15 Sep
2003
15 Sep
'03
7:09 a.m.
Where is a good resource to find out saleable values of classic computer
hardware? I know eBay isn't really all that great because it isn't
consistent enough. What goes for $5 today may go for $500 tomorrow, and
then not sell at all the next day.
Like many others, I'm painfully short on money right now, and I've just
lost my storage area, so I can't hang on to things much longer. So I'm
trying to find out what is worth what, so I know what to try to sell,
versus give away, versus throw away (I'm already making the tough
decision on what to keep, but that's not really based on monetary value
so much as personal value to me).
Is there a good place to check for the value of some of this stuff? And
not just the value in terms of what its worth IF you can find a buyer...
but also value in terms of will it sell at all? (It doesn't do me much
good if something is "worth" $100, but no one really wants to buy it
right now).
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
15 Sep
15 Sep
7:20 a.m.
Chris,
Where is a good resource to find out saleable values
of classic computer
hardware? I know eBay isn't really all that great because it isn't
consistent enough. What goes for $5 today may go for $500 tomorrow, and
then not sell at all the next day.
Sadly, that IS the reality of things. Retro
computing seems to be the
ultimate in terms of 'market working'... things many collectors want,
but only few seem to have, can, and, quite often, will get, insane
price tags.
Like many others, I'm painfully short on money
right now, and I've just
lost my storage area, so I can't hang on to things much longer. So I'm
trying to find out what is worth what, so I know what to try to sell,
versus give away, versus throw away (I'm already making the tough
decision on what to keep, but that's not really based on monetary value
so much as personal value to me).
Although I am fortunate enough to be mostly a
buyer, I too decided to
get rid of some of it- mostly because it's either not my "core" stuff
(DEC PDP11-VAX-MIPS-ALPHA and stuff linked to it), or I have too much
of the same stuff, which takes up too much space. Sad :(
not just the value in terms of what its worth IF you
can find a buyer...
but also value in terms of will it sell at all? (It doesn't do me much
good if something is "worth" $100, but no one really wants to buy it
right now).
Worth is defined by how many people want it. I have several nice
DSSI tape drives and library systems here, which are worth a lot,
but so far, nobody was willing to wheel 'em outta here... so.. their
value currently is (EURO *)NULL.
Cheers,
Fred
--
Fred N. van Kempen, DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) Collector/Archivist
Visit the VAXlab Project at http://www.pdp11.nl/VAXlab/
Visit the Archives at http://www.pdp11.nl/
Email: waltje(a)pdp11.nl BUSSUM, THE NETHERLANDS / Sunnyvale, CA, USA
16 Sep
16 Sep
11:26 p.m.
New subject: Making the save at the scrappers
Weird, good day at a scrapper today. I got the chance to literally rescue
some goodies as they were being tossed in the breakage bin, and found some
curious stuff.
4 person sized IBM rolling storage racks, and a pallet stacked as high as
my head of old servers from UCLA, plus a bin of misc from the same place.
Sadly I can't take anything big and ALL the hard drives were pulled, but
anybody interested that can hook up in SoCal/Corona very very soon email me
asap. Curious stuff I found are stacks of floppies that claim to be S/390
microcode from 1991, a dozen maybe 3363 optical discs, a stamped metal
wrench with an IBM part number, PowerPC diagnostic CDs, and piles of misc
parts and optical cable. Most of the servers were the big double wide
chassis monsters, but I did put my name on a couple of the smaller ones, a
C20 and I think its called a WorkStation 400 (desktop PC sized with a odd
flip up visor type thing on the front. The C20 I think is the last of the
MCA designs from IBM, and it doesn't look like AIX will be too hard to get,
even if I have to buy a legal copy.
Opto22 modules were the literal grab from the breakage bin. Maybe a dozen
pc boards, half with modules (like logic to 240 vac) and screw down
connectors, half Sensory Input boards with just screw downs and a ribbon
connector on the back. Quick check on ebay and looks like my retirement
plans are on hold, but in a way thats good news since its all cheap enough
that I can afford to play with it, instead of greedily selling it.
I found about half a dozen Sony optical discs, I can't remember the exact
model letters, but Sxx501-21, and the connectors are kind of like old style
floppy PC board fingers. Condition unfortunately unknown, and they were too
expensive for me to speculate on.
Simpson multimeter in a rough but intact leather case, looked to me kind of
like a big 360, but I think it said 730 and was not in greatest condition.
I didn't take the leather case, but stuck the meter in a box to haggle over
tomorrow.
Anyway its good to be up to my armpits in a junk bin for a couple hours.
17 Sep
17 Sep
12:36 a.m.
