HP Forum Archive 20

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Auction Disaster Message #1 Posted by Nick Taylor on 2 Nov 2011, 5:11 a.m. I've been after a HP-71B for quite some time. One appeared on EBay here in the UK recently and I managed to win it. I paid the money immediately via PayPal and began to get excited. Soon, I would have one! After about 5 minutes, I received an email from PayPal stating that my money had been refunded. A feeling of dread began in the pit of my stomach. A few minutes later, I received an email from the seller saying that he had managed to tread on the calculator in the dark, and had smashed it! Is it safe to assume that this hasn't happened to anyone else?! My search for a HP-71B continues. Hopefully from a less clumsy seller in future. My girlfriend doesn't really understand why I'm so disappointed, but I know you all will. Regards Nick

Re: Auction Disaster Message #2 Posted by Paul Dale on 2 Nov 2011, 5:39 a.m., in response to message #1 by Nick Taylor I've got a spare if you are interested.... - Pauli

Re: Auction Disaster Message #3 Posted by Dave Shaffer (Arizona) on 2 Nov 2011, 1:28 p.m., in response to message #2 by Paul Dale Girl friend or calculator?!

Re: Auction Disaster Message #4 Posted by Nick Taylor on 3 Nov 2011, 7:19 a.m., in response to message #2 by Paul Dale Quote: I've got a spare if you are interested.... - Pauli Pauli has kindly sold me one of his! The calculator, I think... Edited: 3 Nov 2011, 7:21 a.m.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #5 Posted by Bart (UK) on 2 Nov 2011, 6:02 a.m., in response to message #1 by Nick Taylor I have had similar incidents with several calculators (at least 3 that I recall off the top of my head). One I think was genuine - he sent the manuals for no charge. Others I think are just an excuse as they wanted a higher price.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #6 Posted by Paul Gaster on 2 Nov 2011, 12:53 p.m., in response to message #5 by Bart (UK) Quote: Others I think are just an excuse as they wanted a higher price. You are probably correct. Nick, if I were you I would watch the seller's items for sale for a while. Of course if this person puts it up for sale again I doubt even a complaint to ebay would make the guy sell it to you at the previous final auction price.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #7 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 2 Nov 2011, 2:44 p.m., in response to message #6 by Paul Gaster Hello! Quote: Of course if this person puts it up for sale again I doubt even a complaint to ebay would make the guy sell it to you at the previous final auction price. He will certainly come up with some kind of excuse like "I was able to repair it, the damage was not as bad as I initially thought". Almost impossible to prove the contrary, eBay won't help either as you already got your money back. But don't worry, 71s are not really rare. With a little patience you will soon find another one. I have three or four (I buy them mainly for the modules) and will sell you one if nothing else helps! Good luck, max

Re: Auction Disaster Message #8 Posted by Nick Taylor on 3 Nov 2011, 12:26 p.m., in response to message #7 by Maximilian Hohmann Well, you were right - it has been relisted: Relisted Item However, it's marked as not working, so maybe he was telling the truth? That said, he did tell me it was "smashed" rather than it won't turn on. He had offered it to me for £5. Should I have accepted? Edited: 3 Nov 2011, 12:28 p.m.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #9 Posted by robert rozee on 3 Nov 2011, 12:45 p.m., in response to message #8 by Nick Taylor Quote: He had offered it to me for £5. Should I have accepted? ummm... YES!! even for just the plastic components (port covers, etc) that was a very reasonable price - assuming postage to get it to where you are isn't too high.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #10 Posted by Bart (UK) on 3 Nov 2011, 4:36 p.m., in response to message #8 by Nick Taylor Quote: He had offered it to me for £5. Something you hadn't mentioned in your first post ;-) (maybe because you hadn't received the offer yet). He's used the same photo. Maybe he hadn't actually tested it before the first listing, and was too embarassed to admit it when he tried to test it before posting it off to you. And yes, always good idea to get cheap spares when you can.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #11 Posted by Nick Taylor on 3 Nov 2011, 5:19 p.m., in response to message #10 by Bart (UK) To be honest, it was in his email, but his English was so garbled that I missed it! I'll try and get it for £5 as the general consensus is that it would be a good idea. Sorry for all the questions - I'm very new at this, and clearly have a lot to learn! Thanks for all the patient advice. This is a fascinating forum, and it's good to know that I'm not the only one who thinks these old machines have an almost magical charm about them.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #12 Posted by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen on 3 Nov 2011, 7:29 a.m., in response to message #1 by Nick Taylor Hi Nick I think I can dust up a spare HP-71B. It is not mint at all but will satisfy your need for the calculator for a while. I will like to trade for some other vintage electronics. Cheers! Johnny

Re: Auction Disaster Message #13 Posted by Nick Taylor on 3 Nov 2011, 8:57 a.m., in response to message #12 by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen Many thanks Maximillian and Johnny, but Pauli has very kindly agreed to sell me one of his. I'm still looking for that Forth/Assembler Module though if you have one going spare? Johnny - I don't have much of a collection really. Certainly nothing in comparison to yours. The only spares I have are: HP-12C (USA), HP-12C (Singapore) and an HP-97 for parts, which I use to keep my favourite desk-calculator working.

Re: Auction Disaster Message #14 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 3 Nov 2011, 4:37 p.m., in response to message #13 by Nick Taylor Hi! Quote: I'm still looking for that Forth/Assembler Module though if you have one going spare? Unfortunately, I have only one of those... But if you ever come across a 71 that "won't turn on" it is always worth buying (if cheap enough), as some of them require a couple of seconds of pressing the ON key to come alive! Regards, max

Re: Auction Disaster Message #15 Posted by Bart (UK) on 4 Nov 2011, 6:57 a.m., in response to message #14 by Maximilian Hohmann Quote: ... as some of them require a couple of seconds of pressing the ON key to come alive! Ah, that happens more often then? That did puzzle me when I first got mine a few months ago. I had been meaning to ask this forum, but hadn't gotten around to it yet. Thanks for mentioning it :-)

Re: Auction Disaster Message #16 Posted by Paul Dale on 4 Nov 2011, 7:40 a.m., in response to message #15 by Bart (UK) Is it having an HP IL module without cables? - Pauli

Re: Auction Disaster Message #17 Posted by Bart (UK) on 4 Nov 2011, 8:14 a.m., in response to message #16 by Paul Dale Yes, is it looking for something to communicate with?

Re: Auction Disaster Message #18 Posted by Nick Taylor on 4 Nov 2011, 8:44 a.m., in response to message #17 by Bart (UK) Well I took your advice and have bought it for £5. I don't think it has an IL module in it though, so maybe the reason that it's not turning on is that it is broken. Still, at least I have some spare parts now if Pauli's one ever fails me!

Re: Auction Disaster Message #19 Posted by Bart (UK) on 4 Nov 2011, 8:50 a.m., in response to message #18 by Nick Taylor I noticed he had ended the auction. I think £5 is well worth it, even for parts.

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