[photo-3d] eBay bidding & TDC Vivid reflection problem

["Dr. George A. Themelis" <drt-3d@xxxxxxx>]

I know this thread is getting tiresome and it is borderline 3-d
related but since ebay is important for stereo users and
collectors and a lot of people are posting and commenting,
let me add another thought.

It was mentioned that low prices encourage more people
to bid.  In my experience, bids attract more bids.  As
I scan down search lists, I skip most stereo items with
zero bids.  For example, if I see a Stereo Realist with
$125 and zero bids, I know it is a marginal Realist with
a too high of a starting bid, so why waste my time to
look further?  On the other hand, if I see a Realist at
$125 with 22 bids, I am very curious to see what is so
special about this Realist to generate all this heat.

As a seller I try to start my auctions at $1 and no reserve,
like this TDC Vivid I have now in ebay.  Some people
are confused by this practice and they think that either
1) the camera is stolen, or 2) I got it from the "old lady
next door" for $0.50 (equivalent to theft, IMO).  None
of this is true of course.  I might have invested $150 in
this camera but I am confident that the bidding process
will get me more, and I want to see the number of bids
go up.  Exactly because lots of bids bring even more bids.

The practice of sniping keeps the number of bids low
and hides the attention in any particular item, which 
leads to lower prices.  I know that as an ebay seller
I am shooting myself in the leg by telling you this, but 
this is how things work and I want to be honest with you.

Now, about this TDC Vivid, it is a run-of-the-mill
camera, it has no case, it has a known and confessed
problem (strange reflection in one side).  I would have
asked $150 fixed price in sell-3d and be happy
with it.  But I was afraid that even $150 might have
been too much so I put it in ebay for $1.  The camera
right now has 16 bids and it is up to $365.  And I am
asking you, WHY???  It is not a rare camera by any
means and I have seen similar or better Vivid cameras 
close around $200-$250.  Why is "mine" (it is not
even mine!) so hot?  I am not bringing this to your
attention to place a bid.  PLEASE, do not bid on
this one because I honestly tell you that it is overpriced
as is!

About the reflection, Bruce Springsteen (whatever
happened to him?) had brought this issue up and a
number of TDC Vivid owners reported the same
problem.  Paul Talbot mentioned that Don Lopp (sp?)
had found a fix for it.  My friend (the TDC Vivid owner)
and I looked at it very carefully but could not find
what was causing this very strange reflection (thin
and irregular).  Because he could not get rid of
the reflection (it does not show up in every picture
only in a few frames in a sunny day), my friend
decided to sell it.

Any help to resolve this issue will be appreciated! 
(especially by the new owner of this camera!!!)

George Themelis