Frasers equipment re-homing begins

[jpb]

Perhaps you should borrow a disused town-centre shop then it could be like the Harrods Sale in the old days with people queuing and fighting each other to get the TV on offer!

I'm looking forward to the fun, and am already practicing self-restraint exercises in case I go mad and buy a room-sized X-ray machine or some other fun but not fit-able into my study piece of kit!

[tggzzz]

With this in mind I will have to be sensible about how I list the equipment. I can avoid some question duplication by providing pictures and an estimated value on which to base offers. I may also be able to include approximate postage for the UK as well. This is all going to take time and updates on progress will appear here. It is very likely that there will be a ‘batch release’ system employed to manage the incoming communications, responses and dispatching of items. This will not please those wishing to gather together several items but I have to manage the workload or it will turn into Chaos.

Yes, managing the chaos is a key consideration!

Photos are optional for me, except where there are many accessories included. I would be content with looking up full information elsewhere, and content that you would state anything that might reasonably be seen in a photo.

I think an "estimated value" is sensible. You might like to phrase that as "open for tender bids, suggested minimum, but might entertain lower offers". The latter would allow:

• someone bid on something that is merely a "cheap curiosity". (Example: I've just picked up a dekatron counter merely because I don't have any dekatrons; I wouldn't pay much for that!)
• you to choose to offload something that isn't as desirable as you hope
• you to "arbitrarily" combine items for your convenience

[mnementh]

*wibble* 

mnem

[grizewald]

Thank goodness it's pay day in four days time. Hopefully, there will be something left! 

[Fraser]

The equipment details will likely take until the end of this month, or very close to it, to produce Payment date is negotiable anyway

Fraser

[woodchips]

Interesting, does it all work?

Where did it come from?

I ask because I was in a similar position about 10 years ago, to clear hundreds of bits of test equipment bought from the government sales, mainly Ramco. I had a 40' container stuffed full, all went on ebay which, as has been said, worked in those days.

To be honest your best bet is simply to give it to an auction house and let buyers fight over it there. Some will even buy the whole lot off you so you know what you will end up with.

Been asked, no reply, where are you in the UK? Nearest town?

What a lot of work! Been there, been tired! Bought lots of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, not now thanks.

[aargee]

Hmmm.. trip to the UK coming up in June/July. That's a possible financial/baggage concern on top of the travel, let alone SWMBO. 

Good luck with the sale, I'll try to be considerate with any interest I show.

[nctnico]

I am glad that I started this thread as I have received some very good feedback and advice. Thanks to all who have commented.

It has been suggested by more than one person that I am setting myself up for the ‘perfect storm’ and upon reflection this seems to be true.

If I produce just a basic list detailing equipment, I will likely receive many requests for information, postage quotes and pictures.This combined with managing incoming offers and dispatching equipment to buyers could prove unmanageable for me.

MCS Testequipment listed a whole bunch of their excess equipment a while ago. The had a single lines per item which listed manufacturer, model number, options, state and (fixed) price. I think we can be sure your equipment is in pristine condition or according to the description so pictures may not be necessary. If something doesn't sell you can lower the price. Don't have several bidding wars on your doorstep.

Most of the work will be in packaging and postage but most of the tarrifs are weight and destination based. The postal service should have a table which lists the postage costs in an easy table (usually local, EU, Europe and world wide).

Maybe you can ask Toploser for help? He seems to be setup for sending all kinds of equipment.

[mikeselectricstuff]

. (Example: I've just picked up a dekatron counter merely because I don't have any dekatrons; I wouldn't pay much for that!)

Dekatrons and other obsolete digital displays are quite sought-after - if you pick up an old dekatron counter for junk prices, chances are you can make a decent profit parting out the tubes and sockets.
More so for rarer displays like projection & edge-lit units. nixies less so unless they're big.

[bd139]

Indeed. The prices are ridiculous as well. I am lurking for an SP353 panaplex display for a Heathkit calculator. Not worth paying £30 for one module!

[Psi]

You could post a basic thread per item with image / model number/ condition. People can look up specs themselves
Then people can post to say "I'm located in country/city ZYZ and i'd pay $xyz for that"
You can just pick someone and accept their offer whenever you decide to.

