So someone listed a Compaq Presario 5032 w/ original accessories locally for $375. Pie in the sky price, so offered him $200.

He responded by insulting me accusing me of not minding my own business "Ive been an eBay seller for 30 years I know what Im doing blah blah blah" and then blocked me after saying he'd part it out if he couldnt sell it complete. For something you know he got for free. This shit boils my blood, these fucking vampires just see our hobby as a profit center for them.

So I'm using every connection I have to make sure this guy never sells that thing: DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM RON FRAILEY, OF ELDORADO IL. HE IS AN ASSHAT, AND A SCALPER ENGAGED IN UNETHICAL PRACTICES.

Definitely seems like a very high price for a local sale, unless it has some really nice parts inside... which I don't think these do. Or, maybe it was in the box and included the monitor? Still. In my area I'd never be able to sell anything like that locally, period. Regardless of the price.

But, to look at this objectively... what were the exact messages you sent to him before he blocked you?

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 19:25:

Definitely seems like a very high price for a local sale, unless it has some really nice parts inside... which I don't think these do. Or, maybe it was in the box and included the monitor? Still. In my area I'd never be able to sell anything like that locally, period. Regardless of the price.

But, to look at this objectively... what were the exact messages you sent to him before he blocked you?

No box, but it had the original monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Which is the only reason I offered what I did, and I was probably still overpaying by about $100 at that price because this thing is literally completely non-desireable aside from its completeness.

"I'd offer you $200. If you want to wait a few days and see if you get a better offer, that offer does stand for the next week but I'd genuinely be shocked if you get any other offers in the 3 digits. The computer is a very common low end PC, the only value comes from the novelty of having all the original accessories together in one lot. I'm guessing you tried to price this based on eBay listings, but for this sort of thing they are very deceptive because what your actually paying for online with vintage PCs is the complexity, cost and liability of shipping something that has almost no chance of surviving shipping (unless it's sent palletized freight, which is outrageously expensive) meaning the seller is going to pay out a refund for it in the end and eat alot of shipping and packaging costs."

He responded to that with a laugh emoji and

"Yeah I've been selling on eBay for about 30 years and that's where it's headed because locally this is the kind of messages you always get. Everybody likes to go around telling everybody their business when they didn't ask for it. So for your information I thought I would offer it as a complete unit before I part it out on eBay it will part out for more than I'm asking. Thanks Mr helper"

This is a very very rural area, and I know for a fact I'm about the only game in town as far as retro computers go. That's why I usually open up with the "If you wnat to wait for a better offer, that offers stands for a while" because I know they aren't getting a better offer.

What a tool. I hate boomers so much man. All they care about is money, they don't care what harm they do while trying to get it. And no, it was completely stock. He showed the Windows system info panel and it said "REGISTERED TO: SALINE COUNTRY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY" so you know its just a basic office PC (and that he got it for free). These don't have AGP anyways.

Anyways I take pride in knowing hes doing exactly what I warned him was a terrible idea, and he will soon be out his item and his shipping and packaging costs when it arrives destroyed (assuming he sells any of it, which I find highly unlikely)

TheAbandonwareGuy wrote on Yesterday, 19:30:

No box, but it had the original monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Which is the only reason I offered what I did, and I was […]
Show full quote

Ozzuneoj wrote on Yesterday, 19:25:

Definitely seems like a very high price for a local sale, unless it has some really nice parts inside... which I don't think these do. Or, maybe it was in the box and included the monitor? Still. In my area I'd never be able to sell anything like that locally, period. Regardless of the price.

But, to look at this objectively... what were the exact messages you sent to him before he blocked you?

No box, but it had the original monitor, keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Which is the only reason I offered what I did, and I was probably still overpaying by about $100 at that price because this thing is literally completely non-desireable aside from its completeness.

"I'd offer you $200. If you want to wait a few days and see if you get a better offer, that offer does stand for the next week but I'd genuinely be shocked if you get any other offers in the 3 digits. The computer is a very common low end PC, the only value comes from the novelty of having all the original accessories together in one lot. I'm guessing you tried to price this based on eBay listings, but for this sort of thing they are very deceptive because what your actually paying for online with vintage PCs is the complexity, cost and liability of shipping something that has almost no chance of surviving shipping (unless it's sent palletized freight, which is outrageously expensive) meaning the seller is going to pay out a refund for it in the end and eat alot of shipping and packaging costs."

He responded to that with a laugh emoji and

"Yeah I've been selling on eBay for about 30 years and that's where it's headed because locally this is the kind of messages you always get. Everybody likes to go around telling everybody their business when they didn't ask for it. So for your information I thought I would offer it as a complete unit before I part it out on eBay it will part out for more than I'm asking. Thanks Mr helper"

This is a very very rural area, and I know for a fact I'm about the only game in town as far as retro computers go. That's why I usually open up with the "If you wnat to wait for a better offer, that offers stands for a while" because I know they aren't getting a better offer.

What a tool. I hate boomers so much man. All they care about is money, they don't care what harm they do while trying to get it. And no, it was completely stock. He showed the Windows system info panel and it said "REGISTERED TO: SALINE COUNTRY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY" so you know its just a basic office PC (and that he got it for free). These don't have AGP anyways.

