Replies

1. 
   pzgren | Jan 12, 2007 08:01pm | #1

   Jeff,

     Take a look at these places:

   http://www.workingtools.biz/

   http://www.thebestthings.com/

   http://jonzimmersantiquetools.com/

   http://www.lie-nielsen.com/ (for high-quality newly-manufactured ones)

    

   Beste Wünschen auf ein glückliches und wohlbehaltenes Neues Jahr!

   Tschüß!

   Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!

   James

2. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 12, 2007 08:14pm | #2

   Jeff

   Right now, ebay's for selling chisels, not buying them.  The prices are absurd.  If you go to one of the antique tool dealers online, you'll get clubbed over the head regarding price.  Your best bet is to be patient, unless you have to have them now!  Otherwise, you can expect to pay around $100 each for an entire set put together for you, or $50 to $60 each one by one.

   Like James said, brand new LN's are $50.00 each, and the quality is better than the old 750's.

   Good luck.

   Jeff

3. 
   ctsjr | Jan 12, 2007 08:19pm | #3

   Jeff

   I have been looking at 750's on eBay also, and I fear it is collectors that are buying them up.  There are a bajillion of these out there, and I hope that like Stanley planes, the prices will come down soon.  Tom

   "Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
4. 
   ETG | Jan 12, 2007 08:20pm | #4

   I've been sniped a few times and finally learned the technique which works most of the time for me on ebay:

   1) Always, always know your max price for a particular item;

   2) Always use a high speed internet connection - my home dial-up is no good.  I only bid on items that go off during the day when I can use my office high speed connection.  Also, you don't get as many folks available to bid during the day;

   3) Never bid till the end - just like poker, quietly play your hand;

   4) I put my bid in the last 30 seconds - my max I would pay for it and I always put in an odd number - not $30 but $31.87.

   I've purchased a Lion trimmer, Porter Cable 126 plane and an Emmert vise - all well below market and previous win bid prices.  It takes discipline, knowledge of the product, high speed internet and good timing.

   Good luck!

    

1. 
   mapleman | Jan 12, 2007 11:22pm | #5

   ETG,

   Your'e advice is dead on the money. I only have a dial up connection, so bidding in the last 30 seconds is not usually an option for me.

   My solution? Auctionsniper.com. You tell them your max price, and their servers bid automatically at the last second (you determine how close to the end). My preference is 5 seconds. My wins have shot up to close to 100% since I started using it. I think the cost is 1% of the final value ($1.00 for a $100 item). And I don't have to worry about the boss catching me on the computer at work with personal stuff.

   See you on the 'bay

   Lee

1. 
   ETG | Jan 12, 2007 11:35pm | #6

   Thanks for the update - I've heard about the service but have not used it.  I don't buy that much - I'm selective what I do buy.

   One other technique - if something doesn't sell, I'll followup with an email offering a reasonable price and it's worked the few times I've done it.  Everybody gets something out of it - the seller gets rid of the item and I get it for a lower price than expected.

   Ed

1. 
   quequi | Jan 13, 2007 02:48am | #9

   Even if you do not buy much, I advise using bidding software.  Practice with it, learn how it works, and, when that gotta have tool comes along you will be ready.

   These services will only bid to your maximum, but you still pay the lowest winning price (up to your max $$$).

   I HIGHLY recommend Auction Sentry. It works every time. 

5. 
   Radio Flyer | Jan 12, 2007 11:55pm | #7

   Hello, I built up complete collections of 750's & 720's via Ebay, but it took me 4 years.  I did not do any last minute bidding, strictly set my maximum price about 1-2 hrs prior to closing and went with it.. I lost many auctions, but finally completed both sets. 

   Problem was, when I was 1-2 chisels short of the completing the sets, I bid too high to get that last one.  I also have recently bought LN chisels, which I like.  But there is just something special about Stanley's, especially 720's.

   I think, in terms of an investment, the 750's are worth it as I have seen complete sets in nice shape that fetch over $1000 for tools in let's say "good shape".

   Good luck, Glenn

1. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 13, 2007 02:29am | #8

   For all your sakes' I hope the 750's maintain their prices.  5 years ago, Bedrock 606's, 607's, 605 1/2's and 603's were selling for $250 to $300 pretty consistantly.  Now, they hardly every go over $150.00 to $200.00.  I hope you fine lad's don't invest $500 into a chisel collection that is worth $200.00 in 2 years.  Good luck.

   Jeff