computer sales -- now only on e-bay???

From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
Date: Tue May 21 09:47:41 2002

Yes, but my view, based on observation as well as what I learned in Econ101
suggests that eBay, as the auction environment, should produce the top price
buyers are willing to pay.

How one could see it as an environment that produces bargain prices,
particularly when shiping often is the place where sellers make their money,
(having received more than one item with USPS charges of $1.50 where I paid
$10 for shipping) is beyond me. I often tell people wishing to figure out
what to charge for something to look on eBay, at the "completed items" for the
pricing history set by the last month's auctions. In the "classic"
environment, where, one week, an item sells for $1k, and the next it doesn't
even sell at $10, all bets are off, of course.

Dick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas H. Quebbeman" <dougq_at_iglou.com>
To: "ClassicCmp List" <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 8:17 AM
Subject: RE: computer sales -- now only on e-bay???


> Dick wrote:
> > >
> > > Oddly enough, eBay should reflect the highest prices. instead, some view
it
> > > as producing the lowest. I'm not sure where this logic comes from.
>
> It just depends in the item. There will be no bargain Altairs or
> IMSAIs on E-Bay. But I'm picking up 9-track magtapes for reasonable
> prices, albeit slightly more expensive than Mark Tapley has been
> selling them for (I'm sampling the waters, so to speak). Ditto
> the more obscure stuff...
>
> As to the view that E-Bay *should* produce the lowest prices? No
> logic involved there, Dick, that's faith on the part of some
> people in the open hand of Adam Smith- a view I don't share.
>
> Comments about the failure of lassie-faire capitalism should
> be directed to me personally, please...
>
> -dq
>
>
Received on Tue May 21 2002 - 09:47:41 BST