[Milsurplus] e-bay rip off

[Floyd Davidson]

Ben Nock <G4BXD@compuserve.com> wrote:
>
>True, something is only worth what one wants to pay but many folk can =
be
>fooled into thinking
>stuff on e-bay is worth more than it is. They think its rocking horse =
dung
>when in reality=20
>the same stuff can be bought for a fraction of the price on e-bay.  eg=
..
>Navy key the other day...
>when last looked it was over =A3170.. they are available at any rally =
for =A365
>.. now if the chap=20
>who bought knew that dont you think he will consider himself ripped of=
f ?
>he saw the price going up
>on the site and, maybe due to lack of the knowledge folk like we have,=
=20
>thought it must be worth that=20
>when its obviously not.=20

Well what about the "Navy key" that I let get by me a couple
days ago by accident.  It went for US$13.95!  (An SC-1184A
military spark gap key, complete and in good condition.)  I blew
it and didn't get a bid placed...

Who got ripped off on that?  The seller!

>So yes, rip off site. I'd rather buy off someone who's honest enough t=
o say
>how much he wants for=20
>something.=20

The trick to buying on eBay is the same as buying anywhere else:
knowing how much *you* are willing to pay for something.  What
the seller thinks it's worth isn't important.

Don't offer more than you think is reasonable to pay, on eBay or
anywhere else.  On eBay you may get it for less, or somebody
else might be willing to pay more (for reasons that you may be
totally unaware of, good bad or indifferent).

I can't speak for most electronic items, or even about most
boatanchor equipment, but I do watch straight keys pretty close.
Some kinds of straight keys at least, but not bugs and not all
straight keys.

Clearly the average seller hasn't got a clue what any given
telegraph key is worth.  And just as clearly there are many
buyers who also don't have a clue.  I don't see how that
affects me either way.  I buy keys for what they are worth
to *me*, and if that is less than it is worth to somebody
else I just have to wait until another one like it shows up,
or go without.

--=20
Floyd L. Davidson           <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska)                         floyd@barrow.com