NeXT
Veteran Member
Looks like he finally popped his top.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190523729625#ht_3610wt_756
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190523729625#ht_3610wt_756
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Sale of a lifetime: Just pay 200 grand.
- Thread starter NeXT
- Start date
NeXT
Veteran Member
I just find it a humorous pinnacle. I don't know who he is but his past pricetags are nothing compared to this.
Ole Juul
Veteran Member
It does look like there is a lot of good stuff there.
Stick it on a truck and save a mint. Actually, just a few years ago I bought a 53 foot certified trailer for $5,000 to move my belongings. It cost me $700 to have it pulled up here. After I emptied it, I sold the trailer for the same as I paid for it. I guess you could call that "creative shipping".
Stick it on a truck and save a mint. Actually, just a few years ago I bought a 53 foot certified trailer for $5,000 to move my belongings. It cost me $700 to have it pulled up here. After I emptied it, I sold the trailer for the same as I paid for it. I guess you could call that "creative shipping".
Lorne
Veteran Member
Hang on a minute guys....
If he says he's got $ 688,000 listed on the Ebay store, and $ 400,000 in unlisted stuff, that's $ 1,088,000.
So, if he's only asking $ 200,000 for it, that's 1/4 of his usual selling price (which is what the stuff he lists is usually worth), so it may actually be a realistic price, for a change.
And if his stuff is worth $ 200,000 can you imagine what Erik's collection is worth?
It must be in the millions !
If he says he's got $ 688,000 listed on the Ebay store, and $ 400,000 in unlisted stuff, that's $ 1,088,000.
So, if he's only asking $ 200,000 for it, that's 1/4 of his usual selling price (which is what the stuff he lists is usually worth), so it may actually be a realistic price, for a change.
And if his stuff is worth $ 200,000 can you imagine what Erik's collection is worth?
It must be in the millions !
eeguru
Veteran Member
I'm waiting for wiredforservice to retire so I can buy him out.
What's the quote - "When I die I hope my wife doesn't sell my tools for what I told her I paid for them?"
I'm got a few hundred K in PCjr parts in my basement. But for some reason, they never seem to sell when I try. ;-0
Mike
I'm got a few hundred K in PCjr parts in my basement. But for some reason, they never seem to sell when I try. ;-0
Mike
atod
Experienced Member
His stuff is way overpriced. Sure those computers are vintage, but I think people are not willing to pay those prices now. I remember about 10 years ago everyone buying vintage electronics for ridiculous prices! I think it was because the economy was good. I purchased a Heathkit Hero robot for $120, fixed a bad IC and resold it for over $1000! Unreal
Very doubtful: you cannot flood the market with all that stuff so it will take decades to convert inventory to cash. Take into consideration the paycheck(s) required to manage a big shop, the cost of warehousing and your cost base is actually very high. Also, eBay and PayPal fees eat away at the margins. You also need to know what you are doing in this line of business. :D
Some serious due diligence would be required by any buyer.
The economy will not get any better so that will not help. I also have a feeling that many collectors already have a baseline and there are not that many new collectors joining the ranks. If anything many collectors will pass away in the next decade due to their age.
If he got $50K he would be lucky, people buy out those kinds of lots for pennies on the dollar.
Collectors don't buy that stuff in bulk, dealers do (and they expect a very nice profit for their time).
Those people that work have the money for collecting but not the time, those with the time don't have the money.
Collectors don't buy that stuff in bulk, dealers do (and they expect a very nice profit for their time).
Those people that work have the money for collecting but not the time, those with the time don't have the money.
Doesn't he post here sometimes? (unless I just believed another person who said that .. and not to confuse him and vintagecomputerman). Wonder what the full inventory would be (seeing that he/they'd probably have one).
True I doubt it would add up financially other than the ebay prices he's listed things as for years but he's certainly sold some big wig items. He's posted some substantial items over the years also although I don't know how many have sold vs took a break. For a long time it was the only two IBM 5100 I kept finding (given they were around 3x the going rate). Recently I think he's the one who had some weird Australian Altair clone also. Course even at that rate you'd need 1000 $2000 items to make your money back as a business.
