Re: Should John continue to host this list or not?

Yes, I agree. John you should definitely leave the list as it is.

Joe wrote:
>
> John,
>
> You certainly have my vote for you too continue hosting this list. I
> realize your goal with the 9010s is to make money while some other list
> members may only be to pursue a hobby but I think your expertise would be
> sorely missed. I'm sure the hobbiest members have other usefull talents.
> If they really want equipment that they can't afford to pay E-bay prices
> for then they should be able to exchange labor or something else for them.
>
> FWIW affordable 9010s aren't that hard to find! I've bought three of
> them in the last month. Two of them cost $20 each for just the console
> (both needed minor reapirs). The other cost $25 with three pods. If you
> really want an affordable 9010 (or anything else for that matter) get off
> of E-bay and go look for one! I really don't have any sympathy for people
> that don't make any effort to look any further than E-bay for what they
> want but then whine about the prices. If that offends anyone then so sorry!
>
> Joe
>
> At 10:09 AM 3/15/00 -0800, you wrote:
> >Keith has a number of points here that I think need exploring.
> >
> >Charter...? charter..hmmm..I KNEW I forgot to do something...
> >
> >As a dealer, should I be running this list? I have wondered about the
> >conflict of interest that is possible here, I started the list because I am
> >constantly looking for ways to improve my service tools, and felt that by
> >spreading the knowledge of the tools, I could gain something in return. I
> >did NOT intend it to be a sales area for my shop, and that was one reason I
> >never posted FS: stuff here. It is for that reason that I sell on eBay, to
> >avoid conflict of interest and keep the two areas separate. I am happy to
> >spread service info around, but I need to make a living at sales (it ain't
> >much, but it's a job I love).
> >
> >And, true, this is not a hobby any more (I used to collect 1920's radios
> >was how this all started - there is a thread...how did you get into this?),
> >I never seem to have time to build anything anymore. I have designs, but no
> >finish (Like my design to replace the System 1/80 audio boards 6530's)
> >time...the business has taken over my life (mortgage etc.). Sigh.
> >
> >I want to keep this friendly too. So if my words yesterday seemed harsh, I
> >apologize.
> >
> >So, I guess, I would like a rough tally of votes on should I continue to
> >host this or turn it over to someone else? I don't have a problem with that
> >at all, no offense, etc. So please LMK. (I think there is at least one
> >other technical mail list floating around, saw a reference to one in a
> >search on google.)
> >
> >John :-#)#
> >
> >
> >At 08:39 AM 3/15/2000 -0600, Keith, Brendan wrote:
> >>Disclaimers:
> >>1. I thought about this overnight in order to compose this reply.
> >>2. I have great respect for John's experience and knowledge.
> >>3. I have received emails on this topic, so am not speaking solely from my
> >>own perspective.
> >>
> >> > From: John Robertson[SMTP:jrr@flippers.com]
> >> >
> >> > Well, what would you like me to do? I send out lots of email looking for
> >> > one unit, and several come back with various assortment of units and pods
> >> > that they want to sell as a set.
> >> >
> >>I don't know. I guess I expected something different from this list.
> >>Perhaps I thought it would be similar to the vector and raster list
> >>(from which this list sprung, vaguely) where interesting items are
> >>offered to members before being sent to ebay (a dirty enough word
> >>in itself).
> >>
> >> > They do not like breaking up sets. I have
> >> > made private trades with folks for these, plus I have sold some off. We
> >> > have a business here to run, and I need to make money to support it.
> >> >
> >>Sounds exactly what an amateur (we all know the etymology of that word)
> >>would do. Sometimes you have to take in more than you need.
> >>
> >> > So I buy them wholesale, then I see that some on eBay went for a fair
> >> > dollar, I
> >> > should give them away?
> >> >
> >>That's where our paths would start to diverge.
> >>
> >> > I bought a bunch of damaged probes and am fixing them
> >> > up, should I not profit from this service?
> >> >
> >>Certainly, but why not from some of the very people that joined this list
> >>in order to discuss, discover and collect these same tools?
> >>Or offer some of the broken ones that you don't want to fix.
> >>We know that your time is money. Only you can determine when you
> >>are losing profit by working on a pod vs another game that you should get
> >>out.
> >>
> >>I've been attempting to retrieve some of the archives of this list, but off
> >>the
> >>top of my head, I don't think I've ever seen any of your pods for sale or
> >>auction.
> >>I also wish that I could retrieve the charter for this list. It's slipped
> >>my mind what the full intent was.
> >>
> >> > I bought a bunch of Z80 pods in
> >> > various states, so I fix them and test them. Again, should I not do what
> >> > my
> >> > skills enable me to do? This is MY livelihood!
> >> >
> >>Once again, no argument. You, Ray Johnson, G. Stair, E. Spain (marginal),
> >>and others
> >>are all invaluable professional resources. Clay Cowgill is on the fence and
> >>he
> >>has his own detractors. Then there are the hobbyists, many with similar and
> >>varied
> >>skills. There just seems to be two separate factions in each of these
> >>lists.
> >>Maybe it's never been spoken out loud, but believe me, I know that they
> >>exist now.
> >>
> >>Let me reiterate: You are an exceptional resource. I have been fortunate
> >>enough
> >>to visit your shop. I have seen the voluminous reference materials. I have
> >>discussed
> >>with you some of the rare and obsolete platforms that you still support. I
> >>have
> >>drooled over your drool-worthy racks of PCBs, parts and machines.
> >>And I gladly bought the ESR and FBT tester kits.
> >>But you're not a hobbyist.
> >>
> >>I'm not picking up any harsh resentment from others, just a feeling of
> >>dismay.
> >>It's too bad that this "collection of pods" (5, 15, 50?) isn't spread around
> >>the list members.
> >>It also means that they are in the hands of the high bidders and, because
> >>they
> >>were so dearly bought, likely won't come back on the market. Dismaying.
> >>
> >>That's all I have to say on this. You're a businessman, I don't think your
> >>
> >>feelings will be hurt. I'm a hobbyist, I'll keep pegging away in my little
> >>basement workshop and scrounging for the deals.
> >>
> >>Your compatriot, nonetheless,
> >>Brendan Keith
> >>brendan.keith@wilcom.com
> >>
> >>
> >> To UNSUBSCRIBE from techtoolslist, send a message with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in
> the
> >> message body to: techtoolslist-request@flippers.com. Please direct other
> >> questions, comments, or problems to jrr@flippers.com.
> >
> >
> > John's Jukes Ltd. 2343 Main St., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 3C9
> > Call (604)872-5757 or Fax 872-2010 (Pinballs, Jukes, Video Games)
> > http://www.flippers.com
> > "Old pinballers never die, they just flip out."
> >
> >
Received on Wed Mar 15 14:30:00 2000