Ebay notices, was re: PDP-8 on e-bay

From: Steve Robertson <steverob_at_hotoffice.com>
Date: Wed Jan 20 15:37:21 1999

OK.. I guess I'll have to appologize for starting this flame war.

Of the lists that I subscribe to, this one has always impressed me by how
cooperative and sharing the members are. Every single day I see members
donating their time, effort, knowledge, and hardware to promote the hobby
of collecting computers. Unfortunately, It's threads like this that kill
the spirit of the group.

In my own defense, I'd like to say: I am not a "conniving, sniviling, wheez
who would probably step on my own mother to get at a cool computer". I
don't think most of the other members would either. I hope anyone that
does, gets exactly what they want!

Secondly, I'm not just the guy with the bull horn. Just check the bidding
history on the SOL and see who the first bidder was! I posted it in the
group because, someone here might want it more than me. If they do, then so
be it...

If you check any of those listings you'll see they have really obscure
terms like "computer" in the description. Now, if that's hidden in a dark
corner where it'll get overlooked, then I'll eat my hat.

Thirdly, there have been a number of times that I have intentionally
skipped a bid when I knew that a member of this group was bidding on an
item. IE: The "Ohio Scientific" thingy that Andrew Davies was looking at a
couple of weeks ago. Sure I'd like to have it but, I wouldn't bid against
someone that REALLY appreciates it.

Fourthly, I for one am willing to share my good fortune with the other
members. I'd much rather see something from my collection go to someone in
this group that anywhere else. When I decide to get rid of something,
you'll (group) be the first to know.

Also, I don't think this set any kinda precedent. I've seen plenty of
similar messages.

Finally, I really do appologize. If I had realized that it would be taken
so personally, I would have never posted it.


Steve Robertson - <steverob_at_hotoffice.com>


-----Original Message-----
From: Doug [SMTP:doug_at_blinkenlights.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 1999 3:34 PM
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
Subject: Re: Ebay notices, was re: PDP-8 on e-bay

On Wed, 20 Jan 1999, Marvin wrote:

> I understand there is more than a little competition for that stuff at
some
> of the bay area swap meets and perhaps that is where your philosophy
comes
> from. I've missed some spectacular bargains at similar swap meets, but I
> also know the stuff went to good homes. When I first started collecting,
I
> might have had the same philosophy, but time has taught me that the real
> bargains come through my contacts, not ebay. Most people who know me
> realize I am not in this thing for money but rather attempting to keep as
> much as I can from hitting that great dumpster in the sky. A side
benefit
> is helping other collectors.

That's what makes your actions even more ludicrous to those of us who do
buy stuff on ebay -- the guy at the swap meet with the bull horn is not
there to buy or sell, he just came to advertise using his bull horn!

Ebay advertises their service nationally, and they have a $10 billion
market cap to draw from. I don't think they need your help. If your only
concern is that every orphaned computer find a home, then I think the only
right thing for you to do is to make sure that every one of the contacts
from whom you get your old computers has the name and phone number of
everybody on this list just in case you're out of town when they call.

You expressed concern when you found that somebody was willing to pay a
higher price than a closing bid. Did you have that same concern when you
paid a few dollars for an Altair or an IBM 5100?

-- Doug
Received on Wed Jan 20 1999 - 15:37:21 GMT