New subject: Making the save at the scrappers
On Wed, 17 Sep 2003, Mike Ford wrote:
4 person sized IBM rolling storage racks, and a pallet
stacked as high
as my head of old servers from UCLA, plus a bin of misc from the same
place. Sadly I can't take anything big and ALL the hard drives were
pulled, but anybody interested that can hook up in SoCal/Corona very
very soon email me asap. Curious stuff I found are stacks of floppies
that claim to be S/390 microcode from 1991, a dozen maybe 3363 optical
discs, a stamped metal wrench with an IBM part number, PowerPC
diagnostic CDs, and piles of misc parts and optical cable. Most of the
servers were the big double wide chassis monsters, but I did put my name
on a couple of the smaller ones, a C20 and I think its called a
WorkStation 400 (desktop PC sized with a odd flip up visor type thing on
the front. The C20 I think is the last of the MCA designs from IBM, and
it doesn't look like AIX will be too hard to get, even if I have to buy
a legal copy.
There were quite a few MCA RS/6000's after the C20.
Opto22 modules were the literal grab from the breakage
bin. Maybe a
dozen pc boards, half with modules (like logic to 240 vac) and screw
down connectors, half Sensory Input boards with just screw downs and a
ribbon connector on the back. Quick check on ebay and looks like my
retirement plans are on hold, but in a way thats good news since its all
cheap enough that I can afford to play with it, instead of greedily
selling it.
That Opto stuff should come in handy. Feel like tossing me a few? Do you
have any of the boards, or just the modules?
Peace... Sridhar
15 Sep
15 Sep
7:24 a.m.
--- chris <cb(a)mythtech.net> wrote:
Is there a good place to check for the value of some
of this stuff? And
not just the value in terms of what its worth IF you
can find a buyer...
but also value in terms of will it sell at all? (It
doesn't do me much
good if something is "worth" $100, but no one really
wants to buy it
right now).
You have conflicting requirements, if you are
interested in the price it will get today, then thats
an auction price which varies day by day.
If you are interested in what the price would be if it
were, say, for sale in an online antique store, thats
a different, but generally more stable (and higher)
price. But you couldn't sell it today.
You are asking for a stable price that can sell today,
sorry, that doesn't exist.
7:31 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "chris" <cb(a)mythtech.net>
To: "Classic Computer" <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 12:01 PM
Subject: Price Check on Aisle 5
Where is a good resource to find out saleable values
of classic computer
hardware? I know eBay isn't really all that great because it isn't
consistent enough. What goes for $5 today may go for $500 tomorrow, and
then not sell at all the next day.
Like many others, I'm painfully short on money right now, and I've just
lost my storage area, so I can't hang on to things much longer. So I'm
trying to find out what is worth what, so I know what to try to sell,
versus give away, versus throw away (I'm already making the tough
decision on what to keep, but that's not really based on monetary value
so much as personal value to me).
Is there a good place to check for the value of some of this stuff? And
not just the value in terms of what its worth IF you can find a buyer...
but also value in terms of will it sell at all? (It doesn't do me much
good if something is "worth" $100, but no one really wants to buy it
right now).
-chris
<http://www.mythtech.net>
7:50 a.m.
I made a good sum by knowing the resellers in my area of speciality
and then contacting them carefully, for example not dumping my whole
list on them, but just starting with the one thing they liked the most.
...and eBay is just too useful to ignore. Offering on eBay with a reserve
set is a way of asking the world for a price on a thing.
Here's a nice reseller listing site http://www.processor.com/
I for one would not find a list for sale posted to classiccmp as offensive,
especially from regular members, at not-frequent intervals. Jim and
Pat have done it, for example.
I think priceguides per se. are nuts. I have a HotWheels that's supposed
to be worth $250 according to one of them. But think about where price
guides are best used, on the table at the big sale so you can open it up
and show an otherwise unknowing buyer what all the sellers want him to
hear. "Hey, it's not me, the price is right here in this book.", the book
being
published by the sellers of course.
John A.
8:06 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Allain" <allain(a)panix.com>
To: "CCTalk" <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: Price Check on Aisle 5
I made a good sum by knowing the resellers in my area
of speciality
and then contacting them carefully, for example not dumping my whole
list on them, but just starting with the one thing they liked the most.
...and eBay is just too useful to ignore. Offering on eBay with a reserve
set is a way of asking the world for a price on a thing.
Here's a nice reseller listing site http://www.processor.com/
I for one would not find a list for sale posted to classiccmp as
offensive,
especially from regular members, at not-frequent
intervals. Jim and
Pat have done it, for example.
I think priceguides per se. are nuts. I have a HotWheels that's supposed
to be worth $250 according to one of them. But think about where price
guides are best used, on the table at the big sale so you can open it up
and show an otherwise unknowing buyer what all the sellers want him to
hear. "Hey, it's not me, the price is right here in this book.", the book
being
published by the sellers of course.
John A.
I remember a story about a collector of the old metal lunch boxes that had
1000's of them. he then decided to publich a catalog with some prices in it
and started a new collecting craze that made him a bunch of cash. Most
people will toss anything they dont want unless of couse there is a catalog
for the item out and then they want to get its "real worth".
If you want to see something funny take a few $250 baeball cards into a
store selling them and see if they want to buy any even for $20. Something
made in the millions that every collector has one of cant be worth anywhere
near $250 that some company making catalogs says it is.
I personally know what I want and how much I want to spend on an item and
wait patiently untill I find it in the condition and price I like. I hit eba
y maybe 2 times a day and see what prices are like for the items I still
want. One week it might go for $100, next month I pay $15 for one in better
condition. Some people get caught up in bidding (and I would bet they are
competing with the sellers brother pumping the price up for something he
wont buy) or just buy the first item they see that they want.
