Short and the long of it. I have no family or heirs I have some sort of an abundance of stoves. Looking to cull the heard, clear out the dead wood and move things along. Should one just put the odd one on e-bay every now and then and see what happens? Start at a low ball figure and see what the market provides? How do you all go about it.
Best of luck sorting out the herd. I'd start high on pricing and go down rather than starting low and trying to go up, depending on if you're trying to move as many stoves as possible or get the most $$$ possible.
It depends somewhat on your timescale. I've been having a clear-out of excess projects/stoves. Some to friends, some to other collectors, spares/dross listed on ebay for a nominal fee. Good stuff has a definite reserve and I ask over the odds so can always come down. Avoid job-lots unless you either really want rid or you're offered a decent price, don't cut your nose to spite your face etc. Alec.
I sell cheap or give away some items and parts whenever my area has a gathering or camp out. Likely will only go to events close to home and not travel for a day. My core stuff will likely be buried with me. Duane
With a name like @barrabruce I’d reckon you might be an Aussie. If so, I’m happy to have a chat with you. I’m pretty familiar with buying and selling stoves in Australia… Send me a message via @Tony Press . Cheers Tony
I limit myself to buying stoves. That way I avoid the hassle of uploading photos to eBay, arranging payment, finding a box, packaging the stove, addressing the box, and taking it to the post office. Ben
Thanks for the advice everyone. I’ll have a chat to you when things settle back down here in a little while Tony. I had a little look at eBay selling and what z1ulike, Pretty well summed it up. Seems a nightmare. But I bet at the post office they could sort me out with enough hoops to go through and coin to say post a number 5 brassie somewhere.
Easer to buy than to sell. Not rocket science to box items up and print labels at home. Not the most enjoyable thing to do but got to be done. Provide plenty of photos to show buyer what he is buying. If it has a dent, show it. Home printer and scale will pay for it's self after couple sales. Easy to see what similar items sold for on Ebay so you can price accordingly. If you are selling junk make sure you say 'untested & parts only" or NRV will need replacement.
I have looked into selling on eBay. The caution to me is the bank account connection. Buying is easier.
caveat: ebay policies change often (almost always to benefit ebay, vs buyers & sellers). confirm you are in Australia. As much as i will agree with Daryl, advice from fellow Aussi seems a must. Ben's never sell and Duane's bury it with me are terrible options... sorry. One should establish a proven process to thin the herd and, at least, have an info sheet with any higher value stoves, to provide much needed guidance for the task at hand. re Daryl's: " ...got to be done. [+1] Provide plenty of photos to show buyer what he is buying. If it has a dent, show it. ... ...Easy to see what similar items sold for on Ebay ... [ note1 Be sure to list it in best category. Use accurate and search-friendly title.] [ note2 above Daryl said "SOLD" price, asking prices can be waaaay high.] Daryl re prices: ...easy to find similar for some stoves... [note3 for many stoves this is not the case but someone busy carefully "pricing" classic camp stoves can develop educated guess.] and If you are selling junk make sure you say 'untested & parts only" or NRV will need replacement. [+1] good luck
When I was working out of town, a bank with branches all over had a promotion with easily accepted stipulations with no fee accounts. I’ve linked my PP with that account and keep little money there and also use it for small recurring deposits and auto-pay utility payments. I also was more easily writing checks out of town. Can easily transfer money in or out. Bad thing is keeping two check registers balanced. I use my other checking account for more local checking. Duane
@hikerduane I don’t think I’ve written a cheque for 20 years. Every now and then (maybe once every 18 months) I get one from a closed account of some sort, and have to find an auto-teller of my own bank to deposit it. Cheques are virtually extinct in Australia. Tony
I write checks often. They are by no means extinct here, though not nearly as ubiquitous as they once were. In my case it's a consequence of having no bank or other accounts online, something I eschew. No more inconvenient than it ever was. I use a credit card often where once checks were used, as in retail transactions. I pay the card off monthly...with a check.
As for selling stoves, barra's situation basically mandates it. But I have 5 middle-aged children and 12 grown grandchildren. I'm close to all of them, and have hiked, skied, and camped with them for decades. So I'm confident that they'll take most of them, if only out of sentiment. The rest would go by estate sale I expect. My attitude about selling stoves is much the same as Ben's....
When I'm gone my boys will no doubt sell my stash of stoves on eBay. So, in 20 or so years from now (God willing) you'll get a chance to bid on my Optimus 9. Ben
