1 Nov
2001
1 Nov
'01
1:16 a.m.
Chuck McManis wrote:
At 02:44 PM 10/30/01, Tony responded to:
And any good price guide will reflect THAT actual selling price.
> But Commodore 64s AREN'T worth $200 and
no one is going to get that price
with:
I seriously suspect (based on what I've seen
in other areas) that if a
price guide was pnblished saying 'C64s are worth $200' then you'd see an
awful lot priced close to that figure. You'd find the odd one priced at a
more reasonable amount (it belongs to somebody who's not read the price
guide), I guess. But not too many.
It doesn't work that way. Its like saying some political body could repeal
the law of averages. If the market is fair (meaning that anyone can enter
and anyone can buy or sell at whatever price they choose) then the price of
Commodore 64s (or any commodity for that matter) will be dictated entirely
by supply and demand. Economists call it the "invisible hand" but basically
it means that when you don't sell your C64 for $200 you will knock a few
bucks off the price and continue doing that until it sells or it is worth
more to you than your willing to sell it for (note that this is identical
to selling it to yourself so effectively you have sold it)
Having a price guide does not affect market prices. If it brings in more
buyers (thus increasing demand) then it can raise prices, if it brings in
more sellers (thus increasing supply) then it can lower prices. But the
effect on prices is only tangential to the overall market.
Someone that understands! Thanks Chuck, I could not have stated it more
eloquently.
Eric
P.S. This brings up the concepts of "buyers market" vs. "sellers
market".
Currently, old compters on the whole, is a buyer's market as there is more
supply of systems than there are people (demand) for them.
--Chuck