Goodwill, Auctions via Listserv, etc...

From: Michael Brutman <mbbrutman_at_bresnanlink.net>
Date: Wed May 23 21:30:00 2001

I've been lurking, but I pipe up once in a while about the smaller
iron (like PCjrs). I generally withhold my opinion to avoid wasting
bandwidth, but I feel strongly enough about this to want to say
something.

Spotting something in a secondhand store, asking for help here
because you don't know if it is a toaster or a computer, and then
using a this listserv to auction it off is in poor taste.

This wasn't a "Hey, I found a PCjr to PC keyboard adapter, does
anybody need one" kind of question. Somebody made the argument
that given the rarity of the item, it is appropriate to auction
it. Fine. Auction it on E-Pay, and use their bandwidth and
resources. Oh, by the way, it's usually good form to OWN the
item you are auctioning. Post a notice here that the item is
going up on Ebay if it truly is that interesting. This isn't
a "keep it in the family/community" deal, it was more along the
lines of "Can I make a buck, and how hard can I squeeze?"

My vote for the person who should own it is Louis - he was
passionate about it. That's a sign of a good home. ;-)

To those of you who entered the bidding; I hope the seller's
ethics raised some flags in your heads before you made your bids.
I would not buy under these circumstances.


Mike
Received on Wed May 23 2001 - 21:30:00 BST