Is the Performa 6400/200 sought-after?

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

Hey everyone,

I found a CL deal for a Performa 6400/200 with extras. These are not so common, and I usually see them on eBay with high price tags (then again, most 90s Macs are overpriced on eBay).

Is this a good deal for this Mac? The fact that it comes with original extras is cool, but I'm wondering about the Mac itself. Here is a picture of the post.

-Thanks

 

[Intell]

That's a bit high, they aren't the most amazing machines and not collectors' items. Shipping on that will be rather high.

 

[eyoungren]

I have a PowerMac 6500/233 in my garage. Paid $50 at Salvation Army in 2003 for it. If that tells you anything.

 

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

That's a bit high, they aren't the most amazing machines and not collectors' items. Shipping on that will be rather high.

It's a local deal. I think it seems pretty good for a Mac that has the original box, manuals, and printer... but I still think it's not worth-it to buy some old thing for $50. I suppose I'll let it pass.

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I have a PowerMac 6500/233 in my garage. Paid $50 at Salvation Army in 2003 for it. If that tells you anything.

Gee, thrift stores in Arizona are cheap. I went to a Goodwill there and saw that any and every CRT TV there was $1 each... in L.A., it's an average of $40. Don't get me started with the 100-dollar iBook G3s.

 

[eyoungren]

Gee, thrift stores in Arizona are cheap. I went to a Goodwill there and saw that any and every CRT TV there was $1 each... in L.A., it's an average of $40. Don't get me started with the 100-dollar iBook G3s.

Well, the Salvation Army closest to us closed well over ten years ago and the local Goodwill has moved twice.

Yes, they are still inexpensive, but Goodwill Industries has in the last five years or so adopted a more "upscale" approach to their stores. It's still a Goodwill, but they have moved in to more modern shops, cleaned up the stores and removed all the smells. They also put a stop to the practice of being an electronics dumping ground for dead/broken computers and devices.

All of which is a good thing of course, but it also means that you can no longer find ANY computers at Goodwill. You can find cords and cables, keyboards and accessories, but there are ZERO computers at any of the shops now.

That's just in Metro Phoenix. I can't speak for elsewhere, but if you're looking for a thrift shop computer now you aren't going to Goodwill any more.

It sucks, but those good old days of good finds are now gone.

 

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

Well, the Salvation Army closest to us closed well over ten years ago and the local Goodwill has moved twice.

Yes, they are still inexpensive, but Goodwill Industries has in the last five years or so adopted a more "upscale" approach to their stores. It's still a Goodwill, but they have moved in to more modern shops, cleaned up the stores and removed all the smells. They also put a stop to the practice of being an electronics dumping ground for dead/broken computers and devices.

All of which is a good thing of course, but it also means that you can no longer find ANY computers at Goodwill. You can find cords and cables, keyboards and accessories, but there are ZERO computers at any of the shops now.

That's just in Metro Phoenix. I can't speak for elsewhere, but if you're looking for a thrift shop computer now you aren't going to Goodwill any more.

It sucks, but those good old days of good finds are now gone.

Yeah, it really does suck about Goodwill...

There was actually this ONE Goodwill (not too close to my area) that had a computer center, which was a separate computer room. It had tons of stuff, but the last time I looked it up, it apparently had been omitted from the store. The only thrift store that continuously has computers is that Salvation Army... and usually things are a rip-off, being that this is L.A. and the electronics manager has no idea what he's pricing.

 

[bse5150]

Yes, they are still inexpensive, but Goodwill Industries has in the last five years or so adopted a more "upscale" approach to their stores. It's still a Goodwill, but they have moved in to more modern shops, cleaned up the stores and removed all the smells.

LOL!!!! Imagines Febreze commercial...

 

[bunnspecial]

Well, the Salvation Army closest to us closed well over ten years ago and the local Goodwill has moved twice.

