VERY RARE - FA or Buy It Now - Ralph Babel's "The Amiga Guru Book"!!!

[SACC-guy]

@sprocket

I don't know you...I'm in a different camp when it comes to a second hand sale.

IF you bought this book at retail for $60, sell it for that and Ralph gets no money.

Sell it at your starting bid and double your money 60 back plus 60 = 120...
and Ralph still gets no money.

IF someone pays you buy now of $200...GREAT for you, Ralph still gets no money.

IF you really want to show us something. Promise at the least 50% to Ralph.

Just MHO,
M

[SACC-guy]

@itix
Used or new car salesmen get paid by commision. (usually)

Ebay sellers can sell what they want at any price thay want...
I did state I'm in a different camp. I have never sold on ebay or other such things.

I have bought stuff for prices that I consider okay. In fact I like finding amiga stuff I missed.

My point is that a lot of talk about Ralph not getting his due when in fact the seller is just trying to make the most money for himself he can.

Okay! But just don't try to make about some other ideal. (ie authors getting their due.)

If someone agreeds to pay what the seller wants...fine

Then that seller can dance up a storm over his profit...

but, it wasn't about Ralph. btw, I don't know Ralph, never saw his book to buy.

Point made!
M

[SACC-guy]

@dan

No I buy my food at the farmers market. At whatever they charge if I can afford it.

You can make lots of samples of making money... and I don't begrudge profit to grow and invest, etc

I try to live a balanced life and not make any "killings" in the market (of any sort)

If I wanted to sell this book, I would ask no more than I paid, but most likey half as it would be used (read)

[SACC-guy]

So you expect those who've collected and maintained hardware since the eighties or nineties to sell their stuff for what they paid for it?

M- Yes, I would hope so.

So you expect those who have worthwhile software with registration keys and any documentation to pass it along for what they paid for it?

M- Yes, as I would.

I have no need to "show you something" or to show anyone anything.

M- Yes, You're quite right.


As for Ralph, I've owned 2 copies of this book over the years, this being the second and last one I've had.  At some point, Ralph got the percentage of each that he had calculated based on his original printing.  Do I owe him something now? I owe him precisely what he stipulated in publishing a copyright book... that I won't copy it and reduce his ability to sell or revise it for his benefit.  I have no intention of infringing on his copyright.

M- Very correct!

If any of those whining for lower prices on valuable older Amiga items really want something, perhaps standing against piracy and infringement and actually valuing things enough to give something for them when they want them would result in a dynamic Amiga market with lots of users again and that volume would lower all prices.

You're mistaken, I not whining.
I have a different view from you as to pricing.

Remember, it's people like me that allow you to "buy low, sell high"
or maybe it's just the age of ebay...

M

[SACC-guy]

you expect people to sell their items for what they paid for it?

M- No, At most what they paid, usually half, it is used and maybe twenty years old.

Well, in many cases that would mean prices far higher for many items than what anyone would pay!

M- So it won't sell, that's okay.

There are those with differing opinions, yes.

M- Great

..and my use of the word "whining" doesn't apply to everyone with an opinion differing from my own, but only those who seem to think simply repeating their want for free or infringed stuff is going to make it happen.

M- Can't speak to that...

I don't sell things to make a killing.  I can't believe anyone makes a killing selling Amiga items.

M- Oh, yes, lots.

I'll say this.  For those times when I've made an high margin above what I paid for something, I've dumped, given or gotten a fraction for so much more!  That's what happens when a community shrinks, developers leave and items lose their value because a few think it's okay to copy, scan, crack, or otherwise dupe without regard.

On balance, no one really "sells high".  Everyone loses.

M- so in order to balance, one must maximize return?


Sometimes it seems to me many see ebay listings with a high 'buy it now' price, or what they consider a high starting bid price, and assume you're trying to gouge others.
Do a search for the item in closed listings and find out what that same item sold for within the last 2 yrs and the going price may be precisely what someone else paid for it.

M- I don't consider this the "going" price, as you know.

I've had Amiga stuff since 1987, have been a member of multiple users groups and chair of one for a short period, I've given, swapped, sold and donated stuff, and assisted in organizing one commercial show for Amiga vendors.  I've put my time in.

M- Me too, my first A1000 was Jan1986

  I have no patience for so many of these folks who had no idea what an Amiga was before 2000.

M- Not good, we must include all the generations (as we were included)

While I've met many interesting and wonderful folks and learned a lot in this community, I've also found several folks who've gone out of their way to make it a tiring experience as they illustrated frustrating, short sighted and damaging behavior to the community and the platform as it has struggled over the last 15 yrs.

The net is not a good place to really understand people... words don't seen to send how we mean them.
For all we know, everyone is a 70 year old day trader...

[SACC-guy]

I'm not personally aiming at any sort of balance.  When you list an item on ebay you take your best guess at how to position it.

The market decides.  The value is based on what the buyers think it's worth, not the seller.

M- Only if It starts at $1. You can't bid lower than the seller sets... but you know that.
 
The "going price" is what any given sale turns out to be.  I've seen this particular book sell for more than $220 in years past.  At present, it seems like that demand has been diminished by the availability of the digital versions.  Some seem to still want an actual paper book.

M- This still isn't the price as I see it. But you already know that too.

The benefit to the community is that anything continues to have any value.

If it were common that used Amiga items were bringing huge speculative returns on the scale of securities speculators you'd be seeing a lot more stuff listed on ebay.

M- see that last line was meant to have a grin... but I didn't  make it clear...

I think it's fine to see what the buyers will run up to and enjoy your return.