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7 row(s) meet your search criteria for December , 2007.

Wii - Still a Sellers Market - December 20, 2007

After I bagged my Wii last weekend, I predicted a softening of the Wii aftermarket. I felt that with the final influx of Wii's being dropped in the market just before Christmas, that the price of Wii's on eBay would drop a bit.

I don't think so. At least not yet. Even though there are LOTs going for sale.

I listed it at the retail price in a 1 day auction, to capture the frenzy of the "I got to have one for Christmas" crowd. I watched a number of auctions and saw some go for $280, some for $350 - all the same basic unit.

With 15 minutes left, I only had bidder, and while I know in my head that bidding really starts with only a few minutes left, I was starting to become concerned that I would get on the lower end of the scale.

With 9 bids and two bidders, it finally sold for $360 to a local guy with cash.

From this side of the transaction, I love bidding wars.

#  | 01:00 PM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: Ebay, Wii)

Wii Hunting - Limit Bagged! - December 17, 2007

A couple of weeks ago we made a family decision to get a Nintendo Wii for Christmas this year. I knew, just from reputation, that the box was going to be hard to find, and subject to lots of luck. The main constraint: pay MSRP. There are plenty of them in eBay land, but I had no intent on paying an extra 50% or more than retail.

All the primary locations selling them were called. Each place had a standard script in place - "They are not in stock and we don't know when they will be in.". Most of the time you didn't even have to contact the department that actually sells them - or they had it on a recorded message.

This weekend however, several places had them in their Sunday Ads - Best Buy, Circuit City and Target. Seems that Nintendo is busting their buns to get product out.

I chose Target, basically because I thought there would be fewer geeks making their move, and I could probably out muscle the mini-van Moms and Santa Grandmas who shop at Target. I also chose the Target in Beaverton instead of Sherwood and Tigard just based on my perception of the demographics of the neighborhood.

So now here's the story of a retailer who got it right.

I arrived before 6am. There was nobody there, but there was a sign on the window - "We have 40 Nintendo Wiis". Obviously, they were ready for the onslaught. But since nobody was there, I parked and stayed in the car - It was 35 degrees!

A few people arrived and started congregating at the door so I got out of the car, got my chair and headed over to start the pligrimmage. All but one of the people waiting were employees in for the morning shift. When the overnight person let them in I asked if there was going to be any numbers given out for priority to the Wii's - he said he'll check. A few minutes later, a manger type came out and gave us cards with numbers - I was number two. She said these are for the Wii's, come back anytime before 10am and pick it up.

So I went and got some breakfast, picked up some donuts, and went back home. Just before 8am I went back to the store, watched them turn away about 25 people who were waiting outside the store, and when the store opened, strolled leisurely back to the electronics department and bought the Wii for the MSRP of $249.

#  | 10:24 AM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: On-The-Town, Wii)

Sub-Prime Loans and Personal Responsibility - December 14, 2007

I ran into a good article about the sub-prime mortgage issues currently facing the US Real Estate market. You'd figure that with all the media attention it was a huge deal. In reality, while the percentage of sub-prime ARMs in foreclosure is high, the percentage of those types of loans is pretty small.

But what Frank questions is why anybody who knows anything about the banking industry is surprised by the situation.

Banks and lending institutions work diligently every hour of the day in figuring out who is a good risk and who is a bad risk on who is the best person or company to loan money.

It's fundamentally what they do.

I'm stumped as to why there is any sympathy for lenders who are getting killed by bad loans. They are in a risk/reward business, and this time they got the sharp end of the stick.

As far as the borrowers go, call it a life lesson and a hit to your credit score. Was it predatory lending? Perhaps in a few cases - the paperwork on a loan is overwhelming. But how about a little personal responsibility?

#  | 11:54 AM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: News)

An Oregon Law to be Thankful For - December 08, 2007

Oregon has some odd laws. The inability to pump your own gas being most notable. But one of the best is the "kicker" law.

Oregon law requires a refund to taxpayers when actual revenues exceed forecast revenues by 2 percent or more.

Almost $1,500 back in my pocket, just in time for Christmas. Thanks Oregon!

#  | 07:44 PM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: Kicker, Oregon, Tax)

Wildest Police Videos - Educational? - December 05, 2007

Marie and I have had some discussions about whether "America's Wildest Police Videos" are appropriate for my almost 8 year old son to watch. I'm not that opposed because the narration by Sheriff Brunnel always emphasizes that its bad to run from the police. Marie wants to shelter the children from reality and thinks that the show will promote that kind of behavior.

The 1/2 hour episodes always show some kuncklehead (or collection of knuckleheads) trying to evade the police and wrecking their car, or having the drug sniffing dog scratching at their "empty" trunk. The Sheriff makes some snide remark about how inevitable their capture is, and that they will have fun in jail.

So, in short - bad guys do bad stuff, get caught and go to jail. Sounds educational to me, "Scared Straight" with high speed chases and car crashes all wrapped up in a syndicated 30 minute episode.

Just after Thanksgiving, though I was wondering if maybe Marie was right.

Garrett: Daddy, what if we had a turkey for Thanksgiving and it was stuffed with marijuana?

Me, after picking up my jaw from the floor: Why would you say that. Do you know what marijuana is?

Garrett: Well, it's the stuff bad guys have in their cars and it's poison!

My faith in Sheriff Brunel is restored.

#  | 07:56 AM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: Garrett, Police, Video)

Things Kids Say - vN+1 - December 04, 2007

It was a drizzly, cold day in December (what a shocker!), and Marie was out doing one of those all day weekend things she does leaving me alone with both kids. Being the good Dad I am, we went out to eat.

On the way to our next adventure, we happened to drive past one of those folks standing on the side of the street enticing shoppers into the dark despair of the "store closing - everything must go" 1 time only sale - the same sale that happened last month.

This person was different though - he was dressed in a Santa suit. Now that didn't strike me as unusual, this was in fact, December. But this guy really didn't have the Santa vibe going. He was thin, young, with a 9am shadow that hadn't been touched since the 5 o'clock shadow the night before.

Sara: Hey Look! It's Santa!

Garrett: That's not Santa. That's just some geek in a suit.

#  | 07:42 AM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: Funny, Garrett)

Another Installment of Things Kids Say - December 03, 2007

Garrett is a pretty bright kid. He's almost 8, and has a pretty good vocabulary for a second grader. He was "speech delayed" as a toddler, but as Mom regularly points out, is making up for that.

The other day we drove past a policeman, and with Sara in the car, we began a discussion of their job.

Sara: The policeman works on Saturday?

Me: Yes, honey. The police work every day to keep us safe.

Garrett: You mean they never sleep?

Me: Sure they do Garrett. Some policemen work during the day, others work at night.

Garrett: They must be nocturnal.

#  | 07:34 AM |  Comments Closed (0)  |  (Tags: Funny, Garrett)