5 May
2001
5 May
'01
3:13 a.m.
Chad Fernandez wrote:
I don't agree with any theoretical "worth" rhetoric. What people want
to know when they ask, is normal street price, for a given condition and
configuration. If I am interested in something on Ebay, but don't
really know what I would expect to pay for it, it would be wise to ask
before bidding too much money. Why would I "buy it now", or be the
winning bid at twice it's normal value? If I pay $100 for a $50 item
does that mean I magically doubled the value of all like items? No! I
paid double, and the seller made out like a bandit! What make the item
a $50 item is that the said item is sold for $50 quite often, when
available. I say, when available, since many of the items concerning
this list, aren't produced in regular production anymore, in many cases.
Chad Fernandez
Michigan, USA
I think we're agreement on this. If you really wanted that $50 item
though, you might well pay $100 for it and not consider yourself robbed.
Especially if it was in good shape, operational, with docs and software.
Speaking of availability, a TI-88 came up on Ebay a couple of years ago.
This calc was never produced, only prototypes were made. It was heavily
hyped by TI to the existing TI58/59 user base, though. I predicted to
the seller that it would go for $600-$800. It ended up just shy of $600.
It might have hit my target if I had been able to afford a bid at the
time.
Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to say "cost be damned." I have to
rely on shrewd bidding, sniping (except against other serious collectors
who are likely to trade with me.), trading, dumpster-diving, dumb luck,
etc., and I'm thinking of going into the salvage business myself, just
to get my hands on stuff. And I think these will be just about my last
words on the subject at present.
regards,
jbdigriz