How long do you sit on your gear that is not selling?

[greg zinselmeier]

Howdy,

Ya, . . . . . so ,

1.How long do you keep your price at the price point you started with on a web site where people offer goods for sale?
2. How long do you keep something that will not sell, despite lowering the price to an insanely low price, like a $1.00 and it still won't sell.
3. For those of you who have serious G.A.S. how long will you pay for storage of equipment, that in the market place has very little value, to an even smaller portion of the Arts community?

So, MY FRUSTRATION. . . . I have Stone lithography equipment, that I no longer want. And its a B*tch finding people who A, do it, B, want it. and C. will pay to have it moved.

Over all, The dying "fine arts" crowd is shrinking, And those that do art, are strengthening in the digital sphere.

I believe scrapping the press for scrap iron prices, and im contemplating of throwing my stones in the river, or selling them as patio pavers!

who ever said that i should be an artist, . . . .. . " i can't beleive i listened" wow wow ( smiley face smirk) haha! tongue and check , huh!

seriously, I saw a lens on the popular auction site, where the person had it listed for over a year, the price wasnt bad for the lens? but I think his ego is getting in the way of dropping the price to move.

So on average how long does it sit??

 

[BrianShaw]

I feel your pain. I stored an etching press for 20 years before I could admit that I’d like to use it but never will. Tried selling it. Couldn’t. Then I understood why it was GIVEN to me. Then a miracle happened... just as I was about to scrap it someone posted on one of these forums that they were looking for one. He was somewhat local so I gave it to him. He was thrilled. I was relieved.

Stone litho is so very cool. There must be someone interested. Are you sure that your current ad is getting to the right population. Have you contacted local art schools?

 

[greg zinselmeier]

thanks brian "about " I feel your Pain" . Local communiities want donations. . . . . " i'm not there yet!!!!" close. . . . . it's in the mail, I can feel it. . .. . But, right now, I still want a little money, not much, just a little.

The point of this thread really to find out "how long should I post this stuff- before I just give up? 3 months, -6 months, a year?

 

[BrianShaw]

How long... only you can determine that. One day the answer will come to you. Perhaps in a dream. Perhaps some other way. Good luck!

 

[BrianShaw]

For me there were two life changing events that helped answer that question: marriage and moving.

 

[MattKing]

During these extra-ordinary times I wouldn't base my decision on normal factors.
One example (which wouldn't apply to something as big and heavy as what you are talking about): under normal circumstances, I have a US shipping address that I frequently use to have purchases shipped to. It is in the US, but only about 16 blocks from me.
So I can still buy from anyone who limits sales to within USA purchasers.
During times of Covid, I can't drive those 16 blocks, so I can't buy.

 

[awty]

I dropped into a small art studio that was using this type of equipment, they did classes and were selling prints and paper. Were very busy ( this was just before covid)
I'm sure there are people interested in this, you just have to find them. Just like you couldn't give away enlargers at one time, now they are highly sought after.

 

[guangong]

Interesting post because I never met anybody who still used stone. I used aluminum sheet with tooth. So did everybody else I knew. I am curious: when did you acquire it? And, how old was it?

 

[greg zinselmeier]

During these times, (COVID) artist are more than their usual “ broke” . I mean they are really broke. Like hopelessly broke. And the future seems bleak. Printmakers I know, won’t take it for free cause they would have to pay for studio space. Without a plan to recouping your cost, it’s difficult to accept the offer/ risk.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

Interesting post because I never met anybody who still used stone. I used aluminum sheet with tooth. So did everybody else I knew. I am curious: when did you acquire it? And, how old was it?

The press i own is maybe only 65 years old. The stones??? Idk when they were quarried. They might be anywhere from 150 years old to maybe only fifty.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

There are a few things I’m lamenting in this thread.
1. The impact COVID has on artist communities,
2. The direction artist groups are tending towards ( digital)
3. Watching the materials and methods of the way in which ART “ used to be” made include film photography here as well, no longer have any, or much value!

 

[Kino]

I held onto a Kodak 2B densitometer, probably one of the last of it's kind in the World, for over 10 years. It was complete and functional. Photo Engineer said he would like to have it and I offered to drive it to Rochester and put it in his basement, but in the end, he didn't have the room and i had to scrap it for the metal.

Heart breaker.

Same thing with an 16mm Oxberry Master Animation stand. Now I could sell it for thousands; at the time I couldn't give it away...

