Post by thread:[OT]:PC Auction

Last night I went along to an auction of 500 lots of computers. Hoped to pick up maybe one or two cheap low-end Pentiums for messing about with. The lots on offer ranged from 120MHz to 600MHz PII machines. all either 1998 or 1999 models, with 2-3GB empty drives, CD and sound cards (no speakers). Some of them were marked as faulty and non-starting. I thought the bids would be around NZ$150 (US$65) to possibly NZ$750 (US$315). In total amazement I saw bids of NZ$2000 (US$840) and really started to think "hey, am I missing something ?" But no, these PCs were exactly as described in the catalogue. Even obviously broken PCs with missing parts were getting premium prices (which attract 10% premium + 12.5% tax), pieces of crap even I would consider tossing in the bin. Compared to what was on offer in the local second-hand paper (http://www.t&e.co.nz) and even what could could be built up from new retail parts, I just couldn't believe how high the bidding went. Anybody else seen this ? I'm having trouble understanding why on earth antiquated machinery that's had day-in-day-out use for 4 years would fetch such prices -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spam_OUTlistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> Last night I went along to an auction of 500 lots of computers. > Hoped to pick up maybe one or two cheap low-end Pentiums > I thought the bids would be around NZ$150 (US$65) to possibly > NZ$750 (US$315). In total amazement I saw bids of NZ$2000 > (US$840) and started to think "hey, am I missing something ?" > Anybody else seen this ? I'm having trouble understanding why > on earth antiquated machinery that's had day-in-day-out use > for 4 years would fetch such prices Auctions lead to non-rational behavior? I've seen used items on Ebay close for _more_ than the current mail-order retail price for the same item in new condition! I attend pinball & video game auctons. Sometimes prices are reasonable for the condition & age of the equipment. Other times, they are through the roof. I haven't figured out a way to tell until the bidding actually happens. Lee -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email .....listservKILLspam@spam@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> Auctions lead to non-rational behavior? Beats the heck out of me. Oh well, saves me going along to any more. And encouraging to know that there are still people around with more money than sense. Time to put my prices up I think -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

On Fri, 7 Dec 2001 10:00:27 +1300, you wrote: >Last night I went along to an auction of 500 lots of computers. >Hoped to pick up maybe one or two cheap low-end Pentiums >for messing about with. The lots on offer ranged from 120MHz >to 600MHz PII machines. all either 1998 or 1999 models, with >2-3GB empty drives, CD and sound cards (no speakers). Some >of them were marked as faulty and non-starting. I thought the >bids would be around NZ$150 (US$65) to possibly NZ$750 >(US$315). In total amazement I saw bids of NZ$2000 (US$840) >and really started to think "hey, am I missing something ?" But >no, these PCs were exactly as described in the catalogue. Even >obviously broken PCs with missing parts were getting premium >prices (which attract 10% premium + 12.5% tax), pieces of crap >even I would consider tossing in the bin. Compared to what was >on offer in the local second-hand paper (http://www.t&e.co.nz) and >even what could could be built up from new retail parts, I just >couldn't believe how high the bidding went. Anybody else seen >this ? I'm having trouble understanding why on earth antiquated >machinery that's had day-in-day-out use for 4 years would fetch >such prices Auctions can be funny like that, although I've rarely seen it at PC sales - most people seem to know what's junk and what's not - I'd have expected to see the sort of prices you were expecting - the prices they fetched were just insane! I don't think I've ever seen anything pre-Pentium 3 go for over UKP50! -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email .....listservKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

>Auctions can be funny like that, although I've rarely seen it at PC > sales - most people seem to know what's junk and what's not I did notice that of the several Asians there (who I regard as canny when it comes to dickering and getting a bargain), not one made a bid -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email EraseMElistservspam_OUTTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

I can see why some of the stuff would go for high prices- I've been trying to find some old 30pin simms. not the type that clip into the current style of connectors, but the ones with pins that you push into a SIL header of some kind- In the end I had to buy an old computer just for 4 256k simms- stuff like thats getting rare so I guess thats why the prices are going up. Jon Baker jonspam_OUThayseed.net {Original Message removed}

> > Auctions lead to non-rational behavior? > > Beats the heck out of me. Oh well, saves me going along > to any more. And encouraging to know that there are still > people around with more money than sense. Time to put > my prices up I think I've been to quite a few where there were several PC's and every time the bidding is crazy. If you really want to see a crazy auction, go to the Police & Customs seized goods auction. Steve. ====================================================== Steve Baldwin Electronic Product Design TLA Microsystems Ltd Microcontroller Specialists PO Box 15-680, New Lynn http://www.tla.co.nz Auckland, New Zealand ph +64 9 820-2221 email: @spam@stevebKILLspamtla.co.nz fax +64 9 820-1929 ====================================================== -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email KILLspamlistservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> I can see why some of the stuff would go for high prices- I've been trying > to find some old 30pin simms. not the type that clip into the current style I would agree with that - except - all of these had at least 64MB. So unless they were after the cruddy 4x CDs, who knows -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email RemoveMElistservTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

> to find some old 30pin simms. not the type that clip into the current style > of connectors, but the ones with pins that you push into a SIL header of > some kind- In the end I had to buy an old computer just for 4 256k simms- > stuff like thats getting rare so I guess thats why the prices are going up. I believe those were called SIPPs ... I may even still have some if you need more. -- Mitch -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email spamBeGonelistservspamBeGonemitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

On Fri, 7 Dec 2001, Jinx wrote: > Anybody else seen this ? I'm having trouble understanding why on earth > antiquated machinery that's had day-in-day-out use for 4 years would > fetch such prices Heh... check out eBay. People lose their perspective when bidding at an auction, it becomes a contest you MUST win rather than an attempt to get something cheap. It's almost funny to watch some times. My father in law accidentally bought a '51 Ford sedan that way... Dale -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email TakeThisOuTlistservEraseMEspam_OUTmitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

Hi Dale, You wrote: > Heh... check out eBay. People lose their perspective when > bidding at an auction, it becomes a contest you MUST win > rather than an attempt to get something cheap. Very correctly said. In an auction, if some people end up buying an item for a ridiculously high price, they have done so in an attempt to prevent someone else from buying the item. If they don't regret their action later, as Jinx put it, they are "people with more money than sense"! Auction companies do need such people!! Regards, Bala -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList RemoveMEpiclist-unsubscribe-requestTakeThisOuTmitvma.mit.edu

Jinx wrote: > > Last night I went along to an auction of 500 lots of computers. > Hoped to pick up maybe one or two cheap low-end Pentiums > for messing about with. The lots on offer ranged from 120MHz > to 600MHz PII machines. all either 1998 or 1999 models, with > 2-3GB empty drives, CD and sound cards (no speakers). Some > of them were marked as faulty and non-starting. I thought the > bids would be around NZ$150 (US$65) to possibly NZ$750 > (US$315). In total amazement I saw bids of NZ$2000 (US$840) > and really started to think "hey, am I missing something ?" But > no, these PCs were exactly as described in the catalogue. Wow!! A pentium 166 etc here sells in the classifieds for maybe $150 US. Who were the idiots buying old broken computers for higher prices than new ones?? Moms and Pops?? -Roman -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList piclist-unsubscribe-requestEraseME.....mitvma.mit.edu