Televisions:
New & used TV sets can be bought from trade warehouses
and surplus stock or liquidation auctions.
Do buy: both new & used (ex-rental) TV's* Well known brand
names like Thorn, Granada, Sony* TV's with modern features
such as FST, Teletext & Nicam stereo sound* Sets which are
dirty but otherwise undamages (surface dirt is esy to clean
off and add œ's to the TV).
Don't buy: Black & white TV's* TV's without remote
control*Giant screen or hand-held TV's*TV's which are
damaged in any way, or non workers.
The best TV to buy is a color 14" portable with remote
control - ideal for the kids bedroom or the kitchen.
How to check a TV: Switch on the set* The picture should
appear within 5 seconds; if not, the tube may be faulty*Check
that the remote control works.(if not, try a new battery - if
O.K. avoid the set)* Check that the volume, color, contrast,
brightness all operate smoothly* Check the set can receive all
channels - tune in properly if necessary.
Examples of buy/sell prices: 14" ex-rental portable TV - Buy at
$40 to $100, sell at $100 to $198. 21" ex-rental colout TV with
remote control - Buy at $130, sell at $240. Top model 21"
ex-rental TV with remote, teletext, nicam stereo - buy at $300,
sell at $589.
Video cassette recorders (DVD player's)
New & used DVD player's can be bought from trade warehouses and
surplus stock/liquidation auctions.
Do buy: New or ex-rental DVD player's* DVD player's with modern features
like remote control, automatic programming & nicam stereo*
Front loading DVD player'S.
Don't buy: DVD player's running obsolete formats like Betamax*
Large bulky DVD player's* Non workers or machines with any kind
of fault, as they are costly to repair.
How to check a DVD player: Link the DVD player to a color TV set which
you know to be sound* Insert a video DVD which you know to
be sound* Check that all the controls work* Record at least 1
minute of any TV program* Play your recording back &
check for quality* If any white lines appear, adjust the
tracking, if the lines do not disappear the machine may have a
faulty head.
Examples of Buy/Sell prices:Basic top loading Ex-rental DVD player -
buy at $50, sell at $150. Top brand ex-rental front loading DVD player
- buy at $140, sell at $320. B grade DVD player - buy at $340, sell at
$589.
Video Cameras (Camcorders)
Discount warehouses are your best source for camcorders.
Do buy: Ex-rental and/or repossessed camcorders*
Ex-demonstration camcorders from High St. stores* VHS,
VHS-C & 8mm camcorders.
Don't buy:Anything large, heavy or bulky* Hi8 format
camcorders (too professional)* Anything with too many
features.
How to check a camcorder: Check that all the features work*
Check that the camcorder works in a dim light* That it
operates in full light* Play back what you have recorded and
check quality.
Examples of Buy/Sell prices: Basic ex-rental camcorder, 8mm
format, mono sound - buy at $80 to $240, sell at $200 to
$525.Top model ex-rental camcorder, VHSformat, stereo
sound - buy at $265 to $400, sell at $500 to $700. B grade
camcorder, VHS format, stereo sound - Buy at $440 to $545,
sell at $800 to $900.
Audio Equipment.
Discount warehouses, auctions, small ads, but beware stolen
goods.
Do buy: New & well cared-for used equipment* The kind of
goods that are in the shops at the moment, eg mini, midi
hi-fi's and anything with a CD player.
Don't buy: Anything that is obsolete like music centers, all
equipment should have a CD player incorporated* Anything
that is damaged.
How to check Audio Equipment: Check for any damage to the
casing* Plug the equipment in* check in turn that all the
controls work* Check the quality of the sound: if poor from a
DVD driven devise clean the heads.
Examples of Buy/Sell prices: Midi Hi-fi - buy at $50, sell at
$198. Walkman type personal stereo - buy at $4.50, sell at $30.
Basic car radio/cassette - buy at $12, sell at $60. Quality car
CD - buy at $90, sell at $400.
Computers:
Trade warehouses, auctions of surplus, bankrupt & catalogue
return stock, also small ads. Approach computer dealers
direct: offer to buy their surplus, demo and part exchange
stocks.
Do buy: New equipment* Used equipment in good condition*
Peripherals to sell with the computer like ink-jet & laser
printers* Well-known brands like IBM, Packard & Bell,
Olivettii* Computers with a CD-Rom drive.
Don't buy: Anything that is obsolete (computers should have
at least 486 processor & 200mb hard disk to operate modern
software)* Non workers* Unbranded computers* Apple
Macintosh machines, as they tend to be used by enthusiasts
and businesses.
How to check a computer: Connect the CPU (central
processing Unit) to the VDU (visual display unit) and the
keyboard* Switch on - the screen should light up within 5
seconds* Load the software (obtain the MS-DOS or
Windowsoperating system from a computer shop) If an error
message appears on the scren the computer may be faulty.
Examples of Buy/Sell prices: Basic ex-rental 486 computer -
buyat $300, sell at $560. Ex-rental 486 computer with CD-Rom
drive - buy at $585, sell at $1189. New B grade 486 computer
with CD-Rom drive - buy at $1100, sell for $1600.