 

[greg zinselmeier]

The things you can’t give away! Definitely a heart breaker on the densitometer!

 

[grain elevator]

During these times, (COVID) artist are more than their usual “ broke” . I mean they are really broke. Like hopelessly broke. And the future seems bleak. Printmakers I know, won’t take it for free cause they would have to pay for studio space. Without a plan to recouping your cost, it’s difficult to accept the offer/ risk.

Ding ding ding! Please hold onto it a bit longer, perhaps after the crisis, artists will want it. You have my gratitude for playing custodian for the gear fwiw!

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My formal training at uni was drawing and printmaking... Lithography was at the top of the list. My grade year was dedicated to it. We worked with stones and plates, preferring the former. I still remember the process, even though I haven't done litho for over thirty years. Couldn't afford a press. The school I'm teaching at had everything for litho including stones, but not the proper press. Tried selling the stones, brayers, ink, etc, but no interest. So there they sit...
On the photography side of things, I have gear that I haven't used for many years. Pack rat in me won't let them go...

 

[greg zinselmeier]

Ya, I’m moving out everything I haven’t used in a year. So after my printmaking stuff finds a home, I think I’ll have close to 70 items to sell photo

 

[lecarp]

Think post pandemic, many are holding off until they feel safe both physically and financially to acquire things (equipment etc).
As for the dying "fine arts", they are not dying and will not. They may not be mainstream, but have they really ever been.
I believe the work will still get done and in the long term will be important. The pop tripe of the day will be largely forgotten.

A life in the Arts has never been considered particularly easy.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

true true . . . LeCarp!

But, EMOTIONALLY, i've moved on, from printmaking and woodworking, AND NOW i just want that Albatrose around my neck gone! I do not want distractions in regards to my refound -focus on photography. Well, it is true I have sold off all of my wood working equipment, that was easy!!!!, . . ... Printmaking . . . Not so much. this equipment, is like a bad habbit!, "i just need to drop it" and fast" ... Its hard to move on with this metal and stone chained to my ankle, let us understand that metaphorically, and in some ways literally. thanks for everybody chimming in,

Loved to hear what everybody else is holding on to that they should drop like a bad habbit!

 

[4season]

So on average how long does it sit??

For me, it's about a week give or take on eBay, and on the few occasions I've used Craigslist, usually less. But there may be salesmanship involved: I might want to stress the really great things that can be done with the process, rather than the bulk, weight and clutter.

 

[greg zinselmeier]

Nice old greg. I will use that formulae!!

 

[Sirius Glass]

"Everyone must get stoned!" Bob Dylan

 

[greg zinselmeier]

Nice one ! Sirius . . . That gave me a good chuckle!!

 

[guangong]

My problem is that I never sell anything. Still have and use my Nikon F, purchased in Japan for $150, when they were going for $500 in US: still have and use my M4, bought new. Only camera I got rid of was Hasselblad 1000F, when shutter died. The list goes on. Will leave disposal to executor of my estate.
I would like to obtain a small etching press. My late friend Bob Connover made huge etchings, that required a huge press, but I prefer much smaller prints. When she was 10 yrs old my daughter made an etching of her dog. She coated plate, drew image, cut in acid, soaked paper, etc. only got help turning wheel. She was awarded the highest criticism...somebody stole print and plate from our mantle.

 

[Matthew K]

My problem is that I never sell anything. Still have and use my Nikon F, purchased in Japan for $150, when they were going for $500 in US: still have and use my M4, bought new. Only camera I got rid of was Hasselblad 1000F, when shutter died. The list goes on. Will leave disposal to executor of my estate.
I would like to obtain a small etching press. My late friend Bob Connover made huge etchings, that required a huge press, but I prefer much smaller prints. When she was 10 yrs old my daughter made an etching of her dog. She coated plate, drew image, cut in acid, soaked paper, etc. only got help turning wheel. She was awarded the highest criticism...somebody stole print and plate from our mantle.

I have this problem too. It's not exactly, for me anyway, that I wish to keep it all. I actually seem to find the process of listing and selling anathema enough that I just don't do it except in smaller-than-they-should-be spurts. I keep meaning to list a table of gear I have that came in various lot purchases; so far, the table is still weighed down the same.

 

[Saganich]

Send an email to my friend and master printer Luther Davis info@powerhousearts.org or davisl@newschool.edu. He may know someone.