That Poor Meter

[tszaboo]

I think ebay sometimes a totally insane place to buy equipment. Take a look at this:
eBay auction: #http://www.ebay.com/itm/2680-0215-Agilent-HP-Screw-Machine-Pan-Head-10-32-0-5-Inch-Long-Helical-Spr-/350549488516?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519e60b384
It is a screw. With a 45 USD shipping. 
Here is an other 4EA RS232 cable for 100USD
eBay auction: #http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-4pcs-Agilent-RS232-61601-Cable-/390155179488?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ad70f95e0
A floppy for 150 USD
eBay auction: #http://www.ebay.com/itm/6950L-T61-Agilent-HP-Retrofit-Kit-for-6629A-Option-J20-/350549485455?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519e60a78f
a mouse, broken for 250USD
eBay auction: #http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-AGILENT-46060A-TWO-BUTTON-MOUSE-WITH-CORD-46060-60002-/390635458130?pt=Mice&hash=item5af3b00e52
are these for/from real people or someone from the moon?

[TerraHertz]

Speaking of insane ebay prices, I like it when this happens:
 ebay 380082282092   TLA7AA4  8S 8MB @ 235 MHz  FW 4.4    US $19,666.67  Should I buy it? (Just kidding)
 ebay 280842069865   TLA7AA4  CS 2MB @ 450mhz   FW 5.5    US $149.99       Nah, this one will do for me.

Seller of the insanely priced one quotes this:
  List Price is:
  Standard Module - TLA7AA4: $20,100.00 NEW from Tektronix
  Option 8S - TLA7AA48S: $38,900.00 NEW from Tektronix
  Total List Price is: $59,000.00
as if it means something on ebay.
Does anyone buy stuff from such idiots? Are there really equally stupid buyers?

[TerraHertz]

a mouse, broken for 250USD
ebay: 390635458130

To be fair, that's a HP-HIL mouse. HP-HIL gear seems to have something of a retro following.
I learned this in the last few days because I'm trying to find a cheap HP-HIL keyboard, for a HP 80000 1GHz data generator.
Starting to think 'cheap' may not happen. Even the bloody cords are rare.

Oh, and I'm looking for a copy of the HP-HIL Technical Reference Manual, HP P/N 45918A. Another unobtainium item.

[alm]

ebay 380082282092   TLA7AA4  8S 8MB @ 235 MHz  FW 4.4    US $19,666.67  Should I buy it? (Just kidding)
 ebay 280842069865   TLA7AA4  CS 2MB @ 450mhz   FW 5.5    US $149.99       Nah, this one will do for me.

About 10x the price for almost billion times more bandwidth, sounds fair to me?

Does anyone buy stuff from such idiots? Are there really equally stupid buyers?

Some sellers price their stuff to sell to hobbyists looking for a deal. Others target companies that need to replace an obsolete piece of test equipment because changing and recertifying their procedure may be much more expensive than the equipment. Outfits like Tucker are targeting this market, and typically offer equipment tested and with some sort of warranty for prices no hobbyist would pay. And of course some sellers are completely delusional and ask completely unrealistic prices. Note that if the seller is not short on storage, there's fairy little cost in just relisting it until someone comes along willing to pay that price. They only need one fool that thinks $20k is a fair price.