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Are these estate sale prices out of whack or am I?

DublinTrader

DublinTrader

Well-Known Member
I went to an estate sale just over the border in VT and saw the following:

Sansui AU-6600 integrated amp asking price $280 ($296.80 with tax)
Thorens TD-145 mk II $275 ($291.50) dustcover snapped off at hinges
Pioneer PL-518 $200 ($212.00 with tax)
Bose 901 series II $220 ($233.20 with tax) w/equalizer -Sold while I was there

I asked the operator whether they had been tested and she said no but the owner said they did. It asked whether the prices were firm and she said they were but I could get 20% off if they were still around tomorrow. These prices are least twice what I'd expect to pay at an estate sale so I won't be returning. I might have considered keeping the Thorens but the rest I would have traded or sold. The Pioneer TT in particular seemed very high. I looked at non-audio stuff and from what I could tell, it was all priced at full eBay pricing or higher. We did buy a Le Creuset cast iron enameled pot with lid for $52 ($55.12 with tax) which was discounted from $65 because it was left over from a previous sale which matches the set we own. This would be an $80 on eBay plus shipping.
 
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Definitely the seller/auctioneer/liquidator is working aggressively from a price point. I guess if I was the owner that is perhaps what I would be looking for? Certainly not what I am looking for as a buyer though...

It is clear the seller know what is hot and what is not either way.
 
I find it rare to walk into an estate sale and find a smoking deal. Last day yes, but the first day or so no. Those prices are not crazy IMHO. Just not scroes.
 
The company running the sale is probably getting the first 30% to 40%, so everything is going to be priced at a premium. Looks like they did their homework. It's the estate sales run by family members where the bargains are. A professional estate liquidator won't be in business long if they give stuff away. They generally start high and mark it down throughout the sale to keep the heirs happy. By the latter part of the last day the heirs finally give in and have them slash the prices when they realize they have to donate or take home what's left. (been on both sides of the estate sale process)

I gave up going to estate sale because the good stuff is overpriced on the first day and gone on the last day.

An estate "auction", OTOH, is a great place to pickup bargains.
 
The Pioneer TT price is way too high. The Bose price is an eBay price and high for an estate sale but is OK. Don't know about the others, but if you can't test them and they are sold "as is", which I'm sure they are, then they should be half what they are listed as.
IMHO.
 
DublinTrader said:
These prices are least twice what I'd expect to pay at an estate sale so I won't be returning. I might have considered keeping the Thorens but the rest I would have traded or sold.
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And therein lies your problem. Estate sales aren't there for you to buy things cheap and turn them for a profit. A successful estate seller is successful if they get top dollar from end users for the merchandise. That's why people hire them.
 
Isn't the purpose of an estate sale to sell the contents of the house quickly to allow the property to be sold? By pricing items at full value it is unlikely that it will meet that goal. I have yet to see a PL-518 come close to $200, even on eBay. I disagree with the idea that there aren't deals to be had at professionally run estate sales. I am sure there were some there today just not on the items I was looking at.
 
Just because the property is for sale doesn't mean the owners are in dire straits, need to sell it immediately, and plan on giving the stuff away.

Doesn't matter. It is what it is.
 
I ran into this today as well. Found some mid range pioneer gear from the 70's they wanted way to much for it. I have better luck at garage sales and thrift stores. To be fair though if i passed away and my wife sold my speakers for less then $200 i would come back as a ghost and haunt her for the rest of her life.
 
If the gear sells for the asking price, they were priced correctly.

If it does not sell, they were priced above market value.

I go to and buy very little at estate sales anymore. I have enough and the prices are beyond my desire to own.

The market will adjust in whatever direction is necessary.
 
I think that the adjustment is usually on the second or third day of the sale.
 
Around here most sales are 3 days, 25% drop on second day, 50% on the third. They also do something a bit unusual in my experience, in that they shut down around noon of the third day and auction the remainder.

Some sales with a lot of high-end merchandise or lots of stuff they'll run four or even five days.
 
I wouldn't necessarily believe what the operator said in regard to markdowns. There's very little incentive to say there will be major discounts on the final day. As they say money talks, bs walks.

Of the items listed the Bose (which sold) was the most fairly priced IMO.
 
DublinTrader said:
Isn't the purpose of an estate sale to sell the contents of the house quickly to allow the property to be sold? By pricing items at full value it is unlikely that it will meet that goal. I have yet to see a PL-518 come close to $200, even on eBay. I disagree with the idea that there aren't deals to be had at professionally run estate sales. I am sure there were some there today just not on the items I was looking at.
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