[Amps] Blowing off steam

[Rob & Terri Sherwood]

NC0B wrote:
I don't see that there is a problem on eBay.  I have a 282 rating, which 
means my wife and I have bought or sold at least that many items. I have 
been cheated only once for $15.00 from a local guy who never sent me a 
copy of WordPerfect, and he would not let me pick it up at his 
location.  Just like with John,  I decide what an items is worth to me, 
and I either win or loose.  On the selling side, no one has ever been 
unhappy or cheated me.  I have even had a ham ship me an IC-781 before 
he even got my check.  Similarly, I was sent an eBay HP 8662A signal 
generator for my inspection, after which I sent the $3000.  Now these 
are unusual examples, but they happened.  If some one has a program or 
contracts with a bidding service, so what. If they are willing to get 
into a bidding war, that is their risk. 

w9ge wrote:

> John W0UN has nailed this one.  The "proxy bid" of e-bay allows you 
> the bidder to only need to bid once, using your maximum price.  .  If 
> no one else bids, then you get the item for lowest possible bid price 
> (not your maximum!).  As others bid, your minimum goes up to insure 
> you are still the high bidder, until your maximum is reached.  If 
> someone wants to  outpay you, you keep your money, or you can change 
> your mind and increase your maximum bid amount while the clock is 
> running. Bids are incremented upward by the amount stated, ie $1.00, 
> $10.00 etc.  Reserves etc. do change the rules somewhat, but they are 
> not difficult to understand.
>
> If you really really want something, then put a bid in with the 
> HIGHEST amount you are willing to pay.  Many folks will bid with less 
> than a minute to go on the clock, just so they have a better chance of 
> getting the item. Of course they must be willing to bid higher than 
> your HIGHEST bid to do this.  It is a guessing game of sorts.  If they 
> guess right and go above your maximum, then your maximum just was not 
> good enough.
>
> It happened to me recently on an Alpha 77...I put in my highest bid 
> several days before auction end.  I was "high bidder" throughout as 
> price went up incrementally, and then with less than ten seconds to go 
> I was beat out by someone else....he paid more than my highest bid.  
> He got a good deal.  I was not unhappy because I had decided what it 
> was worth to me, and no more. I would like to know how high he was 
> willing to go, but that is what is fun about auctions.  You never 
> really know.  Result is I am still looking for a good Alpha 77.
>
> Keep your eyes open as I am considering putting my Collins 204 H-1 up 
> for auction.  0.1 watt in for 4 kw out, autotune to boot.  A real 
> monster.
>
> 73 bob de w9ge
>
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