Zenith Flashmatic remote controller--$500 BIN?

[Jeffhs]

I was browsing ebay a few minutes ago and came across a listing for a Zenith Flashmatic television remote control unit. The seller put a $150 opening bid on it, with a $500 BIN! For crying out loud, the thing is only a hand-held flashlight--any ordinary flashlight with a flash button will operate Zenith Flashmatic TVs. (I wonder how many people made the Flashmatic controller pull double duty as a flashlight during power outages, etc. , or did not realize they could use a standard flashlight to operate the TV if anything went wrong with the ray-gun-shaped controller.) I realize the Flashmatic was Zenith's first attempt at wireless remote control, but good grief--$150 for a controller which is little more than a 1.5-volt light bulb, switch and battery is, IMO, far too high an opening bid; the $500 BIN is just ridiculous, IMHO. I don't think the seller knows anything about this controller or its history, just wants to get as much money as he/she can from the auction. Depending on how many Flashmatic TVs are still in use (I would guess not very many anymore), this person may have a hard time unloading this controller. I doubt very much if anyone is going to buy this just to use it as a flashlight, unless they want to be able to brag to their friends/relatives that they have the world's only Zenith flashlight.

Sheesh. Amazing as all heck, to me anyhow. What some people won't do to make a buck these days.

[David Roper]

I don't think the seller knows anything about this controller or its history

Are you kidding?? He knows exactly what he's got. If he didn't know exactly what he's got, the opening bid would be $1.50 with a BIN of $5.00

[kx250rider]

Defintely $500 is high, but so was $6500 for the blue Andrea... Fair price on the Flashmatic; maybe $125. That's what others have gone for on eBay.

Charles

[jpdylon]

Its listed here locally on CL for 350. He's "open to offers"

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/clt/150802130.html

If you can give him a price he wants, I'll pick it up and ship it if he doesn't want to.