Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Collector's Corner..Ebay Auction.....Just Market Forces At Work

Author: Michael Watters

Date: 14:00:25 02/03/05

Go up one level in this thread


On February 03, 2005 at 15:07:11, Steve B wrote:

>>Chess computer collecting seems to be getting more popular and these machines
>>are quite rare. By my reckoning this is only the third Eyeball to be sold on
>>Ebay worldwide in the last year. Hopefully the high prices will encourage more
>>of them out of the closets and onto Ebay then prices may fall.
>
>the problem is they will come out of the closet allright and they will all be
>offered at absurd prices
>
>the last year had about 5 and by my reckoning this is about the 20th Eyeball i
>have seen in 4 1/2  years
>none of them went anywhere near even $750(except last two maybe three)
>and we cant only go by Ebay
>collectors also offer Eyeballs for sale several times a year
>now..bingo  the price is skyhigh
>1  or two silly auctions like this and now collectors will be asking for the sky
>
>look at the bidders list
>there is a bidder there who some consider to be the worlds TOP collector
>he bid less then a fraction of the final price
>i guess he dosent know what he is doing?
>
>Steve

We all see this from our own perspective. You see it from a very lofty perch
indeed - Worlds Top Collector. I understand that an inflated auction price is a
pest and sets the bar higher for a while but the market will settle down.

As an example Clive got £1,235 ($2300) for his Tasc 3 months ago. Now this nice
machine -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5952374006&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

has failed to attract a single bid at 1500 Euros ($1950) despite plenty watching
(684 Andale hits). It has been relisted at 1300 Euros and it may just about
sell.

On the Eyeball I would not have thought that Karsten had any serious intent.
From experience I know that he charges more than Ebay prices for ordinary
machines and can bid high when he wants to.

A popular hobby means higher prices, an unpopular hobby and you can have your
old prices back. I don't see that we can have it both ways.

Of course I do not have personal knowledge of the situation a few years ago. So
I tend to accept it as it is now, warts and all.

Looking up and dodging the droppings
Mike



This page took 0.01 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.