A friend and business owner recently said the common selling of a business is to sell it for 60% of your business' yearly income and expect to accept an offer that's 60% of that.
True I doubt it would add up financially other than the ebay prices he's listed things as for years but he's certainly sold some big wig items. He's posted some substantial items over the years also although I don't know how many have sold vs took a break. For a long time it was the only two IBM 5100 I kept finding (given they were around 3x the going rate). Recently I think he's the one who had some weird Australian Altair clone also. Course even at that rate you'd need 1000 $2000 items to make your money back as a business.
A friend and business owner recently said the common selling of a business is to sell it for 60% of your business' yearly income and expect to accept an offer that's 60% of that.
Ole Juul
Veteran Member
It does seem a little unusual all in all.
The ad says:
Does that mean that if you are not an electrical engineer or computer technician then you don't qualify?
Yes, if he is selling a business then the profit history, such as annual income, would be the thing he needs to advertise, and not the inventory. I think he actually wants to sell to someone who likes the stuff and not necessarily interested in the business.
Everyone has their individual psychology and dreams, and that's what make people interesting. I hope it goes well for him.
The ad says:
Does that mean that if you are not an electrical engineer or computer technician then you don't qualify?
Yes, if he is selling a business then the profit history, such as annual income, would be the thing he needs to advertise, and not the inventory. I think he actually wants to sell to someone who likes the stuff and not necessarily interested in the business.
Everyone has their individual psychology and dreams, and that's what make people interesting. I hope it goes well for him.
Sure. Just like Colonel Gadaffi dreams he is the best thing ever. :D
Turns out the seller withdrew the item.
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atod
Experienced Member
I took a look at the Ebay completed listing prices of this seller. They are very very high. I was guessing they didn't sell anything ever because the items are listed as "works / powers up / minimal testing / lights glows" aka this stuff probably doesn't work. Wrong. These items do sell. My first thought is this really doesn't work because if the seller knew how to repair it or bring it up they would it add this to the sale. When I sell any vintage computer on Ebay and claim it's working, I first bring it up and test it. I then record a movie and post it on YouTube with the computer booting some software. Now they buyer knows its working. No complaints when it's received. I sold an Apple III for over $600 this way. It was worth that amount because of the validation effort I put in.
I suspect this person makes the sale at such a high price because items are listed as "working" even though they may not be. The fine print says everything is sold as-is, no programs actually run or tested, missing hardware to test (when clearly the seller has an abundance of it), etc. In the end I'm betting folks that are layman to vintage computers interpret this as it will function correctly.
This isn't a bad thing. It's quite ingenious. Hopefully they can sell their entire collection for a bit of profit.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&ftab=AllFeedback&userid=vintagecomputermuseum&iid=-1&de=off&items=200&interval=0&mPg=19&page=1
I suspect this person makes the sale at such a high price because items are listed as "working" even though they may not be. The fine print says everything is sold as-is, no programs actually run or tested, missing hardware to test (when clearly the seller has an abundance of it), etc. In the end I'm betting folks that are layman to vintage computers interpret this as it will function correctly.
This isn't a bad thing. It's quite ingenious. Hopefully they can sell their entire collection for a bit of profit.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&ftab=AllFeedback&userid=vintagecomputermuseum&iid=-1&de=off&items=200&interval=0&mPg=19&page=1
90Q
Member
what he does is a buisness, he is here to make profits is he not? heck, if I could do what he is doing I would!!! he knows what he is doing and I usually always see his auctions while browsing ebay.
In that unlisted inventory... he sure has a few interesting items i'd love to get my hands on.
In that unlisted inventory... he sure has a few interesting items i'd love to get my hands on.
I think that the subtle part of the conversation that you seem to be missing is that you are probably not making profits if you are not selling anything. And the reason for not being able to sell things is because the prices are insanely high for what the descriptions explain the items to be.
commodorejohn
Veteran Member
Well, if he is reading, I'd like to point out that his prices are REDACTED ridiculous and he's just another of the countless sellers who think that everything they own must be priceless because why else would they have it? Good fershlugginer luck with this - I'd be surprised if he got 1/4 as much as he's asking for it.