box made it here but nothing was in it. an early Indian jr scout tranny case. I still don't have one.  1932-36, the s/n is unreadable. There is a lost Philco mini-scope somewhere in Tennessee among the missing.

[Bus]

Papaw, what's your ebay handle?

[amecks]

Papaw, I've been selling a few items for about a year and a half.  Last year and this year there was a bit extra sales near the holidays, then a slowing.  The slowing in sales picked with the approach of Spring.
The free listings will allow you to relist until the market improves a bit later in the year.
I have found about the lowest starting bid I will ask is about $4.00 (they pay shipping at that price).  Between eBay's 10% final value fee and PayPal's 3%+30cent transaction fee,  you have to be careful.  I don't understand how people list things with a starting bid of $0.99.  I bought a game a few weeks ago that was selling regularly at $25 for the starting bid of 0.99.  And the seller shipped it Priority Mail for $3.  He ate it on that one.
This week I sold a Fordson wrench and a Nash wrench for about $4 to $5 net profit (each).
Maybe you should post your seller name here so the group can check out your sales.  Mine is "grafvonv". 
If anyone from ToolTalk sees an item and makes an offer I will consider selling (once the auction is over - to be fair to eBay).
Good luck
Al

[Papaw]

My Ebay name is---   papawswrench
Current offerings are -  http://www.ebay.com/usr/papawswrench

[Aunt Phil]

If you factor in that a 2015 Dollar is 50¢ of 2005 money, you're really loosing your ass.

If you want to feel good, consider the guy down the road from me has been trying to sell his investment in gold plated SnapOn wrenches in a glass front box he was sure were a good retirement plan for about 5 years now. 

Man has shunned me since he tried selling them to me and I told him I was ugly, not stupid.

[rustcollector]

I have been taking advantage of the free relistings, starting at a reasonable price, then dropping a bit each time. Some just end up on a 30 day fixed price listing hoping to sell, and then I'll get a very lowball offer.

I wouldn't drop the price unless you have to sell. List it a few times at your minimum. If it doesn't sell, set it aside and try it a couple months later. Timing and rarity seem to be the biggest factors with ebay buyers. It also seems that the current market place likes over cleaned stuff. I'll never figure that one out.