Bargains on ebay? (Part 2)

[Alex_UK]

I haven't bid on anything on eBay in years and years (bought plenty of stuff but Buy it Now) but I am bidding on a MIDI keyboard, and it announces that my bid will be subject to VAT? So my current winning bid is £30, but if successful it will be plus £6 VAT & then postage. It's a UK sale, secondhand, so not sure why they want to add VAT?

[Barry]

The seller may either live outside the UK, or many not be a VAT registered seller.

[Alex_UK]

Well, they are (allegedly) a Private seller, and located in Glastonbury... So I am not sure that's it, but thanks.

[Pigmy Pony]

The seller may either live outside the UK, or many not be a VAT registered seller.

If he isn't VAT registered, charging VAT will be illegal. And you don't want to be messing with VAT folk, they're ruthless.

[Alex_UK]

Well I got outbid on that auction, so I guess I will never know!

I just spotted this, though - my first ever "hi-fi" was this exact model. Midi sized, with a turntable that could play both sides of the record, twin cassette, and speakers with square drivers! At 16 I was in love, and had to get it - I had started work, so my Dad got in "on tick" from Rumbelows, and I paid him about 3 quid a week for what seamed a decade. I was still paying it off when I realised how crap it actually sounded and started looking at "proper" hi-fi in secondhand shops.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one that has "nostalgia" for that crappy little Sharp system, as there are 4 bidders and 20+ watchers. I.m not going to bid... No, never...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156656733165

[Alex_UK]

Well, not a "bargain" but apparently one of one in the World - Michell "Green Marble" Prisma, "The Unicorn of Turntables" apparently...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365366443602

[Macca]

Well I got outbid on that auction, so I guess I will never know!

I just spotted this, though - my first ever "hi-fi" was this exact model. Midi sized, with a turntable that could play both sides of the record, twin cassette, and speakers with square drivers! At 16 I was in love, and had to get it - I had started work, so my Dad got in "on tick" from Rumbelows, and I paid him about 3 quid a week for what seamed a decade. I was still paying it off when I realised how crap it actually sounded and started looking at "proper" hi-fi in secondhand shops.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one that has "nostalgia" for that crappy little Sharp system, as there are 4 bidders and 20+ watchers. I.m not going to bid... No, never...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156656733165

Am I seeing things or does it have a linear tracking tonearm?

I got a similar Aiwa in 1986 for £175 which would be a staggering £512.92 today. The turntable was a separate unit though. Took about a year for me to accept that I had to have something better.

[Alex_UK]

Am I seeing things or does it have a linear tracking tonearm?

Yep, linear tracking, then went all the way across the record, round a "U" bend, and played the other side of the record from underneath! It was like science fiction in 1985! Of course with the record only being supported by a label sized "platter" it wasn't the most stable or best sounding thing, but I thought it was cool until I knew different! (My best mate's Uncle Tim, a resolute bachelor (who I imagine spent all his money on hi-fi and records) was my hi-fi Mr. Miyagi! My Garrard 401/SME combo was one of his cast offs!)

[Macca]

(My best mate's Uncle Tim, a resolute bachelor (who I imagine spent all his money on hi-fi and records) was my hi-fi Mr. Miyagi!

lol I like that. I never had one

My dad did drive me to Apollo to get the Aiwa but he didn't have any interest beyond suggesting that I buy the Mitsubishi system with the vertical turntable instead:



It was massively discounted down to the price of the Aiwa and came with the stand and some quite large speakers. But I thought a vertical turntable was a daft idea (I guess so did most hence the 50 percent discount) so I got the Aiwa.

My father was right though the Mitsubishi would have been better and would still be of interest today when all the rest are in landfill.

[Alex_UK]

Those Mitsubishi upright turntables are definitely very cool, and I guess makes sense to sit on a bookshelf if space is tight. And yes, would still be of interest today - can only find non-working ones on eBay in the US - even then, $300.