[SJAAboard] Preregistration site active

[Gary Mitchell]

Rob Hawley (SJAA) wrote:

>     We used Project Astro to
> dispose of some scopes like 814 in the past. I question whether it is right
> to use them as a dumping ground for the dime store scopes.

I share that concern... unless they want them.

>     As Lee suggests
> we could dispose of junk scopes via Goodwill. 

I think the Goodwill donation is worse.  At least if it comes from
us, there's someone they can talk to.  We've got services and
resources to help them.

> What about the remainder of the donations?  I was selective which
> evaluations from Lee were included in the final web page. I suspect that
> 802, 803, 805, 806 will not sell. While I not would recommend any of them I
> am at least not embarrassed using SJAA's name to sell them.  Some others
> might not sell because they are not complete. Gary is committing to be
> responsible for all the unsold items.

And therefore I'd appreciated it if you didn't bad-mouth any of
them on the web site.  ;)

 >            With that provision, I am willing to
> proceed. I do not want them on the SJAA books following the auction. None
> will come home with me.

All the more reason to talk them up, (while at the same time being
up-front and honest).

> What about the future? I have always moved to be more selective in what we
> accept (and certainly what to retain).

You don't need to be too selective.  Remember what I was able
to sell at the last swap?  :)

>     I do believe any scope we retain
> needs to be salable and must not conflict with our own recommendations.

That attitude right there is probably the problem.  There's no
conflict at all with us officially recommending certain scopes or
not recommending others, and selling whatever junk we can get our
hands on at the swap and auction.  They're two completely
different things.  The key is that we don't misrepresent anything.

Selling pieces of crap can be fun for all--if it's done properly
and honestly.  Our auctioneers make it fun at the auction.

About all that "stuff" I got rid of at the last swap?  There were
some good things in there, and I pointed that out--along with some
good natured comments and jokes about all the flotsam and jetsam!
We had a good laugh. :)  And then I sold it by the wheelbarrow
load at a bargain basement price, (hell of a package deal).  He
went away very happy and we made a few bucks.  No worries and no
conflicts.

> Storage for these low return donations is taking space we may need to store
> loaner scopes.  Lee has so far been very generous, but what if several of
> the large scopes are returned?

We certainly can get carried away with that.  And I don't want to
see us make a habit of collecting mountains of low grade stuff
and spending a lot of effort selling it year after year.  But
we aren't at that point.  We haven't exhausted our storage
options.  The "problems" you worry about are theoretical, not
actual.  When they start becoming actual, then we can throttle
back.

> I am considering selling my LX200 this year.  My concern is exactly that
> expressed by Akkana.  Do I really want to haul the scope to Houge only to
> haul it back when it does not sell for a fair price?

That's easy...  Which are you worried about the most: hauling it
back or getting a fair price?  Set the starting bid accordingly.

Gary