The $50,000.00 Apple 1

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Hawaii Cruiser's picture
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51 and counting

Here I am at comment number 51, so the discussion moves to page 2 on the AF default which is always a potential thread killer. Maybe it's because we haven't had anything to bicker about on AF for quite awhile. It's always fun to bicker here over some kind of question. There's intelligent people here, and some who know how to use the language. The other thing is it's always a good exercise to uncover a scam if there is one.

I may be over-estimating it, but I just got the sense that there was a lot of judging the seller guilty before proving innocent, but maybe it's just one person coloring the discussion that way.

But there are certainly a great many clever scammers out there. It might be interesting to hypothesize how this could be a scam.

It could be a forgery. That's all part of the price of purchasing. The buyer needs to spend time and money authenticating everything. Someone who spends $50k aught to know what he's doing.

It could be a complete fraud. There is no item at all. The seller could be playing for someone who's going to send him $53k. Someone who does that would be an idiot beyond belief. Or he could be waiting for the buyer to show up with $50k and bonk him on the head and run off with it.

I can't think of anything beyond those two possibilities.

He could be unscrupulous--using a shill and lying. We could catch him in some lies. Did an Apple I really sell previously for $43k? Anyone? Does he really have kids? Did he really show it to Woz?

But hey, you should have heard all the things said by the salesmen when I bought the car I'm driving now. But I knew what I was buying and I bought it and am not dissatisfied with my purchase, despite all the brain wrangling involved in the purchase.

The main big question for this thread is is it worth $50k? I get the impression some think there's some kind of fair market value for it. How would that be determined? What it's worth is the top price of what someone's willing to pay for it. That's what it's worth.

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Re: 51 and counting

The main big question for this thread is is it worth $50k?

My vote is no, this thread is not worth $50K.

gsmcten's picture
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I just report it.....

Doc,

I was wondering the same thing. All I did was say "hey! theres a $50,000.00 Apple one for sale on ebay." and we were off to the races.
Including some heated discussions along the way. Wow. I know that I can be passionate about some things, but not enough to start a war over it. lol Smile

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Re: 51 and counting

The main big question for this thread is is it worth $50k?

My vote is no, this thread is not worth $50K.

I'm sure we could get the FHA to guarantee a loan of at least twice that on it as long as we have 3.5% down. The real question is how do we pass that 3.5% on to the taxpayer as part of some sort of vital economic stimulus package...

Oh, easy! This thread is providing publicity and thus promoting the resale of high-priced, albeit used, property! Once someone buys that Apple I they'll be able to get an equity loan on it and use the money to buy oodles of the high-priced Chinese consumer goods which drive our consumption-based economy. Even better, that Apple I-based loan can then be partitioned up and sold on the derivative securities market. Once the financial wizards on Wall Street catch on AIG will be all about providing credit default swaps for the ballooning market in computer doorstop-backed lending securities. Soon *every* antique computer, no matter the condition, will be an absolute gold mine. Just think of it, in no time at all that filthy Acer 486 you have bookending a pile of boxes in your mildew-covered basement will be a highly sought-after financial instrument, appreciating hourly at double-digit rates and providing endless wealth to the savvy investor willing to make the bold investment.

Clearly we're on the leading edge of the financial revolution that will pull the United States out of its recession and provide wealth for everyone, everywhere. When it comes to dusty old computers, buy one now or get priced out forever! You saw it here first, folks.

(Now give me my check, please. I totally need to make my bonus this year so I can tear down my mansion in the Hamptons and build an even bigger one just to annoy my neighbor.)

Hawaii Cruiser's picture
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Positive #5

Just to follow up. The buyer has left feedback for the seller:

seller's feedback

"Item was exactly as described and delivery was excellent"

Delivery? What does that mean? He didn't pick it up in person?

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According to the Auction......

If I remember correctly, the person selling the Apple I said in the description that if the person who won wanted to have it shipped that they would be charged an extra $3,000.00 for insurance (Supposedly this was to insure that the buyer would pick it up personaly).
So I guess he actually paid $53,000.00.

I hope he liked it. Smile

Hawaii Cruiser's picture
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Re: The $50,000.00 Apple 1

I resurrect this thread from the dead to pound my chest. HAHAHAHA! Is this the same Apple 1 two years later?:

Christies Apple 1 Sale 7882 Lot 65

"Price realized $212,267" !!!!

I don't remember all the details, but I certainly remember the typed letter on ruled paper, and if it's the same one, that guy who paid $50,000 certainly knew what he was doing.

Vindication is sweet!

You guys should never take me too seriously, though.

Here is the current auction as I write this:
http://www.applefritter.com/content/apple-1-sale-ebay

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