The important thing with this method is that you are in control.
You don't have to pick the person with the highest bid, you can use other factors in your decision
You can pick someone who is located nearby if you don't want to ship the item far etc..
You can pick someone right away if you want to sell fast, or wait a week or two for more offers if its something you want to take some time with.
You can pick someone who has a genuine use for the item according to what they say in their post.
It's also very easy for you to just ignore posts.

I think that would be easier than trying to sort out 1000's of emails or PMs
Or trying to do it in a single big thread

[wilfred]

I think we can be sure your equipment is in pristine condition or according to the description so pictures may not be necessary.

The old adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" was never more apt than when posting a for sale notice. People who have no reason to trust Fraser also have money to spend. The benefit of photos is both to extract money and to help lessen the aggravation that comes from not having them. It is better to let people see the condition in a photo than to hope their imagination is accurate.

[Psi]

Yeah, unfortunately (for him) i do think he needs to take pics

[Towger]

Yeah, unfortunately (for him) i do think he needs to take pics

You just want me tempted for photos of IC-R9000's, which I should buy because:
1. I can't afford 1k+
2. SWMBO.
3. No time/children.
4. 90+ capacitors which may need replacing.  Especially if was used for years for Her Magesty's listening pleasure.
5. They run hot.
6. CRT and related problems.
7. They are large and heavy.
8. R9500 is better.
 

[Fraser]

Thanks guys, very helpful posts 👍

From very recent experience (over the past few days, it is amazing how trusting people have been towards me on purchases involving significant sums of money ! I must have an honest face

I like the idea by Psi of making individual listings and just inviting interest. I can still include a ‘filter’ by asking for offers over £xxx to help potential buyers. I agree on the picture front and it saves me posting pictures to individual interested parties

This is all excellent food for thought and I really appreciate the xcellent advice. My health dictates how quickly I can operate so I do need some sort of sensible plan in order to not become overwhelmed. I am, after all, effectively doing a ‘technical house clearance sale’. I have accumulated an awful lot of goof quality equipment as part of my ‘addiction’ and it is really quite scary when I see just how much have to work through.

To answer a few questions that have been placed in this thread.

1. All the equipment is mine from my accumulation over the years.

2. I buy nice kit and not junk and I care for it

3. I am essentially selling all of my personal lab test equipment as I am just not that involved in R&D electronics any more. I am 51 and moving into a new phase in my life with new priorities. I will keep the  essential tools of the trade to work on and repair electronics but I find that I do not need the very expensive and advanced test equipment for that anymore. I can repair most equipment with my eyes, nose, decent multimeter, oscilloscope, logic analyzer and solder rework stations

4. I will continue to enjoy working with thermal imaging equipment but even on that front, I need to rehome the excess as owning over 80 thermal cameras is a little excessive I am not a museum or exhibition after all

5. Regarding operating condition. All my lab test equipment is in good working order. I do have ‘for parts’ or ‘repair project’ equipment I have never got around to looking at but these are not my test equipment. They were bought to amuse me or for repairing other equipment. I can put such equipment up for sale but where values are low I may be better served to either send it to the scrap recycling or place it on eBay to help someone in the world repair their faulty kit. If the return is not worth my time to pack and dispatch, sadly the kit goes in the bin. I gave little other option. I could group faulty kit into bulk lots but return could still be low compared to the effort of packing. I pack all equipment properly and it can take me a mist of an evening to pack a large heavy piece of equipment. For one known faulty equipment will be either binned (basically rubbish projects that never got started) or left until the good kit has gone and I have more time.

6. I am non commercial..... just an electronics technician who is/was dedicated to his hobby and spent too much on ‘toys’ by multiple duplications of capability! As a non commercial seller of the equipment, I ask to be treated fairly with offers. I am not just ‘ditching’ a container load of ex MoD equipment onto the market or trying to make a fast buck. The difference between this request on this forum and saying it on eBay is that my experience has shown forum members respect that request in many cases. I have already received firm and fair offers on two pieces of expensive equipment that I have advertised and have accepted them. It is important to me that both parties are content with a deal

7. It is true to say that this is an excellent opportunity for someone to effectively buy a decent electronics lab in one purchase if they so desire. I have multiple equipment duplications as already stated. It offers an opportunity to ‘cherry pick’ from one source of quality equipment rather than trawling eBay for years as I have to accumulate such kit. It cannot be for free or even bargain prices however as I cannot afford to give away equipment when it can provide essential funds for my life going forwards. This is why offers on equipment that I sold in the past have caused mr some concern.Students offering $100 for an equipment that sells used for over $700 are likely to be disappointed as. Just cannot work with such an offer. It is not that I am being mean, I just have to be practical. I am not working and have financial commitments  so I am effectively worse off than many students

8. Collection ? Absolutely ! I welcome equipment collection and would look favourably on offers that involved collection as it makes my life so much easier and equipment can be shown working.  I am located near Milton Keynes so in the midlands.

