[ARC5] Re: [Milsurplus] Note eBay item 250188239984 (T-16/ARC-5)

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Mike is correct, of course.  Nothing particularly strange about the opening 
bid on this auction.  There are two schools of thought on this matter.  One is 
to start with a low (often ridiculously low) opening bid and hope that you get 
two or more bidders fighting over it.  The other is to start with the least 
amount that you can still sorta smile instead of cry about while you are 
packing it for shipment.  I long ago joined the first school (but have happily 
bought many milsurplus items on eBay from people who obviously didn't).

I also notice that NO ONE ever jumps on here and complains because some 
military radio sold on eBay for what they thought was too little.  

eBay is far from the only place where one can encounter sellers with 
unrealistic expectations.  I personally don't like and never attend hamfests where the 
same thing happens at least as often, but don't mind that there are people 
who like them.  And if I did attend one, I wouldn't complain to the lists 
because I saw something there that I thought was overpriced.  So why should anyone 
on here who hates eBay think they can vent their spleen to the many here who 
don't hate it.  In any case, not everyone on these lists is cognizant of current 
market value of everything discussed here,  Too many seem to get their 
opinions out of 1949 QST's.  If you think the asking price is too high, (a) you 
don't have to buy it, (b) if you're right, so what (see above), (c) you might be 
dead wrong, and (d) those who know that you are wrong (if you are) are probably 
tired of listening to it anyway.

In a message dated 11/20/2007 9:04:26 PM Central Standard Time, 
kk5f at earthlink.net writes: 
> >Check this out gang Epay item 250188239984
> >Holy cow.
> 
> Why the "holy cow" surprise?
> 
> The T-15, T-16, and T-17/ARC-5 MF transmitters have in the past brought as 
> much as $2600 each on ebay.  They are rather rare, and not much is documented 
> about their intended purpose.  The maintenance manual for the AN/ARC-5 simply 
> states that they are "not ordinarily supplied."  
> 
> A T-17 went for about $400 on ebay a couple of years ago, but that was 
> unusually low.  I think that typical ebay prices are somewhat excessive, but Max's 
> starting bid for this unit is *very* reasonable.

Robert Downs - Houston
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