The value of "real" Amiga hardware

[Tenacious]

I am fascinated by this pattern you mentioned, folks who sold everything labeled Amiga and then nostalgically return to the platform some time later.  There seem to be many who do this, some more than 1 cycle.

I wonder, did you sell off because of dissatisfaction with an ubber expanded Amiga?  I still use and treasure my Amigas.  However, I seem to be going thru a phase of appreciating more modestly expanded A500s, 600s, and 2000s atm.  Even these are commanding higher bids these days.  I was in the "got to be online with Amiga" crowd a few years ago.  Now, I feel that being connected to the world with every available machine is not desirable or practical.  A computer should be useful without the cloud.  

Just a few years ago, there was far more classic hardware than there were users to appreciate it.  With people dutifully recycling (scrapping, binning) old hardware over past 20 years, the pond has shrunk considerably.  Hardware failure (some simple, some not) is also taking its toll.  Amiga hardware will probably never again be as cheap or plentiful as it is today.  

[Tenacious]

I still suspect that periodically we'll see the market flooded with hardware if/when one of these old collectors/hoarders dies.  I've heard (and seen a few pictures) of people that have 20 or more Amiga systems.  Just hope that this stuff gets put on Ebay or somewhere and not trashed! :pissed:
 

I not trying to dampen the Christmas spirit, but, you seem to write a lot of posts villainizing and labeling folks who have more Amigas than you do.  How many Amigas makes an Amigan evil?  

Most of the Amigas in my possession were rescued from certain oblivion over the last 25 years.  I'm not sorry for it.  I intend to preserve them deep into the future.

On a positive note, I value your expertize that you have shared generously with me and other Amiga users.  You seem like a well rounded and balanced person otherwise.  

Sour grapes don't become you.

[Tenacious]

For giggles, I just searched for "Amiga 500, A500, 2000, & A2000" on eBay.  It seems that there are fewer whole computers on offer compared to a few years ago.  There were various parts (chips, drives, keyboards, etc), a few accelerators, expansions, and a few 1080 series monitors.

The prices are higher, not just Amiga stuff, but, everything!  eBay has become a "buyer beware" bazaar (Try a search for Betamax.  ).  It seems there are many sellars now who are asking outrageous prices and hoping for that one fool who is unaware of an items real value.  Some items keep getting re-listed for months at astronomical prices.

Another surprise for me are the old green phosphor monitors (I need a replacement for an IBM 5150, & another for an Hp-86), you couldn't give them away.  Now 20 years after the last one was made, they go for hundreds of $$$.

[Tenacious]

It's the old "Supply and Demand" rule.  Over time, there will be fewer and fewer Amigas around, so lower supply.  Many of the people of my computer generation (80's and early 90's) who could only dream of such machines at the time, but couldn't afford it then, are now in a financial position to buy them.  They are the ones driving up the demand.

There were literally millions of Amigas made (I think I read 2 million A500s alone).  Most of those Amigas and peripherals were NOT collected and hoarded, they were discarded and recycled!    If I were disappointed in anyone's behavior, it's the guys who land-filled their machines and monitors when they left the platform.

@Mike
Your post #38 was noble.

[Tenacious]

For giggles, I just searched for "Amiga 500, A500, 2000, & A2000" on eBay.  It seems that there are fewer whole computers on offer compared to a few years ago.  There were various parts (chips, drives, keyboards, etc), a few accelerators, expansions, and a few 1080 series monitors.

It's amazing the difference a few days can make.  Today, I find 3 A2000s from an Austin Goodwill, all starting at $9.99 as-is.  

Perhaps things are not quite as dire as they seemed!  

EDIT:  This, by the way, is what I was talking about above:  if this Goodwill can't sell them on eBay in a given timeframe, they will likely recycle them.  Who is desperate for a big-box Amiga now?

[Tenacious]

It does make you wonder where theses things come from.

I'd be willing to bet that listing items on eBay is not the usual Goodwill practice across the country.  God only knows how many undiscovered Amigas have disappeared into oblivion this way (A few of mine came from thrift stores.).

[Tenacious]

On the other hand, there seems to be some very optimistic sellers out there.  

It is almost as if the sellers have agreed among themselves to ask ludicrous prices hoping to convince everyone that that is the new normal.

Another thought, could these crooks be getting encouragement from folks adding them to their watchlist?  Do they get some kind of positive feedback from eBay if people lurk on their auction just to see how outrageous the price is?  If so, maybe we are slitting our own throats.