NIB Olympia one--Suspense Killing me

[rodknock95]

I bought this sealed olympia one, supposedly new in the box. When I first got it, I thought ill keep it sealed and my buddy brought up a good point. What if they filled it bricks and then resealed it? So now Im thinking of opening it!!

 

[compactelectra]

I Vote

(If I have one) to take the machine out of the box and enjoy it! You can keep it new by not using it but believe me you’ll enjoy it much more out of the box. I have obtained my share of NIB machines over the years. Believe me they don’t go up in value. I am cleaning out my storage unit and can’t begin to tell you how many boxes I have thrown away. The purpose of the box was to protect the machine during shipping or possibly to store. Do you enjoy looking at the box? Obviously it’s bothering you not to take it out of the box so go ahead and indulge yourself.

 

[human]

Yeah, what Compactelectra said.

The sad but true fact is the best way to maximize your return on investment with that machine—not that I'm recommending you do this, please don't!—is to part it out and sell off the pieces as NOS parts. I think most of us who collect these things realize they aren't going to appreciate the way a classic car will. We get them to tinker with them, fix them up, use them and enjoy them for what they are.

Now, go ahead and open that box! You know you want to. What are you waiting for?

 

[KirbyCollector01]

The way I see it

I’d rather live my life having opened that machine and got the enjoyment out of it rather than torture myself not opening it and never seeing or using it.

 

[huskyvacs]

There is no investment to be made on a vacuum - you buy them to enjoy - not buy them to make money. Many people on here that have vacuum repair shops carelessly throw antique and vintage vacuums in the trash can all the time because they don't know what eBay is. Lots of valuable vacuums gone.

You do not pay for a new in box vacuum to strip it for parts - thats a very stupid thing to do. You will be stuck with unsellable parts for the next 6-15 years and a vacuum will have been destroyed.

Also like cars in a museum - you have to use a vacuum at least once a month for half an hour or longer to keep the grease and parts exercised. If you don't, the grease will all wick away from the parts, the belts will go bad, and the parts will oxidize and start rusting and the motor will eventually lock up when the grease solidifies and hardens.

If you ever go to a car museum - look under the cars for the carpet scraps or drip pans - that shows you a museum that does not drive the cars, because the engine and transmission gaskets are rotting and drying out and the oil is no longer on the parts anymore.

 

[huskyvacs]

Also yes, the box matters. A vacuum can sell for up to $100 more if it has the box and original paperwork intact. Same goes for Apple computers too. I've seen eBay auctions sell for $60 just for a vacuum box.

People buy them to complete their own vacuums, and to use as background props for store scenes in movies that take place in the past.

 

[rugsucker]

"filled it (with) bricks"

This reminds me of a story I have heard from early 80s before I worked for Electrolux.Elux would constantly hire new people,some would do well and stay for years,others would quit after a week.There was no cost to salesmen to have a vac to demonstrate and they would turn in a contract and get paid or return the vac.When one salesman quit and returned the vac they found he had sold the motor to a customer,kept the money and put a brick in its place to try to have same weight!

 

[dysonman1]

I'm lucky to have had a good number of new in the box vintage machines over the years. At first, I just put them away to enjoy "later". The decades have gone by and at some point I realized the false value in keeping them "new". I recently got out my brand new in the box 1980 Rainbow D3A and have been using it for some weeks now. My husband told me that when I was gone, he was just going to give all my vacuums to my friends, and throw away what's left. He said "you better start enjoying them now because I'm now putting them in the coffin with you". Well, that's true. Especially since I'm getting cremated and sucked up into the Signature Series Air-Way to spend eternity. It's true, you can't take them with you. Use them and enjoy them now, while you're still here. There's no reason to keep them 'new' at all.

 

[jo]

Worth more with the box and original packaging and unused

I once saw a new in box Unused Golden Jubilee sell on eBay for around $1300 or $1500! I would keep the box and photo how it’s packed in its packaging as you unpack it, take it all out and carefully photo it all so you can repack it in exactly the same way. Perhaps display the unit if it brings you pleasure, maybe turn it on for a moment from time to time to allow the motor to turn. And when it comes time to sell it for a profit you can photo it repackaged in its original packaging and box. Keep all paperwork that is inside. You do want to make sure the machine is indeed new, unused, and in that box as the seller said. Hopefully you got a steal on it. If you do choose to use it, do so very carefully to preserve its current perfect condition.