Damn fools (was Re: Dell "Oldest PC" winner on zdnet)

From: John Lawson <jpl15_at_netcom.com>
Date: Sat Aug 21 21:56:12 1999

  /Rant mode='ON'/

   Having been in (and peripherally associated with) the 'Surplus
Business' for many years... I can assure you that it is a small and
clannish group of folks... one of the refreshingly more "small world
all of it's own" type businesses. The folks who make really good
livings from the Refuse of Technology many times operate on
handshakes and reputations, and I assure The List that if you can be
percieved as a good customer and a help to that person... by pointing
out the 'pearls' in the stream, then in many cases you, too, can have
access to the back rooms and hidden warehouses that exist all over
the country.

  A businees is supposed to make money. Curently a big IBM 370/XX
installation might be worth anywhere from $3-5K in recovery (read
'Gold').. minus the costs involved of transportation and processing.
Can you offer more than that? Can you broker the system to someone
who will preserve it.. and make everyone money along the way? Can
you show the surplus dealer how to make more money for less work?
And are you just someone who shows up regularly and buys stuff now
and then... and maybe offers some good conversation once in a
while...? All of this goes toward setting up a relationship with a
palce (or places). My first surplus job was over 30 years ago, and
it evolved from customer to part-time employee.

  My point is that most 'scrappers' are making their living doing it
and *do not* harbor dark secret animosities toward old gear. But they
tend to be busy, independent people who do not suffer fools gladly.

  Anecdote: A friend years ago had such a relationship with a
scrapyard here in SoCal. One day a pice of choice military radio gear
appeared that my friend coveted. He brought the Dealer out into the
yard to do a little Dealing. Now, both of them knew that the radio
was worth about $250, and of course both knew that it had not cost
that much. Since the Dealer regarded my friend as a somewhat 'good'
customer, he said "Make me an offer." My smart-ass friend thought he
had the Surplus Business wired, and offered $25. The Dealer said
"Yeah, wait here.." and went off, ostensibly to get a handtruck.
When he returned, he also had a five-pound sledgehammer, and he
proceeded to beat the radio into crinkly little bits while friend
watched aghast. When he was done, the Dealer said "Sold!" My friend
at least had the class to buy the remains, and last I saw him, still
had it in a corner of his workshop in a box... just to remind him the
next time he set out insult someone's intelligence.


  So quit whining about scrappers scrapping and get out there and
save some Classics from those 40-foot containers bound for Taiwan.
God knows I loaded enough of them myself.

  But now I go and sin no more....

/rant mode='OFF'/


  Cheers

John
Received on Sat Aug 21 1999 - 21:56:12 BST