I think I know why eBay items are getting more valueable.

[tokyoracer]

I'm sure many are skeptical as to why items sold on the fleaBay are getting to such un resonable rates but the simple answer depends on how much the buy has to blow. I discoverd recently the increacing number of newer buyers are pretty well off. It's said that users that own large businesses (and even ultra- err... whatever they are called) are joining to buy items and due to the fact that "the richer are getting richer" so they can afford to pay for anything they want regardless of what they are actually valued at. So for the "must haves" things are going pretty well but for most of us (I.E. the "can't haves"), it looks like we are stuck. Not only this, as listing prices increace it will be soon that only the rich will be using eBay in the not-so distant future.

[swoslover]

Lol nice little theory but a bit far fetched one might suggest.

I can just see Mr Big in his ivory tower now saying you know I've always wanted an a1200 with a 68030, Jeeves throw whatever cash I have at it.

[Terse]

Sounds good.  I hate competition.

[tokyoracer]

Well I know of a few "well-off's" that are using eBay but im not naming names. Even for buisiness owners we all have out hobbies. If there are people who got their's running in the early 90's (or before) chances are they had interactions with Amiga's so maybe they want a slice of the action again today. I can't prove that but that's one theroy. All I know is that a wider range of people are using this service to such an extent that the economy is changing. Last time something similar happend like this is back in the 80's.

[persia]

They are *collectors*, they are only happy when someone says "you paid how much?" in an expression of utter flabbergast.

[doctorq]

Okay, ebay is what causes the economy to change.... that's a new one.

[jlmjr1957]

I don't think it is because the people are rich, it's because they are now at the age when they have both time and money to invest in their hobby.

I've seen this happen in the past with other things. In the early 1980's I was in a car club devoted to 55-56-57 Chevrolet cars. I was very young at that time, but everyone else was in their early to mid 30's. When those cars were new, they were kids too young to afford them. Now that they were older and their kids were almost grown, they had the time and the money to invest in the cars.

It also happened a while back with the full-sized arcade video games. The kids that grew up in the arcades, including me, were now old enough to buy and restore them. The prices went way up on them for a while and have now started coming down for all but a few of the most popular machines.

Now, think of someone who wanted an Amiga but couldn't afford it or had one back then but couldn't afford the nice upgrades for it. They are now old enough to have completed school, have a good job and their kids are old enough to take care of themselves for the most part. These people now have the disposable income and time to put into building an uber-Amiga and are not afraid to spend the cash to do it.

This makes it hard for everyone else that is not in that group. Eventually the prices will adjust themselves to more affordable levels (like the arcade machines) or the hobby will stagnate (as has happened with the old cars).

Only time will tell which scenario happens.


-JM

[Gwion]

Maby something to do with the credit crunch?

[redrumloa]

These things go in waves of feast or famine, we are in the feast phase atm. A certain item won't hit eBay for a while, then one or 2 will be listed and bidding will go nutty. People see this and want a piece of the action, so a flood of this product hits eBay and prices collapse for a long time.

A good example is the 1581 floppy drive. Several months back they were going for ~$250-$300. Now they are going for $50-$80.

[Darrin]

jlmjr1957 wrote:
I don't think it is because the people are rich, it's because they are now at the age when they have both time and money to invest in their hobby.-JM

I'm going for your theory as it suits my position.

If you assume that most of us got into the Amiga back in the late 80s/early 90s then you can assume that we were young and at the bottom of our pay scales.  I can state for a fact that I bought my Amiga (a basic A2000) using every penny I had saved during my first few months in the Army (and then some).

Now I'm 40 years old and spent the last 22 working years moving on up the ladder and increasing my wages, plus I have a wife that brings in a good income too.  It's reached the point where if there's something on eBay that I want then there's only one thing stopping me and it's not the money - it's my wife!  :-)

There's probably lots of people like that now.  I couldn't aford a PPC card when they were being manufactured, but I have the spare cash lying around if I want to snag one off eBay now (wife permitting).

Simple supply and demand economics.  As the parts get less and less common, the price goes up.  

Wayne

[Nlandas]

My problem right now is that there are two items I want for my A4000.

1.) A video card with Scandoubler AGA compatible 24-bit.
2.) a PPC accelerator for running OS 4.

While I could come up with the $$$, I guess I can't justify putting it into my hobby computer. No matter how much I love it. I can't mentally justify spending more on a 1993 or older video card than a mid-high end PCI Express video card. Or more on an accelerator card than on a whole loaded new PC Compatible.

I do understand how others do though. I just pray someday that the prices will drop again and I can complete my A4000.

-Nyle

[Xamiche]

redrumloa wrote:
A good example is the 1581 floppy drive. Several months back they were going for ~$250-$300. Now they are going for $50-$80.

I had no idea they were worth so much. I have two of them sitting in my room. I got them a few years back with an Amiga bulk lot I bought. No C64s unfortunately. I might have to put them up on eBay before too long. :lol:

Nlandas wrote:
My problem right now is that there are two items I want for my A4000.

1.) A video card with Scandoubler AGA compatible 24-bit.
2.) a PPC accelerator for running OS 4.

While I could come up with the $$$, I guess I can't justify putting it into my hobby computer. No matter how much I love it. I can't mentally justify spending more on a 1993 or older video card than a mid-high end PCI Express video card. Or more on an accelerator card than on a whole loaded new PC Compatible.

I do understand how others do though. I just pray someday that the prices will drop again and I can complete my A4000.

-Nyle

I also prayed for years that the same thing would happen (For a 1200 not a 4000). Alas it didn't.  The prices just kept going up and up.  :boohoo:

[Phantom]

1.) A video card with Scandoubler AGA compatible 24-bit.

So, I'm a lucky one that I got Arxon Scandoubler from eBay for just 56 euros, right? :crazy:

[scuzzb494]

Sorry....

In 1993 I must have shelled out over £2000 on Amiga kit and year in year out I probably spent a small fortune. Amiga kit today is cheap, and so it should be... second hand. Amiga 1200s that cost £550 cost now around £50 and that includes hard drive etc. The kit is cheap. And for folk like me who still have an interest and love mucking about with computers a few quid on retro is better than say £50 for a PS3 game or £450 for a HD monitor... I guess folk who complain are the ones not winning auctions. Sadly, thats what an auction is all about. There are rarely more than say five bids on most stuff. I get loads of kit with just two bids. I'm just glad there are still folk interested in older kit. There is no grand plan here, its just in the great scheme of things with so many people in the world the chances are two or three people at any one time may just want something on Ebay. I would suggest you study the form and you can play Ebay... Its about timing and patience. And a touch of good luck. To be honest its more fun when you do get a bargain, and that sometimes means being a bit brave. Like getting a very old A500 busted for a couple of quid to find a rare working accelerator inside. Or just buying busted stuff and fixing it... Amazing that loads of Amiga kit gets swallowed up but nobody buys the software. I get loads of books and software for next to nothing. Just begs the question what everyone is doing with the kit...

By the way I am a collector. I have never sold anything. And I am still here after all these years with my original Amigas still running and functioning perfectly. And I would never slight anyone who had a few quid now to buy the things he/she always dreamed of owning. Its the reward for lifes hard work and the basis of our society.

scuzz
http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com