Realistic price for a TEK 2235

[GreyWoolfe]

I am trying to help a retired ham radio operator sell off some gear he is not using that he wants to post on our club website.  His big item is the TEK 2235.  The scope is in immaculate cosmetic condition and it works very well also.  I checked it with a function generator that he was also selling.  He has 2 TEK probes, 2 backpack pouches, a baggie of assorted adapters, the owners manual-original, a photo copy of the service manual and 2 copies of TEK's ABCs of Oscilloscopes.  He wants $295 USD for it as he was cruising ePay and just went with what the average higher end pricing was.  He originally wanted to ask $300 but I convinced him to list at $295 because it sounds cheaper.  What is the general consensus as to what the selling price should be?  I think the price is high.  The other thing is that he told me if he doesn't get his price, he will sit on it and let it gather dust.  Then he will die and his wife will sell to one on of the vultures that circle houses when hams die and buy up everything of value for pennies on the dollar.  That is what I was thinking, not what I said to him.  I appreciate any input.

Tom

[ElectroIrradiator]

Prices on classic analog Tektronix scopes tend to be higher on this side of the Atlantic, compared to the US. Even then I'd have to say that $295 is a very, very high price for a 2235, even in immaculate condition. The trouble is that while it is a Tektronix, it is unfortunately not one of the models, which packs any particularly interesting features. It is 'just' a dual channel 100MHz analog scope with dual timebase and delayed sweep. A beginner could save for just a bit longer, and get a brand new Rigol DSO for similar money. On the other hand an experienced engineer would probably be looking for more advanced features, if he had a need for an analog scope. Nor is it rare enough to be collectible IMO.

If it is any consolation, then I recently ran into a similar situation, where the owner of a Tek scope wanted a fairly insane price for his treasured instrument. I didn't have the heart to try and ram it home, that for his asking price one could get a perfectly fine 4 channel Rigol DSO, brand new with warranty and all. "But but ... Tektronix!"

I'm guessing the price in the US would be more like $100 or maybe even a bit more, if you can find someone appreciating the immaculate condition.

[grumpydoc]

$295 is not impossible for a good condition 2235 with probes and manuals, one went for $285 a few days ago. Something around $200 would be closer to the average sale price though.

As others have said at nearly $300 you don't have to pay much more for a modern DSO.

[echen1024]

And for that price, I can get a good, working, 350MHz 2465.

[rsjsouza]

And for that price, I can get a good, working, 350MHz 2465.

Yes. Just show him this listing as an example of what could be obtained with an almost similar amount of money. 
Regarding the price, I did a quick search in current US listings and found out the price is not that off: most of the 2235's are being listed at more than $200. However, show him the sold listings that show which ones were really sold and at what price. The story changes radically. 

[grumpydoc]

However, show him the sold listings that show which ones were really sold and at what price. The story changes radically. 

That's more likely to convince him to stick for $295

88 'scopes sold if I counted correctly, 10 for $295 and 25 went for $200 or more so that's a pretty good chance of getting his price if the 'scope is in good condition and he puts together an attractive listing. The average price, BTW of the scopes which didn't have parts or not working in the description (75 'scopes) was $159.

[ElectroIrradiator]

If he can get that much for it, them more power to him.

However this makes me wonder about who buys all those 2235s at those prices? If I was in the US with $300 on my hand for a classic Tek, then I would save for a bit longer and go for a working 2465 variant, or maybe a 2445. However a beginner would perhaps find these models hard/impossible to fault find and fix, so any price paid by a beginner should be with the understanding that the money is a gamble of sorts.

Perhaps our prices on this side of the pond are not so silly after all...

[rsjsouza]

That's more likely to convince him to stick for $295

I confess I did not perform as accurate statistics as you, but instead glanced at the first pages and found some "used" (not for parts) between $80 and $150, with one saying "Tested! Calibrated!" for $275... But oh well... If he is able to get as much as possible then by all means...

[mamalala]

My guess is that the "old equipment" market is similar to the "old car" market. There is a point at which these things are just old and outdated, and you won't get much for them, because comparable new units are wither cheaper or have better performance at the same price tag. Later on, they become a "real" enthusiast item, at which point one can get much more money for them, if they are in a good condition. But of course it's some kind of gamble. Sell now and get some bucks, or wait and risk to get nothing at all, depending on how wanted they become.

Greetings,

Chris

[grumpydoc]

I confess I did not perform as accurate statistics as you, but instead glanced at the first pages and found some "used" (not for parts) between $80 and $150, with one saying "Tested! Calibrated!" for $275.

There are two different questions, depending on which side of the fence you sit - either "can I get $295 for my used 2235" or "can I get a used 2235 for less than $100".

It so happens that the answer to both of these is "yes" - perhaps surprisingly but that's ebay for you.

[ElectroIrradiator]

My guess is that the "old equipment" market is similar to the "old car" market. (...)

Well, in some way I am hoping you are right. However I have been checking prices for old, reasonably quality CRT equipped scopes, and I'm not convinved they have simply become fashionable.

Apart from a few, well known top models, like the Tek 2465 family, then the prices are somewhat similar across *all* analog scopes, which doesn't really make sense. If people bought them for nostalgia's sake, or as a fashion item, then I would expect particular models to stand out ('67 Corvette') on the pricing scale. Similarly, if the market consists of experienced hands looking for a good analog scope, then I would again expect some models to stand out. In this case the buyers would have preferences, like the Tek 2465s, based on technical merit.

But apparently the prices are all a wash, once we look at models below the very top. It doesn't seem to make much difference whether it is a 465, 2225, 2235, 2245 or a 2445, they all cost more or less the same. One possible reason for this could be, that the buyers doesn't really know what they are doing. Meaning they are often beginners when it comes to electronics.

Maybe people have seen Dave's video about the $50 eBay analog scope. In that case some may have gotten the impression, that if a little bit of analog scope is good, then a lot of analog scope must surely be better? I hope this isn't the case, because that could be a nasty trap for new players. The experienced hands on this forum can diagnose and fix trivial problems with passive components, if for instance their $400 Tek 2465 develops a minor problem.

Yet to a beginner it may not be such a good deal to pay $300 for an old scope, as even a trivial problem may be insurmountable. If you buy an old 2225 for $50 and it breaks soon after, beyond your ability to repair, then you haven't lost too much money. But giving $300 for a more or less random old scope, and hoping you will be able to save some money, compared to buying a brand new DSO, may be false economy.

[echen1024]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but somehow, I just find it funny how some people write "Calibrated!" on their listing, but then in the description, write "Does not power on"

[GreyWoolfe]

I want to thank everyone for their opinion.  I am going to print these out and give them to him when I go pick up the couple of things I bought from him (1000VA isolation transformer, brand new-$40, nice breadboard, looks new-$25 and a wavetek analog FG that the smoke came out but still works for $5-could be a fun project).  It is then up to him to decide what he wants to do.  He is an older gentleman and, I am guessing, rather set in his ways.  I think any advice from me will be like trying to teach a pig to sing, it frustrates you and annoys the pig.

Tom