posted on June 4, 2001 08:51:57 AM new
I was at a garage sale, and came across an item I knew nothing about (old Super8 movie camera). It was only $2...I figured it might go on eBay. I walked around with it for a while...and then decided to use my Sprint phone to check its value on eBay.
On eBay's mobile site, I punched in the model number for the camera, and several hits came back. One was ending in a couple hours, and there were no bites on the $1 opening bid.
I put it back. It certainly wasn't the $2, but the great satisifaction I got from being able to instantly find out if something had value to others!
posted on June 4, 2001 08:59:17 AM new
Glad that came in handy! I have a laptop, and with the exception of a wireless modem, I could check on stuff on the go... Anyone know anything about setting up a laptop PC with a wireless modem?
posted on June 4, 2001 09:11:09 AM new
I could have used a wireless connection yesterday...Came across an old doll, still in the box, I knew it was sellable, but wasn't sure if there was a profit to be made...I walked away cause buyin' it would have required all the cash I had on me....I wished I had a wireless laptop in the van....Came home, checked eBay, and was quite glad to see that the only one on the site was ending with a final bid LOWER than the yard sale cost!..Phewwwww, saved by instinct!
How exactly does that work?
Can you use any wireless "cell phone"?
Many, many times I've wished there was a way to do some research while at auctions or sales.
I've looked into getting me a laptop, but anyone I've ever talked to about them says they can't be used out in the field..HUH?
I always thought that was the advantage to having a laptop.
I've got a cell phone through US CELLULAR, is there a way to use that?
Thanks in advance for anything enlightning I may learn here
posted on June 4, 2001 09:37:42 AM newZypher I've been known to look things up on eBay with my wireless at auctions during previews
Here's a twist: I have a camera module that attaches to the Visor PDA. With a software utility that I have, I could theoretically take a picture of the items that I'd like to know the value of, attach them to an email and send them wirelessly to someone who can give me an assessment of the pieces. Then I could comfortably bid on them, knowing the resale value. Kind of takes the sport out of auctions, but I'll bet within 2 years, you start to see people doing this.
Packer You can use a Palm or Visor PDA with a cellular modem, or you can use an internet enabled Cell phone. Those screens are very tiny and they're a pain to "3-Tap" to type in a URL. You can also use a laptop with a cell modem, but those are pretty conspicuous.
posted on June 4, 2001 10:11:35 AM new
hey Zephyr, great post!
Must have been a very empowering feeling to have the information you wanted instantly in the palm of your hand.
I also have Sprint with wireless web. A couple of question:
What sort of plan are you on, whats the cost per minute to get on the web? My plan is kinda expensive, I think its something like 99 cents per minute. Do you know if there is an unlimited plan offered.
Also, does the ebay mobile site have all the feaures of the regular landline site, or is the same site just accesed by wireless web? Can you search completed items?
How much of a pain was it to navigate? I tried using hotmail once with my sprint phone and it was involved. The screen is too small, typing was a problem etc. How long did it take you to get the information you needed?
I'm on the $34.99 for 1500 minutes plan that they ran last Christmas. I'm reaching the end of my 6-months free wireless web. After that it is $10 a month for access. The minutes used for wireless web are deducted from the minutes in the plan. I believe the wireless web is $.39/minute on my plan if you don't get the $10 plan.
I'm using an entry-level phone, the discontinued Qualcomm 2760. Your phone has to have the "wireless web" feature, sometimes referred to as WAP (wireless application protocol) feature. www.wap.com has more information on the system.
As vidpro2 pointed out, it's somewhat cumbersome to access anything on the web with WAP. You can log into "my ebay", place bids, check auctions, do searches. (Not sure about completed; I'll have to check that). The screen is small, and you have to punch in letters using the phone's keypad. This can take a while. It also takes some practice to effectively use the system.
Luckily the camera I was searching for had a 3 character model number, and finding listings was easy.
I believe a better standard will emerge eventually and in five years people will be accessing the web via wireless like you see people chatting on the phone today.
[ edited by zypher on Jun 4, 2001 10:37 AM ]
[ edited by zypher on Jun 4, 2001 10:39 AM ]
posted on June 4, 2001 10:46:27 AM new
Two inconspicious ways for wireless web is via a WAP phone or PDA/wireless modem combo.
