Reasonable price for a 800XL?

[Ansiterm]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ADME:B:EF:US:11

 

That is not my ebay auction, but I thought someone here might be interested. And I'm trying to get a feel for pricing and selling some of my Atari equipment, so I'm just wondering if the price of this 800XL without floppy drive is in the right ballpark. Shipping costs seem a bit high for what is included.

[Paranoid]

Probably weighs in about the same as a 5200, and that IS what shipping runs out the outside for a 5200, unfortunately. So, add a small handling charge and, yeah, $30 isn't unimaginable.

 

I think that at $15 with Reserve Not Met and $30 s&h... that this bloke is expecting too much.

[Almost Rice]

I can usually get a 800xl shipped for $20. I would not pay more than $30 for that setup. The listing already shows $45 shipped and it does not even meet the reserve. I think he wants a bit too much for his setup.

[BONK]

I paied 20$ For my 800XL in the original box and all.

[Ansiterm]

I paied 20$ For my 800XL in the original box and all.

 

Good for you. What did you pay for shipping?

 

Unfortunately, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not worth the effort of trying to sell some of my hardware, especially when the shipping costs exceed the value of the hardware.

[Paranoid]

Unfortunately, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not worth the effort of trying to sell some of my hardware, especially when the shipping costs exceed the value of the hardware.

 

You're probably right... Selling locally seems to be the way to go.

[Dusk2600]

woo hoo buffalo ny only 1 hr from me bet that was picked up at the flea market there

[BONK]

I paid 0.00 for shipping because it was at a local store where i got it

[Ansiterm]

There once was a large Atari community around here, but that was back in the days when dialup BBSs reigned. I don't know any local Atarians anymore.

 

Unfortunately, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not worth the effort of trying to sell some of my hardware, especially when the shipping costs exceed the value of the hardware.

 

You're probably right... Selling locally seems to be the way to go.

[Paranoid]

I guarantee you there are other people interested in retro-gaming and classic equipment in general, within your *general* area.

 

This site is Atari-oriented, but almost everyone here is not solely interested in Atari equipment... It is a part of a larger whole.

 

Does Craigslist serve your local area? Somewhere nearby you is a 30-something man thinking about picking up an Atari via eBay, but putting it off because he doesn't want to hassle with it, and hoping he will come across the stuff cheap, randomly, at a garage sale or thrift store. And he may... but, if he sees a local machine advertised inexpensively, without shipping, without the risk of eBay, he might jump on that, too. You just have to reach these people.

[Ansiterm]

Thanks for the pointer to craigslist. Is there a charge for the want ads? I couldn't tell from a quick look.

 

I've owned other game systems too. But mostly waybackwhen I was less into gaming and more into programming 6502 based machines including the Atari and Commodore computers and before that some machines that were much more primitive.

 

I guarantee you there are other people interested in retro-gaming and classic equipment in general, within your *general* area.

 

This site is Atari-oriented, but almost everyone here is not solely interested in Atari equipment... It is a part of a larger whole.

 

Does Craigslist serve your local area? Somewhere nearby you is a 30-something man thinking about picking up an Atari via eBay, but putting it off because he doesn't want to hassle with it, and hoping he will come across the stuff cheap, randomly, at a garage sale or thrift store. And he may... but, if he sees a local machine advertised inexpensively, without shipping, without the risk of eBay, he might jump on that, too. You just have to reach these people.

[Paranoid]

No problem. Some of these things are so familiar to us, we forget that not everyone knows about them. Craigslist is free, too. But, most of the people who SHOP craigslist are looking for screaming deals... so expect to get anywhere from 20% below eBay prices to 20% of eBay prices.

[Almost Rice]

I use Craigslist regularly. I have not seen many Atari 8bit systems on there. I saw one in Austin, but he wanted too much.

[Paranoid]

I picked up my first two Atari 5200s via Craigslist... cheeeep.

 

Stuff shows up in Sac on a pretty regular basis... but a lot of it IS overpriced. Especially for Craigslist. Everyone outside of the community *thinks* that 8 bit/retro stuff is ALL rare and expensive, I think. They see a couple of insane eBay auctions and go, "Well, my 2600 must be worth $200, too..."

[Almost Rice]

Stuff shows up in Sac on a pretty regular basis... but a lot of it IS overpriced. Especially for Craigslist. Everyone outside of the community *thinks* that 8 bit/retro stuff is ALL rare and expensive, I think. They see a couple of insane eBay auctions and go, "Well, my 2600 must be worth $200, too..."

 

I have seen lots more stuff in the SF bay area. I just cant get it in Houston. Also, I have seen the overpriced stuff too. They don't realize the lots that get $200+ must have had a reason like a rare cart that 2 bidders noticed. Most people don't see that and think their consoles are worth that much. Remember the guy who listed the 2600 that did not work for $100 OBO. I loved giving him some crazy offers.

