Best way to sell old mechanical equipment?

DrJazzTap

So my father isn't getting any younger. And after fifty odd years has accumulated quite a bit of engineering equipment. 
I've agreed to help him clear out his garage. Should the worse case scenario happen.  He doesn't want to burden us with clearing out his stuff.

Previously I've sold the odd spanner on eBay for him. But after I had some fool test my patience with a boss pedal, I said enough is enough. 

Should I bundle a few things together and sell them through gumtree?
Or do a carboot sale?
 I'm currently And thinking its not worth eBay as the fees are too high and the cost of postage would sting me. 

ESBlonde

Facebook groups and local swap/sale sites work for some things. I've had some luck with preloved both buying and selling. Beware of advertising too much at once and having people visit for one thing then returning a few night later to help themselves.....
There are people at our local car boots that specialise in tools and equipment. One option might be to invite one or two to make an offer to clear the lot for a fixed price. You will get less but there is no ongoing hassel and repeated calls/visits and haggling. Or sell the few big ticket items then do the bulk deal separately.

DrJazzTap

Yeah that's what i was worried about. It was a bit different when he had three German sheperds.....now it's a loveable jack Russell.
We are going to start cataloguing some of it soon. He needs to decide on what he wants to get rid off.
Appreciate the advice about a local car boot sale. I've told him he'll get bid in the proverbials. But ultimately it's how badly he wants the stuff gone. 
As I said to him, I've got guitars worth x much. It's just getting someone to pay x much. 

Rave

Advertise it.

spark240

I sold some engineering stuff on Ebay and it went quite well, generally small parcels less than 2kg, postage is reasonable.

There is always someone in our local paepr looking for tools etc, maybe try that,

Gumtree has been a waste of time for me, total time wasters, never turn up or respond to emails, Ive ditched it.

What sort of stuff are you getting rid of?      

boogieman

Rave said:

Advertise it.

Good call! Bet the OP never thought of that. 

m_c

What sort of equipment is there?

Ultimately eBay has the biggest audience, but there are a few more specialist ad sites depending on what you are selling.

Headphones

Going through this at the moment with my father's kit.  The best route by far was using his old friends/contacts.  The word got around quickly and the items of worth went remarkably quickly, lucratively and to a good home.

The remainder from this (after three weeks since his demise) is essemtially rubbish and has filled two skips so far.  One more and it'll be clear.

Some items went by E Bay, but this was not a time effective route for the volume of items.  Similarly, a foray to the local boot sale didn't move much.  Little positive response from tool dealers either, they asked for the earth in terms of detail, offerred a pittance and - to a man - never turned up!

DrJazzTap

Headphones said:

Going through this at the moment with my father's kit.  The best route by far was using his old friends/contacts.  The word got around quickly and the items of worth went remarkably quickly, lucratively and to a good home.

The remainder from this (after three weeks since his demise) is essemtially rubbish and has filled two skips so far.  One more and it'll be clear.

Some items went by E Bay, but this was not a time effective route for the volume of items.  Similarly, a foray to the local boot sale didn't move much.  Little positive response from tool dealers either, they asked for the earth in terms of detail, offerred a pittance and - to a man - never turned up!

yeah my dad had a handbook for a mark one jaguar e type. He spoke to some guys at a local vintage car show, who seemed really interested and yet none of them bothered to get back to him. I think he ended up throwing it away.

DrJazzTap

spark240 said:

What sort of stuff are you getting rid of?      

I don't really know at the moment mate. I'm guessing it's auto mechanical stuff. But he always managed to pull something out which surprises me. He might have some electrical stuff. A lot of it is a mystery to me. 

57Deluxe

Put it in a shed and contact Henry Cole...

boogieman

57Deluxe said:

Put it in a shed and contact Henry Cole...

And then lock him in.

And then set fire to it.