OT: VMC-K100, pure capitalism at work

riredale wrote on 4/21/2008, 9:12 AM

Kinda cryptic title, I know.

I bought my little HC-3 camcorder about 15 months ago, and quickly realized that one of the limitations was that there was no external mic-in jack on the body. However, Sony made a little pillbox-like device called a VMC-K100 that snapped onto the proprietary hotshoe and provided a stereo miniplug connection. And they were only $20!

So I bought 5 from the only vendor who had them (B&H), with the intention of keeping one and selling the other 4 from eBay. I posted a listing on Ebay, then sat back to rake in the money.

Nothing. Not a single bite.

Fortunately, B&H had a generous return policy and I sent the 4 back to them.

A few weeks ago I noticed that these little pillboxes, which Sony had claimed were discontinued, really WERE discontinued--even B&H no longer had them. To my surprise, there was a single unit on eBay, and it sold for an amazing $224.72! Hmmm...

What the heck. I've never used my own unit, since I the HC-3 is employed strictly as a second-angle camera. Besides, it has AGC on the audio with no option to turn it off. So on to eBay the adapter goes.

Currently the bid is about $100, with a few days to go. You can see it here. Pretty good example of the law of supply and demand, don't you think?

Comments

Laurence wrote on 4/21/2008, 10:12 AM

I have one of them as well. I wish I had bought a couple more when I could.

CClub wrote on 4/21/2008, 12:26 PM

I was looking to buy one last week, as a friend was going to sell me an HC-3 for cheap as a 3rd camera. When I saw the prices on ebay, I cancelled buying the HC-3... I could get a new Sony or Canon model for the price of a used HC-3 plus one of those doodads!!

LReavis wrote on 4/21/2008, 1:53 PM

the HC-1 is similar except for the noise-canceling algorithym used to get slightly better low-light performance on the HC-3, and it has a mic input jack and manual audio gain control (plus lots of other manual controls). I still think it's one of the best bargains around - often used ones are on ebay for under $1000.

riredale wrote on 4/22/2008, 8:13 AM

As of Tuesday a.m., bid price is now $158.

I find it hard to believe that someone will actually follow through and pay this much for something that was available a few months ago for $20.

I wonder if there is some way to call off the auction early? OTOH, it might be fun to just wait and see how high the offers go...

Laurence wrote on 4/22/2008, 8:21 AM

plus, the actual bid may be higher. I wouldn't be surprised to see a sniper get it at the last second for top dollar.

riredale wrote on 4/26/2008, 7:39 AM

Just to bring closure to this thread: the final bid for this little adapter that sold for $19.95 from B&H just a month or two ago was for $198. The buyer sent in the full amount to my PayPal account minutes later. I'll mail the adapter out later today.

Not a bad investment, eh?

farss wrote on 4/26/2008, 4:14 PM

The final irony could be when Sony put the thing back into production.
I had the same thing happen with the RM-VD1. It vanished off Sony's catalogue as 'discontinued' and I managed to find one that one Sony shop had left. I drove across town and snapped it up for $149. The local Sony shop now has plenty in stock for $99.

Bob.

winrockpost wrote on 4/26/2008, 4:49 PM

5-6 years ago I bought a panny minidv deck ,
had it a couple a years and really was a waste for me,, cheap dv cam worked perfecly fine for capture and playback (for me).. put it on ebay and sold it for a couple a hundred dollars more than i bought it new... panny had quit making it.....one mans junk.....

CClub wrote on 4/26/2008, 7:05 PM

6 months back I was sorting through a spare room and I found an old Marzpak that I had purchased used on ebay for about $250. I was trying to clear out the room of "junk," and I figured I could get a few bucks for it (I never used it once I bought a Glidecam). I listed it and it brought in almost $500.