8:30 a.m.
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003, John Allain wrote:
I made a good sum by knowing the resellers in my area
of speciality
and then contacting them carefully, for example not dumping my whole
list on them, but just starting with the one thing they liked the most.
...and eBay is just too useful to ignore. Offering on eBay with a reserve
set is a way of asking the world for a price on a thing.
And the Vintage Computer Marketplace is even better, because listings are
still free. So you can experiment without incurring any costs. You can
also try out different sale formats (straight sale, auction, even
give-away), something other sites cannot offer.
http://marketplace.vintage.org
If you haven't visited yet then you're missing out on a lot of good stuff
that's currently listed for for great prices. Here's a link to all the
currently listed free stuff:
http://marketplace.vintage.org/search.cfm?adtype=G&restart=1
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
10:18 a.m.
And the Vintage Computer Marketplace is even better,
because listings are
The other thing about the VCM that's worth noting is that it's specifically
our intention to create a framework for establishing the prices and trends
of these "commodities." That's one of the reasons we have structure around
the brand and model names that other sites don't have.
Eventually, after a good solid history of data has been accumulated in the
system, we'll be able to tell you the high/low/average/etc price for items
over time.
Patrick
10:40 a.m.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick Rigney" <patrick(a)evocative.com>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2003 3:10 PM
Subject: RE: Price Check on Aisle 5
> And the Vintage Computer Marketplace is even
better, because listings
are
The other thing about the VCM that's worth noting is that it's
specifically
our intention to create a framework for establishing
the prices and trends
of these "commodities." That's one of the reasons we have structure
around
the brand and model names that other sites don't
have.
Eventually, after a good solid history of data has been accumulated in the
system, we'll be able to tell you the high/low/average/etc price for items
over time.
Patrick
How would you get a reliable price range from such a small group of
collector with such a wide range of systems they collect?
Apple I's cost a few bucks but there is only a few around only a few people
willing to spend the cash to buy one (not even taking into account the
economy being good or bad). How will you take into account a system that 5
people might pay $300 but dozens are just given away every year just to have
their space back?
It works better when a large volume of collectors are involved and items
change hands alot or at least have a greater liquidity.
12:26 p.m.
Eventually,
after a good solid history of data has been
accumulated in the
system, we'll be able to tell you the
high/low/average/etc
price for items
over time.
Patrick
How would you get a reliable price range from such a small group of
collector with such a wide range of systems they collect? Apple I's cost a few bucks but there is only a few
around only a
few people
willing to spend the cash to buy one (not even taking into account the
economy being good or bad).
And so, is it not useful to know either as a buyer or seller, that (pulling
random numbers for example) five such systems have sold in the last two
years, and that the high sale price was $25,000, and the low was $8,000, and
what the condition of the items was? I think so.
How will you take into account a system that 5
people might pay $300 but dozens are just given away every year
just to have
their space back?
You're reading way to much into my statement. We're documenting the past,
not predicting the future. If the system reports back that 5 sold at $300
and 50 were give-aways, it's up to you to make a judgement on your own
sensibilities (I know what I'd decide).
It works better when a large volume of collectors are
involved and items
change hands alot or at least have a greater liquidity.
If your goal is to establish an instantaneous price for an item, and the
buyer and seller don't expect much variance, that's probably true. But, I
don't think that's the physchology of the collector (the general term,
speaking not just of computers, but any collectible item). This isn't the
stock market, and although "supply and demand" is hard at work in both
worlds, the driving physchology is different. At least, I don't buy stocks
the way I buy computers. Not even close. I've never bought a stock because
I had it as a kid. :-) But when I buy either, I do my research.
Patrick
1:12 p.m.
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003, TeoZ wrote:
How would you get a reliable price range from such a
small group of
collector with such a wide range of systems they collect?
In time your characterization of "a small group of collectors" won't apply
because the idea is to make it THE place for people to trade vintage
computers. Either way, as data points add up over time it'll definitely
show useful trends.
Apple I's cost a few bucks but there is only a few
around only a few people
willing to spend the cash to buy one (not even taking into account the
economy being good or bad).
Ok, and so of all the sales that take place, each is a valid data point.
Over the past 5 years there have been about a dozen Apple-1 sales, with
the average price coming out to between $18-20K.
How will you take into account a system that 5 people
might pay $300 but
dozens are just given away every year just to have their space back?
There's a thing in mathematics called "average", and "mean".
Check them
out.
It works better when a large volume of collectors are
involved and items
change hands alot or at least have a greater liquidity.
You're right. So why haven't you signed up for an account yet?
http://marketplace.vintage.org
;)
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
7648
days inactive
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12 comments
9 participants
participants (9)
-
allain＠panix.com -
cb＠mythtech.net -
gkicomputers＠yahoo.com -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
patrick＠evocative.com -
teoz＠neo.rr.com -
vance＠neurotica.com -
vcf＠siconic.com -
waltje＠pdp11.nl