NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Observations On Buying A Used Sextant On Ebay
From: Joel Jacobs
Date: 2004 Mar 22, 06:31 -0500
From: Joel Jacobs
Date: 2004 Mar 22, 06:31 -0500
Hi,
I found the exchange about
the cost of a Cassens and Plath sextant interesting, so a few observations
about buying and selling on ebay from a regular seller and infrequent buyer
who regularly tracks the winning prices on selected sextants of key
manufacturers.
Yes and No to their being no
rationality to some of the bidding practices.
Some standout examples
over the last 5 months of "irrational exuberance": An English Carl
Zeiss sextant which was an exact duplicate of a standard
Freiberger brought nearly $800.00 whereas a Freiberger in good condition
normally brings around $400 - $450.00. And the recurring bids on USED ASTRA
III B's, irrespective of whether they are the deluxe or standard version.
The bidding on these frequently raises their price to a level that for a
very few dollars more you can buy a new one with a guarantee of satisfaction on
delivery, and an additional twelve month manufacturer's warranty. A NEW Astra
III B is always available on ebay right alongside the used. One very common
Tamaya Jupiter, MS 833 that had a full horizon mirror which went for
well over $1200.00 on the basis that the device was custom retro-fitted by
Baker- Lyman. IMO, the Jupiter is a Chevrolet compared to the Spica. The
Navy buffs who spend from $500 to $600 on a Navy MK II, which except for its
service in WW II, is an undistinguished design. Some of the 7/8th scale Freibergers that bring
$500.00 almost the cost of a new one.
On the low side: Just
recently, a little used Tamaya-Nautech MS 733 Spica with two scopes sold
recently for $580.00. My company sold it to the owner originally in
1977. The
Navy MK III that went for $260.00 a couple of weeks ago or the one that went for
$380. The Russian SNO-T and SNO-M sextants which are regularly sold by a U.S.
Source at prices well below what their features should
bring.
Even though it is the odd
balls that stick in my mind, and some lofty prices out weigh the bargains, the
great majority of ebay sextant buyers seem to know their intrinsic values. By
this I mean they pay what I think I would want to get for the same sextant
if I had it for sale, and earn a fair profit. (The difference is we will
take it back) They tend to be seriously interested in CELNAV and have done
enough research on pricing not to go over board for obviously way over priced or
run of the mill or shoddy stuff. On the other hand, there are enough new buyers
who can get caught up in the excitement of the bidding process to have their
competitive juices flow making them over bid. Another phenomenon is one or more
people who try to see how high they can bid with out actually being the wining
bidder. I find that very strange.
Some general comments:
Today there are only three different sextant manufacturers not counting the
Russians. Tamaya, Cassens & Plath, and Freiberger. Some say that Tamaya is
considering shutting down new sextant production. All these sextants cost a
bundle when purchased new so that $1000.00 or more for a good quality C.
Plath or Tamaya 733 is not unreasonable in my view. Furthermore, there are
a number of those in the business that honesty believe that the older
instruments were built to a higher level of quality than the relatively new ones
and represent a much better value. So when someone says he paid so much for
a "certain brand" used sextant when he could have bought a new one for little
more, the buyer may have made a valid choice. Finding good used sextants is
getting harder and harder and my sources see what is going on so there is
constant pressure to raise their prices. Don't be surprised to see sextant
prices going up starting in May.
Areas to watch out
for: Beware the sextant that is being sold by someone who says he doesn't
know anything about them, IMO that's a signal that he will not be held
responsible if you buy something that turns out to be less than you bargained
for. Beware the instruments whose pictures are poorly done and which may show
one mirror and not the other. If the description is skimpy so likely is the
condition. And don't think you're smart enough not to be taken or that ebay will give you any
help or their buyer protection is worth much unless you actually don't receive
something.
I hope this is of some
help.
Joel Jacobs, ebay ID,
mymaryb2
