This eBay bid on a Fidelity Elite A/S was totally insane

fdimeglio · Post by **fdimeglio** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:21 am

Hello,

I was following the bid on this Fidelity Elite A/S with printer:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 168wt_1002

Well...it ended at $2739. Here is the full bid:

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $2,739.00
Apr-19-12 17:42:17 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $2,689.00
Apr-19-12 16:11:49 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $2,688.88
Apr-19-12 17:42:02 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $1,000.00
Apr-19-12 17:40:19 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $850.00
Apr-19-12 17:39:56 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $475.00
Apr-19-12 17:36:29 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $450.00
Apr-19-12 17:34:58 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $425.00
Apr-19-12 17:34:33 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $410.00
Apr-19-12 17:34:18 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $400.00
Apr-19-12 17:33:45 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $355.00
Apr-19-12 17:28:52 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $340.00
Apr-19-12 17:22:41 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $325.00
Apr-19-12 17:22:14 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $300.00
Apr-19-12 03:32:39 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $259.00
Apr-14-12 13:46:03 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $200.00
Apr-16-12 09:47:41 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $177.00
Apr-15-12 12:05:40 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $159.00
Apr-12-12 23:51:24 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $141.00
Apr-12-12 23:37:11 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $139.00
Apr-12-12 23:51:07 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $133.00
Apr-12-12 22:13:22 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $131.00
Apr-12-12 23:37:02 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $121.00
Apr-12-12 23:36:54 PDT

private listing - bidders' identities protected US $111.00
Apr-12-12 23:36:08 PDT

Starting Price US $99.99
Apr-12-12 17:42:23 PDT

Steve, dont you think it was totally insane for a machine that is worth 200 to 250EUR? I cant believe that this printer can justify the price.

Printers are Worth More Than Gold Regards,

Fabrice

Larry · Post by **Larry** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 6:10 am

And there I was estimating about $300 for this one. I'm gobsmacked!

Picking myself up from the floor regards...
Larry

Post by **Steve B** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 7:13 am

Cant believe my eyes Fabrice
i thought the final price was in Japanese Yen or something
wow..
definitely a new worlds record for an EAS
the printer is not that easy to find but is it worth thousands of dollars?
not.I dont see the original box or instruction manual for it in the auction .
it retailed for $139
good luck getting it to work though..that ribbon cartridge is definitely all dried out by now..the seller mentions he couldnt test it..,,no paper or some such reason
the far far rarer..Fidelity Thermal Printer which has a wooden base just recently sold on Ebay for less then $15..(here also the seller could not say if it worked and could not test it)

anyway...dosent look like the Saitek wooden computers are getting these sorts of insane prices
i am following an auction for a Saitek President in beautiful condition with box Pieces and even the Original Instruction manual
the manual is one of those quirks in collecting
You dont see many original manuals out there ..most collectors i know have copies of the manual and whenever an auction pops up for a President it never has the original manual
this one does
i bet the President doesn't even hit $300

Lame Duck President Regards
Steve

Jose · Post by **Jose** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:17 am

I saw many auctions with higher prices as normal, but that one is the Top-Auction over all. Perhaps someone is joking or it will come again on ebay from the same seller

. Then i know why the price is so high ended.
Best José

fdimeglio · Post by **fdimeglio** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:06 pm

Funnily I have been contacted today by a seller of a similar machine and his asking price was $2800 right the way...

Stop Smoking Wood Regards,

Fabrice

Jose wrote:I saw many auctions with higher prices as normal, but that one is the Top-Auction over all. Perhaps someone is joking or it will come again on ebay from the same seller . Then i know why the price is so high ended.
Best José

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:23 pm

Probably sounded like this:

Quote:
Hi,

A while ago, you expressed interest in my Fidelity Elite A/S Budapest Chess Computer. I have the description typed up, and if you are interested, I will take some photos of it this weekend and possibly post it for sale on Ebay. I wanted to see if you were interested and available to bid/buy over the next week. If you want more details attached, please send me your email address.

I put a buy-it-now of $2900, based on a recent sale of an older, non-Budapest version Chess Computer that sold a few days ago on Ebay. It is my understanding the Budapest is rarer and a little stronger than the standard, older Elite A/S.

I am also contacting someone from the USA, as he expressed interest in the same computer, so it is possible it might be sold here before I can list it.

Thank you, clocksavior
end of quote

Sounds like a real bargain.

