FW: Huge lot of DEC parts on E-pay

From: Brian Chase <vaxzilla_at_jarai.org>
Date: Mon Nov 11 14:32:00 2002

On Mon, 11 Nov 2002, Ethan Dicks wrote:
> --- John Allain <allain_at_panix.com> wrote:

> > ...I've let on that we may have only $1K to spend --- it
> > didn't seem to phase him. At least we have our names in there.
>
> Do you mean by this that for only $1000 he'll blow us off, or that
> he _won't_ blow us off?

Given that the auction states he can get $4000 for it as scrap, I'm sure
he'd not be interested interested in an offer of only $1000. I thought
it decent enough of him to offer it for only $3500. That's really not
that much money considering it's 3-4 tons of stuff--even if 90% of it by
mass turned out to be cables.

I think trying to coordinate a purchase between multiple parties would
get very messy on such short notice and without having some single
trusted party to aggregate the donations and to handle payment. There
are certainly a few people here I'd trust in that role, but the people
I'd trust might not be the same ones that everyone else would trust.
Then there are logistics of distribution to be considered, and
anicillary costs such as storage and shipping.

Out of curiosity, I asked the seller about the timing for removal,
the square footage the gear occupies, and the cost of shipping it to
a location where I could store it. He estimates having it ready to go
in about 30 days time. As is, it's ten skids of 4x4' dimensions,
so 160 sq ft minimum for storing it. Based on what he looked up at
freightquote.com, he said it'd be between $1500-$2000 to ship 1000
miles. It'd be a little cheaper if I didn't need a truck with a
liftgate, but I don't have a loading dock :-)

And when I look at $5000, that amount is a bit much--even given that
I think the contents are still worth it.

-brian.
Received on Mon Nov 11 2002 - 14:32:00 GMT