Is it just me or has used hardware pricing gone way up?

[Diggs]

I used to keep old HP Elitebooks or Probooks around for cheap Pandora/Spotify machines as they've been bulletproof (except for the occasional spilled glass of wine). You used to be able to buy them outright on Ebay for $50-$75. Now there's no outright sales at all and the auction price is hitting $150-$175 and just not worth it. I don't buy that much used stuff but what are others seeing on the used market? The tabloids have been toting a laptop shortage on new machines but I didn't think it would bubble down into the used market that far.

 

[Porthos]

I used to keep old HP Elitebooks or Probooks around for cheap Pandora/Spotify machines as they've been bulletproof (except for the occasional spilled glass of wine). You used to be able to buy them outright on Ebay for $50-$75. Now there's no outright sales at all and the auction price is hitting $150-$175 and just not worth it. I don't buy that much used stuff but what are others seeing on the used market? The tabloids have been toting a laptop shortage on new machines but I didn't think it would bubble down into the used market that far.

All the sellers/vendors know since the pandemic struck that they can increase prices and they will still sell to someone.

 

[phaZed]

All the sellers/vendors know since the pandemic struck that they can increase prices and they will still sell to someone.

That, and it's a supply/demand issue. With half of the world's supply chain disrupted and many of the vendors/independent sellers being on quarantine, out of business, etc etc.. there is less supply and the demand is up.

 

[Diggs]

All the sellers/vendors know since the pandemic struck that they can increase prices and they will still sell to someone.

It's the buyers driving up the prices in my case because of the auction format. I haven't seen that much increase in buy it now stuff (when available).