Overpriced 11C--mea maxima culpa!



#2

In an earlier thread, I ranted when my feelings were hurt when a Forum contributor took issue with the apparent intellectual capacity of the high rollers in an 11C auction, not knowing I was one of the rogue bidders.

Well, I have been duly humbled, since I am starting to see his point.

Check out this.

I initially bid too high on this. Then I wised up and asked the seller to send me close ups. What he classes as scratches from routine use really look quite horrible in the glare of a camera flash--the words "surveyor grade" or "field grade" quality, not "routine use", come to mind.

So I retracted my bid (the horror!) and re-bid lower, out of courtesy, and prayed I would be soon outbid.

I was not disappointed. Just look at the craziness of this auction! If the high bidder is willing to spend that much, a few more bucks at hpcalcman.com will fetch a unit in much better condition--thanks
Randy for advising me of that.

I just don't get this crazy market. I do admit I tend to tolerate slightly elevated prices if I like the unit and if there are other attributes of the sale that I like (extras, seller here in Canada so no duty, reasonable shipping cost). But well over $200 for what I know to be a cosmetically inferior unit with nothing else to sweeten the deal (box, manual) is a little perplexing. What is more perplexing is that I would have been wholly untroubled by this only a few days ago!

Live and learn. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa....

Cheers,

Les


#3

I know that NIB is the true collector's dream around here, but even still I find this auction has gone just total nutz, and with 5 days to go yet!

For that money, I would be afraid to use the thing. And, I tell you, what is the fun in that?!?

Les


#4

Over 400 dollars! Wow!

I'v got a nearly new 11C, with a mint condition box, manual, warranty card, etc. It is an early model which has the bug. If there really is a buyer at the 400 dollar level out there then I'm a willing seller. But how do I avoid being flooded by the Nigerian offers?

#5

Quote:
For that money, I would be afraid to use the thing. And, I tell you, what is the fun in that?!?

Well, here is a BuyItNow 15C you might consider, if you just want a usable machine. (Nothing to do with me; I suspect it won't stay on eBay long at that price, though.)

#6

Frank, this will probably break Les' heart. It was snapped up less than an hour after your post. At least our "favorite" buyer and reseller did not get it.


#7

Actually, I am good. I got a fairly decent one with manual (no box though) for well under $200, so I am content.

The $75 "steal" actually looks pretty rough. If the bezel is in such rough shape, I would worry about the integrity of stuff near it--like the LCD!

I am particularly excited about this..

Yeah, I know it is no 65 or 67, with its measly 49-step program memory, and that the monkey business with the battery compartment would make the true aficonado cringe, but I am really glad to have nabbed it. Having rediscovered my old TI57, it makes me wish I had owned an LED HP in the day. The 33c would have been the TI57's rough equivalent, with the added advantage of continuous memory and HP craftsmanship.

Les

#8

You're right Les; sorry I got a bit carried away with myself bidding $400 on this HP-11C. I'm just afraid of what my wife will say when she finds out. Let's hope I'm outbid...

Ian J
www.JacksonConsult.com


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