Yes, they are still inexpensive, but Goodwill Industries has in the last five years or so adopted a more "upscale" approach to their stores. It's still a Goodwill, but they have moved in to more modern shops, cleaned up the stores and removed all the smells. They also put a stop to the practice of being an electronics dumping ground for dead/broken computers and devices.

All of which is a good thing of course, but it also means that you can no longer find ANY computers at Goodwill. You can find cords and cables, keyboards and accessories, but there are ZERO computers at any of the shops now.

That's just in Metro Phoenix. I can't speak for elsewhere, but if you're looking for a thrift shop computer now you aren't going to Goodwill any more.

It sucks, but those good old days of good finds are now gone.

I think that's a corporate wide move by Goodwill

Our local one has been in the same location for 20+ years and still looks and smells like an old-timey Goodwill(complete with aisles so narrow that the average sized American can barely fit through them). Walk in and you still get the overwhelming smell of mothballs and old clothes. They no longer have computers, though.

Other area stores, though, are big, bright, spacious, well-lit, and as you've noted don't smell. They also don't have computers. I've heard that corporate wide, they no longer accept computers.

One thing I will complement all the stores I've been in, though, is that they've really improved their customer service. It's now actually possible to to find someone to help you when shopping at the store. I can remember in the old days sometimes waiting 10 minutes at the donation window to get someone to fill out a receipt, and they refused to help actually unload anything. Every time I pull up now someone jumps out immediately and insists on helping unload the car.

All are positive changes(except for the lack of computers ) but I've noticed that prices on a lot of things have gone up also.

 

[eyoungren]

LOL!!!! Imagines Febreze commercial...

Yeah, it's really strange now.

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I think that's a corporate wide move by Goodwill

Our local one has been in the same location for 20+ years and still looks and smells like an old-timey Goodwill(complete with aisles so narrow that the average sized American can barely fit through them). Walk in and you still get the overwhelming smell of mothballs and old clothes. They no longer have computers, though.

Other area stores, though, are big, bright, spacious, well-lit, and as you've noted don't smell. They also don't have computers. I've heard that corporate wide, they no longer accept computers.

One thing I will complement all the stores I've been in, though, is that they've really improved their customer service. It's now actually possible to to find someone to help you when shopping at the store. I can remember in the old days sometimes waiting 10 minutes at the donation window to get someone to fill out a receipt, and they refused to help actually unload anything. Every time I pull up now someone jumps out immediately and insists on helping unload the car.

All are positive changes(except for the lack of computers ) but I've noticed that prices on a lot of things have gone up also.

Yeah, funny thing. I think the bad economy has made Goodwill a lot of money.

When you don't have as much disposable income as you're used to having, all of a sudden you discover places like the Goodwill. Places most people would never set foot in, but because of the economy…now find acceptable.

This has irritated my wife to no end because we've always shopped there. You could always find some great deals (a PC with a Postscript printer $40 one time) there but now, while it's still a deal, it's not like it used to be.

I mentioned PHX specifically, because I didn't want to make a blanket statement only to find out that PHX is the exception. But since it does not appear to be, then it seems that the decision to stop being a dumping ground is benefitting Goodwill at least.

 

[bunnspecial]

BTW, with regard to the Performa in the OP, I'd probably buy it if for no other reason than the extras that come with it. IMO, $50 is a more than fair price all things considered. I wouldn't pay that for just the computer.

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I mentioned PHX specifically, because I didn't want to make a blanket statement only to find out that PHX is the exception. But since it does not appear to be, then it seems that the decision to stop being a dumping ground is benefitting Goodwill at least.

A friend and I comb the flea markets and other type shops on a pretty regular basis(probably once a month at least). We both have a variety of interests, and always stop at Goodwills when we see them since we both like tech stuff and can sometimes find good software and other stuff like that.

