[Boatanchors] Re: [R-390] Ebay Prices

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On 3/23/07, Tim  Shoppa <tshoppa at wmata.com> wrote:
> As a second example, in the late 50's the
> list price of a 75A-4 was $695.
>
> Today the average E-bay price seems to be $939.
>
> Gas prices went up by a factor of 11 over the last 50 years.
>
> If radios went up as fast, the 75A-4 would be $7700 today.

During what some of us refer to as the 'feeding frenzy' that started
in the late 90s into the first few years of this century, the average
price of a decent 'A-4 was $1500+. S-Line gear was higher, late model
KWM-2As were bringing over $2K in many instances. IMHO, this was due
to a huge spike in demand as many folks new to the game were trying to
catch up. It wasn't unusual to hear of someone bidding high just based
on the manufacturer and previous high sale prices. Whether to 'get one
before it's too late' or for investment speculation, there was
certainly a rush going on.

As buyer's education set in and people saw just how plentiful much of
this gear was, prices settled and have even dropped on many items.
Even items like really clean ARC-5 equipment has come down a lot,
although it's still much higher than it was before the frenzy began.
The stuff with a high 'desirability vs low numbers produced' ratio
will always be pricey.

Ebay is a great tool. I enjoy it at least as much for the
entertainment value as for finding items I'd never see otherwise.
Anyone can play, and you don't have to bid if the price doesn't suit
you. But it's not *the* market price, more a high water mark as others
have indicated. I think that as more time passes, it will be more of a
place for getting max dollar for high-end items, with better deals to
be found on more plentiful items.

At a small hamfest last weekend I observed the so-called 'ebay effect'
in action. One seller had some really high priced items on his table.
When folks questioned him, he commented that he'd checked ebay and
that was what the stuff was selling for. He took virtually all of it
home with him, while others sold their stuff.

Hamfests, yard sales, private sales, classifieds - they all need to be
factored in. In the end, the average person will still only pay what
they feel it's worth. The ones wearing blinders and viewing only one
source as 'the going price', be it ebay or yard sale prices, will end
up paying too much or missing out.

Looking forward to seeing folks at Dayton. It'll be my first time there.

73, Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