Price guide for vintage computers- matchmaker ?

From: Heinz Wolter <h.wolter_at_sympatico.ca>
Date: Mon Oct 29 00:20:29 2001

Instead of a price guide - how about a "got'em need'em"
list, done up all electronically on a web site ?
Companies or individuals having equipment to go could
be contacted by email and led to the web site...
Individuals, collectors, museums, Sridhar etc could
create accounts - profiles of things they had to move-
possibly sell, but better yet trade, and list their "need" list.
This could be done also for parts, such a DEC modules,
hardware, tapes, software distributions etc...

Matches could be listed by size, weight, transports availability
desirability. When a match hit occured, your would be notified.
Ultimately, a "seller" (regardless of wether payment exchanged
hands or not" would decide which of the potential takers would
get it based on distance, need, trade offer, cash, arrogance, greediness
etc...

In order words much like a cross between one of those internet
dating sites and ebay (ugh!)...except that any money exchanged would
be strictly up to the parties involved.

"Ben Franchuk" <bfranchuk_at_jetnet.ab.ca> wrote:
>>Subject: Re: Price guide for vintage computers


> Ernest wrote:
> >
> > Has anyone considered that creating a price guide might do more harm
than
> > good. What do you think that thrift shops (for example) would do if they
had
> > a price guide? Jack their prices up to match most likely, on items that
they
> > might have sold for less if they didn't know better. I guess my point is

actually, many of them already do..

> > that having a price guide available online might lead to higher prices.
I
> > was able to buy a valiant turtle robot for a fraction of what it was
worth
> > because the seller had no idea of it's value. Every collector has
similar

I think that a price guide would make everyone more honest, but it would
not preclude someone knowingly giving you a good deal - which is alot
better than getting cheated. We're all big boys and girls - if we spend too
much or sell for too little - we have no one to blame but ourselves - for
not doing the homework. Of course if the guide prices were based solely
on those gleaned from ebay or other online auctions, many would say they
would be artificially high - ebay prices without the ebay insurance :(

> > stories, and while those things would still happen from time to time, a
> > price guide would certainly reduce the chances -especially with
software. If
> > the price guide lists certain things as rare and more valueable, then
the
> > seller will likely jack up his asking price. On the other hand, what if
the
> > seller had no idea? The chances are better for collectors to get a
"good"
> > deal. It's just something to consider.
> >
Well, alternately we could just post to this NG with "for sale" or "wanted"
messages like people already do, despite "noncommercial" interest
guidelines...

regards,
Heinz
Received on Mon Oct 29 2001 - 00:20:29 GMT