Most hilarious price for a new HP48GX that I've ever seen

[Jonathan Busby]

Just some context : Some years ago, I bought a new-in-box 1995 Singapore HP48GX from eBay for around ~$300 . I thoroughly checked the calc and it appeared to be an authentic Singapore manufactured model. I also closely examined the keys with an illuminated magnifier and verified that they were injection molded.

I remember way back in 2000 to 2003 when I was at a Fry's electronics and they had a few dozen cheaply manufactured Indonesian or Chinese HP48GXs in blister packs on clearance for something like ~$150 a piece or less ( can't remember exact price ). Man, I am kicking myself for not buying their whole inventory

The reason I should have invested ( tongue-in-cheek , or maybe not ) is because of this eBay listing for one of those very cheap blister-pack HP48GXs here . The price is **$5000** USD! The seller must be fishing for a moron with a lot of cash to burn. Can you believe the price? This is especially ridiculous since retailers like Samson Cables occasionally stock new-in-box HP48GXs for around $600 USD. And I thought that was expensive! I guess not...

Regards,

Jonathan

[lvt]

At least the buyer is kind enough for not disable the "Make offer" button

[lvt]

BTW, is there any calculator manufacturer who still makes devices with injection molded keys nowadays?

[Eddie W. Shore]

The most I will ever pay is $300. At that point, the calculator has to be new, top of the line. Even $100-$200 is a lot.

[etn]

(11-05-2023 03:31 PM)lvt Wrote:  At least the buyer is kind enough for not disable the "Make offer" button

The sad thing is, when you make an offer for $1000, the seller declines it and immediately bumps the price to $6000.

I've seen that done many times on that site but still fail to understand the logic...

[John Garza (3665)]

(11-05-2023 05:53 PM)etn Wrote:  The sad thing is, when you make an offer for $1000, the seller declines it and immediately bumps the price to $6000.

I've seen that done many times on that site but still fail to understand the logic...

I think the logic is this: The seller knows the market value and is betting on a collector paying a very high price to avoid hassles, or is unaware of the true value. When he sees one nibble at $1k, he knows the fish are biting - so he gambles for more and ups the price. It's not like a business selling their product. This is a gambling game to make money from a small (sometimes one) number of sales. It's not meant to be sustainable due to the limited number of buyers willing to pay the price.

-J

[linq2008]

The ebay seller is a member of our forum and I saw the post a few days ago。

(11-05-2023 03:14 PM)Jonathan Busby Wrote:  Just some context : Some years ago, I bought a new-in-box 1995 Singapore HP48GX from eBay for around ~$300 . I thoroughly checked the calc and it appeared to be an authentic Singapore manufactured model. I also closely examined the keys with an illuminated magnifier and verified that they were injection molded.

I remember way back in 2000 to 2003 when I was at a Fry's electronics and they had a few dozen cheaply manufactured Indonesian or Chinese HP48GXs in blister packs on clearance for something like ~$150 a piece or less ( can't remember exact price ). Man, I am kicking myself for not buying their whole inventory

The reason I should have invested ( tongue-in-cheek , or maybe not ) is because of this eBay listing for one of those very cheap blister-pack HP48GXs here . The price is **$5000** USD! The seller must be fishing for a moron with a lot of cash to burn. Can you believe the price? This is especially ridiculous since retailers like Samson Cables occasionally stock new-in-box HP48GXs for around $600 USD. And I thought that was expensive! I guess not...

Regards,

Jonathan

[rprosperi]

(11-06-2023 02:13 AM)linq2008 Wrote:  The ebay seller is a member of our forum and I saw the post a few days ago。
[snip]

That is the 1st post of this thread. Jonathan is (likely) not the seller, I'm pretty sure he's just pointing out the idiocy of these kinds of eBay sales.

[linq2008]

(11-06-2023 02:53 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(11-06-2023 02:13 AM)linq2008 Wrote:  The ebay seller is a member of our forum and I saw the post a few days ago。
[snip]

That is the 1st post of this thread. Jonathan is (likely) not the seller, I'm pretty sure he's just pointing out the idiocy of these kinds of eBay sales.

I know。 I said the ebay seller posted on our forum a few days ago that he wanted to sell this HP 48GX calculator. I replied that the price was $5000. The post has been deleted by him。

[lvt]

$500 would be more reasonable.

[Gerald H]

Some info on availability here:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Double-shot_moulding

[lvt]

(11-06-2023 05:38 AM)Gerald H Wrote:  Some info on availability here:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Double-shot_moulding

I hope that HP uses one of those companies to make keypads for their new models.

[Jonathan Busby]

(11-06-2023 02:53 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(11-06-2023 02:13 AM)linq2008 Wrote:  The ebay seller is a member of our forum and I saw the post a few days ago。
[snip]

That is the 1st post of this thread. Jonathan is (likely) not the seller,

I don't know if linq2008 meant me or some other member of the forum, but I can assure you with 100% certainty that I am definitely *not* the seller and that the seller's and my paths through spacetime are distinct Besides, my post really doesn't makes sense in the context of rprosperi's assertion, if it's true : wouldn't I be hurting my own eBay listing?

Quote:I'm pretty sure he's just pointing out the idiocy of these kinds of eBay sales.

I thank you for your insight as this is exactly what I intended on doing in my first post

Regards,

Jonathan

[Jonathan Busby]

(11-06-2023 05:38 AM)Gerald H Wrote:  Some info on availability here:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/Double-shot_moulding

I wonder if it would be easier, in terms of design, and less costly to use 3D printing instead ( at volume of course to offset the cost of the 3D printer(s) ). Since very high end 3D printers can get to the tens of microns level in terms of layers, the quality should be at least as good as injection molding. Plus, with a metal 3D printer, you could have your RPN calc's keys made of titanium I wonder what that would feel like

Regards,

Jonathan

[ijabbott]

(11-05-2023 03:49 PM)lvt Wrote:  BTW, is there any calculator manufacturer who still makes devices with injection molded keys nowadays?

Casio's S100 and S200 premium calculators from 2017(?) used double-shot molded keys. I think they were mostly sold as status symbols for high power executives.

https://web.casio-intl.com/asia/en/calc/.../features/

[lvt]

(11-08-2023 10:34 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  

(11-05-2023 03:49 PM)lvt Wrote:  BTW, is there any calculator manufacturer who still makes devices with injection molded keys nowadays?

Casio's S100 and S200 premium calculators from 2017(?) used double-shot molded keys. I think they were mostly sold as status symbols for high power executives.

https://web.casio-intl.com/asia/en/calc/.../features/

Very interesting, thanks.

That Casio is an excellent idea for desk decoration.

[Chr Yoko]

(11-09-2023 07:00 AM)lvt Wrote:  

(11-08-2023 10:34 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  Casio's S100 and S200 premium calculators from 2017(?) used double-shot molded keys. I think they were mostly sold as status symbols for high power executives.

https://web.casio-intl.com/asia/en/calc/.../features/

Very interesting, thanks.

That Casio is an excellent idea for desk decoration.

You can still buy those Casio's at Yodobashi and Bic-Camera stores in Tokyo.
I played a bit with them last year at a shop demonstrator and they feel great.

[Peter Klein]

Speaking of hilarious... If $5000 is too steep for you, here's a fuzzy surrealist math HP calculator for only $89. :-)