To tart up or not to tart up

[Steve Maskery]

Hi all,
I've found a load more of my dad's tools at Mum's yesterday. Some of them are, or at least were, very good. Keeping them in a concrete garage has not done them any favours and some are starting to go rusty, the worst are already there. I do think they are salvageable though.

Does anyone have any experience of selling old tools? Would it be better to sell them as they are, warts and all, or spend some time cleaning them up in the hope of getting a bit more for them - or in fact being able to sell them at all?

I already have other identical tools of my dad's. I don't need, nor have space to hoard, more. There is a rebate plane, a S&J tenon saw, DT saw, OWT - stuff like that. I don't think any of it is rare, unfortunately, so I don't want to spend ages or any money - I won't get it back. But they are certainly too good to ditch.

If I do try to sell them, would I do better in a specialist place like here or the mag, or go global on eBay? One at a time or as a job lot?

All suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Jarviser]

I would say first choice is eBay. Sell singly because of postage. You should weigh them carefully including any packaging you are likely to use before putting them on eBay. Get a Pricing Made Easy leaflet from the post offfice and work out the postage for UK (usually Parcels), Air Mail to Europe, and Air Mail to USA and put up all three mail services on the listing, because that's the first question people ask. (I am sure they do it to teach you a lesson, not because they are interested. ) Give dimensions as someone always asks. Things sell better if you offer PayPal in my experience. I wouldn't bother doing much tarting up, as your time is probably worth much more that the difference in return, if any .
I think it is worth the moderators reviewing the rule that says members cannot promote their eBay listings in the forum because I see no difference between that, and putting items up for sale on the forum directly - anyone have any views?

 

[Alf]

Generally things will sell better if they're clean - pointing out potential doesn't cut any ice even with the specialist market on here, or so I've learnt! But to be honest it's impossible to say without seeing them what'd be best. I'd stick 'em on here first, 'cos a) it ain't gonna cost you anything and b) at the very least we can then better judge where you should go from here if you get no takers. As far as one at a time vs. a job lot; things like the saws one at a time. The OWT, for instance, is going to be hard to shift, so maybe that in with the rebate plane or something. Feel free to PM or email me for a private consultations - my rates are reasonable... :wink:

If finding them new homes is more important than money, you might consider finding a deserving candidate who's just starting out who could cover the cost of postage.

Oh yeah, most of the postage info is available from the Royal mail's website, fwiw.

Cheers, Alf

 

[mr]

OWT ?

 

[Steve Maskery]

Old Woman's Tooth. It's a chisel-like blade held in a big block, used for cleaning out the bottoms of grooves. Actually I might keep that one, it could be quite useful.

I'm away for a day or two, but I'll take some pics. Don't get excited though.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Alf]

Here's a variety of OWT.

Cheers, Alf

 

[mr]

Grannys Tooth? same thing? I presume so. Ebay would seem favourite, it's shocking what people will pay on there. Though I imagine you would have to weigh up the time involved in managing the sales and dealing with the postage etc against expected profits.

 

[Jarviser]

I sorted out some plane bits from my old tin box of junk (hope it's still online) and got a surprising amount of dosh from a guy in the States. I think if you describe it well enough, especially in the title, it will sell.