Price guide for vintage computers

From: Chuck McManis <cmcmanis_at_mcmanis.com>
Date: Tue Oct 30 18:08:24 2001

At 02:44 PM 10/30/01, Tony responded to:
> > But Commodore 64s AREN'T worth $200 and no one is going to get that price

with:

>I seriously suspect (based on what I've seen in other areas) that if a
>price guide was pnblished saying 'C64s are worth $200' then you'd see an
>awful lot priced close to that figure. You'd find the odd one priced at a
>more reasonable amount (it belongs to somebody who's not read the price
>guide), I guess. But not too many.

It doesn't work that way. Its like saying some political body could repeal
the law of averages. If the market is fair (meaning that anyone can enter
and anyone can buy or sell at whatever price they choose) then the price of
Commodore 64s (or any commodity for that matter) will be dictated entirely
by supply and demand. Economists call it the "invisible hand" but basically
it means that when you don't sell your C64 for $200 you will knock a few
bucks off the price and continue doing that until it sells or it is worth
more to you than your willing to sell it for (note that this is identical
to selling it to yourself so effectively you have sold it)

Having a price guide does not affect market prices. If it brings in more
buyers (thus increasing demand) then it can raise prices, if it brings in
more sellers (thus increasing supply) then it can lower prices. But the
effect on prices is only tangential to the overall market.

--Chuck
Received on Tue Oct 30 2001 - 18:08:24 GMT