Anyways I take pride in knowing hes doing exactly what I warned him was a terrible idea, and he will soon be out his item and his shipping and packaging costs when it arrives destroyed (assuming he sells any of it, which I find highly unlikely)

Lol I'd pay maybe 180-230 at most for that and only the higher end if the HDD sounded and acted healthy and wasn't like the HDD in the Compaq laptop I just posted about in a different forum. Sounds like that seller is like the one on eBay I paid like $100-something for undisclosed hardened hinges and an HDD so bad even controlled bumps (enough to loosen things up but not head crash it) didn't help much and was in such bad condition that to have any chance (spoiler it succeeded enough that everything except a few system files got off just fine, making it usable in safe mode) of copying the whole Compaq customized WinME fast enough for it to not die I had to among other shenanigans perform a mechanical repair (which is a miracle that it worked with just a fan to reduce risk a little, I can't exactly use the fab cleanroom at work for hobby data recovery per security policies lmao) only to discover that there was a likely drop induced head crash gouge almost an inch long on one of the two 7.5GB platters....

I'll never understand why sellers allow offers and then get insulted when you offer something and explain as to why you've offered that amount.

At least he's willing to part it out though haha, I recently had an exchange with a seller who had a local pickup SGI Octane complete with monitor and peripherals for $3500. It had been listed for a month and had already been reduced down from an initial price of $4500. I have an Indigo2 so I was only interested in the monitor. I simply asked if he'd ever consider selling the monitor only and he replied with "I'll sell you the Octane for $3000 and I'll throw in for monitor for free" and I simply said "sorry haha, I'm only interested in the monitor but let me know if you ever change your mind" to which he replied with a snarky "okay, then I'll sell you the monitor only for $3000"...which I never replied to.

Eventually, someone bought his absurdly overpriced bundle but at that point I wouldn't have wanted a monitor tainted with that guy's ego even if it was free.

IMHO, if a seller is snarky or being an a-hole, it's not someone I would ever want to do business with.

Insofar as offers go, I've sold a lot of things on Ebay. I've had situations where people immediately low-ball within hours of posting. Those I just straight-up ignore. But I'm willing to entertain offers if something has been up for a week without selling.

Shponglefan wrote on Today, 00:50:

IMHO, if a seller is snarky or being an a-hole, it's not someone I would ever want to do business with.

Insofar as offers go, I've sold a lot of things on Ebay. I've had situations where people immediately low-ball within hours of posting. Those I just straight-up ignore. But I'm willing to entertain offers if something has been up for a week without selling.

I'm about to straight up stop doing business with boomers or GenX. They are all like this. Generations of psychopaths born out of their parents desire to give their kids better lives after experiencing the world war 2 era.

Like objectively my offer was more than fair. I have no idea where this "30 year eBay seller" is figuring he will sell that stuff for "more than hes asking for the bundle parted out". Straight up the membrane keyboard, mouse, and speakers will never move on their own. The tower isnt desirable and won't sell for any considerable amount. The monitor with the CRT craze MIGHT sell but he's gambling on it not getting destroyed in shipping.

The rest of his listings are antiques and shit and he's the head of a huge retro toys collecting group on Facebook, so I think this dude has just spent so long hanging out with his trust fund recepient friends that have more money than they know what to do with he doesn't have any ideas what shit is worth anymore. Seriously fuck GenX and the Boomers, I hate these people. They are the reason the world is the way it is. (If your one of the rare ones that is in touch with reality and your reading this, sorry your an extreme minority)

Why is these kinds of people are the ones that largely seem to end up with hobby stuff? I never see collectors selling to other collectors at fair prices anymore. It's always scalpers or collectors selling at scalper prices. I always price my shit just above where I know a scalper won't make any money if they buy it from me, but a collector is still getting a great deal.

sunkindly wrote on Yesterday, 23:19:

I'll never understand why sellers allow offers and then get insulted when you offer something and explain as to why you've offered that amount.

At least he's willing to part it out though haha, I recently had an exchange with a seller who had a local pickup SGI Octane complete with monitor and peripherals for $3500. It had been listed for a month and had already been reduced down from an initial price of $4500. I have an Indigo2 so I was only interested in the monitor. I simply asked if he'd ever consider selling the monitor only and he replied with "I'll sell you the Octane for $3000 and I'll throw in for monitor for free" and I simply said "sorry haha, I'm only interested in the monitor but let me know if you ever change your mind" to which he replied with a snarky "okay, then I'll sell you the monitor only for $3000"...which I never replied to.

Eventually, someone bought his absurdly overpriced bundle but at that point I wouldn't have wanted a monitor tainted with that guy's ego even if it was free.

He's parting out something that is interesting as a whole unit to maximize his profit margins. That isn't a good thing. That's destroying the historical value/novelty of the item just to potentially make slightly more money.

It's fucking vile and this guys a piece of shit for doing it. Scum of the earth air wasters like him are ruining every single hobby.

TheAbandonwareGuy wrote on Today, 02:47:

sunkindly wrote on Yesterday, 23:19:

I'll never understand why sellers allow offers and then get insulted when you offer something and explain as to why you've offered that amount.

At least he's willing to part it out though haha, I recently had an exchange with a seller who had a local pickup SGI Octane complete with monitor and peripherals for $3500. It had been listed for a month and had already been reduced down from an initial price of $4500. I have an Indigo2 so I was only interested in the monitor. I simply asked if he'd ever consider selling the monitor only and he replied with "I'll sell you the Octane for $3000 and I'll throw in for monitor for free" and I simply said "sorry haha, I'm only interested in the monitor but let me know if you ever change your mind" to which he replied with a snarky "okay, then I'll sell you the monitor only for $3000"...which I never replied to.

Eventually, someone bought his absurdly overpriced bundle but at that point I wouldn't have wanted a monitor tainted with that guy's ego even if it was free.

He's parting out something that is interesting as a whole unit to maximize his profit margins. That isn't a good thing. That's destroying the historical value/novelty of the item just to potentially make slightly more money.

It's fucking vile and this guys a piece of shit for doing it. Scum of the earth air wasters like him are ruining every single hobby.

Agreed. Its like the retro tech version murder if you ask me. I almost never part out retro computers unless they are very far gone and even then they always end up being used to repair other stuff. Its insane people just want to destroy perfectly working or even easily fixable stuff that is not manufactured anymore.

TheAbandonwareGuy wrote on Yesterday, 19:11:

So someone listed a Compaq Presario 5032 w/ original accessories locally for $375. Pie in the sky price, so offered him $200.

I went and had a look at the ad myself. Old mate is dreaming asking $375 for that.

TheAbandonwareGuy wrote on Yesterday, 19:11:

This shit boils my blood, these fucking vampires just see our hobby as a profit center for them.

Sadly I'm seeing this more and more often, especially on Facebook Marketplace.

TheIpex wrote on Today, 05:16:

I went and had a look at the ad myself. Old mate is dreaming asking $375 for that. […]
Show full quote

TheAbandonwareGuy wrote on Yesterday, 19:11:

So someone listed a Compaq Presario 5032 w/ original accessories locally for $375. Pie in the sky price, so offered him $200.

I went and had a look at the ad myself. Old mate is dreaming asking $375 for that.

TheAbandonwareGuy wrote on Yesterday, 19:11:

This shit boils my blood, these fucking vampires just see our hobby as a profit center for them.

Sadly I'm seeing this more and more often, especially on Facebook Marketplace.

Oh my god don't even get me started on the messed up person on eBay that literally counterfeited an Inspiron 5150 with a trim piece (and possible chassis, unsure about that) from one slapped onto what turned out to be a 2 GHz Celeron based 1100 that had screen defects well hidden by photos of it being in the all-white Windows XP Tour 🤣. Scammed me out of a few extra bucks when I went collecting many different 5150 variants cause decent working ones were hard to find at the time. Kept it for the novelty and its a decent beater machine for random stuff like data recovery work and such.

cleanroom_dweller wrote on Today, 05:37:

Kept it for the novelty and its a decent beater machine for random stuff like data recovery work and such.

A lot of my hardware acquisitions seem to end up in that category.

rasz_pl wrote on Yesterday, 17:59:

Minutemanqvs wrote on Yesterday, 17:13:

Does anyone have experience with this symptom?

For the 30 seconds it's on, colors are as amazing as almost all Enzo's and it would be nice to save it 😀

CCFL inverter safety kicks in, old lamps at end of life or dried cap

After some fighting with plastic tabs, the interior is remarkably clean. Well it's built like a tank with metal casings everywhere...
So "unfortunately" there is no bulged cap that would give away the problem. I'll have to poke around and measure some resistances.

Minutemanqvs wrote on Today, 10:14:

After some fighting with plastic tabs, the interior is remarkably clean. Well it's built like a tank with metal casings everywhe […]
Show full quote

rasz_pl wrote on Yesterday, 17:59:

Minutemanqvs wrote on Yesterday, 17:13:

Does anyone have experience with this symptom?

For the 30 seconds it's on, colors are as amazing as almost all Enzo's and it would be nice to save it 😀

CCFL inverter safety kicks in, old lamps at end of life or dried cap

After some fighting with plastic tabs, the interior is remarkably clean. Well it's built like a tank with metal casings everywhere...
So "unfortunately" there is no bulged cap that would give away the problem. I'll have to poke around and measure some resistances.

bulged caps are the ones that boiled, caps dont need to be bulged to be dried. There are 2 caps on inverter board. Inverters also like to shut down when inductors have internal shorts. Such circuits still work but have lower inductance thus forcing heavier driving = overload protection kicks in.

Tried to boot my WALTERS LP-3300 first time after MB repair. This is definitely step ahead, but not a success.

The original PSU clearly needs attention: it would only start after multiple power-on attempts, and even then there was ~30 seconds of delay before anything happened. To continue testing I repinned the standard AT power connector and ran the system from a known-good AT PSU.
Even with stable power, the board still hangs at POST 30/32 and produces a persistent ticking sound.