Fri Jun 16, 2017 2:34 pm
I used the word "sentimental" earlier. Maybe a better term is nostalgia.
Hobbydog selling refurbished units rigged at $200 per doz doesn't surprise me. It's the guy that thinks his "original paint and heads" are worth that. Here's the scoop after working through about 6 dozen of these:
1) The bolts are likely stuck in the head-thread: Yes, new heads on eBay are $10 each, but 25-30% of the heads in your old rig are going to break the head stem off, or worse, break out the entire bottom. All are likely going to require use of tools. See, they're plastic. That chit gets more and more brittle over time, particularly if exposed to temp changes, moist/dry cycles and sun light.
2) Era and model matter: Cabela's era 63's have a lower density foam, dent more easily, and tend to be more like a styrofoam cooler grade. I don't care there were only "200 dozen sold".... there was a reason for that and it had nothing to do with supply limitations, it was demand limitations: no one wanting them then does not increase the price now.
3) "In good shape"- yes, a 72 will take a load of shot and keep floating, and get stepped on and not crush, etc. and the paint will stay on (except no those Cabela's era 63's, that paint flakes off). Here's the deal: First I'm going to caulk or fill holes with mastic, then I'm going to have skim coat the whole decoy. From there I will apply a structural layer and sealer. Then paint.
I can get brand new Homer unpainted foam bodies and heads for around $13.00 ea. I can get new painted Autumn Wings heads for $8, new AW bur lapped blanks for $20 ea or new AW bur lapped finished blocks for $29 each.
Yes, Herter's balsa will collect premium. Armored or Burlapped will have some value, but not as collector. Used 72s are subject to free market competition. Refurbished 72s will price better if workmanship is applied. Me, I buy old rigs and convert them to my personal rig, so value is determined on what it means to me, my cash, my time and my rig.
One last thing: don't think that the nostalgia investment/collection will have any value to your kids. Dear God, if I have to witness one more baby boomer die that is pissed his kids don't want his Terry Redlin print......
I'll never forget I had received a '72 Yamaha snowmobile for free, with a rotax engine. A bit later I gave it to another person that had time/interest in it with the caveat that I had first right to refusal if he decided to sell it. He found out that a '72 Yamaha rotax had sold at auction for $20,000.00 and he felt our original deal wasn't "legit". I said, whatever, no one is buying THAT '72 Yamaha for more than $500. He was pretty certain he was going to afford a new truck. So, I researched it for him.
The sled that sold for $20k was one of two original racing prototypes that had set some sort of course records and were then sent to display for 40 years. Essentially, it would be like calling your Ford Fusion a race car because someone raced a Fusion at Daytona. Dude tried to get coin for awhile on it, finally had it on a classic sled swap for $1k and got a call: "why isn't yours $500 like the rest of them?"
My whole point in this thread is: don't be mad at the market if it isn't buying at the price you're selling..... and hold a proper skeptical regard when using eBay as your transaction pricing resource.