Regards

Christian

PS honni soit qui mal y pense

rlsuth · Post by **rlsuth** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:25 pm

fdimeglio wrote:Funnily I have been contacted today by a seller of a similar machine and his asking price was $2800 right the way...

Stop Smoking Wood Regards,

Fabrice

Can you say "shill bidder"?

fdimeglio · Post by **fdimeglio** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:46 pm

Ahahah even more funny Christian! Look at the email I received:

"Hi,

A while ago, you expressed interest in my Fidelity Elite A/S Budapest Chess Computer. I have the description attached, and if you are interested, I will take some photos of it this weekend.

I would entertain any offer over $2800, based on a recent sale of an older, non-Budapest version Chess Computer that sold a few days ago on Ebay.
I am also contacting Christian from Germany, as he expressed interest in the same computer."

The asking price is not even matching...

I Am Handling A Private Auction On My Own Regards,

Fabrice

Jose · Post by **Jose** » Fri Apr 20, 2012 5:47 pm

slowly the puzzle will stick together

compguy · Post by **compguy** » Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:19 am

Larry wrote:And there I was estimating about $300 for this one. I'm gobsmacked!

Picking myself up from the floor regards...
Larry

Me too! I was the one that put in the $300 and $340 bids. I see that I was no where close to getting this auction.

If I had a Fidelity Elite, it'd be on ebay right now! I like those boards, but I'd sell one in a heartbeat for a few thousand dollars.

Post by **Steve B** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 8:46 pm

fdimeglio wrote: Steve, dont you think it was totally insane for a machine that is worth 200 to 250EUR? I cant believe that this printer can justify the price.

Printers are Worth More Than Gold Regards,

Fabrice

Steve B wrote:the printer is not that easy to find but is it worth thousands of dollars?
not.I dont see the original box or instruction manual for it in the auction .
it retailed for $139
good luck getting it to work though..that ribbon cartridge is definitely all dried out by now..the seller mentions he couldn't test it..,,no paper or some such reason
the far far rarer..Fidelity Thermal Printer which has a wooden base just recently sold on Ebay for less then $15..(here also the seller could not say if it worked and could not test it)

Speaking of Printers
Personally i always favored the Thermal Printer over the Impact Printer
the base was made of Solid Walnut( Wood) and it operated much more quietly
in addition there was no Ink Ribbon Cartridge to run dry like in the Impact Printer
Of Course you needed to have Thermal Printing paper...

Here are some differences between the two printers i have noticed...
Thermal Printer(Model FP)
Length-91/8"
Width-61/4"
Height-33/4"
Thermal Printing Paper
Base-Solid Walnut Wood
Operated virtually silently
Printing Output-moves,position diagram,full game score
Algebraic or Figurine Algebraic notation,current level of play
total time taken for both sides

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10261668@N ... 0922170604

Impact Printer(Model IFP)
Length-4"
Width-41/2"
Height-2"

Ink Printing Cartridge
All Plastic Construction
Operated quite loud and noisy
Printing Output-moves and time for each move,position diagram,full game score
Algebraic or Figurine Algebraic notation in either large print(double height) or small print(normal height),current level of play
total time taken for both sides
Print out of computers principle variation,number of nodes per second searched,search depth and position score(EAG Only)

All The News Thats Fit To Print Regards
Steve

fdimeglio · Post by **fdimeglio** » Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:49 pm

Awesome post about the printers Steve, thank you so much!

rlsuth · Post by **rlsuth** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:50 am

I never bid on "private listings". I always think that "private listing - bidders' identities protected " means "shill bidding is going to drive the price of this right up there".

Post by **Steve B** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:34 pm

Well.. as can be expected
EAS's are coming out of the woodwork now

lets see if this one sells for over $2500...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIDELITY-ELITE- ... 1008170167

if this sells for a more normal price..say $400-$600..
i wonder who will be more dissapointed
this seller or the last guy who paid $2700

Never Bid With Emotion Regards
Steve

Post by **Steve B** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:15 pm

Steve B wrote:Well.. as can be expected
EAS's are coming out of the woodwork now

lets see if this one sells for over $2500...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIDELITY-ELITE- ... 1008170167

if this sells for a more normal price..say $400-$600..
i wonder who will be more dissapointed
this seller or the last guy who paid $2700

Never Bid With Emotion Regards
Steve

And yet another..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIDELITY-ELITE- ... 1016719114

i wonder if this auction will close early with the buyer and seller "going around "Ebay like in the Prestige auction from Yesterday?
that was really pathetic because there were several bidders in place for several days

EAS frenzy Regards
Steve