Pricing restored estate pipes

[garageb08]

When buying estate pipes and you put some time into restoring them, how do some of you go about pricing them to resell? Hope this isn't a trade secret, I'm asking. :wink: What should I be looking at as far as labor, materials, and the improved condition of the pipe, not to mention the brand does apply here as well, I am sure? Keep in mind I am not a pipes shop, its a hobby for me, but I would like to get fair price when turning them over. I use a small antique shop that I sell to, and the lady likes, of course, to pay low end, like $3-4 per pipe. She marks them up to 12,15, 18, and 20. So the haggling always begins. I will sell at that price if I have a bunch not refinished, and not sought after brands. Any tips, hints for better negotiating? Thanks in advance. Sorry I originally posted this on a Meerschaum advice post.

 

[garageb08]

Yah you are probably right. I'm not trying to make a killing. I like scrounging for old pipes at estate sales, garage sale, etc...some of the them are pretty rough. I enjoy tinkering and restoring them a bit, and if I get a lot I need to pawn them off somehow. Ebay is ok but a hassle. I thought 10 bucks each or 15 for the real nice looking ones (again low end pipes). The really nice onces I find, I keep for myself, of course. But thanks, for your advice. 15-20 per hour is helpful info.

 

[shaintiques]

I sell mine for around 25 - 30 bucks unless it is a Pete or something.

 

[pstlpkr]

When negotiating... I have found it useful to bring a huge, hungry, bad tempered, and ugly looking dog wearing a worn out muzzle on a thread-bare leash with you.

This will tend to focus their minds, and instill a sincere desire to quickly reach an agreement on your terms. :D
::

 

[jaysin]

Saddly there is no set price that I have found. Lord knows I deal in Native American artifacts and was a gun dealer for years and theres no established book or a book that is a standard for dealers of old pipes as the undertaking of such a book would be overwhelming. The indristy standard book for Native American artifacts and values took 10 yrs of work to get the first edition out and 5 for the first edition of the blue book of gun values and the books will grow expenatly. so saying that heres what I do start with a price depending on what it is 20 to 30 bucks and after a set amount of time if it dont sell lower the price. some times you can get half of what it sold for new some times not.

 

[ssjones]

No name basket type pipes can usually be had in the $15 or so range. They are good to practice your refurbishment skills on and it you do a little better than break-even, that's not a bad thing. Watch shipping, as it can eat up any profit on the pipe.

I watch ebay a lot on brands/styles that I enjoy and that is the best way to get a general knowledge on what a pipe sells for.