I hope this little post is helpful in understanding what is going on here. Just a professional tech who also had electronics as a serious hobby for over 40 years and who’s life is taking a change of direction whilst maintaining basic repair and maintenance capabilities In my experience, my most powerful and capable tool is my mind. It has served me well and was trained to be highly adaptable in specialist in some technical areas. I do not need masses of test equipment to serve that mind and no, it is not included in the sale

Finally .... I made a poor taste joke with my wife about me dropping dead or her getting fed up with me and wanting a divorce...... her response ...... NOT UNTIL YOU CLEAR ALL YOUR GEAR oUT IF THE HOUSE !

She still loves me really She is right though, If I dropped dead, there would be an awful lot of kit to shift to the local recycling centre !

I attach a photo of me in case people like to see the face of the person they are dealing with. I am friendly, honest, kind and honourable I have a very strong and active moral compass. I can be very professional, unemotional and ‘hard’ in my professional life. It just went with the territory in my job role. Very much like a Soldier has to be...... just look at the Facebook pictures of soldiers rescuing kittens..... we can be hard as steel one moment and soft as butter the next, as the situation requires. I do not normally bite

Fraser

[PlainName]

MCS Testequipment listed a whole bunch of their excess equipment a while ago. The had a single lines per item which listed manufacturer, model number, options, state and (fixed) price.

The problem I have with their listing is that I have no idea what the product numbers mean. There are FAR too many to Google and after ten or so I'm off to something more interesting, like watching paint dry.

But I often buy stuff I didn't know I needed before I saw it. A single photo might get my interest (and they're a lot quicker to scan than Google some weirdo aphanum, though I appreciate they're more hassle to list). Failing that, just tell me what the damn thing is and even that might spark my interest.

[Fraser]

Towger .... just to wreck you day....1K ? Naaaaaah think waaaaaaay less than that. Not 24/7/365 used, CRT’s have some minor burn-in (as would be a expected) but still bright. I also have a spare CRT Heavy ... yes, large.... yes...... knackered capacitors ? No idea. They worked fine last time I fired them up and it is the PSU capacitors that got cooked in Government units. As part of the upgrades carried out on my two, they had PAPST mains powered fans on their rear air port to forced air cool them throughout their operational deployment These are special units and likely unique

Price ? South of £500 ..... maybe a lot less

Sorry if I have put a ‘worm’ in your brain

Fraser

[Psi]

She is right though, If I dropped dead, there would be an awful lot of kit to shift to the local recycling centre !

Yep, i had the misfortune of seeing that happen to someone.
I heard about a massive amount of electronics being sold because the person who had collected it for 60 years had passed away and their wife had no idea how to get rid of it all. 
I visited there maybe 5 times buying lots of good stuff. We are talking about a massive 3 story house packed to the brim with electronics components.  In my life i have never seen that much electronics packed into a house like that and i doubt i ever will again.

Anyway, after a few months of sales around 1/3 the stuff was sold but still a massive amount remained. Including an entire room we couldn't really get to because it was full of boxes floor to ceiling blocking entry.

Sadly there was a house fire and the house got badly fire damaged.

The guy who passed away had all sorts of random powered up electronics running all throughout the basement and no one knew what it actually did. Wires running into boxes with leds/buttons on them. I'm guessing some of that stuff shorted out from all the foot traffic and people buying stuff and that caused the fire, but i dunno for sure.