[Ansiterm]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...5476462&id=

 

This one is almost sad. He made back his fee, but is it worth the hassle of packing and shipping it?

[accousticguitar]

Now is not the time to sell on ebay!

[Ansiterm]

It's the wrong phase of the moon? The stock market is down? Everyone is on vacation? My left shoe is untied? Or is there some other reason you say that?

 

Now is not the time to sell on ebay!

[Paranoid]

It depends on what you're selling. When the CC2 supply was on sale and running low, 7800 systems were all being driven up on eBay. For some reason (Maybe the 128-in-1 sale?) the 5200 seems to be hot right now and I've seen them going with a couple of games in the $45-50 range before shipping (and shipping is usually around $30 for that beast).

 

2600 systems have been going without a single bid...

 

Atari 8-Bit systems seem to be the same thing...

 

Yeah... S.F. is a hot market on Craigslist, usually... If it is a good deal, I'll make the drive to the bay area to pick something up.

 

And I agree... noobs see something go on eBay, don't understand why, and think, "Well, I should be able to price MINE at that price, too..."

 

And... usually the person will be able to pad a LITTLE profit into their shipping price, on the printer... a "handling" charge... which is reasonable... because packing and bubble wrap and all of that isn't CHEAP... so even if you're re-using stuff you got from a purchase, there is still a value attached to that... plus the time to drive down, stand in line, deal with the post office or UPS... whatever...

 

AND... on those super low end deals... it beats having the thing go to a land-fill or end up getting trashed in a thrift-store.

Edited August 11, 2006 by Paranoid

[Almost Rice]

And... usually the person will be able to pad a LITTLE profit into their shipping price, on the printer... a "handling" charge... which is reasonable... because packing and bubble wrap and all of that isn't CHEAP... so even if you're re-using stuff you got from a purchase, there is still a value attached to that... plus the time to drive down, stand in line, deal with the post office or UPS... whatever...

 

I hope the printer got a decent packing to preserve that box. I have seen too many people just stick the mailing label on the original box. It get annoying when someone advertises the original box and then turn around and use it as the shipping container.

[Paranoid]

I hope the printer got a decent packing to preserve that box. I have seen too many people just stick the mailing label on the original box. It get annoying when someone advertises the original box and then turn around and use it as the shipping container.

 

Oh... that would suck. I can see why a shipper would do this, though. Packing a box IN a box is just going to add to the shipping costs, maybe even drive it up to a point where USPS won't take it... (although I don't know why so many people insist on USPS for the few bucks saving and the mountain of hassle extra it comes with). Every Kinkos is a Fed Ex shipping site now...

[accousticguitar]

It's the wrong phase of the moon? The stock market is down? Everyone is on vacation? My left shoe is untied? Or is there some other reason you say that?

 

Now is not the time to sell on ebay!

 

There just doesn't seem to be many people bidding now. I recently won an auction where all of 3 people looked at it, and I was the only one who bid. It wasn't an Atari item, but it seems indicative of how things are going on ebay right now. There are threads talking about all the great deals people are getting on ebay now. I personally blame summer. I think most people are out doing yard work or going to the beach instead of shopping on ebay. I guess you could blame the economy and high shipping prices, or whatever else comes to mind, but I'll go with summer for my theory. I think things will pick up when the snow flies, maybe even sooner.

[Paranoid]

I've watched several auctions recently, and forgot to check back on them until they closed, and in each case, they went cheap...

 

BUT... in each case, shipping was more than I really wanted to pay, and I'd rather put my faith in people here than trust eBay for Retro equipment. It seems like the problem with eBay is you get people who KNOW about the retro thing, as far as value goes... but they don't understand that retro-gamers offer a whole different *quality* of merchandise, generally, and describe it accurately, at any rate. When someone on Atariage describes a system as, "Tested, Cleaned and Works excellent, but well used with some scratches, dings, and other cosmetic damage"... you know that is exactly what it means. When you see that description on eBay, it means, "The power cord is spliced together and re-attched with electric tape, the joysticks don't actually work, and it looks like a cow took a dump on it"... and the eBay-er wants $60 shipping and handling, for USPS non-priority...

 

Here I don't have to deal with the disappointment of last second snipes and I avoid that "I'm gonna WIN this bid" competition thing going on with the other bidders that causes people to overbid... which is something else I hate... losing an auction because some other guy has more money than sense and was willing to overbid for some common item.

 

I don't mind eBay BIN prices, when the BIN is reasonable. As a matter of fact, I *love* BIN when it is low enough to be a no-brainer. But it seems like very few people BINing Atari items get this.

 

Maybe people are just getting sick of the eBay hassle.

[accousticguitar]

Don't you just love the auctions where the shipping price isn't listed, so you email them for it, and they don't answer?