Caring about old machines is a bit bizzare. They are, after all, just machines. It would be nice to see them in continued use in order to reduce the negative environmental and social impact of the computer industry, or shifted into homes that cannot afford the latest and greatest, but that's another issue.
I delt with a computer recycler many years ago. I went the first time, and picked up some great gear for a great price. I went a second time, and I guess they started questioning my motivation. I was pretty straight forward with them. Told them that the Colour Classics were being sold to recoup my expenses, and the rest were going into my personal collection. He pulled out a massive tome that was some sort of valuation list, I laughed at the prices, stuck to my guns, and walked out with most of the stuff. He commented that they were going to try their luck at selling stuff to the public with a garage sale of sorts, and charge these succulant (for them) prices. I said good luck, and I thought they were going to need it. I was paying $10 to $20 per machine at the time, and there weren't many collectors back then. Granted, I had about all that I could handle anyway.
Yeah, greed is a factor too. I remember, for a short time, that I would walk into a thrift store, ask for the price on computer gear, and they would give some astoundingly high price. This was *after* the price for computer gear fell through the floor, and just as eBay was taking off. So they would say, "but we can get a higher price off of eBay." To which I would say, "if you want eBay prices, sell it on eBay." I knew perfectly well, as they did, that the highest historic bid wouldn't necessarily reflect what people would be on their item. They would also have to wait for payment, and waste time and money shipping it. (They're a store remember, they have to pay for labour.)
It's only natural for a business or an individual to expect fair market price. Even if they're a thrift store, and even if they're a recycler. But I look at it in a different way. A manufacturer cannot charge a retailer the retail price on a product. After all, a retailer wants a profit. As does the distributor. As does the shipper. A manufacturer could charge the consumer the retail price if they wanted, but most of them won't want to. It costs money to go from manufacturing to the consumer's door and other people can do that more efficiently. The same goes for a recycler: sell on eBay if you want to, but don't expect your customers to buy as-is and untested (or worse, known non-functioning) equipment at eBay prices. After all, you're asking the customer to pay just as much without receiving the services that many eBay sellers offer.
I delt with a computer recycler many years ago. I went the first time, and picked up some great gear for a great price. I went a second time, and I guess they started questioning my motivation. I was pretty straight forward with them. Told them that the Colour Classics were being sold to recoup my expenses, and the rest were going into my personal collection. He pulled out a massive tome that was some sort of valuation list, I laughed at the prices, stuck to my guns, and walked out with most of the stuff. He commented that they were going to try their luck at selling stuff to the public with a garage sale of sorts, and charge these succulant (for them) prices. I said good luck, and I thought they were going to need it. I was paying $10 to $20 per machine at the time, and there weren't many collectors back then. Granted, I had about all that I could handle anyway.
Yeah, greed is a factor too. I remember, for a short time, that I would walk into a thrift store, ask for the price on computer gear, and they would give some astoundingly high price. This was *after* the price for computer gear fell through the floor, and just as eBay was taking off. So they would say, "but we can get a higher price off of eBay." To which I would say, "if you want eBay prices, sell it on eBay." I knew perfectly well, as they did, that the highest historic bid wouldn't necessarily reflect what people would be on their item. They would also have to wait for payment, and waste time and money shipping it. (They're a store remember, they have to pay for labour.)
It's only natural for a business or an individual to expect fair market price. Even if they're a thrift store, and even if they're a recycler. But I look at it in a different way. A manufacturer cannot charge a retailer the retail price on a product. After all, a retailer wants a profit. As does the distributor. As does the shipper. A manufacturer could charge the consumer the retail price if they wanted, but most of them won't want to. It costs money to go from manufacturing to the consumer's door and other people can do that more efficiently. The same goes for a recycler: sell on eBay if you want to, but don't expect your customers to buy as-is and untested (or worse, known non-functioning) equipment at eBay prices. After all, you're asking the customer to pay just as much without receiving the services that many eBay sellers offer.