Here's a video of the basement level that a friend took http://y2u.be/eUbnS-vcDQs

[Fraser]

Towger,

Just to be really cruel, I will also be rehoming an AOR AR3000A PLUS, an AOR AR5000A PLUS, AOR SDU5000’s (cheap!) , AOR SDU5500’s, ICOM PCR1000 (PC Radio), ICOM PCR2500 (PC Radio), ICOM 7000, ICOM7100, TENTEC 320 HF PC radio. Lots of AOR active loop aerials and a Brand new RF Systems DX One MKII (the eggbeater loop) Then there are a large number of Lowe HF receivers, accessories, RF Systems active whip antennas and masses of spares (I was one of the main UK sources of HF150 spares).

I will be selling an ‘as new’ boxed TRIO KENWOD R1000( I always liked that receiver) and  Yausu FRG1 in great condition I have a lot of radio equipment to sell as I was an RF tech and Amateur Radio enthusiast early on in my career. It all needs new homes now

Fraser

[bd139]

BRB getting a mortgage sorted

[tggzzz]

I have accumulated an awful lot of goof quality equipment...

Tee hee.

Regarding operating condition. All my lab test equipment is in good working order. I do have ‘for parts’ or ‘repair project’ equipment I have never got around to looking at but these are not my test equipment. They were bought to amuse me or for repairing other equipment. I can put such equipment up for sale but where values are low I may be better served to either send it to the scrap recycling or place it on eBay to help someone in the world repair their faulty kit.
...
For one known faulty equipment will be either binned

I don't think you have much to lose by listing it, especially if you mark it "faulty, for collection only". Let other people save you a trip to the tip!

7. It is true to say that this is an excellent opportunity for someone to effectively buy a decent electronics lab in one purchase if they so desire. I have multiple equipment duplications as already stated. It offers an opportunity to ‘cherry pick’ from one source of quality equipment rather than trawling eBay for years as I have to accumulate such kit. It cannot be for free or even bargain prices however as I cannot afford to give away equipment when it can provide essential funds for my life going forwards. This is why offers on equipment that I sold in the past have caused mr some concern.Students offering $100 for an equipment that sells used for over $700 are likely to be disappointed as. Just cannot work with such an offer. It is not that I am being mean, I just have to be practical. I am not working and have financial commitments  so I am effectively worse off than many students

Very reasonable.

As a buyer I don't know how to get around the issue of offering a price, especially if I would like more than one piece but only have money for one piece.

8. Collection ? Absolutely ! I welcome equipment collection and would look favourably on offers that involved collection as it makes my life so much easier and equipment can be shown working.  I am located near Milton Keynes so in the midlands.

Bugger. That's nearer than I was expecting.

I'd be happy to pick stuff up in the afternoon of Sunday 19th May.

[Fraser]

Oh and for the ‘time-nuts’ I will be selling both my Thunderbolt GPSDO’s complete with the LCD display unit and a ice cream cone amplified GPS antenna . I also have a 5MHz GPSDO from Racal ? I forget the manufacturer. Nice fully cased unit complete with software

I also have a Brand new professional and very nice GPS time server

For ‘volt-nuts’ I have a small TIME variable voltage reference unit. Measures around 4” x 3” x 1” and has a multi turn dial on the front.

It will all get listed on this forum first so keep your eyes open

Fraser

[exe]

Writing here just to be subscribed (too many notifications from this thread to my email).

Not sure what I'd like to buy, but let's see. Not attaching any pictures yet because I don't think people need to see my face . Anyway, this is a clever marketing. Nothing is on sale yet, yet many people are watching the thread every day

[Fraser]

‘Marketing’ is not my forte 😄 Maybe people just cannot resist the chance of a very nice piece of equipment at a very fair price ? 😉

Fraser

[Ero-Shan]

Oh and for the ‘time-nuts’ I will be selling both my Thunderbolt GPSDO’s complete with the LCD display unit and a ice cream cone amplified GPS antenna . I also have a 5MHz GPSDO from Racal ? I forget the manufacturer. Nice fully cased unit complete with software

I also have a Brand new professional and very nice GPS time server

For ‘volt-nuts’ I have a small TIME variable voltage reference unit. Measures around 4” x 3” x 1” and has a multi turn dial on the front.

It will all get listed on this forum first so keep your eyes open

Fraser

All this teasing ain't good for my health ...

For me, a likely obstacle will be the method of payment, as I do not have a PayPal account. However, while the UK is still in the EU, money transfer might work also.

My eyes are wide open!