ADVICE ON BUYING RADIOS FROM AUCTION WEB SITES

I receive emails and phone calls every day from people who are about to buy radios from one of the auction web sites. How much is the radio worth? Can you fix it if it doesn't work? Is it safe to use? Will I be able to sell it for a profit? These are all very good questions. There are some great bargains to be had on auction web sites but, do be careful. I once bought a Bush DAC90, complete and in beautiful condition, for £36. The bakelite cabinet was highly polished and the dial glass was immaculate. OK, now for the downside. Dial pointer missing, incorrect valves fitted, loudspeaker cone torn to shreds, most of the internal wiring cut or missing, mains dropper broken... The list goes on. Having said that, the radio was sold as complete but not working - which was fair enough.

You may well get yourself a bargain - and when it arrives you unpack it and then you... Plug it in? Wrong! The electrolytic capacitors may need reforming and if you plug the radio in they might explode. Without getting too technical, a radio that hasn't been switched on for a couple of decades will need to be checked over and, when it's finally plugged in, the mains voltage must be turned down to 50 Volts or so and increased very slowly. The chances are that things will be fine and the radio will work. But, are you willing to take that risk? What if the chassis is live and you touch exposed metal parts and you kill yourself? No matter how good the bargain, it's not worth dying for.

If you're thinking of bidding for a radio, contact me first. I will do my best to advise you, from my forty years experience in repairing vintage radios, and it will only cost you a phone call.

IF YOU'VE JUST BOUGHT A RADIO IN AN AUCTION

If you've just bought a radio from an auction web site, get the radio to me and I'll give it a check over, plug it in, starting with a low mains voltage, and make sure that it's safe. The chances are that, if you bought it as a working radio, there will be no problems. But it's better to be safe than sorry.

HOW MUCH WILL I CHARGE FOR CHECKING YOUR RADIO?

NOTHING AT ALL

Yes, that's right - I won't charge you anything for checking your radio and making sure that it's safe. I will also give you my recommendations, listing what the radio needs to make it safe or get it working properly, and it won't cost you a penny. Why am I doing this for free? Am I a saint? Well, not exactly! If the radio you have just bought at auction needs repairing or making safe, you might just ask me to do the work - and I might just make a few pounds. There's one thing you can be sure of... Having checked your radio, I won't rip you off by making out that it needs this and that doing to it if it's working fine and there are no problems. I value my customers and I want them to recommend me to their friends and family.

Email or phone me and we'll talk about your recent purchase. Or, if you live locally, drop the radio round to me and I'll check it over - for free. I'm in the workshop all day every day but ring me before you call just in case I've popped out to the corner shop for some milk. I look forward to hearing from you - and helping you. Do remember that, if you post your radio to me, you will have to pay for the return post and packing.

POSTING YOUR RADIO TO ME

You can post your radio to me, but do be sure to pack it properly and it's best to insure it. Remember that, if you post the radio to me, you will have to pay for the return post and packing.

A GREAT IDEA TO SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

An increasing number of people are asking sellers on auction web sites to send the radio they've won direct to me. This works well, saving you time and money and giving you peace of mind. You win the radio, the seller sends it direct to me, I check it over, and I then send it to you. However, you will have to pay me the cost of posting the radio to you once I've checked it over. but it's worth it to know that your radio is safe.

A NOTE TO AUCTION SELLERS

If you're selling a radio on an auction web site, it might be worth mentioning to prospective buyers that I will check the radio over for the winning bidder - FREE OF CHARGE. If you're selling a radio that isn't working or is in need of some attention, you might want to let prospective buyers know that I will quote a price to repair it - FREE OF CHARGE. This will be an effective selling point in your advert!

(please note that I will charge for postage and packing to return the radio to the buyer)

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