The annoying aspect of Collecting Boomboxes

Status
Not open for further replies.
Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
This video annoys the heck out of me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig6A5W9jLco

I guess it's because:

1: To some people it's ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!
Yes I get it. Money is a great. However, when that is your only driving force in life, you have a problem. It's called GREED.

2: The internet is making it impossible to ever find a decent deal anymore.

I get tired of having to explain to people why I keep and collect vintage blasters. Everyone that's not into boomboxes always says "I'd sell them." To that I always ask if they have a hobby. What is it they like to do. With my father in-law, he likes to collect guns. So I say to him, why don't you sell your guns? You can make your money back on them. Perhaps maybe you bought them because you wanted to enjoy them not to turn around and sell them. Only then do they start to understand where I am coming from. When you collect or are interested in something that isn't something the other person is interested in, they may find it strange in their minds. To each their own I guess. There are forums where people talk about flashlights. I might think that is strange but I understand that to each their own. It's your money spend it on whatever makes you happy.

For me it's all about enjoying the machine and taking a trip down memory lane. I don't want to exchange my radios for money....Right now I'd be happier with the radio in my hand. I'm not in financial troubles. My health is good. I just want to enjoy the darn things while it and myself are both still functioning correctly and I get enjoyment out of tinkering around and fixing them up. Why is that so hard for people to understand?

There is more to life than MONEY. If you sell everything you own and just have money...what good is the money? Why have it?

On one hand I can understand someone trying to make a profit and he's not doing anything wrong....but the other side of me sees the greed in what he is doing and I don't like it...grrrr.

**EDIT** - I'm sure this box he sold is one of the many 1,500 dollar unobtainable M70 models on eBay right now. No one will ever own that box now...Thanks dude. Way to think about yourself.

Rant Over....
 
floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
The thrill is gone away because its becoming more of a business than a hobby.
Now it's all about investment and making money just like anything you buy low sell High to the point where it's out of your reach.

I know I'm in it for the love of boomboxes because even my f****** junk pile it's mine and it makes me happy. Now the only advantage to my collection is nobody wants it lol.
 
1986GLH

1986GLH

Member (SA)
I couldn't agree more! I used to buy boomboxes off Ebay, but it's getting very rare that I do that nowadays. I did purchase a Wheely off Ebay this past summer, but that's only because I just couldn't locate one anyplace else, and I felt like I had no other choice. Of course, I had to overpay for it. It appears that a handful of sellers have worked very hard to drive the prices up on vintage blasters, but I'm not so sure that many of them actually sell...…...it seems to me like the really expensive ones are listed on there forever and ever.

I get lots of comments from people my own age about how I should sell off my collection of radios and put the money toward something else. I don't even bother to address those kinds of comments anymore. One thing that I do find very encouraging, is that when my son brings his junior high buddies over and they step into our boom room, they all seem to instantly fall in love with the whole concept of collecting these beauties. It gives me hope for our younger generation! :rock:
 
Superduper

Superduper

Moderator
Staff member
The internet was great at first. It opened up avenues & sources & deals that never existed before. Unfortunately it has also resulted in most of these great hidden finds having already been found, internet became more commercialized & voila. In other words, everyone has now become a Boombox price expert, but who also knows nothing about Boomboxes. But this is nothing new. As I said in another post, my first RX-5350 & SK-900 were discovered for cheap at goodwill, unfortunately not by me, I had to pay market price in a dizzying Ebay bidding slugfest, this probably 10 years ago. It’s just worse now, but it’s always been there.

BTW, guys like this show up here all the time, brand new member, wants to know price for a classic they found. Then disappears afterwards, probably straight to Ebay. I’d love to give newbies the benefit of the doubt, but each time it happens, I feel complicit in helping them with their sale. Over time, you might say I’m jaded now.
 
Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
I know what you mean Norm. I think new members have to take a test before they can come onto the site now. At least they have to waste a little bit of their time before they waste ours and get rejected...:lol: Back when I joined, you just created a name and password and you're on the forum. Heck, not that I have had any issues, but the overall storage and speed of the website would probably increase drastically if we dumped all the 2 and 3 year old screen names that have only 2 or 3 posts that start with "How much is this worth?" :-)
 
Stuzy

Stuzy

Member (SA)
Well said

I started collecting 1982, let loads go to genuine people who will use it - enjoy

People have helped me with stuff i like - likewise

It's not about profit - its about enjoying these beautiful things

Happy new year all

Love from London :clap:
 
Hajidub

Hajidub

Member (SA)
The internet and flippers, the reason I haven't found a decent vintage receiver in any local thrifts in over 3 years. Last one was a Marantz 2230b that my wife currently uses for Pandora ($24). Slim pickens ever since, glad cassettes haven't made a monster comeback, still find those all day for 0.49 cents.
 
trippy1313

trippy1313

Member (SA)
Last week I found a Trc-931 WITH Original box and packing, locally, for $50. It was only posted for 2 hours, but some one beat me to it. Dang, oh well, hopefully a collector, even more hopefully someone here.

Two days later I see it again posted from someone else saying to "give me your best offer."

Me being the the person I am, offered him $50. He ignored my offer but later replied saying he sold it for $500. I replied, "Not bad for paying $50 teo days ago." He just laughed. Jerk.
 
Reli

Reli

Boomus Fidelis
Eh don't worry, the recession in 2019 or 2020 will bring prices down significantly. In 2009 you could get all sorts of toys for cheap prices.
 
Coast Steve

Coast Steve

Member (SA)
I remember that flash in time when the Canadian dollar was actually above the USD. Them were the days for Canadian buyers.
Only lasted a couple months though if I remember right.
 
J

jimmyjimmy19702010

Member (SA)
Deals are still out there but they’re far more scarce than before. I spent 3 years trying to find a cheap Sharp GF-9292 and finally found a local one a few months for $100. I remember my first local 9292 only costing me $27!!

I’m done with actively trying to find grail boxes as the sellers know there real market ‘value’ in most cases - ‘values’ I simply can’t justify when I’m raising a family and paying off a mortgage.
 
Coast Steve

Coast Steve

Member (SA)
Right you are Jimmy. For me the internet has been both awesome for info and brutal for finding deals. Everyone and their dog researches things to get top dollar. Can't blame them I guess. I would do the same. but like you say a real "deal" is super rare these days. And not just on boom boxes, but pretty much anything retro, quality or vintage collectable. Don't think those TV shows about pickers helped much either.
 
MyOhMy

MyOhMy

Member (SA)
Reli said:
Eh don't worry, the recession in 2019 or 2020 will bring prices down significantly. In 2009 you could get all sorts of toys for cheap prices.
Click to expand...
Indeed, there'ii be bargains to be had at prices not seen for many years 'cos you can't feed your family a BB. :yes:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom