TheAbandonwareGuy wrote:
You realize doing exactly what your planning to do is what is pricing anyone who isn't some rich man out of the better parts of the hobby right?
I'm guessing you plan to double your money or better?
There's always the option of offering a lower price. However, the market price that people are willing to pay is what the item is worth. You don't have to be a "rich guy" to afford 99% of what I've seen, even on Ebay in terms of retro computer parts. Building a retro computer with high end parts is still inexpensive compared to building a modern gaming PC. There are a few exceptions for parts that are extremely rare and/or prototypes -- the high price is justified since only a small number exist in the world. Many of us spend weeks/months/years scouring through electronics recycling bins or second hand stores to find rare parts, and sometimes even refurbishing the parts ourselves.. all this is factored into cost.
That said, it is no different than any other market outside of PC components. Once something has stopped being manufactured or the company no longer even exists, there are always people who will charge higher prices due to rarity -- or you can wait it out and find the item yourself the hard way, even if it takes years. This holds true for industrial equipment, cars, farm equipment, pens, literature, etc. I look for and buy parts all the time at work for equipment from the 1960's through the 1990's (a lot of it is computer related).. depending on the urgency of the need, sometimes I look for a year and call dozens of different facilities around the globe before I find something at all... at a price I don't like. But if it is absolutely needed, it will be paid because there are no other options, or very few other options that would cost more money in refurbishment to get working than you'd pay the high price for.