Yup, I rarely go to auctions anymore...STUPID prices! (unless I try to sell something there...then everybody's hands are stuck in their pockets apparently) I usually leave asking myself why I wasted XX hours of my valuable free time going to that! The local public access repo auto auction is the worst....you can look stuff over ahead of time, but can't drive (or sometimes even start it) but people still go there and bid 'til they get it...I say its the "oh my gosh, a red Mustang, just like I always wanted...ima bid 'til I get it...cause its an auction, so its gotta be a good deal"! Earlier this year I had my dealer buddy looking for a van for us...but seems used car prices are just stupid right now, even at dealer only auctions...I ended up getting a better deal on a private sale van that I found on FBMP.
Sales and auctions are fun. I always read the sale bills looking for saws. I also recently bought a Husqvarna 181 se from out of state, sight unseen on an online equipment auction, the listing said “not running at time of listing” had a bow bar on it. I took a chance and I ain’t afraid to work on stuff. Had my cousin pick it up and deliver. Gave it a good cleaning new seals and spark plug & air filter. Runs awesome. If I told you what I gave for it you’d probably be giving me a YOU SUCK award!
Tell me about it! I was trying to find a small pickup for my son (Dakota, canyon, Tacoma etc) just stupid prices or rusted with high miles. I ended up finding a good shaped 2004 Nissan Titan on FB for $7000. Way nicer, lower miles and less expensive than any mid sized truck I could find! It’s a lot of truck for a kid...
Back in September went on a little vacation to the black hills in South Dakota. Driving through rapid city I spotted a honest to goodness “saw shop” ( never seen one before), sadly I never got a chance to stop in during his business hours. Was back up there last weekend for the wife’s birthday & made it a point to stop. Cool place, he sold new Husqvarna & echoes. Also had quite an interesting selection of used saws. There were no real bargains and don’t know if he would haggle off the marked price. But all of them had been gone through and came with a 30 day (I think) warranty. The ones that caught my interest seemed right in line with what I see them listed on a couple other forums that discuss saws and such. Plus a guarantee! I only looked at the huskies but he had a 51, 55, 288, a 262 maybe, and a couple others that escape me now. I was prepared to buy a chainsaw at a good pawnshop price and checked every PS in town that I know about. You can bet I’ll be better prepared next time. That may be the place to find some of the other classic huskies that I would like to own
The more I think about it, often the price on forums or eBay and other places is for PHO and then shipping on top of that. In This place they all had bars, many of them looked new & probably new chains or at least fresh sharpened good ones. Yeah there would be sales tax,but still .... I think I better go back
I think YouTube may have a lil bit to do with the current market. Channels like buckin Billy Ray, iron horse and tin man and numerous others make everyone believe the vintage stuff is worth more than it really is. I did however pick up a great running Efco 962 a few weeks ago for a 100 bucks.