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Instant Buyer's Remorse / Instant Buyer's Excitement

Twylo

Experienced Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
230
Location
Poulsbo, WA
So, like the idiot that I am, I decided at the very last moment to bid on a PDP-11/84 on The Auction Site. I thought, "Eh, no way I'll get it. It'll go for more than my bid."

Well, guess what? No, it didn't. I won it.

The price is actually pretty good, but now I have to freight the damn thing from New Hampshire to California. So, I'm suffering with two conflicting emotions at the exact same time:

1. Buyer's Remorse. "Ow, my pocket book!" I can afford it, I'm not going to starve or anything. But regardless, freight is expensive. I really shouldn't have done that. Ouch.

2. Buyer's excitement! Oh boy! The second-to-last model of Unibus PDP-11 ever made! I didn't think I would ever own one!

Please tell me someone else has experienced this jumble :)

-Seth
 
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Usually what happens to me is there's something not-so-kosher going on. Namely, someone bids and retracts their bid 101 or 110 times in a row and I win by exactly my maximum bid. Technically, I should be upset, because I did put that amount in as my maximum. But, I tend to be absolutely furious when it happens.
 
Usually what happens to me is there's something not-so-kosher going on.

Doesn't look like anything fishy this time. The final amount was under my maximum (not by a huge amount, but enough) and I don't see any bid retractions. So there's just me and my stupid over-eagerness to blame, here (or to thank, depending on how I look at it!)

-Twylo
 
Be thankful. There's no point in feeling any other way, you're already committed. :cool:
 
I was watching the auctions of both 11/84s. It's a nice machine as I have one, but it doesn't have
a nice cabinet like that. I had considering bidding and driving to NH if I got it, but decided one
is enough. No matter how much I like it. Best of luck with it. Let me know what company
you use to ship as I will be shipping something from your side of the US to Maryland in a
month or so.
 
Congrats! ..and my sincere condolences.

Feel free to big or little endian that. HTH. ;-)

I feel like that fairly often after shipping most things. But on the bright side you got it for a bargain in your own words so pretty sweet deal.
 
Congratulations on your nice new toy, and condolences for your having to pay for it and its shipping. I've been there myself… and I may be there again soon if I bid on that 11/730. ;)
 
Congratulations on your nice new toy, and condolences for your having to pay for it and its shipping. I've been there myself… and I may be there again soon if I bid on that 11/730. ;)

Thanks! And because misery loves company, I encourage you to bid on the 11/730! I'm certainly not going to! :)

-Twylo
 
I would have bid a lot higher than a token below reserve bid on those if they were within driving distance. They look like complete systems that haven't been scavenged for parts.

Some day I'll get an 11/44 again or an 11/84.
 
Here's my story on moving heavy computer gear.... Last December I put a nonchalant bid on an IBM 3420 magnetic tape unit that was at an interstate recyclers two states from where I live. After finding out this thing weighed around 200 to 300 kg (700 pounds I think) I was wondering how to retract my bid. I was seriously hoping I would be outbid on it, but no.... I won it. My wife was thrilled... not! I got some quotes on shipping and they were in the four figure range (here in Oz everything is expensive) so then I tried removalists / backloaders. I was beyond caring about pampered packaging at this stage, to compound things it was between Christmas and New Year, the seller was going on holidays and wanted it out of his shop, and I was about to go on holidays too. The backloader I had organised dropped out so I found another. I told them it was "the size of a refridgerator and probably weighs 100kg or so, maybe more" so they could grasp the logistics of it in terms they could relate to.

By the time the collection happened I was interstate myself, so I had them deliver it to my mothers place (she was thrilled as well). The backloaders had put it at the front of their van so they had to unload/reload a good deal of other people's furniture from the truck to get it out. My mum reckons the two of them worked up a sweat moving it so she gave them some beers as a reward. Now I just have to figure out how to get it the 15km back to my place :) I ended up paying $300 for the move which was a really great deal.

So, N6FX (oops Twylo sorry) if you want to move it on the cheap (and who doesn't?) and are not too paranoid about cotton gloves handling (not for everyone), perhaps consider a backloader. Here in Oz they are very competitive, I imagine stateside there would be a thousand times more of them. They were a lot cheaper compared to organised frieght, in my case 1/5 the cost!. It helped that the seller wrapped it with cardboard and bubble wrap and it all turned out just fine.

Steve.
 
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Save some money if you can, by asking the shipper to send it "Hold for pickup".

Granted, you will have to drive to San Fran, or possibly San Jose to pick it up,
but the freight charges should be noticeably lower, especially taking into account
residential delivery and liftgate fees.




T
 
What was the sale number? Want to see how big this thing is.

Hi Qbus,

It was this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331191832657

It's about a 4' rack. They say 575 pounds. I have experience moving a very similar PDP-11/23+ setup with dual RL02 drives, but the RA81 is surely at least as heavy as two RL02 drives. So, it's big... but it's not as big as a full rack.

I'm in the process of getting freight quotes now, waiting for a call back. I think having it held for pickup in San Jose is going to be my best and cheapest option.

-Twylo
 
You be hard core now!, I have sent similar large and heavy items in the past and used RPS/Roadway trucking, just like the earlier response you save a ton of money by having it sent to the nearest freight terminal and pick it up there. It just about doubles the cost to have it delivered to your door and can be a big issue if you’re in a development or place that a big truck can’t drive into or don’t have a loading dock. But at the freight terminal they will have a loading dock, forklift and usually will help getting it onto the back of your truck or van. Wonder how big the power cable will be? Couple year’s back I went ahead and put a sub panel out in the workshop with dedicated 120/240 volt 20A circuts. Don’t have anything that requires 208 three phase yet!
 
Well, the first quotes are in, and it's not pretty. It looks like it's going to be $400 to $550 for freight. Ugh.

If I can't find something cheaper, I'm going to have to ask to be released from the buying contract :( I'll be out some money if I do that, because I would offer to pay their auction fees.

Still calling around, hopefully I'll get some good news.

-Twylo
 
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