The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

This post has two parts. Part the first. Has there been any noise being made recently about being able to contact the suppliers that Ron used in order to keep the hobby going? That's one.

Part the second. Does anybody else feel frustrated at having to look to eBay in order to buy parts for our machines only to find that the part you needed isn't listed? And so you go to the website of some of the known suppliers and their webpages haven't been updated in 15 years AND they don't have a list of parts available? Not all of course but many, I'm not looking to argue semantics, just an observation. And I don't think it's just the pandemic, it seems like a state of being for the hobby. Why are so many folks leaving it to eBay to sell their parts? As an amateur web designer I have all of my band's CDs available on our website just using a simple PayPal link, who wants to deal with eBay fees AND paypal fees as a business? It jacks up the price of parts that we in the hobby pay (as fees get passed on to us) and feeds the eBay monster. Here's what I would LOVE to see.

An updated website with a Store link that lists all the parts for sale with quantities and a checkout. I'm not advertising here, just an example but this is what I'm talking about http://www.prydein.com/store.html

I understand if folks don't know how to build a webpage or it may be a daunting task but at this point anyone could probably trade parts for a little web service set up. It's at the point where I'm almost thinking I'll set up business myself just because of how frustrating it is to find parts. So many myths about "this guy sells reproduction brackets" or "check this fella, he has this part" but you go to those places and you have no idea what they have.

After all this complaining I guess I should offer to trade an html store page on your website for parts for some of my machines. I guess I'll just leave that out there.

Saturday morning rant over!

There are other people that sell parts off Ebay. Check our "Links" section for dealers like George Velloma, etc.....

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gramophone78 wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 12:00 pm There are other people that sell parts off Ebay. Check our "Links" section for dealers like George Velloma, Walt Sommers, etc.....

Thanks, I think you missed part of my post although I may not have been very clear also, it happens. I'll re-read it...

Dischoard wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 11:53 am This post has two parts. Part the first. Has there been any noise being made recently about being able to contact the suppliers that Ron used in order to keep the hobby going? That's one.

I haven't heard of any. Most parts sellers develop relationships with their suppliers, and keep most of the dealings confidential. Take needles for example. A number of sellers sell needles, but they typically do not tell you who actually manufactured them.

Dischoard wrote: Sat May 22, 2021 11:53 am And I don't think it's just the pandemic, it seems like a state of being for the hobby. Why are so many folks leaving it to eBay to sell their parts?

Yes. And other than the sad death of Ron, things are far better than they were 30 or 40 years ago. As to why ebay, I guess you would need to speak directly to people like VictrolaGuy Walt Sommers and Mike Child among others.

I suppose, just seems as though eBay is an unnecessary middle-man when we are already a captive audience. Just point me to a page with the stuff I need and a cart to add it to without sellers passing all their extra fees onto us.