Henry wrote:
Also to put things in perspective - the average restored 'classic' car will be about $15k. The average arcade game, Pinball or Video, will be about $2500. So $500 for an Apple IIe or IIgs loaded how you like is just a drop in the bucket in comparison and probably 100 times less maintenance.Plus, you guys are just cheap! ;-)
I'm jaded. I scan eBay everyday and roll my eyes when I see "RARE!" on stuff that's as common as dirt. I view each auction through the eyes of both a collector and as a common user.
I monitor items that really are rare and when they go for big bucks, I congratulate the seller and the buyer - the seller for getting a nice payout, the buyer because of their obvious appreciation for something special.
I do feel bad for newbie people (headneck01 isn't a newbie though) who buy things at outlandish prices. Vulcans aren't that rare. An Apple joystick, even a new one isn't $200+ rare. These are anomolies - spikes. Similar items listed mere weeks and months before went for a fraction of the price, on multiple occasions. I guess if the buyers of these items thought the prices were worth it, thats their business - but I think they cause an artificial inflation that effects everyone else.
I have no problems ponying up the money to get something I want within reason. As Doug pointed out, this used to be a cheap(er) hobby to participate in. So, when one of these anomolies hits eBay, it's a dual edge sword for me. On one hand, I'm amazed that the someone would pay that much. Then I reflect on the collection in my office and garage and think, "damn! I need to get a security system!"
Personally, this forces an unwelcome change in my perceptions and values of the hobby. Previously, I had a "one for all, all for one - what comes around, goes around" attitude. I'd give away duplicates of stuff I had collected because others had done the same for me. Now, there is that nag of self-interest in the back of my head. Instead of just sharing, I think "whoa, I might get serious $$$ for that on eBay".
Also, it encourages hoarding - personal example: some of the really rare items I've shared with cloning efforts - if they get cloned, they won't be as rare anymore and therefore won't be worth as much if I wanted to sell them. Take the Ramfactor (not rare, but uncommon) and it's 4MB expansion (extremely rare) - a lot of people would like to own a 5MB slinky, especially since the Ramfactor has partitions and superior DOS, Pascal, etc. compatibility versus the Apple slinky. When GSE-Reactive.com begins selling that clone - my original isn't going to be as rare and unique anymore, and probably not as valuable. Did I do the right thing sharing the card so it could be cloned, or did I screw myself for when I might want to sell it for a nice payout? In the end, I chose to think that it was best for the community.
Eh, I guess it all depends on how material minded we are.I don't mind buying the new stuff being developed for my old obsolete computer. I love seeing new gear and gadgets for the Apple II.