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Just letting everyone know... I found something I want to buy & decided on selling my Stoner theatre with gum/mint reel. There has been a few guys tell me there are maybe 2-3 known around that have the gum/mint reel. I am puting it on Ebay. Thanks for all your info & help.

I didn't see it.  Can you post a link to your auction?

Thanks

I also looked for it, and did not see it.

Brian

That's pretty cool. I've never seen a theater w/ gum reel.

I sold one to a person here, maybe to cheap  :darn:

BG

Ok... I have scheduled the listing to start at 7:00 tonight central time (8-23) if I did it right.... it says 17:00 PDT time so... that is 7pm central.... anyways... it's up for auction tonight. Thanks for everyones infomation & interest.

I believe that would be 5PM.

What happened?  I was the high bidder well above the minimum opening and all of the sudden the auction got pulled.

Tim :veryangry: :veryangry:

Sorry..... I had to end it & add a reserve... it wasn't letting me do it in revise. Sorry about that.  :biggrin:

Tim,

I also planned on going for this and placing a bid. Let's decide who is going, so we all back off or don't over bid each other.


Brian

Yea ! Who is interested - not very far from me...... 

Hmmmmm. :glare:

In case anyone is interested... here is the link to the Stoner Theatre on Ebay.  :drinking:

whoops... forgot to add the link...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200376546308

Go ahead guys, I am out! I do not want to start bidding against everyone here. Not sure of the reserve, but good luck to everyone!


Brian

 :drinking:

I'm not sure why some people would be offended if the seller would not tell them what the reserve is....  :blush:

I am not in the bidding so it doesn't make a difference to me but I don't understand why people wont tell what the reserve is. What is the point? I am not angry I am really wanting to know why it is.

I don't care what the reserve is, just do not want to bid against other guys here on the site that might want it more than I do. I don't feel like driving the bidding up, if it does not have to be. Everyone is tight right now, so just would like to see someone from this site get it.

Brian

I was thinking about bidding, but I am totally unfamilar with what the approximate value is of a machine of this type and condition.  Would have to have it shipped to Oregon, which might make it not worth it.  I see prices all over the map on these.  I like the good original vs. restored.  If anyone could give me a price range for the stoner junior, stoner 180 theater, and the one with the gum as this, I would appreciated it.  I know it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay, but a range of prices for my own information would be great.  Thanks, Bob

I must admit I don't understand why people don't reveal their reserve... At the end of the day if the reserve is not met the item doesn't sell... Ebay does the bidding for the potential buyer in stages. If you throw $2000 at it it will only go to $2000 if the previous bidder had bid $1990 or you manage to hit the reserve.

The costs incurred in putting a reserve on make it very expensive. Better to just start the bid at your absolute minimum..The arguemnt about drumming up interest doesn't really hold water with items like this... This is a specialist piece. The high bidder knows what it is and will bid the most he can afford...

Just my humble two old english pennies worth....

I'm also with Brian - Never bid against another member....

Dave

I agree that that the reserve prices are ridiculous.  I just relisted my Stoner Jr.  and found that if I put a reserve on, the listing price increased by twenty bucks.  That's too much money for a listing.  If it doesn't sell, your out twenty bucks.  However, Ebay has three or four listings free each month now, but I don't think the reserve is covered under that.  Anyway, I just listed my Stoner at a rock bottom price and I know it still wont sell.  A few years ago it would have been gone.  Maybe I'll get lucky.

The only thing good about having a reserve and starting out at a dollar is getting more people bidding on your item, which looks good, and you might start a bidding war, but as Dave said these machines are at a set price and your only going to bid what you can afford.

I don't know how rare that style of machine is.  If it is as rare as the listing says, maybe you should wait a year or two to list it when the economy is on an upswing.  Then again a rich man might come around and buy it.  You never know.

Friends don't bid against friends.  What I do when me and my buddy both want something I ask him how high he is willing to go.  If it's more than I would pay, I let him have it, even if he bids and the price never made it that high.  If we both bid on it, I would only jack the price up on him and he would end up paying more.

That's hard to do in a forum like this. 

I bid on the original auction that was pulled and am bidding on the current auction.

No offense to the lister of this item because my thoughts from here on out apply to E-Bay auctions in general.  I too have never understood listing an item with a reserve.  If there is a minimum price that the seller is not willing to go under, you might as well put it out there.  Sure, the bidding action will be less but at least they will be bidders who are willing to pay what you want.  As a buyer, I (like most buyers I suspect) always have my own buyer's reserve so if the seller's reserve is higher, I am obviously not going to hit it.  I guess if I knew the reserve then I would not even bother to bid on items where my reserve is lower than the seller's.

I have bid on several items and most of the ones with a reserve never seem to sell.  The only item with a reserve that I have seen sell was one that I was the high bidder on twice but the reserve was not met in either auction.  The seller contacted me after the second auction ended and made me a second chance offer for my highest bid.  In that respect, I guess the reserve auctions give the seller a few candidates who may be strongly interested in the item; but, I think setting the minimum bid at your reserve price makes more sense.  To each his own but that is just my two cents.

