This week in super high prices on TAS

[Eddie W. Shore]

HP 32S RPN, new in box, $1,500 USD

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203675948595?ha...Q&LH_BIN=1

[Valentin Albillo]

(03-27-2023 12:22 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  HP 32S RPN, new in box, $1,500 USD [...]

Like this one (also NIB) ?

Only $53.86 USD but not for sale, though ...

V.

[Eddie W. Shore]

(03-27-2023 12:45 AM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  

(03-27-2023 12:22 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  HP 32S RPN, new in box, $1,500 USD [...]

Like this one (also NIB) ?

Only $53.86 USD but not for sale, though ...

V.

Yes, like the one pictured. And $53.86 is a lot better price .

[Dave Britten]

(03-27-2023 12:45 AM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  

(03-27-2023 12:22 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  HP 32S RPN, new in box, $1,500 USD [...]

Like this one (also NIB) ?

Only $53.86 USD but not for sale, though ...

V.

Hell, I'd take two or three at that price.

[Eric Rechlin]

(03-27-2023 02:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  

(03-27-2023 12:45 AM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  Like this one (also NIB) ?

Only $53.86 USD but not for sale, though ...

V.

Hell, I'd take two or three at that price.

Of course, $53.86 back then would be more like $130 or so today.

[david sanz]

For your information.

One used 42S in working condition with minor cosmetic wear was sold on TAS yesterday for 142€. No box or manuals though. Shipping from Italy.

So I guess that is the current market price, rather than 1,500$

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello,

this evening, an HP-71B was sold on eBay in Germany for 1075 Euros. This is the highest price for a 71B that I have seen so far in this part of the world. It came with some modules and a few packs of magnetic cards, but it still is a lot of money! Inflation seems to have reached the HP collectors market.

Regards
Max

[rprosperi]

(03-27-2023 09:54 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Hello,

this evening, an HP-71B was sold on eBay in Germany for 1075 Euros. This is the highest price for a 71B that I have seen so far in this part of the world. It came with some modules and a few packs of magnetic cards, but it still is a lot of money! Inflation seems to have reached the HP collectors market.

Regards
Max

What modules were included? These days a Forth/Assembler ROM alone goes for $400 more often than not, so it's feasible the 1075 Euros isn't a bad price for a 71B bundle, as unreasonable at that sounds...

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(03-27-2023 10:34 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  What modules were included?

A MATH ROM, a TEXT EDITOR ROM and two memory modules (4k and 32k if I remember correctly, I'm watching nearly every vintage calculator being auctioned and sometimes I get confused ...).

(03-27-2023 10:34 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  These days a Forth/Assembler ROM alone goes for $400 more often than not, so it's feasible the 1075 Euros isn't a bad price for a 71B bundle, as unreasonable at that sounds...

You are probably right, I bought one of my 71B calculators just for the modules it came with, but that was a decade ago and prices were more in line with my income then. In the meantime, the income didn't change much but the vintage calculator prices have triplicated.

Regards
Max

[Eddie W. Shore]

And I when I thought that prices would not be higher, this one wins the prize so far:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125762044313?ha...Swjmhj4~oo

[TallKey]

(03-28-2023 02:10 PM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  And I when I thought that prices would not be higher, this one wins the prize so far:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125762044313?ha...Swjmhj4~oo

Calling this:
"Manipulating search" or "achieve visibility"

Seller is out of the item or sought "high to low sort" first view status.

Good for the seller, bad for buyers is my summary.

[Eric Rechlin]

(03-28-2023 02:10 PM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  And I when I thought that prices would not be higher, this one wins the prize so far:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125762044313?ha...Swjmhj4~oo

Maybe they entered the price in Egyptian Pounds but accidentally clicked US Dollars. The price would be more reasonable then, and the seller is in Egypt so it sounds plausible.

[toml_12953]

(03-28-2023 02:10 PM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  And I when I thought that prices would not be higher, this one wins the prize so far:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125762044313?ha...Swjmhj4~oo

Hell, it's $900.00 off! Who can resist a bargain like that? Now if it had its battery cover, it could go for twice that! I'd jump on it! I wouldn't buy it but I'd jump on it!

[rprosperi]

This listing is a riot...

In various places in the listing it says "rated 2/5", "rated 3/5", "For Parts Or Repair. Battery cover missing." (although photos confirm it is not missing). Looks suspicious...

Oh wait... Seller offers free returns... Ah, there you go, so it's risk-free after all....

For the real bargain hunters, seller is also offering an $11,400 Casio FX-3.

[BillBee]

The 35s has been starting to get crazy. $150, $225 sold prices.

Two years ago I picked up 2 @ $25 each.

-B

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(03-29-2023 06:25 PM)BillBee Wrote:  Two years ago I picked up 2 @ $25 each.

A lot has changed in those two years. We went from a decade of zero inflation to over ten percent inflation within a few months. I can understand why people rather spend their money on collectibles quickly then to watch it melt away im their bank account.

I have been collecting calculators for quite some time now. My "iron principle" used to be: "Never pay more for a calculator than the number on it's faceplate" (initially in german Mark, now in Euro). I think I managed to get 90 percent of my HP collection without breaching that principle :-) My first major violation was of course the purchase of an HP-01. I had to add three zeros to my iron principle in order to be able to add one of these to my collection... But that was the greatest sin I committed and I never would pay more than 35 Euros for an HP-35. Be it the original one or the 35S.

Regards
Max

[John Garza (3665)]

For all those 'Welcome Back Kotter" fans...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264357090167?ha...8ce91377:g-MAAOSwYRJc~pHE

Amazing what a sticker will do...

-J

[John Garza (3665)]

Code:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/264357090167?hash=item3d8ce91377:g:p-MAAOSwYRJc~pHE

[Hiwi]

Hi Max,
i placed a bid on that HP71 auction as well. The price is ok (at the upper end) in my opinion. There were six packs of very rare magnetic cards included, i have seen them from time to time listed at a price of 100 Euro and more.

There are some sellers who make 'artificial' high prices. They do not sell very much. This auctions are listed up to 24 months or more. So they keep their collection valuable. Other sellers orient themself on this prices, even if they are not hp professionals.
They have partially found calculators on flewmarkets and think theses are jewels, because of the HP brand. (For eaxmple an untested magnetic card reader for the HP41 was listed some weeks ago at 750 Euros)

HP designates their calculator products as millionsellers, so there will be enough stuff even in 50 years.

My principle is based exactly on that statement. I am patient and wait for a good occasion.

Ok, I am not a real average collector. I have my HP parts saved since i was a student.

I bought them after reading an article with the headline 'HP-41CV, the best calculator in the world?' published in the early eigthies in the german tec mag 'HOBBY'.
Today i only buy some accessories, which i could not afford in the eighties. (modules, interfaces, measurement)

I am still a HP power user.

However you can find many items sold on ebay some time later again. So there will be a good chance in a short time to get HP71 magnetic cards, believe me. :-)

Ralf

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(03-30-2023 01:05 PM)Hiwi Wrote:  Hi Max,
i placed a bid on that HP71 auction as well.

Me too ... it must be compulsive :-) But not very much, even if the bundle may have been worth the final price. As you write, I mostly bid because of all those magnetic cards. I have several HP-71B calculators but very few cards. Not that I will ever use them because operating these cards is not a really nice way to pass one's spare time.

(03-30-2023 01:05 PM)Hiwi Wrote:  There are some sellers who make 'artificial' high prices. They do not sell very much.

One of these just listed an HP-67 on german eBay. I really like the 67, it is among my all-time-five-favorite calculators, but 1360 Euros? I have bought cars for less...

Regards
Max