I've spent more time the last week or so boxing up stuff I've sold on eBay than on-the-air operating — but I'm not complaining.
I'm trying to fund the purchase of my first new HF rig — and I have my eye on an ICOM IC-756PROIII. A year ago I started considering selling some of my surplus “stuff” to fund the purchase of a then-new IC-756PROII. Of course, Icom had other ideas about their HF model line-up!
I've had a couple of setbacks too. For example, we ran short on money for vacation, so I pulled several hundred bucks out of my radio fund saving account for that. Spent it, too.
I've had a couple of really nice sales too — though I really didn't want to sell them.
The first was a Grundig Satellit 800 shortwave receiver. I didn't want to sell the thing as it was the absolute best radio I've ever used. But the truth is I haven't used it any in more than 2 years. It was collecting dust on top of my bookcase.
I listed the radio on eBay recently, and I put a Buy It Now price of $325 on it. That price was top dollar, and in fact, I bumped it up $25 to make it a litle bit richer. The listing didn't last more than 24 hours. I had shipping and handling underpriced on it, but that's OK. I took the trouble to double box it and insure it.
I also sold a Heathkit SB-101 transceiver, a Kenwood TS-44OS, a National NCX-5 and other goodies. The aggravating thing is that I had enough cash for the new “old” price of the IC-756PROII, but once the PROIII came out, I was a grand short! ARGHHH!
I'm closing in on it though. I'm about $600 short now, and I can nearly taste it. I really, really want that rig! I wish I had a couple more Grundigs to sell.
There's a hamfest in Evansville this weekend, and I would almost run there this weekend, though I don't really need to go spend more money when I'm still saving for the Icom. I love hamfests, though.
This weekend is my 20th anniversary, wedding wise, so a hamfest stop is probably unlikely. No, make that highly unlikely. Let's put it this way — if I go to the hamfest, I probably won't have a 21st wedding anniversary.
Also on the eBay front, I'm awaiting delivery on a few goodies (I've had to cut down on my purchases, as our funds are depleted and my “eBay” money is gone for good (gulp!).
I have a 1938 ARRL Convention Wouff Hong coming this week. The Wouff Hong was a bargain, something I spotted on eBay and apparently no one else bid on. I sniped the thing, but there was not a big bidding pool of people chasing it.
This is different than in the past — I've seen two previous 1938 Wouff Hongs sell for hundreds of dollars! Apparently both people who wanted one that badly got theirs from an earlier auction. I got mine for a fraction of what the earlier prices were staying.
I also have a very early Speed-X T-bar bug coming. This one is the deluxe version, all chrome. I need to pay for it, as it was a pricey little key at that. I also have a Vibroplex Original Deluxe to pay for. This one is from the 1940s, if I recall.
My eBay shopping is coming to a halt, at least for the near term. I really just need to save my money for the Icom. I have to go to the attic by the weekend to pull out some more stuff for sale. I should be able to list some more “stuff” to list.
I actually want to add to the radio the purchase of a matching speaker. I think that would improve the sound quality over my rinky-dink external speakers. The speaker adds nearly $200! I hope it's worth it.
Well, I need to shower, so I'm off for now.
73 es GL …. de KY4Z … dit dit ….