Along with Sprint, some AT&T phones (Ericsson for example) offer unlimited WAP use for free. eBay is one of the shopping channels you can use to check items. This option will run you $99 (phone) plus $30 for a monthly plan with free WAP.
You can also opt for a PDA/wireless modem combo. I currently use a Visor Platinum (8MB) with a OmniSky wireless modem. Cost is $250 for PDA, and modem $300 with annual service included. You may want to look into a Palm VII which includes a built-in modem.
I've found both setups to be somewhat reliable. It is hit or miss, so I have called friends to look up eBay prices for me. So in return, I treat them to meals quite often!
posted on June 4, 2001 11:31:05 AM newtoke you're in the Boston area, aren't you? We use OmniSky, which is serviceable. Doesn't have alot of holes in the service around here. I decided to get the Handspring Visor (Platinum had a little more processor power) over the Palm because there were more peripherals available and many of my friends had them (good reason, eh?)
We got a Minstrel wireless modem, which was $299 (special deal - $149 if you sign up for 6 months, and the service is $40 a month unlimited plan)
My wife uses it quite a bit - I'm still a little slow with the grafitti - but eBay does have a wireless site, as zypher pointed it out. It is quite cool, but don't expect instant access to Sites, like you might get at home with Cable. Also, you don't get images with the auctions on eBay wireless. That's one of the compromises for being wireless.
posted on June 4, 2001 01:17:06 PM new
I use GoAmerica for my laptop. Speed is only 19K, but I get unlimited access via ATT, the cost is $60 per month, and the wireless moden was 399.00. Usable in all major cities thatr have ATT cellphones
edhdsn
posted on June 4, 2001 02:07:52 PM new
I believe Sprint carry phones that double as wireless modems for your laptop. You just need a cable to connect the two and a service that includes wireless web. Unfortunately, I think the wireless web access is considered talk time and is not unlimited.
posted on June 4, 2001 06:09:02 PM new
Thanks, vidpro2...
Yes, I live on the South Shore. I don't think I quite understand all this, but it's becoming clearer. Where would be a good place to shop and compare all these goodies? CompUsa...Circuit City?
I'm getting a horrible feeling that obsolescence will occur in about 3 months. Went to PC World and read a few articles...sounds like the technology is really changing rapidly. And with things as they are in the computer industry, bet they'd like to sell a lot of new gadgets, huh?
posted on June 4, 2001 06:40:32 PM new
Capriole...it was a Bentley B-3. A couple have sold lately...$1, $5, $6.50, so it's not a hot item. It wasn't nearly as old as I thought it was. When I first picked it up, I thought it was from the 60's. It was actually from the early 80's.
To answer a previous question...yes you can search completed items on eBay on their mobile web site.
Yes technology is moving fast. I'm glad I only paid $17 after rebates for my phone. By this Christmas I'll be ready for the next great thing in wireless web access!
posted on June 4, 2001 07:02:59 PM newtoke the Handsprings Visors are pretty consistent in price, wherever you buy them, from the Handspring Site or Best Buy. The modem you can get if you sign up with Omnisky (I don't know what the current deal is, though)
You're absolutely right about obsolescence, though. My wife is writing an article for a print magazine about the Wireless Web, so it was an excuse to buy the set-up.
I don't know if I would recommend that a person go and buy a PDA and wireless modem exclusively for checking things out at yard sales and auctions. Quite frankly, when I'm out doing estate sales, etc., I forget to bring it 90% of the time. At some point, you just start to trust your instincts.
posted on June 7, 2001 09:11:11 AM new
According to my research that camera sold on ebay for
$39 eBay7/99
$81 eBay 9/99
Those are "heyday" prices.
Times be achangin'!
ps it's a beatercam
posted on June 7, 2001 10:31:22 AM new
I use my Sprint wireless phone to do eBay research everyday "out in the field", after a while you can become quite proficient and its fairly inconspicuous. If you use the T9 data entry method it will predict the words (common) that you are typing based on the key combinations. I used to have my phone cabled to a Casio E-125 PocketPC but the speed wasn't so great. Apparently Sprint is on track to be the first carrier to offer high speed wireless access in the next 2 years or so, should be interesting, maybe I'll be able to see what I'm looking up in a reasonable preiod of time.
