Completed eBay Auction Columbia Viva-Tonal 810

[gemering]

I watched this auction with much interest.
I even threw in a mid-level, but not so serious bid when the machine was at $59 with about 12 hours to go.
Just wondering if the final price is about right or on the high side for this model.


Gene

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Columbia-810-Vi ... 2399301772?

[barnettrp21122]

I watched this too, just to see the final price. Why no alerts published on this one? I think it's probably a fair market price for a fine-looking machine, though less than what it would have sold for a few years back.

Bob

[Jerry B.]

I think it is difficult to comment on ebay prices of huge machines. I think the price would be much different between one sold in a heavily populated area compared to one offered for sale in a sparcely populated area. It's so much easier to ship small machines. I sent a Victor E from Oregon to Florida for less than $75 including insurance. I can't imagine what it would cost to do the same with a Viva-Tonal. Jerry Blais

[thatonejohn]

I think it is difficult to comment on ebay prices of huge machines. I think the price would be much different between one sold in a heavily populated area compared to one offered for sale in a sparcely populated area. It's so much easier to ship small machines. I sent a Victor E from Oregon to Florida for less than $75 including insurance. I can't imagine what it would cost to do the same with a Viva-Tonal. Jerry Blais

This particular seller is known for selling radio consoles on ebay, just take a look at his completed listings, and he typically brings in good prices. Shipping via freight isn't that much more difficult than usps/ups/fedex, it's just a different process.

[Jerry B.]

This particular seller is known for selling radio consoles on ebay, just take a look at his completed listings, and he typically brings in good prices. Shipping via freight isn't that much more difficult than usps/ups/fedex, it's just a different process.

I don't doubt that there are experienced sellers of large items and provide save preparations and shipping. What would you estimate the cost of shipping a Viva-Tonal 810 from Pennsylvania to Oregon? Would you pay to have it crated and then pay for shipping? If you were selling a big machine like this 810, what would the step by step process once your ebay auction ended. I have never shipped a large item. I have received an Amberola 1-A for a Canadian friend in a situation where the seller would not ship from the US to Canada. The Amberola 1-A was wrapped in plastic, covered with a packing blanket, which covered about three sides and the top, and the entire machine was laid and strapped to a pallet. The mechanism, still in the cabinet, flopped around damaging the cabinet as well as the mechanism. The record drawers were full of cylinders and about 50% survived. That's my experience with receiving a large item. It was a nightmare. I'm not trying to be difficult. I'd like to hear from someone that has experience shipping a large items and the expenses. Thanks, Jerry Blais

[FloridaClay]

Jerry, it sounds like your 1A was just not properly prepared. For example who in their right mind would ship cylinders loose inside a phonograph cabinet?

Clay

[Jerry B.]

Clay, you are absolutely correct. An ebay seller that builds a reputation and history of selling large items should have success doing repeat sales. What effort does he give in packing and shipping something too large for FedEx, UPS, or USPS? What is an example of the cost?

Thanks, Jerry Blais

[marcapra]

The seller of this Columbia Viva tonal, willeezwarez, has the reputation of shipping with extremely reasonable prices. That is one reason this Columbia sold at a fairly high price. His shipping prices are so low, he must not charge anything for crating. I asked the seller for a quote on how much he would charge to ship the 810 to Southern Calif. Temecula, 92592. He said it would be $300 total! That's a very good price, and he said it included crating and insurance. So I asked him what shipping service he used and he said UPS Freight. I did not bid on this since I bought one last year from a woman in Idaho and Jerry was good enough to agree to pick it up for me. That's saying something since it is larger and heavier than a Credenza. Since a Credenza weighs 183 lbs according to the Victor Data Book, I would say the Columbia 810 weighs about 25 to 50 lbs more. willeezwarez usually ships radio consoles via Greyhound, which at a 100 lb. limit, so he uses UPS Freight to ship heavier items. If this Columbia 810 had been for sale on Ebay by the average seller who says "must pick up", it would either not have sold at all, or for a much lower price.

[De Soto Frank]

With respect to location affecting price, I believe Belsano, PA, is not too far from Pittsburgh, Youngstown OH, etc.

[marcapra]

His shipping prices are so low, he must not charge anything for crating. I asked the seller for a quote on how much he would charge to ship the 810 to Southern Calif. Temecula, 92592. He said it would be $300 total!

I just got quotes from UPS and FedEx Freight, and I got quotes of over $600 to ship an item this large. I don't know how willeezwarez does it for that price.