Inspired by the 'This is laughable!' thread, I'm hoping this thread can be a guide to those Australian Apple ][ enthusiasts when it comes to valuation and purchase of vintage hardware and software.
I've had some frustration lately not just from exorbitantly high prices online in general, but from the disconnect between USA listings (where prices are generally lower) and those in Australia, where prices can be skewed higher due to distance or rarity.
I hope this thread can help other Apple enthusiasts in Australia to match their potential purchases against previous examples, to make sure they are not overpaying. Australians should feel free to add their bargains here.
While prices may be cheaper in the USA, the cruel reality is that basic vintage items are more expensive in Australia. But looking at eBay, it can be unclear how much markup is acceptable.
All prices in Australian dollars. All items below were purchased within Australia, or when indicated, purchased from overseas including shipping.
I recently purchased an Apple //c with software, //c monitor, manuals and an original ImageWriter printer for AU$160. It required minimal restoration to get working (isopropyl on the disk drive read head).
Previously I have purchased an Apple //e for AU$200, including monitor, Silentype printer (which was unrepairable), and Duodisk drive. This machine was not working, required a power supply repair (easy).
Subsequently I purchased an original Disk II for about $50, controller card for approx $30.
I purchased an ImageWriter II for $110 including interstate shipping.
I have purchased two Super Serial Cards for less than $50 each including international shipping.
cwj,
Just as an example I picked this from your list:
I purchased an ImageWriter II for $110 including interstate shipping.
That's $75.96 (US) including shipping.
I'm not sure what your Postage Rates are there,
but assuming that it's about $35.00(US)
You paid $40.00(US) for the IWII.
That would be about average.
You did good.
Steven
Good figures, thanks for that. As soon as I saw the Imagewriter listing pop up on eBay I bought immediately, I've never seen a listing that cheap before, nor since. Even got the original box!
We (Australia) pretty much only have the pick of hardware that is already here, as importing hardware from overseas is cripplingly expensive.
Local sellers will price just below this critical import price, meaning that we are effectively priced out of buying from overseas, and local sellers see higher returns than their USA counterparts.
Simply - everything is just rare in Australia, and the prices reflect that.
In saying that, you do occasionally see items from overseas that are cheaper than local buys, including shipping. Recently found this with a Disk ][. But this becomes quite rare when you are importing whole systems, more so when monitors are included. And of course once they are here, there are issues with voltage and line frequency that can cause headaches.
This is actually why I wanted a local Imagewriter, I was afraid that it was locked to 60hz and would cause timing issues with a 50hz system.
If someone could find a way to import hardware from the USA at discounted rates, however, they could do well for themselves.