This is true, there are unscrupulous "dealers" who will purport something is what it isn't, but if you have a lot of auctions going for expensive machines that "never arrive" you could move quite a bit of money around quite quickly, especially if the same ones are sold and relisted multiple times.Steve wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 5:34 pmThe world of gramophones has had its fair share of "dodgy" dealers for a long time! As for the prices of 102s, I don't find the prices all that remarkable. They have been selling for well over £150 in good condition for as long as I can remember with almost mint examples nearing £350. The problem is - and this is one of my great bugbears about the way the trade and hobby is perceived in general - a lot of people are blissfully unaware of the condition of an item when it sells on any given day for a very low price or when an identical item sells for a very high price the next.leels1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:37 pm Almost like it’s too good to be true. Black 102s going for £250/ £300 plus. Who pays those sorts of prices?
Maybe I’m being cynical but I’m sure there’s scams on eBay with things like this “selling”. Who’d ever think selling gramophones could be dodgy in general.
Condition is everything. For example, an average 102 might be £120-150 on a "normal" day but a factory condition example could easily fetch 3 times that. If you haven't personally inspected every item sold, you can't honestly judge whether the price is uncharacteristically high or low or whatever.
Whenever I hear anyone say, "that's a lot of money for xxxx", I usually ask them if they can get me one the same for a much cheaper price. They usually go very quiet!
I think you're right on condition and I forget there are others out there that would pay large amounts more for something that's perfectly mint. I'm perhaps more rustic and as long as it works and is in very good condition I don't mind so much, and am happy to buy a cheaper machine to restore to something *like* near mint. Example, I have a 101 red deluxe where the catch has been painted gold and is not original. It looks fine and the rest is great, but can see how that would put some people off.