Sewing Machine prices on ebay

[annieeg]

It will come as no surprise to learn that I research (and buy sometimes ) 2nd hand sewing machines.  I am NOT a dealer, but a private individual who just finds sewing machines fascinating.....
Anyway, I came across this on ebay:  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pfaff-Creative-2134-sewing-machine-wonderful-machine-used-excellent-condition/324271974028?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225113%26meid%3Dd49f5d5858164accadc80e4b86ddc7de%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D154050586907%26itm%3D324271974028%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DPFAFF&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A2d91fd1f-e6e6-11ea-84d0-e2c3a69cdb13%7Cparentrq%3A2632a3441740a0f2bc3f7a18ffffc322%7Ciid%3A1
What makes this interesting to me, is that I have this machine PLUS all the embroidery accessories, attachments full set of hoops, cd's with embroidery designs, etc etc etc.  I didn't pay anything like the asking price above.  Did I get a fantastic bargain - or this is seller living in Cloud-cuckoo land?
I can never fathom the logic of the asking prices. 
For my part, when I put anything up for sale (GumTree, Facebook, TSF) my asking price is based on what I paid, even if the market is pricing a particular machine higher.

[Gernella]

I was reading something this morning when I was trying to find out the cause of my Pfaff Expression turning off intermittently that a Pfaff engineer had told them that the circuit board would last 10 to 15 years. It really annoys me people selling older machines at vastly over inflated prices when there is a chance of this happening the day after you've bought it.

Probably they don't know the difference between mechanical and computer.

Looks a nice machine but is the price right?  Not for me, £200?  And I still wouldn't risk it unless I was desperate.

[annieeg]

@Gernella   A Pfaff similar to that I sold recently to @TartanPaint sold on eBay for nearly £400!!

[Gernella]

@Gernella   A Pfaff similar to that I sold recently to @TartanPaint sold on eBay for nearly £400!!

I was born in Yorkshire @annieeg @TartanPaint, which says it all where money is concerned. 

[sewmuchmore]

It is not just sewing machine but "vintage" fabric as well. I saw some Habitat Alice in Wonderland fabric recently that was produced in the early 80's going for £25 metre, are they having a laff, i still have a piece of this fabric that was bought in the 80's and i paid £7 a yard.
Don't you just hate it when someone tries to make a fast buck.

[HenriettaMaria]

My MiL died midsummer and we're gradually clearing her stuff, which includes a fair bit of her mother's stuff as well.  Items similar to some china, datable to the early 1930's and clearly a wedding present to MiL's parents, is/was on eBay and the like at 'buy it now' inflated prices.  The valuer who came to the house to give a value on contents for probate observed that people who put things on eBay at silly prices are kidding themselves and that the inflated prices are unlikely to sell.  I think people research prices by looking at dealers' sites and then pricing their stuff to match, forgetting that dealers are making a living and have overheads, VAT, etc, to cover.  The base prices of their stuff are likely to be much lower.

[Marniesews]

Ebay prices for sewing machines have been barmy since the start of lockdown and the spike in demand. I've bought various old Berninas (late 80s - 90s models) and they are on there for 3 to 4 times what I paid for them and at least double of the prices they were bringing a year ago. Of course Berninas often command barmy prices anyway. I don't notice many of them selling at these covid prices but I've not been following them either.

A little while ago someone on one of the Bernina vintage sites was asking if £750 was about the right price for a 1005 which is a very basic model in that range and I doubt have exceeded £200 a year ago. So many 'I've got one of those and yes that's what I'd ask for it' comments that I couldn't help pointing out politely (I tried hard - lots of editing before posting) some objective reasons why buyers might make a very different assessment of value based on the features of that model and that current prices being asked may be way off what current customers are willing to pay if they have an idea of what was being asked last year and what will probably be asked next year. No idea why I bothered but I did. Much to my surprise there wasn't a single come back which rather suggested to me that the sellers are well aware that they're really pushing their luck right now but can't resist having a go.

[Gernella]

I've just some Janome coverpro 2000CPX on Ebay for between £650 and £750, when you can buy new from SMD for £529. Nuts or what?