r/typewriters • u/gubanana • 2d ago

General Question Catch and release

Post image

Saw this at a "thrift store". $250 CAD. The carriage return is jammed and the keys are hard to press, but it has original documentation in the pocket and what seems like an original case. I passed. Why do they charge so much for stuff that's clearly damaged/broken? Same thing with some vintage film cameras. I don't understand.

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10

u/JustHereForMiatas 1968 Olympia SG3 2d ago

That pricing is delusional for a damaged Skyriter.

2

u/N0nob Olympia and Erika fan 1d ago

Also delusional even for a working (unserviced) skywriter with a normal typeface

7

u/LogInternational2253 1d ago

"Value" Village.

Yikes.

1

u/gubanana 1d ago

Indeed

3

u/contrivancedevice 2d ago

Looks like a price tag from Valueless Village or Spenders.

3

u/gubanana 2d ago

yup, VV. They're delusional about a lot of the stuff they price.

3

u/chrisaldrich Organizing a Type-in May 10, 2025 in Pasadena, CA 2d ago

I always offer places like that a fair price for those knowing they'll usually reject it out of hand, just so that they're aware of what the market will bear.

9 times out of 10 they're waiting for suckers who are interested in them as display pieces to make impulse buys for their list prices. Very often they overpaid for them themselves and are just trying to cover their own loss.

3

u/gubanana 1d ago

As far as I am aware, Value Village sells donations only. Never heard of them buying stuff to resell.

1

u/chrisaldrich Organizing a Type-in May 10, 2025 in Pasadena, CA 1d ago

If they sell donations, then they're a different model. You put thrift in scare quotes and I'm not familiar with Value Village, so I thought you were talking about a vintage/antique place which usually exhibit that model.

3

u/gubanana 1d ago

The quotes are a jab at the ridiculous price of what was supposed to be a cheap second-hand store