What are certain antique, collectable of vintage tools worth? I get asked this question many times and I always give the same answer. “It’s worth exactly what you can get for it!”
What’s water worth on a hot summers day and there is limited resources? It’s highly likely demand is going to be higher than to those standing in their kitchen where water is on tap. Ice-cream likewise will sell better on a hot day where as someone selling wellies and umbrellas can’t give them away.
There are a series of reasons prices can fluctuate even with with the same establishment that sold it before but the most common reason will be supply and demand. Knowledge, a good reputation or lack of it can also have an impact on whether a seller can sell at it’s true value rather than selling at below market value.
Choosing your location to sell and timing when to put it on the market are other factors to consider.
Carboot Fairs:
Selling at a car boot sale can be a cheap option but carboot sales do have an effect on a buyers mind set. Buyer’s will usually be in full bargain hunters mode and this will have an effect on what that person carries in their purse or wallet. It’s highly likely on a Carboot fair, facilities such card payments will be absent and many buyers are looking for sellers who make lack the specialist knowledge.
Collectors Fairs:
This is usually a step up in quality but again what buyers are often dealing with is ‘a little knowledge is dangerous’ type of dealer who asks for top prices. The best general antique dealers know their limitations and will be sensible, knowing that they are just a step in the chain and price accordingly.
eBay the Truth
It’s the wild west of buying and selling online, copy and be copied is the driving force behind its limited knowledge base. I have always disliked this marketplace for many of it’s lies and deceit with opt out descriptions, simply saying condition is ‘used’ isn’t a description on condition. Often high prices achieved are simply fake and those that are aren’t always hassle free. Their auctions are erratic at best and most eBay sellers using the platform will now use the fixed price option, this only emphasises the lack of confidence buyers hold in eBay auctions. Buyers who take a chance on this marketplace will always get their rewards along with their misfortunes and there lies the problem.
Antique Used Tool Dealers
It’s true that tool dealers have a better understanding of values that the tools have, they have to be plugged into the market. They buy and sell regularly and have to know their stuff if they are to survive as a business and make a living from it. Not all used tool dealers are professionals, sometimes its done as a bit of a side line for collectors to fund their passion, some dealers dabble in the subject. It’s important to understand the difference though and bear in mind that the professional full time tool dealers are usually 100% immersed into the subject. The very best tool dealers deal regularly, they are usually successful in what they do, they understand the market to such an extent that they will be confident in their valuations. The serious tool collector will know who’s who and know they will learn from watching and interacting when possible with those they see as being successful.
It’s really important to understand that leaders in any industry will thrive, these are the people to associate with and to watch.
The market has changed over the past few years and online is where is going to be the place where the market continues with its upward trend. This is why I’ve reiterated many times that there has never been a better time to get into the subject.
This Tool Auction
I’m not afraid to say I’m a full time dealer of fine old tools, I do not see it as a hinderance in running an antique tool auction, in fact I see it as a huge advantage for buyers. I handle more tools than most, know how they should function and know considerably more when identifying whether something is 100% genuine or not and will highlight anything suspicious in my descriptions. Being an auctioneer of fine tools isn’t solely down to identifying the tools but also knowing the importance of attention to detail and a good understanding of customers needs.
We want our members to feel they are part of something, where they can trust not only our judgement but theirs too with far greater detail and professional images. Customer confidence in paramount when running auctions, we have developed this website so buyers don’t have to take a punt on something they have seen with dodgy images but instead are fully informed prior to bidding.
We want things to be right for members, we want to create the best online environment for tool collectors and won’t stop until its fully refined into something special.
Join us today!
Regards Steve
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