27 Oct
1998
27 Oct
'98
5:16 a.m.
Sam Ismail wrote:
On Tue, 27 Oct 1998, Marvin wrote:
I fully agree about getting the best price, but I have found when I inform
donors of what the value of the computers might be (and most of the time
they *do* ask), they go ahead and give me the stuff anyway. Additionally,
when they find other stuff I might be interested, they take the time to let
me know.
(i.e. the IBM TPC I just got), I do not agree
with taking advantage of
peoples ignorance about what something might be worth, especially if I am
out soliciting computers. Running into them on ads or at swap meets does
not constitute taking advantage :)!
Well, I take exception to this. What constitutes "taking advantage of"?
I can maybe moralize that if I was buying computers to turn around and
sell on eBay, but I'm not. I'm adding them to my collection. So it is in
my best interest to get the best price possible. Also, its relative. Since I am of the opinion that
eBay does not
constitute fair market value, what advantage am I taking?
We will just have to agree to disagree. I have talked to quite a few ebay
buyers and sellers, and almost everyone agrees that the pricing there is
fair to both buyer and seller. A friend of mine I talked to last week buys
there and feels that he is getting some real bargains. All a matter of
perspective.
And what obligation do I have to tell the ignorant
seller about my hard
won knowledge on collecting computers? How much do I have to tell them?
I guess it is just a matter of priorities or goals. I should say again that
I am talking about people who have sought me out and are *giving* me
computer stuff. When I see the stuff for sale, the rules change and I
generally don't attempt to educate them.
Don't get me wrong, I still feel a little guilty
when I get something
REALLY good for a song that I may have had to pay a testicle for on eBay.
ebay has had some real bargains. Remember the Altairs that sold for about
$500 and $700 some time ago? Most of the people I deal with I look at as
friends. And I try hard not to take advantage of friends ... unless I tell
them I am taking advantage of them :).