Is This Why Chinese stuff is Junk ?

[chameleon54]

Had an interesting one in the last few weeks.

I purchased a bulk lot of vintage electrical components from a deceased estate. The guy ran an electrical repair business in the 1960,s & 70,s and when he retired all of his tools and supplies ended up in cupboards in his garage. Amongst the " stuff " was a large wooden box full of a specific electrical component, various ratings, all unused in old, dusty plastic bags. All up over 1000 items.

I listed them on ebay with a view to selling them to old valve radio restorers who like the genuine " period " components for their restorations.

Well they have sold like hot cakes, including several enquiries about selling the lot. I did let half of them go in one bulk lot to a buyer with excellent feedback, but the rest are racing out the door.

WHO'S BUYING THEM ???

They are all going to China, I assume to be used in new products. They can be tested to see if they are working, but knowing the composition of the internal components of the part, I wouldnt like to bet on how long they will last, as the components could deteriate dramatically over decades of storage time..

So if this is what the Chinese are making their goods out of, it could explain why so many people have problems with stuff coming out of China.

[stickerswa]

More like some little chinaman saw how well they are selling so bought them and has sent them to the clone factory to make cheap nasty replicas to sell at the Quality price ! 

[brerrabbit585]

Maybe the Chinese that are buying them still use the electrical appliances that need these parts (because they can't afford anything more modern). Not all the Chinese have lots of money.

[chameleon54]

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@brerrabbit585 wrote:
Maybe the Chinese that are buying them still use the electrical appliances that need these parts (because they can't afford anything more modern). Not all the Chinese have lots of money.

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HMMMMM...... I Suppose it is possible that they could be used for repair, but considering I have had several enquiries about selling the lot ( around 1200 items ) its certainly not small scale repair work of single units. There was around 20 different ratings on these things too, so some-one wanting to repair a specific item is not going to need all of the different ratings.

I have sold over 700 of these in two weeks with around 500 going to one buyer and another enquiry a couple of days ago about selling the rest.  All but one small sale have been to China / Hong Kong........

[eol-products]

Some old electronics comand big money and I would guess spare parts especially era correct would attract a premium for repairs or the production of replicas.

[digital*ghost]

Haven't you just basically called all the stuff you sold to them junk? 

Seriously, though.... one can only speculate why they have bought it. For example, what would be the cost to manufacture or source something comparable in China right now? Would 500-odd different items really make that much of a difference to company producing "junk", since they tend to do it on a large scale? Is there unique design or material components to these items?

[brerrabbit585]

I'd say they could produce them cheaper than the postage from Australia would cost them, so I reckon they're reselling them (somewhere).

[davidc4430]

maybe they are using the parts in their space rocket, based on the apollo rocket in the tom hanks movie.

[chameleon54]

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@digital*ghost wrote:

Haven't you just basically called all the stuff you sold to them junk? :smileytongue:

Seriously, though.... one can only speculate why they have bought it. For example, what would be the cost to manufacture or source something comparable in China right now? Would 500-odd different items really make that much of a difference to company producing "junk", since they tend to do it on a large scale? Is there unique design or material components to these items?

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 You know the old saying........One mans junk is another mans treasure............

The components would be ideal for some-one restoring very old ( 1940,s & 50,s )  electronics items, but I wouldnt want to rely on them. As for re-selling them, I suppose that is possible as I priced them fairly cheaply  ( sold in bulk lots ). I only paid $20 for the trunk full so I figure I can afford to let them go cheap and move them on quickly. 

As for construction, they are produced using basic old methods and construction techniques, but could still be used in modern small run industrial electronics such as metal detectors or specialised electric motor switch boxes. I figured that might be what they wanted them for.