Re: Has this ever happened to you ? :) Message #10 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 4 Sept 2011, 7:38 a.m., in response to message #1 by Michael de Estrada
Hello!
Quote: Have you ever been just randomly searching on TAS, and suddenly you find a rare calc that normally sells in a regular auction for a princely sum for much much less in a BIN auction?
Occasionally, yes. Like my near-mint HP-15C with leather pouch for 25 Euros. It was even listed in the correct category, I just happened to be there at the right time and press the mouse button fast enough. Or the 41CX with card-reader and other accessories that was contained in a large box of PC remains (ethernet hubs, cables, power supplies, sound cards, books, ...) listed under "household goods". I can't remember the BIN price, but it was low compared to the shipping cost. I tried to persuade the seller to send me only the calculator and keep the rest, but he insisted on "all or nothing" as he wanted to get rid of his junk. In the description it said "HP calculator" but the type could only be guessed from the photos.
But generally I think, as has been said in another thread a few days ago, that the prices for old calculators are steadily coming down anyway. The market seems to be saturated and there are not many new collectors/enthusiasts emerging. I do not know what young collectors collect today, but obviuosly not calculators.
Yesterday I received a nicely working stainless steel HP-01 in the mail, complete with all accessories except the box (even the battery changing tool full of spare batteries is there) for three-hundred-and something Euros. The times when these would fetch in excess of 1000 Euros are over, really.
Regards,
max
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