Cromemco 68000 on ebay

A lot of comments on my remark about ebay, and I don't think it is useful to respond to each one separately. Have I ever been defrauded outside ebay? Yes, but I had effective recourse. There is no effective recourse in ebay. I won't go into the details; those interested can google. AUCTION. In "real", physical auction a seller has to put up his goods, a bidder has to put up money to bid. Bidder can look at the goods, decide whether it is what he wants, auctioneer guarantees delivery. Seller knows that bidder will lose his deposit if he fails to complete transaction. Both sides are protected. NOT SO in ebay. A seller who defaults will not be penalized by ebay until there are "enough" negatives against him. A bidder who doesn't complete is not penalized. There is no effective recourse either side. Virtual auction requires an effective recourse. ebay and its paypal are weighted against effective recourse for the bidder against the seller, and against recourse for the seller against the bidder. Default is a serious crime in "real", physical auction (though rarely taken to the courts). I have participated in auction all my long life - as a seller, as a buyer, as a data processing service for auctions. I LIKE auction; I regard it as the best way to establish the price of something. But these are auctions where are regulated by state laws which can be invoked in the case of fraud by any of the three classes - auctioneer, seller, buyer. I have seen those laws invoked. I am not saying that I won't use ebay. I might buy that 68000 board; it's not big bucks. BUT it doesn't change my view of ebay. 'Nuff said. Vern Wright