Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!uflorida!gatech!mcnc!rti!bcw
From: bcw@rti.rti.org (Bruce Wright)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec.micro
Subject: Re: Rainbow EchoMail Digest
Summary: Rainbows at auction
Message-ID: <1990Nov21.015443.27487@rti.rti.org>
Date: 21 Nov 90 01:54:43 GMT
References: <Added.obDMp8200UkTA5EE9u@andrew.cmu.edu>
Organization: Research Triangle Institute, RTP, NC
Lines: 43

In article <Added.obDMp8200UkTA5EE9u@andrew.cmu.edu>, theall@SSCTEMP.SAS.UPENN.EDU (George A. Theall) writes:
> Date:     11-10-90 (07:32)
> To:       GEORGE THEALL 
> Subject:  RE: PC100A AT AUCTION 
> From:     FRANK MALLORY 
> 
>  GT> Even if the machine _were_ IBM compatible, this is a totally outrageous 
>  GT> price for a used machine with that amount of disk storage/memory.  Even 
>  GT> with the modem and the printer.  It would even be high for a NEW 
>  GT> machine.
> 
> Evidently DEC established a pretty good foothold in auto dealerships. 
> Mercedes-Benz for one uses VAXes for their parts control and
> other functions,  and they have Rainbows as well as VTs. So it
> isn't unreasonable for another  dealership to pay a premium for
> compatible equipment.

Since the posting quoted by the above article was originally mine,
I think I'd probably better respond.  (The one preceeded by GT> was 
written by me, Bruce Wright.  Actually I think George just maintains 
the gateway between the Rainbow digest and comp.sys.dec.micro on the 
usenet).

First of all, in the original posting it appeared that the buyer 
thought he was getting an IBM-compatible machine, not a Rainbow.
The fact of the matter is that the price paid is not really a 
reasonable price for either a used IBM-compatible machine OR a 
used Rainbow given the amount of hardware that was on it.

Secondly, if a car dealership (for example) wanted to get a used
Rainbow, it's no big deal to locate these in the inventories of
used equipment dealers;  that should allow them to find the maximum
reasonable price to bid at the auction.  It would be nowhere near
$1000 for that machine!!!!

There are times when the equipment is SO unusual that you do have
to pay a premium for compatible equipment.  The Rainbow is unusual
but it is _not_ THAT unusual.  The point is that (at least in many
parts of the country) auctions are not very great places to buy
computer equipment because so many of the bidders are so out of
touch with current prices.

						Bruce C. Wright