On Wed, 10 May 2000, johnb wrote:
>
> <snip>>
> > > I generally find eBay sells items for *less* money than the real world
> when
> > > it comes to classic computers. A *lot* of deep pocket collectors won't
> use
> >
> > False.
>
> False? I *have* been asked by many deep pocket collectors not to put any
> sort of large , really rare computers on eBay. I sold the PDP-15, a couple
> /35s and a few other 8s through private offers. I personally don't think
> eBay is the place to sell *huge* minicomputers. It was requested by 3
> already that I NOT put the PDP-10 on eBay as they would not bid, and really
> that would not be too tasteful in my eyes anyway.
>
> <snip>
>
> > This makes no sense. eBay prices as a rule are always much more than once
> > can expect to find in the "real world". In fact, "real world" prices have
> > gotten inflated from people selling their old computers for eBay prices
> > (I'm sure many here have come across people selling old computers, or
> > really just about anything these days, and saying something to the effect
> > of "I can get $X for this on eBay!!")
>
> It makes perfect sense. You get 4 or 5 multi-million $$ deep pockets
> specifically looking for old minicomputer stuff and bidding heavily on eBay
> and watch what would happen. Look at what happened to the Cray manual when
> someone here on the list tried to bid against Nathan [closed around $2700,
> and he was *not* going to be outbid]. Quite a few deep pocket collectors are
> now looking at *preserving* either their first computer or put together a
> small museum. $10,000 is nothing to pay for a small rare computer when you
> have a billion. Put up something like a KA-10 on eBay for auction and inform
> a few deep pockets and watch the bids[I know of 3 *really* deep pockets that
> want one - period! ]
>
>
> BTW: I put the PDP-11/35 on eBay *only* to show what these computers were
> *really* selling for.. I was a bit upset as I got *less* than I usually do.
>
> As for using auctions to value computers? Sotheby's uses past auction sales
> *to* determine value all the time.
>
> >
>
> > > personally will have a running KL10 available for offers but would not
> want
> > > to sell such a mini as a "featured catagory item" on eBay - some items
> just
> > > don't sit well on eBay.
> >
> > If it's too big to ship via UPS then it generally won't do well.
> >
>
> Shipping a PDP-15 to the West Coast was under $2000. A PDP-8/I rackful to
> the west coast - $800US. A PDP-11/35 to Chicago was under $200US (and would
> not fit on a UPS truck). 40,000 pounds of computers to the West Coast (from
> Toronto) - $7000US + ins. Airlines charge $1.20/pound on average to the US.
> Trucks are much less if a large load is going. Shipping is a non issue when
> it comes to heavy computers anymore.
>
> All depends how rare the computer is.
>
> > As I have always maintained in the past, eBay has done nothing but
> > artifically inflate the prices for old computers to the detriment of this
> > hobby (and others as well).
> >
>
> I (most of all) am really fed up with eBay. I have lost several *volume*
> PDP-8 and PDP-11 deals because the individual involved happens to look on
> eBay to see what they are going for. I specifically lost 3 PDP-8/Es in NC
> for a few hundred $$$ because this guy saw an 8/E sell on eBay for $1400US
> just before the deal closed :-(
Well, as you said in an earlier e-mail, prices are set by *demand*, and
it sounds like the *demand* is less than what you demand ;^}
- don
> http://www.pdp8.com/
> John
>
> > Sellam
> >
> >
>
>
Received on Wed May 10 2000 - 00:13:32 BST