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Clearly you've never been to a Marketpro computer show. When I went, most vendors listed their prices for cash sales only. Credit card users like me pay a 3% premium. Most respectable businesses absorb the merchant fees, but some of the bargain-basement shops pass them directly on to the consumer.

A couple years ago I was sitting around watching TV on my computer (w/ TV card) and my power supply made a louding cracking sound (like lightening) and burst into flames. The flames put themselves out within a few seconds. I stopped leaving my computer on after that. The computer was sitting on a carpet under my desk. It don't recall if it was hot or not. The computer was a year or two old. I bought it at one of those Computer Show and Sales. Since then I've had two power supplies die on me, Some maybe it was something with my setup. I don't know?

• Marketpro
• Tri-State
• Ken Gordon

Check out MarketPro for any nearby "Computer Show and Sale" happenings. We get one here in Pittsburgh about once a month. About 30-50 small-time vendors in small boths, each selling their wares like an old-style bazaar. It really works wonders for the pricings, as they all compete... And occasionally you can haggle a little bit.

Personally, I just like being able to look at what I'm buying, and the manuals. Then take it home, try it out, and bring it back the next day if there's a problem... (Happened only once with a memory purchase -- eventually turned out to be a bad motherboard, but they still took the ram back...)

There is no such thing as a discount for cash. It just doesn't happen.

Really? Then why do these guys sell you discount passes for $3 less if you pay cash? Or is that a "credit surcharge", not a "cash discount"? :-P

FWIW, I went to one of their shows and I was able to get substantial discounts on computer goodies by paying cash instead of credit.

There is no such thing as a discount for cash. It just doesn't happen.

Really? Then why do these guys sell you discount passes for $3 less if you pay cash? Or is that a "credit surcharge", not a "cash discount"? :-P

FWIW, I went to one of their shows and I was able to get substantial discounts on computer goodies by paying cash instead of credit.

Being from the DC area, if you want inexpensive computer components I would urge you to actually try the Market Pro Computer Show and Sale. You can find information about the shows at this link.

Although they are advertised as you said "'Comptuer Show and Sale and Monster Truck Rally' events advertised constantly on cheapo UHF stations," they are mostly filled with local (DC/MD/VA) vendors and some out-of-area (PA/NY/NJ) sellers who sell computers and computer compenents. I would not recommend this show for any novice computer user. I do extensive research of the product(s) I want to buy before I go there; because the phrase caveat emptor is very appropriate.[1]

However, since you mentioned you wanted more of a swap fest, this may not be for you. You might try...

There are also fedral auctions at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) which sell many components. However, most of them are really old government surplus. My step-father once picked up three 9 inch floppy drives there (it was part of a pallet where he wanted the plotter). I don't know the URL of the auctions but you can goto the GSFC Website and search for it. Google may work as well.

Finally there are HAMfests in the DC area you can go to. Not being a HAM operator/user I don't know of any. Once again, google may help.

[1] My friend once claims that he bought a motherboard from a computer show that was not FCC compliant (made in China) and interfered with radio devices. I have only bought a bad harddisk once which the (local) vendor was happy to replace. Again, caveat emptor.

We don't have much in that department. There are of course the Martket Pro shows, which is where I get almost everything, but they just sell, no swaps. The only other close thing is a place called SmartCo, which is local to St Mary's county to my knowledge. It takes surplus and old computer equipment from the local naval base and has volunteers rebuild them for schools. The old policy also allowed you to scavenge for yourself on occasion if you volunteered enough.

Due to the dismal lack of such things locally to my knowledge, I'm also much anticipating the results of this inquiry...

check The MarketPro computer show There you can usually find people selling old computers by the pound.

If you go to the marketpro computer shows (yes those wonderfully disgusting flea markets where you too can buy all the porn you want on one low low priced $10 cd and get ripped off by a chinese guy who refuses to speak english but was actually oxford educated and born in london, 4th generation) you can find them @ not so expensive prices ($65). i think they're lame though. the whole crisscrossing plastic reinforcements are ugly. it'd be better if they were uncluttered in their translucency.