Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion What you do when you have insomnia

Seriously, I do have insomnia, and it's 4 am so I decided to look at some of the forums here on OG that I never check out.
Usually when I come on, I just go to the General Discussion, Petro for sale, and Petro wanted, then click off.
Tonight I went to the value section for the first time. I thought I got a lot of requests for values, but when I saw how many requests there were I couldn't believe how many.
Is this what we have become, a place for pickers to come for values so they can use our years of knowledge so they can make a buck?
There was even one where not only did he ask for a value but he wanted to know what the pump was. It was a Wayne 80.
Somewhere on that pump the name "Wayne" must have appeared, so that is a start. The pump looked like it was in good condition and I would assume the ID tag was still on it.
But instead of doing some research, it is easier to use us.

If some of you remember from about a week ago I posted that I got a email from someone that wanted to sell an ECO Islander in Oregon, and I wanted to pass on that tip. Well I get about two of these requests (for values, etc.) per day, so I decided rather than giving them a estimate of value on something they have, I am going to post here that I have a tip on something for sale. The first person who emails me (from that state) will get the name and email address.

My first thought, I could ask for a commission, but that is too complicated, so my request will be that if you purchase the item, you send Jim, here on OG, a commission that you think is fair, since this site is where you got the lead.

(Bu the time I got finished typing this it is almost 5 in the morning)

Jack Sim

Jack, just a quick calculation, but I think that works out to about 4.67 words per minute. We need to work on our typing skills just a bit. Oh hell, it's only 4 am!! What do I expect? Wisdom and speed?

Just curious where would a picker or novice find there value information. When you look on ebay you see alot for sale but not many sold. When you do a google search for gas related items Old Gas comes up as a listing. What is wrong with making a buck you make your money when you buy not when you sell? For some its the hunt not the prize. At least with someone asking whats it worth it puts the item out there for someone to purchase. Maybe put a 5 buck fee on the value section that goes to Old Gas then everyone benefits from the knowledge. Thanks.

Let's hop in our time machine and go back a mere 20 years, before there was Google, eBay and old gas.com. What did antique dealers and pickers do without those conveniences?

Well, research. They bought a book on their subject. Learned a little bit about what's rare and what's common. They did some leg work at swap meets to see what things are for sale at or looked through Hemmings or Antique Trader.

I know the numbers are getting fewer, but a large percentage of members here had to start just this way, and it's still the best way to learn. With all the information available on the web now, to dumb it down even more by just asking a single question on the value forum is just lazy.

BTW, the majority of my enjoyment from collecting is the research and history education.

...'fraid so...that's why I rarely answer posts in the value forum...

...too many speculators in the hobby, looking to make a 'fast buck'...if they have to do actual research, that 'buck' isn't as 'fast'...

How many have actually seen the Porn [pawn] Stars sell an item in their store for "Appraised Value" [from their Experts]?
IF you want top dollar, why would you take an item to a pawn shop or sell at a Garage Sale?

They don't call them "Movie/TV Stars/Actors" for no reason!

1- Well said bppierce!

2- I leanrned my lesson the hard way with the “Value” forum. Remember I asked for “value” for 5-Quart Gilmore can a while back (for a friend)? My friend put it on eBay & it brought > $2000.
IMO, Value is determined by greater “audience”, right?

3- Are you telling me some folks here are not getting “leads” from the guys that ask for “value”?

4- Finally, I no longer bother with the forum … so, I do not complain!

Happy hunting everyone!

Hen

I like most others very rarely reply in the value forum, but I do see why we have it on the site. Jarvis and I have talked about this before and both have the same idea for it. Before you should be able to even post in the value section you should have to be a member for a certain amount of time and have at least 25 post. I know this wouldn't fix all the problems and we might miss some items sometimes, but this would maybe make the quick buck people go away. That being said I am sure Jim has put a lot of time in effort into it and if I don't like the value section I don't have to look.

I would much rather have someone who wants to sell an item ask for a value on here instead of putting $15,000 on a condition 3 6' Sinclair HC sign or $3500 for a rough Tokheim 39. Who hasn't heard the "I see these sell on the internet all the time for _ _ _ and be ten times overpriced? Who also hasn't seen the same condition items sell for huge differences on Ebay? It took me three months to pay a fair price on a somewhat rare pump listed on Ebay about six times with a Buy It Now price that was double what it was worth. I find that more frustrating than someone asking on here, be a picker or not. Brady