We've traveled as far south as Southern KY, hit pretty much every Goodwill in the Central KY area, the Louisville area, the Southern Indiana area, and have also hit some in Central Indiana(Indianapolis and Bloomington), Northern KY, and southern OH(Cincy area). I also stopped at one or two in the Knoxville area the last time I was down there. I feel like that's a pretty wide swath of stores, and have noticed the same changes you mentioned in all of them.

 

[gavinstubbs09]

I have only been to three goodwill stores, the one in Reno, Nevada; Folsom, California; and Stockton, California. Only the Folsom one carries computers and the only Mac I have ever found was my first B&W from 2011! However I have picked up some $10-15 PCs like Dimension 3000s and 2400s.

Actually I now remember a 4th store in Redding, California. They carry some decent stuff and found a few different Apple things there. They have computers too but extremely overpriced (a year ago there was a Pentium III dell of some variety and they wanted $40 )

 

[eyoungren]

BTW, with regard to the Performa in the OP, I'd probably buy it if for no other reason than the extras that come with it. IMO, $50 is a more than fair price all things considered. I wouldn't pay that for just the computer.

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A friend and I comb the flea markets and other type shops on a pretty regular basis(probably once a month at least). We both have a variety of interests, and always stop at Goodwills when we see them since we both like tech stuff and can sometimes find good software and other stuff like that.

We've traveled as far south as Southern KY, hit pretty much every Goodwill in the Central KY area, the Louisville area, the Southern Indiana area, and have also hit some in Central Indiana(Indianapolis and Bloomington), Northern KY, and southern OH(Cincy area). I also stopped at one or two in the Knoxville area the last time I was down there. I feel like that's a pretty wide swath of stores, and have noticed the same changes you mentioned in all of them.

Yeah, I agree. The price is fair for this computer and all it's accessories.

Speaking back to the Goodwill, I also think management finally got smart. You mentioned earlier that customer service improved. Well, not only that but gone are the days where the employees just put stuff out on the shelves willy nilly. My wife has picked up her fair share of silver and crystal items put out as platters and standard glassware marked for sale at $1. That's not happening any more. Someone got smart and started noticing all this stuff and redirecting it. That goes for the computers and the electronics too.

More and more I am seeing quality computers and electronics on Goodwill's auction site. Again, someone got smart.

 

[keysersoze]

We've traveled as far south as Southern KY...

Have you found old Macs on your trips to those places?

 

[bunnspecial]

Have you found old Macs on your trips to those places?

I haven't seen a computer for sale in Goodwill anywhere for probably 3 or 4 years.

 

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

Yeah, I agree. The price is fair for this computer and all it's accessories.

Speaking back to the Goodwill, I also think management finally got smart. You mentioned earlier that customer service improved. Well, not only that but gone are the days where the employees just put stuff out on the shelves willy nilly. My wife has picked up her fair share of silver and crystal items put out as platters and standard glassware marked for sale at $1. That's not happening any more. Someone got smart and started noticing all this stuff and redirecting it. That goes for the computers and the electronics too.

More and more I am seeing quality computers and electronics on Goodwill's auction site. Again, someone got smart.

I love when some places are NOT smart and have electronics xD. Sometimes that can mean overpricing, but usually they don't care about the electronics and sell them cheap. I went to this one antique store and found one of those HP Pocket PCs in its box for $20. I looked it up on eBay and there were sold listings for about $200+. It's amazing---the people working there were all interested in some stupid item that had just come in (an antique breast pump...), yet they were letting a $200+ collector's item go away for $20.

At some other thrift store, I got an old LCD monitor for $2 (missing universal power cord, so they couldn't test it... I took one from a nearby printer and tested it out). At the same store, I saw an original 1989 Gameboy, with Tetris & Mario Land, for $6. I did some community service work there, so the manager gave it to me for free.

 

[InuNacho]

I think for $50 that model is pretty reasonable, I have the slightly slower version of it and it's pretty nice for what it is. The built in Sub is pretty impressive and if the graphics card is upgraded you'd be able to play Nanosaur without any problems.
Check and see if that one has the AV in, if it does I'd get it.