Hypothetically, if you needed to downsize your collection ...

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10-18-2013, 12:25 PM

#21

ArchaicArcane

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Join Date: Jul 2012

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Quote:

Originally Posted by J Miller

My wife has talked to several auction houses here in recent months and they've told us the only machines that sell are the newer plastic wannabees and computerized machines. They have trouble giving away the old(er) machines.

We haven't done a yard sale here. This is a pretty dead city for anything but give away items.
It's gotten so bad we can see adds for yard sales on CL for one weekend and then the next Monday the same people put in a Freecycle add for the next weekend. My wife has gone to a couple of the Free-For-Alls and been told they couldn't sell a thing at their yard sale, but they were cleaned out during the Free For All. Her theory is the resellers are hitting the FFAs and taking stuff back to their shops.

Joe

I really can't figure out why the plastic machines sell so much at the auction houses. You might be surprised by the results you can get in a well advertised yard sale. We are about 20 minutes north of Edmonton. I advertised the sale on Kijiji (the CL here) and had people tell me they'd come from the south end of Edmonton (an hour or more depending on which part of Edmonton) and from about 45 minutes north of us for machines. I said what we would be selling, and gave very clear directions (I've only had 2 people not be able to find our house in 2 years. ) and we had a really good turn out. I do find that a lot of people refuse to pay a single thing for anything lately. It's unfortunate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecilia S.

Okay, Tammi, so you can't advertise to sell here. But you can trade.

Now, do you have a Pink Atlas and an Green Grasshopper?

If so, mail 'em to me and I'll trade you. A boiled egg, a pack of hockey cards, three pairs of socks, and an Aero bar. Deal?

Oh,.. no go on the boiled egg. Allergic. But change that to a 6 pack of Kinder eggs and we have a deal - as long as the socks are new... and if I ever come across either of those machines

10-18-2013, 12:32 PM

#22

Redsquirrel

Junior Member

Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: Canada

Posts: 256

From my experience, you can't get rid of anything fast unless you sell if for CHEAP. Around here if you put a nice machine on Kijiji for $60 you'll probably sell it pretty quick. Of course it depends on the machine and cabinet or case, but for the most part around Calgary, you won't get anything for your machines.

10-18-2013, 02:03 PM

#23

miriam

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Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: Somewhere

Posts: 15,506

I'm not having any luck on CL either. Stuff priced pretty good and no luck. Amungst my 168 machines for sale, I do have a pink ATLAS and I have a Singer 411 but no grasshopper although there are other Elna machines and all kinds of other stuff not listed yet... I'm getting ready to go to Florida so parts in between I might deliver......... I think people are freaked out about the government shut down and the health care issues - at least around here they seem obsessed. It is still unresolved, too. Here is my latest CL ad - enjoy: http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/art/4131884795.html - I have had a couple reply emails.

10-18-2013, 02:17 PM

#24

manicmike

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Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 1,850

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cecilia S.

1) Open a cafe. No wifi. A sewing machine on every table.

Cecilia you made me laugh again!

That cafe idea is a good one. What a theme! Some fabric for sale, pick a treadle cabinet and we'll make the coffee.
Sounds like an idea worth stealing.

10-18-2013, 02:35 PM

#25

Sunflowerzz

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Join Date: Sep 2013

Location: Far Northern California

Posts: 1,020

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchaicArcane

Thanks sunflowerzz, those are two venues I hadn't considered at all. We went to an auction a few weeks ago, and a FW went for about $120. It was a bit rough, but still not a terrible deal. We didn't stay long enough to find out about the two treadles though.

You are very welcome. I LOVE AUCTIONS!!! I have to sit on my paddle though...

10-18-2013, 02:36 PM

#26

manicmike

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Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 1,850

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArchaicArcane

I had a garage sale this summer and made about $700. It was $600+ worth of sewing machines and the rest was other things. DH said we'd probably never have another garage sale, but I could advertise a sewing machine sale any time I wanted.

It wouldn't have been worth the time without the machines.

I had one a couple of months ago (in Winter, but ours is nothing like yours) and sold also sold sewing machines and it was probably 75% of what we sold.
People don't know they want one until you put it in the street, it seems

10-18-2013, 02:54 PM

#27

manicmike

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Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 1,850

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunflowerzz

I LOVE AUCTIONS!!! I have to sit on my paddle though...

My GF and I went to one last June, with her warning me all the way there not to make any impulse bids, especially sewing machines. A really dirty '30s Jones came up and some idiot bought it. Asked GF who'd buy that? She was still holding the paddle up!
She needs constant supervision, but you need a hundred folks like her at the auction, then everyone will walk away happy.

10-18-2013, 02:58 PM

#28

Annaquilts

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Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: SoCal

Posts: 11,921

I am following this thread. I am currently listing a Hinterberg quilting frame and a treadle red eye on craigslist. No takers yet.

10-18-2013, 05:42 PM

#29

manicmike

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Join Date: Mar 2013

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 1,850

Quote:

Originally Posted by Annaquilts

I am following this thread. I am currently listing a Hinterberg quilting frame and a treadle red eye on craigslist. No takers yet.

From Miriam's experience, you might do better if you put a few dozen spelling errors in and add a zero or two to the price

10-18-2013, 06:46 PM

#30

trivia42

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2013

Location: Kansas City, MO

Posts: 255

I think there is a yahoo group for selling machines, Sewitsforsale. You might try that for a more captive audience. I haven't used them or bought from it, I just know it exists. It is a closed group so you have to email for membership.