Beseler 23CII

[dabsond]

How do you tactfully tell someone selling a Beseler 23C that it is not worth $600. Sure, it is in nice shape. I am sure they googled it and see the new price at BH or other sellers. Trying not to insult them...

 

[John Galt]

Show them some other adds on Craigslist or EeekBay. . . I picked one up that was new condition for $20.00, that one is for sale. I also picked up a NIB 23 CIII XL with Color head with an entire darkroom including several boxes of chemical and a LOT of paper for $200.00 . . . .

If you are ever in Central NY (Syracuse/Utica area) I can hook you up . . .

 

[Pentode]

If it’s someone you know and you’re trying to spare their feelings just explain that they don’t hold their value and can be had very cheap, used.

If it’s someone you don’t know just make a realistic offer. They’ll either bite or they won’t.

 

[KN4SMF]

You can't. FSBO listings are full of houses way overpriced. Some people think theirs is "special". Let him think his enlarger is worth $600. Of course it won't sell and end up in a dumpster someday. You can't talk to people who think like that. They only get defensive and dig in.

 

[MattKing]

The $600 price may have been a guess arrived at by someone who knows that they don't know what the market value is, or an ill-founded but strongly held belief of someone who is sure that they are right.
The only way to find out where the seller is coming from is to ask.

 

[Chan Tran]

Who is this person? Someone you know who wants to sell it? Or it's someone who you want to buy from but only if the price is right?
If the person is a friend selling it on ebay or Craiglist you simply tell him/her nothing or say good luck.
If it's someone you may want to buy from, you just say the price is too high. If he/she asks you to make an offer then make a reasonable offer.

 

[jvo]

the market will tell them....

 

[removedacct1]

Tell them that the last time I saw an excellent 23C II, it was in a local thrift shop for $75, complete with lens, easel, timer and trays.

 

[jim10219]

You try to sell him another Beseler 23C ii for $200 and suggest he could make $400 profit off yours!

 

[dabsond]

I am pretty sure they got it from an estate sale. They are saying they are no expert but, they think everything is OK on it. I tried telling them that I picked up a Beseler 45mx with working motor not just a few months ago for $60. I will let them leave it on Ebay for a while. It is local so they may want to get out of the shipping part and sell it a lot cheaper.

 

[CMoore]

Why do you need to tell them anything...are you wanting to buy it.?
If so, just make your offer.....

 

[mgb74]

I am pretty sure they got it from an estate sale. They are saying they are no expert but, they think everything is OK on it. I tried telling them that I picked up a Beseler 45mx with working motor not just a few months ago for $60. I will let them leave it on Ebay for a while. It is local so they may want to get out of the shipping part and sell it a lot cheaper.

All too often these estate sale finds are missing a critical component. And, of couse, they believe it's all there.

As mentioned, they probably googled the price of a new one and figured 1/2 is fair. It may not be worth your time to educate them. Just make an offer contingent on being all there and in good working order, tell them that's the market value (despite being $1200 new), and say you understand if they want to try to sell it for more. You may also say that the 23cII version has been replaced by the 23cIII.

 

[daleda]

How do you tactfully tell someone selling a Beseler 23C that it is not worth $600. Sure, it is in nice shape. I am sure they googled it and see the new price at BH or other sellers. Trying not to insult them...

I just bought a 23cii with Dual Dichro Head for $290 shipped and in excellent condition.

 

[tezzasmall]

Tell them to check out ebay, as there are quite a few models on there at the moment for way below the price they are asking. But then again if they wait long enough, someone will pay their price.

Terry S

 

[Vincent Peri]

...But then again if they wait long enough, someone will pay their price.

Terry S

Hmm... protons will decay
before that...

 

[George Nova Scotia]

Actually all they need is a time machine. $600 is about what I paid for one 40 years ago. I still have it but the main value today would be the lenses and parts that could easily sell on eBay and cheap to ship.

 

[Jin]

I just picked mine up for $40 with board and mixing box for both 6x7 and 35mm. In good condition, no flaws other than dusts.
If you must buy that item from that seller only, please show other competitive prices to knock some sense in to the seller.
If not, time to search for alternatives

 

[darkroommike]

Why is it any of your business, if the enlarger is for sale you can counter offer, if the seller won't take the offer move on. Used enlargers are cheap.

 

[Dusty Negative]

I, for one, followed this thread with great interest. I’m a complete darkroom newbie and have been checking eBay for the last few weeks trying to get a feel for how much a good used enlarger (particularly the 23C) costs, and it seems that $200 might be close to a *median* price. When you check the pictures, you can see clear signs of use (meaning, is it just normal wear and tear or are the bellows a shamble? Etc.) and most don’t post exactly what the enlarger has (lens? Negative holder? Working bulb? Timer?) This means, for someone like me who doesn’t really know what exactly he’s looking for, it’s all bit of a gamble particularly up in the 300-400 range.

 

[craigclu]

Be patient, ask around a bit. You might be surprised how many are stored away for "someday". I had a nice young man with a legitimate interest in analog work that was directed my way a few years ago. I ended up giving him a spare 23CII/Dichro and a decent 50mm (Nikkor that I was never in love with). He's still happily using it and is an energetic learner doing some nice stuff. There are lots of us old guys out there with way too much gear that is too awkward to sell/ship, etc who are happy to get someone going and off to a good start. An area high school had an auction and couldn't even get bids on Beseler 23's (8 of them!) and 45's. I heard of it after the fact and don't doubt they were discarded.

 

[Dusty Negative]

I heard of it after the fact and don't doubt they were discarded.

Qu’elle injustice.

I would be a happy junk man, indeed.

 

[darkroommike]

I teach at a community college, several years ago we moved across campus to a smaller space. We had 20+ enlargers in the old space and only room for 10 in the new space. We were told to throw the old enlargers away, so we did, right into the back of our cars. The 23C machine is a good machine, not a great machine. I am constantly fixing little things on the enlargers. I much prefer the older Omega models, but in any case the top end of what you want to pay is about $100 and for that it should have the lens and carrier, too.

 

[Dusty Negative]

I much prefer the older Omega models, but in any case the top end of what you want to pay is about $100 and for that it should have the lens and carrier, too.

That’s great advice. Thank you. Seems like there’s some eBay inflation going on.

 

[jwl]

I just picked up a 23cII that looks like it's never been used, a digital timer, grain focuser, trays, beakers, chemicals, a BOATLOAD of paper, dev tanks, etc etc etc for $100 CDN. Don't try to haggle this person down, just keep yours eyes peeled and come up on a way better deal. 9/10 people are trying to get shit out of their attic that belonged to a relative, not profit off darkroom supplies.

 

[Dusty Negative]

Does s/he have another one???