I had put on consignment in an upscale used guitar shop a 1960’s vintage electric guitar that I no longer played. After six months, it hadn’t sold so I went to pick it up yesterday.
I asked the manager what vintage guitars were selling these days, and she said very rare high-end guitars and those that had a flaw. For example, a guitar like mine that someone had decided to give a custom paint job that significantly dropped the price, but could also be fixed by the new owner.
In other words, buyers who weren’t seeking “perfect,” but were essentially looking for a bargain. Which reminded me of buyers who purchase homes that need a major renovation. They think, as did these vintage guitar buyers, I will add the value.
Which raises the interesting question why is it important for some us to “flip” a guitar or a home.
I suspect, on the one hand, it’s the prospect of a potential big payday. But there is also likely satisfaction gained in restoring something to its original state. That the monetary value we increase in an object also in some way increases our own sense of worth or value. Meaning, value never flows in one direction, as a river, but value is more like an ocean, flowing back and forth with the ebb and flow of the tides.
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