Re: Anybody want a *$600* SecondSight VGA Card from Ebay?

[Sean Fahey <a2fan@hotmail.com>]

bill.martens@gmail.com wrote:
> Greedy?  No.  But considering it is the only one I have seen (Sean
> claims to have seen another but I am not sure how long ago that was), I

Roughly two years ago, same guy I bought an Apple II ethernet prototype 
card from sold it either for $400 or $500, pretty sure it was the 
latter. And I know someone in Omaha who paid $500 for one too.

> would say the price is more than fair.  But of course, if anyone tries
> to make a buck in this business or recover the cost for anything,
> everyone seems to go crazy with the bad language about the guy.  (This
> is proven again and again in this group.)

What's occuring is this: the retro-computing hobby/collecting is 
growing. New people (or is it old coming back?) are picking the gear up 
and either don't know the value, or don't mind paying more for to get 
what they want - instant gratification - but it's increasing demand, 
reducing supply therefore driving up prices. The people who've never 
left or who have been at this for awhile, have been used to heading down 
to the local school auction, or finding people giving away these old 
obsolete computers for a long time and gotten used to it. Apple II's 
have been more or less a cheap hobby - but if you want to deck out the 
machine with premium accessories, especially hard to get or find parts, 
be prepared to pay.

The Apple II economy is pretty hot right now.

Clean complete GS systems are going for $150-$350 which is a amazing 
since just a few years ago, you could get a nice system for $50 or less.

The last 2 ZipGS boards on eBay went for $356 and $405 - up from $150 
they used to sell for - and I recall when $50 for one was considered a 
fair price.

Used Focus drives... $180 - $250.

So Bill, I think it's like the gas. When people are used to getting 
something cheaply, they really notice it when the prices start going up.