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Missing something
Nov. 16th, 2008 10:04 amI have been planning to get a mobile broadband Pay as You Go package to use when I'm at the Old Shed (inside complete, hard landscaping happening outside, should be ready in plenty of time for Christmas). At 3 Mobile, you can buy a dongle for £39.99 (more expensive versions available at £49.99 and £59.99) for which you then purchase top up cards at various prices depending how much you want to use it.
Ah, I thought, this is the kind of thing that Ebay is good for. Even if it only works out a few pounds cheaper, it'll be worth it. So earlier this week I bid on a 3-mobile dongle, complete with sim card. I didn't win. The final price was £38.80 + £2.50 postage. Which is MORE THAN YOU WOULD PAY IN THE SHOP for a new one. I notice that there are also quite a lot of Buy It Now ones priced (including postage) at between £45 and £55.
So, um, what am I missing? Is there a global shortage of mobile broadband dongles so that the second hand market has risen sharply? Or are these people just bonkers?
Ah, I thought, this is the kind of thing that Ebay is good for. Even if it only works out a few pounds cheaper, it'll be worth it. So earlier this week I bid on a 3-mobile dongle, complete with sim card. I didn't win. The final price was £38.80 + £2.50 postage. Which is MORE THAN YOU WOULD PAY IN THE SHOP for a new one. I notice that there are also quite a lot of Buy It Now ones priced (including postage) at between £45 and £55.
So, um, what am I missing? Is there a global shortage of mobile broadband dongles so that the second hand market has risen sharply? Or are these people just bonkers?