Computer Value (was Re: value of RK05)

From: John Foust <jfoust_at_threedee.com>
Date: Wed May 17 09:16:44 2000

Back on May 6, I said:
>RK05s? I bought five RL02 disk packs the other day for $2 each.
>I see they're going for $30 on eBay. I'll use the proceeds to
>fund other bad habits.

Just to confound the eBay hysteria, I'll recount what happened
with these RL02s. I was all excited because eBay's history showed
a single RL02 went for $28 a few weeks ago.

I mentioned I had these packs on this list on May 6 and no one
responded. I listed one pack on eBay on May 9. I composed a nice
page, sent private e-mail to likely bidders telling them of the
auction.

Chuck McManis missed my original post to this list, but he was
the winning bidder and picked one up for $5.50. I sold the rest
to him for that price, so he got five with shipping for $45.
(Did I bend any eBay rule by selling him the other ones?)

In another eBay story, I was the top bidder for a Leitz illuminator
transformer for an old microscope I have, at $5. However, the
seller wanted to charge $12 shipping. This item is two-three pounds
at best. I questioned this and haven't heard from them yet.

Similarly, someone sent me a note about Pascal MicroEngine schematics
they're auctioning. For 50 xeroxed pages, the first bid is $9 and
they want $7 shipping.

No doubt some eBay sellers have discovered the old mail-order
rule of thumb that the cost of goods and shipping should be covered
by the "shipping and handling" charge, and that the price is
just gravy. :-) BTW, I always charge "actual shipping cost".

- John
Received on Wed May 17 2000 - 09:16:44 BST