best video card sales when?

[dummy2001]

Are the best sales likely in:
a) post-thanksgiving weekend
b) right before xmas
c) a uniform downward gradient
d) not enough information

looking at 9800 atlantis, 8 pipe 128 bit, best card at the upper maximum of my revised price range.

And by the way, ebay is living proof that people are stupid herd animals and microeconomics is egghead nonsense trumped by mob psychology. Now agree with me, even in the best of conditions ebay video cards are non-ideal, they are used or refurbs and inherently suspect, even if you buy w/ paypal protection and a 30 day DOA "warranty" you could still be buying an unstable card due to crap out on day 31 with no recourse. So, logically, they should sell at a discount relative to brand new cards carrying a full warranty, oem or no.

On top of this, accurate pricing information is instantly available. With zero effort you can simultaneously look at an ebay auction and the same card available new on pricewatch.com, which ought to establish a hard price ceiling, right? But look at completed ebay sales. People routinely bid up to and over the price for a brand new unopened warrantied card of the same model! Man, when capitalism crashes its going to make the end of communism look like a soft landing.

 

[Fern]

If you're looking for a 9800pro, wait and find one that is 256 bit (128MB ram).

Yeah, look at the Black Friday sales, but the 6600GT (AGP version) looks to be coming out, perhaps that will cause drop in price of 9800 pro's.

Fern

 

[2Xtreme21]

Do NOT get the 128-bit version of the 9800pro. That's like getting a Nascar race car and capping its speed at 45mph. If you're set on the 9800pro, make SURE you get a 256-bit version of it.

Anyway, best sales are probably off of retail sites like Newegg / Zipzoomfly right after thanksgiving and before christmas. IIRC, CompUSA has a steal on a 6800nu for $200 on Black Friday.

And erm, what's the point you're trying to make? Sorry if my post doesn't answer your question (?).

 

[Azndude51]

Originally posted by: dummy2001
And by the way, ebay is living proof that people are stupid herd animals and microeconomics is egghead nonsense trumped by mob psychology. Now agree with me, even in the best of conditions ebay video cards are non-ideal, they are used or refurbs and inherently suspect, even if you buy w/ paypal protection and a 30 day DOA "warranty" you could still be buying an unstable card due to crap out on day 31 with no recourse. So, logically, they should sell at a discount relative to brand new cards carrying a full warranty, oem or no.

On top of this, accurate pricing information is instantly available. With zero effort you can simultaneously look at an ebay auction and the same card available new on pricewatch.com, which ought to establish a hard price ceiling, right? But look at completed ebay sales. People routinely bid up to and over the price for a brand new unopened warrantied card of the same model! Man, when capitalism crashes its going to make the end of communism look like a soft landing.

ebay isnt that bad as long as you know what you're doing, know exactly what you want to buy, and buy smart. There is a lot of crap on ebay, but if you're patient and search carefully, you can find some of the best deals there. I've bought 3 video cards off ebay (2 were for other people, they were exactly what I was looking for and I bought them at lower prices then the cheapest one on pricewatch, even with shipping.

 

[NEOSOLACE]

sheesh...I scouted cards out on Ebay for quite a while trying to land a BFG 6800 GT OC. I tried sniping a couple....no dice. I tried watching the auctions that ended at 4am.....nothing. It seems that there are a LOT of people jumping the gun on these cards....WAY too many to make them even a decent deal.

 

[Keysplayr]

About 1 month after Christmas. Before Christmas, you see "CHRISTMAS SALE" advertisements everywhere, but they are just marked down from pumped up pricing. My mother is in retail and this is how she says most companies operate. She's worked for a lot of them.
If you wait until after January, prices will fall because the spending rush is totally gone and companies have to move product.

 

[MadEye2]

AH the good old January Sales, where all the big name stores like Currys, Dixons and PC world offer us such -great- deals at half price! Oh yes.

Oh hold on, I just found the exact same tat they're selling for half price online.

Hohoho. Merry Christmas.