too many rods and reels to contemplate

Question
QUESTION: My dad was a rod builder/fly tier/fly fisherman.  he died recently and we have a collection of rods and reels that we want to carefully sell.  I've been googling each piece. is there a better way to do this, or should i just keep on keeping on?  thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Kathleen,

As a rod builder with a collection of well over 200 rods I can only imagine the confusion I would leave behind.  I know what these things are worth, but I seriously doubt my wife or children (or most anyone else) would have a clue.

If you want to, send me a description of each rod and I will help you assess their value.  You can do this two ways.  One, submit each description to this web site accompanied by one picture (all you are allowed) and I'll answer your question.  Two, I do private appraisals for antique dealers and individuals outside this web site as part of my business.  You can send as many pictures as you like and a description of each rod to me at [email protected] and I'll review them for you.

There are two values associated with rods (or anything for that matter), the book value and the most likely value to expect in a sale.  They are typically not the same as the market dictates sale prices and book values are long term averages of sales.

The internet is not always the best source for value.  However, it is at times the only source for information and occasionally a good source for historic information about rods.  I would not rely solely on the interent for accurate pricing data.

There are also special interest groups and wen sites that would be possible outlets for your rods where you could maximize the price received and make the potential new owner very happy at the same time.

Send me an email directly if you wish to discuss my private appraisal service.  I would be happy to help you.

Thanks,  Joe

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: you hit the nail on the head exactly.  (and do your wife and kids a favor and make a list with what they could get at sale if they had to sell.) I know there are some pieces of value (a 1906 Hardy with agate; at least one Leonard rod with a butt stamp), but i have no clue how to sell them.  you mentioned special websites.  how do i tell who is trustworthy to send one of these rods to?

Answer
Hi Kathleen,

There is an old saying..."My greatest fear is that when I die, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I told her I paid for it."

I will probably pass along the whole mess to my grandkids and great-grandkids to sort out.  My wife does have some idea as to worth on the rods I build, but not the vintage items I have collected.

As a rule, I would not send a rod to anyone unless they have paid for it and you have the money in your hand.  If they want a period of time for inspection, allow a few days to return the rod for a full refund no questions asked.  Make sure you document the rod well so you will know if there has been damage or substitution of parts during the refund period.  Unless it is as you sent it originally, don't refund the money.

I don't want to make you think that there is a conspiracy of rod thieves out there, but who knows these days?  I have run into a few con men over the years.  The point is...it is your rod and it is your business to make sure that if it is returned, you get the same rod you sent to the buyer.  I do not object to people returning rods that I sell.  I do not allow an inspection before the sale unless, of course, they happen to appear here in person.

A word of caution on payments as well.  Credit card payments can be cancelled up to 30 days or so after the purchase.  Money orders and cashier's checks are regularly produced as counterfeits these days; some banks won't even take them anymore.  Personal checks, money orders and cashier's checks all may take up to 30 days to clear the financial institutions involved.  Cash is good, but dangerous to mail. In other words, ship the item when the money is in your hands clear of all processing requirements.  This does not mean you can not accept these various forms of payment...I accept them all...just that you need to check with your bank on how such items are handled.

The buyer always pays the shipping costs.

Having given you all this gloom and doom outlook, let me say that the vast majority of the people I deal with on a day-to-day basis are honest, law abiding citizens regardless of what part of the world they live in or what they may do for a living.  One simply needs to be careful especially with valuable antiques and you certainly have some of those.

With regard to the web sites, I had in mind more of using them as a place to advertise the rods and reels as opposed to sending the gear to them for them to sell.  I don't do a lot of brokering sales for private individuals, but since you have such a large amount to dispose of I could probably help with this as well.  Yours is a unique situation.

Send me a private email and we'll see what we can work out.

Thanks,  Joe