PS3 auctions on eBay - Most with closing bids > $2000USD

[morphism]

As most of you have probably heard, there have been a lot of PS3 auctions on e-bay today -- most of them with closings bids over $2000USD.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TWO-Sony-PlayStation-3-PS3-RARE-E-mail-Addresses-NR_W0QQitemZ150060360611QQihZ005QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[dontdisturbmycircles]

This reminds me of when people were selling empty xbox boxes..

Me and my brother were going to buy a ps3 and sell it on ebay, too bad we decided it was too much of a risk. We didn't want to end up with a $700 gaming system that will cost $500 after christmas.

 

[franznietzsche]

Crap like this really makes me hate people. Riotsing over a game console? These people are trash, right out of a jerry springer episode.

 

[theCandyman]

My friend told me tonight that he and his friends had camped out for 36 hours to buy some PlayStation 3s. They got five of them and are planning on selling them on eBay - no less than $2500 a piece, to quote my friend.

 

[verty]

I don't see a problem with buying to resell, the other side of the coin is if you wait until the prices drop, any of those sellers will be desperate to flog theirs.

 

[Moonbear]

I just don't understand why you'd pay three or four times retail value to buy something off eBay, with none of the sort of return guarantees you get from a store purchase. I don't even understand why people need to rush out to buy it the first day it's out, or would stand in line just to buy a game. It's not a "limited edition." Heaven forbid someone's spoiled brats didn't get a PS3 for Christmas. Even if your kids have been extra wonderful all year and that's all they're asking for, and you decide you will indulge them because of something really special they did to deserve it, it really won't be the end of the world to cut out a picture of it, stick it in a card, and include a note that they'll be getting one as soon as the stores restock. Buy it during the after-holidays sales. Even retail is ridiculously expensive for a game! If the kids use it enough to get your money's worth on it, that's even more reason for them NOT to get it, and to be shoved out the door to get some exercise.

 

[devil-fire]

Even retail is ridiculously expensive for a game!

apparently $700 is a good price for the hardware in one of those things. in a PC format, it would cost much more

 

[dontdisturbmycircles]

I hear they take quite a hit on the gaming system itself, and make their money later with the game liscences etc.

I know I wouldn't feel bad not getting my kid (If I had one ) a ps3 at $700. I have always liked computers more, at least the kids can use a computer for homework/research as well.

 

[Moonbear]

apparently $700 is a good price for the hardware in one of those things. in a PC format, it would cost much more

It's still a game.

Other gifts you could buy with $700:
70-100 turkeys (14-20 lbs at current prices of $0.50/lb) to help feed hungry families.

About 50-100 children's books for kids spending the holidays at your nearest children's hospital.

A large assortment of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs, playground balls, etc., for a youth organization or school, or to share with the neighborhood kids so they all can get out and play together.

200 boxes of band-aids for scraped knees after kids who have spent their entire life in front of a video game are forced to go outside to get some exercise.

OR...10 Teddy Ruxpin's for Evo!

 

[twisting_edge]

I know a guy who would probably buy a PS3 at $2,000. He makes well over $1M/year. It's less than a morning's pay for him.

To scale that back to a more reasonable level, would you pay $100 today for something you could buy in a month or two for $25? Depending on what it was, I would.

 

[dontdisturbmycircles]

Depending on how badly I needed it, I MIGHT pay $100 for an item that will go down in price drastically in a few months, but I can't think of anything off of the top of my head, definitely not a gaming console :P.

Also making the amounts smaller doesn't really work, because I certainly would pay 10c for something that may cost 3 cents 2 months later, but would definitely not buy a car for $100,000 if I can get it for $25,000 later.

 

[Moonbear]

I know a guy who would probably buy a PS3 at $2,000. He makes well over $1M/year. It's less than a morning's pay for him.

I just don't get this at all. Even if you can afford to toss money down the drain, why would you? If he really has so much extra money that he could easily spare an extra $1300, he should donate that morning's pay to another employee who is scraping to make ends meet as a year-end bonus. Maybe that's why I'm not rich, but to me, that would be a much more rewarding thing to do, especially when you aren't even going to have to give up your own toy, just wait an extra month or two to get it.

To scale that back to a more reasonable level, would you pay $100 today for something you could buy in a month or two for $25? Depending on what it was, I would.

I sure as heck wouldn't, unless it was a necessity that couldn't wait 2 months (i.e., getting the furnace serviced during the peak winter season if it's malfunctioning, though that'll cost you more than $100). A PS3 is not by any stretch of the imagination a necessity. Why would you just throw money away like that? If it isn't worth waiting 2 months for, or you won't enjoy it as much in 2 months, then it's really not worth paying extra for.

 

[Mk]

Even if you can afford to toss money down the drain, why would you?

BECAUSE YOU CAN! Hahaha! Let it burn!

 

[twisting_edge]

If he really has so much extra money that he could easily spare an extra $1300, he should donate that morning's pay to another employee who is scraping to make ends meet as a year-end bonus.

Why? Have you ever tried doing that? Surprisingly, people really don't like it at all. It's a pretty good way to wreck a friendship, not to establish one. It's actually very insulting to be on the receiving end of that sort of thing. You basically have to find a non-repeating excuse in order to be able to get away with just giving cash. Extravagant gifts are a little easier, but can still be problematic.

[on spending $100 for something you can buy in 2 months for $25] I sure as heck wouldn't, unless it was a necessity that couldn't wait 2 months (i.e., getting the furnace serviced during the peak winter season if it's malfunctioning, though that'll cost you more than $100). A PS3 is not by any stretch of the imagination a necessity. Why would you just throw money away like that? If it isn't worth waiting 2 months for, or you won't enjoy it as much in 2 months, then it's really not worth paying extra for.

It's no different than spending $75 going out to dinner. Two months from now, the dinner is just a memory, so why go out at all?

We won't even mention those people who indulge in "retail therapy".

 

[verty]

If you wait two months for it, the food will be considerably spoiled. I don't recommend waiting that long to eat your meal. The price of a freshly-prepared meal isn't going to go down.

So it counts for people who pay to have something sooner but not for those who pay to have something easier?

 

[twisting_edge]

The price of a freshly-prepared meal isn't going to go down.

Which is the same as saying it is still going to cost a ridiculous amount compared to what it would cost to buy the ingredients and do it yourself. Therefore, you should never do it, and it has no lasting value.

Basically, you blow the $75 because you feel like it. The same applies to the thing you buy for $100 that you could have bought two months later for $25.

For those with far more money than I, the same applies to $2,000 for a PS3. It just depends on how much cash you have to spare. Some people (in fact, the vast majority of the people in the world) would look at spending $75 for a single meal with even more horror than you experience when contemplating $2,000 for a PS3 you could buy for a quarter the price in a few weeks or months.