I also appreciate SMC members who do not bid against other SMC members.  As Brian said, most of our budgets are tight and it helps to not have the bid run up when it is not necessary.

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

You brought up an interesting point.  I asked on fellow what his reserve was on a Williams mini golf and he told me an astronomical figure.  I told him that he wouldn't get that reserve met and he agreed.  He said he keeps his reserves high so he can see how high someone is willing to pay for it, instead of what he thinks it's worth.  There are many angles out there.  

Again, not saying this seller has an angle.  Just bringing up something that I ran into on Ebay.

Hollywood80 - My guess on a Jr. in nice shape would be between $300.00 and $700.00.  A restored unit would be anywhere from $2,000.00 to $4,000.00.  I've seen them for more, for less, as you said, it's what you are willing to pay for it.

I sent you a P.M on my machine on Ebay right now.  It's in the lower restored range.  Everything was restored except that I didn't paint the inside vending unit.  It was disassembled and cleaned, piece by piece though.

I agree with many of the comments here about reserves, why not just disclose it,,, If it's in my price range, I'll bid, if not, I won't waste my time.. and as Someone else said, some peoople do list with a high reserve just so it doesn't sell Too cheap, but often will contact the high bidder and sell to them, even if reserve is not met.. and I've seen and probably done both.. so oh well.. to each their own I guess, but I don't see any harm in posting the reserve.. I did in all my auctions when I "USE" to sell on ebay.. havn't done so in a while..
As far as bidding against other SMC members,,, I agree with Larry,,, gotta have the buddy system.. Obviously the seller is trying to get the MOST for his Item that he possible can, that is why it's on Ebay.. right? ... so if multiple members want to bid, and you don't really want to step all over each other, maybe you should get together and figure out what each is willing to spend... I know that might be hard on a forum, but that is what would happen if I went to an auction with a few friends and we saw something we all wanted.. But then again guys, It's on a public auction, so it's really open for anyone to bid, so good luck to all, and good luck to the seller, hope he gets as much as he wants for it.

mills 400c   Whats a P.M?   Thanks.  I don't see anything in my email inbox.  I see a yellow one on ebay.  By it now 1900.  Is that the one you have listed?

P.M. = Personal Message

Can be found on top of the page under my messages.  It's just about my Stoner on Ebay.  Yes, that's the one.

found it

Bob,
your right about Values, it usually comes down to what someone is willing to pay, and of course where the machine is located will contribute to that price as well as rarity.
The one on ebay right now is a RARE machine, and will command higher prices.. as another just like it with the same features probably won't pop up for quite a while.
now on the other hand you can get into a Stoner Jr. from anywhere from 500-600 bucks or so... Stoner 180's Iv'e seen several aroudn the 300-400 range, due to the bigger size. now when you throw gum wheels and other features on them, that will affect price.
If you never have worked on a machine before, your best bet is to buy Larry's machine, His restorations are TOP NOTCH, he's very detailed, and the machines he just did, (I have seen them) are beautifull and for the price , most guys charge well over 2500 for that quality of a restoration.

Hi all.  As you can see I am pursuing this candy machine thing.  I appreciate all the comments and ideas. The restored machine looks great, but the color just wont work for me.  The lady of the house has to be considered. Any thoughts on this machine. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130326842194&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT    I have asked the seller several questions a couple of days ago, but have not been able to get a reply.  Anyway, just curious what you all think.  Bob

As long as the parts are there, that one should be fine.  You'd just have to clean it up on the insides to get it to work.  They are usually gummed up.

The grey or white paint was added on, I can't tell if the green is original hammertone or not.  The pictures too grainy.

I'm a bit of a vending machine junkie... But I love my Stoner best of all..
So do the kids....

Careful they bred rapidly.... My Stoner gave birth to a U Select a little while ago after it had a one night stand with
a vending machine I bought of Signguy... And then from out of nowhere a few weeeks ago a National popped out

They are one big happy family...

Gotta watch those little buggers... better put a condom machine in there to prohibit more multiplying Dave!!!  :biggrin: :oh:

Bob,
Sent you a PM as well...(personal message) located on the top of the page.

I was reading the post about the "reserve" idea & I think you are correct. I just put it on just to protect myself in case everyone was on vacation & didn't see it. I will take the reserve off & hope it sells for an ok/fair price & the buyer appreciates it.

The only thing I disagree with in the comments is... how since you belong to this forum & you think you are family & friend's .... you won't bid against another guy from the forum. I think that sounds really nice but if you had something on Ebay wouldn't you want people to bid on your item.... I have been on here for awhile too.... and it's a friggn candy machine not a kidney.

That was the mind set why I got out of the antique radio collectors crowd... they all thought they were the smartest people in the room & everyone else's stuff was crap but there's was priceless.

Just my 2 cents

You do have a point...as a seller, you want everyone to have a bidding war to get the most money for your item.  I think most folks are referring to when an item is on ebay and there are a few here that want it...we don't want to just bid the other guy up when only half wanting the item, only to find out it's one of your buddies who wanted it.  I've seen it where the other bidder wasn't wanting it that badly and would have let the other guy get it if he had known (for a lot less).  I don't think there is really a right answer here...just courtesy among the group.

