3 Mar
1999
3 Mar
'99
9:58 a.m.
At 03:50 AM 3/3/99 -0500, Doug wrote:
Of course, I've been stalking this thing from the moment it appeared, and
then suddenly "Hey everybody! Look at this neat thing on ebay! I have no
idea what it is, but it sure is neat!" Within minutes, some other list
member (known not to be a collector, BTW) bids the thing up to $200 or so.
So, sure, I'm selfish and cheap. But am I wrong to expect to save a few
bucks in exchange for the small effort I expend compared to those who say
they want to do nothing but have these finds fed to them?
Who's to say that the Minivac isn't worth $200? Price is set between
buyer and seller. It's all about value. You think you deserve the
lowest price possible, untainted by the bidding of your buddies on
the CCC list, because you work so hard. Might you be consoled by
knowing that the $200 bidder worked hard, too, to either find that
machine, cultivate its history, or earn the $200?
After all, you don't know the characteristics of the buyer. Or are
you distracted by your envy? All is clouded by desire, Grasshopper,
like dust on a mirror.
- John