eBay eBay

It looks like I might have a new addiction, bidding on stuff on eBay. It started out when one of my computers (#F) went down and wouldn't come back up. I had been suspecting a heating problem for awhile, given how I have my computers packed in together, and suspected that either the CPU fan or the power supply (which also has a fan) were bad. I tried swapping around parts from another computer (#D) with a somewhat similar power supply and processor, and didn't make much progress. I also have a second motherboard for this computer, so tried swapping both processors in there too.

My best guess right now is either the power supply and/or the CPU fan is the problem, so I went out looking for replacements. Best prices, by far, were on eBay, and so bought both there. But I also realized that I needed memory for the computer that I was now using primarily (#D), and probably could use more on the dead system (#F). The "Pay for it Now" prices were a bit high, so, I started actually bidding on memories, and usually, I would lose. I would have a high bid for awhile, but then get an email telling me that I had been outbid. And, then, I stumbled into to some higher speed memory in the wrong category (it was 1 gb PC3300 or something, in the 512 mb PC2100 category), and got 1 gb at a steal - at less than the price of the slower speed memory of half the size it was competing against, and it was from a dealer.

That got me off and running. Awhile back, I figured I could use a high speed inkjet printer, because they are so much cheaper to run (four times the ink, for 1 1/2 the price), if I could get one for a decent price. I bid on one (HP 1200) with the requisite ink cartridges, but then looked around at others. I quickly found one the next step up (HP 2300), retailing starting at $500, and there were a lot of them for sale. You could pick up a refurbrished one (without cartridges) for $.01 plus about $70 in shipping, but I found some new ones for $35 in shipping, and put in some bids there. I ended up winning one for a total cost about equal to the shipping cost of the refurbrished ones. But the pictures of these printers didn't show an easy way to print labels and envelopes, part of the original justification for getting a new inkjet printer (I am currently using my fax/scanner/copier for such). So, I looked at other inkjet printers, and found a new mid-grade HP photo quality printer with no bids. I put in a $5 bid, and won it for $0.01, plus $30 in shipping.

So, I now notice that two color printers have been shipped to me, and I am still the high bid on a third one.

Of course, things didn't stop there. The new high speed printer has USB and parallel interfaces built in, but you can buy an Ethernet interface from the vendor for about $100. eBay is running half that (including shipping), so I bid on a couple of those. But then, I figured, I had a spare print server lying around, so, I could use that. But I have maxed out my ethernet router. So, the logical solution is an Ethernet hub. Picked a new one of those up, that actually comes from the same vendor as the router, for about $10, including shipping. That too has been shipped.

Then, my next brother is a ski fanatic. We raced together in high school and college, but he has kept it up, and is one of the best racers in his age group in CO. This is the time of year he buys his equipment, and so was telling me about the new boots he bought (just for the liners), etc. Didn't find the pair of AT boots I want at a good price, but did bid on some alpine boots and skis. Luckily, I was outbid.

So, now, I am going to stay away from eBay, at least until I see if the power supply or CPU fan solves my problem. My next step would probably be the processor, though I might decide on a new motherboard next instead. And, while there, I might just check to see if those Ethernet adaptors for the new high speed inkjet printer have gone down in price...