Barry, what radios did/do you collect?  I have about 125 of them, mostly from the 1920s.  I've never been on any forums for them, have been kinda dormant in my collecting of them for the last few years.

I go more for the Zenith radios... 1936-1942. The large black dialed ones. I do like other brands that have the deco styled louvered grills & are bakelite/plastic. You should show me some pictures of what you tend to go for & I will keep an eye out for you. I change collector hobbies every once in awhile... from coin-op stuff to signs... old cars.. KISS rock group items... game used sports items... etc. I try not to have my house have that "horder collector look" but it's hard. I'm also getting married so.. you know how that goes.  :biggrin:

I tried taking the reserve off but it would only let me lower it close to what that last bid was.

Barry

I'm sorry if my comments caused you offense. I didn't say it with any intention to force you to remove your reserve. Brian is right, you want the best price for your item. This forum is a very small community of people that share an interest. There are plenty of people out there that also share the same interest and don't have any part of this forum and will probably be bidding on your stoner. As a member of this group I hope your item sells very well...

Being 5000 miles away I pay well over the odss for what I have and get the runt of the litter... There is no way my stuff is the best and I have never professed it to be. As for being the smartest in the room I am the first to ask for advice and plenty of assistance....

Anyway the best of luck with your item....

Dave

Barry,

I agree that it is the seller's right and I don't sell on E-Bay; but if I did, I would start my listing at what I was willing to settle for.  As far as watching our for other members and not bidding against them, I guess I follow the line of thinking in Greg's post.  There are machines that I know that I want to add to my collection and then there are others when I see them it is more of a "well, if I can get that for a decent price . . ."

We have all mentioned machines that we would like to have from time to time and I try to keep those things in mind.  If I know of another member who may be interested more than me, I PM them to see if they are bidding.  If they are serious about getting the item, I back away because there are plenty of collectors outside of this forum or those who lurk as guests who will drive up the bid without my half-hearted interest.  Otherwise, if I really want the item I am going for it.  That is all I meant by not bidding-up other SMC members.

Thanks for the update on the auction.

The radio bug has not bitten me but the antique phone one has and the juke box one keeps trying!  So many toys so little money!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Yes!.. Love old W.E. phones!.... Want a juke.... need another cooler.... it never ends...

Killer Stoner! Hope you get more than you want!

So where is everyone at on this ? Like I said - not very far from me and I'm interested, but I don't want to step on toes... I also have other items on the wishlist, so if someone has this at the top of their list, let me know..(send me a pm)

Bob,

I am out!  Current price exceeds the fun budget and the appropriations from the War Dept.!

Good luck!

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

Almost 2 grand in profit.  I think your auction went well.

2 grand profit , is a beautiful thing.  Did someone on the site buy it?

I was happy with the auction  :biggrin: The guy got it is the guy who makes..... I mean found that warehouse full of Vendo 81 Orange Crush pop machines. He says he's going to keep my Stoner in his house. That makes it nice.

Vendo only made Coca-Cola machines to the best of my knowledge...

Must be the Coke Cola Cowboy......

He sets up at the Hershey show a few rows down from me, I'll see if he brings it to the show for sale? Hershey show is Oct. 6th - 11th

Curtis, I am going to Carlisle Oct 1st  then Hershey the following week will you be going to either one this year?

yes that is the coca cola cowboy, He has a letter that is signed by an ex VMC employee, who states in this letter did they did produce orange crush machines, bireleys and all of the other fantasy machines he sells. But who can verify that the employee is being truthful. He stated to me," that even if a machine was embossed yesterday, as long as it is embossed its a real machine". I know who restores all of his coke machines and stoner candy machines, but does anyone know who does his fanatsy machines?

He's a one of a kind guy... Jack... colorful..

Yea... he is really a pretty nice guy. I wish I had his ambition.

Very persistant hounded me about some machines until I sold them to him. Very energetic nice guy though.

Jack will go to his grave believing that and will not tell anyone who does his fantasy machines,, I thought I knew at one point, but then that guy asked me if I knew? so either he was throwing me off, or just testing me? oh well... they are a pretty cool machine, but comon, just admit it that they are fantasy, sell them for a reasonable price and move on with your life.. I feel bad that some really nice Orange Crush sliders or QUikcolds where "Butchered" to make these fantasy machines...

John, Dan does his coke and stoner machines. but Jack will not spill the beans on the other machines. I agree admit they are fanatsy. He takes alot of people for big money telling them they are rare originals.  it would be very easy to establish credibilty, let someone see one that is unrestored. Then he would sell them for even more money. and there wouldn'y be any doubt. out of all the collectors no one has evere found just one???

He has “before” pictures...course...they're already in primer...Hhhmmmmm :glare:

Anyone going to the Carlisle and Hershey shows, Steve Ebner and myself will be setting up at the Hershey show with lots of good restored machines and will be at Carlisle on Wed and Thursday that week to buy. anyone at either of those shows, call me when your there and hookup, 301-991-3532 Curtis.