Slashdot Mirror
Computer/Tech Flea Markets?
Spamlent Green asks: "The recent 'Cashing In On Antique Computers' thread, and the PBS Flea Market documentary made me all misty-eyed for the MIT Swap Fest. I moved from Cambridge to D.C. last year, and haven't been able to find anything like it down here, and I don't mean those bogus 'Comptuer Show and Sale and Monster Truck Rally' events advertised constantly on cheapo UHF stations. So I was curious -- do any DC-MD-No.VA-area Slashdot-ers know of events like this down here -- or anywhere else in the country for that matter? They must be out there ..."
There's something called First Saturday in Dallas, too, and a google search turned up a number of interesting possibilities. What recommendations can you make for the seeker of swap?
99.9% of the computer stuff at flea markets is junk, much of it overpriced junk (try explaining to an old guy that nobody's going to pay $500 for his beat up Packard Hell 486). As with most stuff at flea markets, the good deals were sold before you got there.
Computer "shows" suck too, unless you're into stolen, broken, overpriced junk.
Somebody mentioned hamfests. These are generally guys who are collecting and using AM radios made about 50 years ago, and still refer to equipment made this side of the last century as "solid state." These folks bring all sorts of computer junk, too, but you ain't getting any deals here either. These guys will calmly ask $250 for a Tandy 286 'cause it's still good for RTTY (radio teletype for those born within the last 30 years and/or having a life).
If you're half-serious about picking up junk computers, watch around dumpsters in office parks and colleges. If you're really serious about collecting junk computers, buy a business phone and put an ad in the yellow pages offering to take away unwanted computers for free. But have your own dumpster handy (supplied by a company that collects demolition and/or doesn't look too close or ask too many questions), you'll need it.
AC's cheerfully ignored
Why would anyone go looking for computer parts if they already had a computer? It just doesn't make any sense.
You're not my girlfriend posting on here under an assumed name, are you?
Don't sweat the petty things. But do pet the sweaty things.
You're going to miss ComputerFest for some silly wedding. I'm sure your fiancee will understand your need to put off the wedding until another weekend.
"Technically, a cat locked in a box may be alive or dead." -Kurt Cobain
So you take a trip to Fry's to laugh hysterically at price tags? They probably make you leave the store because you were scaring the other customers.
eBay? But you need a computer to use eBay. Why would anyone go looking for computer parts if they already had a computer? It just doesn't make any sense.