My opinion is that the OP is being just plain old bottom-dwelling cheap. He was so confident of walking away with a "steal". And when it backfired on him, he got PO'd. The effect is greatly magnified especially if he had "Ebay flipping" in mind at the time. That's the beginning of it and the end of it.
-Which begs the question......would he have been willing to pay $250 if he found them somewhere other than a yard sale?
As some of the above posters mentioned, I don't see how the LOCATION of where the item being sold should have much-if any bearing on the items worth. For example, why would a 2005 Honda S2000 'Roadster' be worth more at Honda of Newport Beach as opposed to...say...."Larry's Used Cars" of Santa Ana?
EDIT:
I think another source of angst on the part of these "bargain hunters" is their resentment of the fact that, thanks to the Internet and forums suck as AK and Ebay, the days of finding "secret" and "hidden treasures priced for pennies of what they are worth" are largely over. Indeed, anyone who actually has something decent and worth more than $10, has to have by now heard of the Internet. Thus it will often get listed on CL, Ebay, or wherever. And with the amount of people who could cover far more places in one hour of surfing than one could in one DAY of driving around, the REALLY good stuff will get snatched up in a heartbeat. Or else at least bid up to a hefty $$$ amount. If I were to list one of my Teac X-2000R decks for sale....even for a grand or $1500, chances are, it'll sell.....because there will be hundreds if not thousands of people that would WANT it. But very few (and it only takes one) that would be willing to PAY for it. On the other hand, if I were to list something else.....such as a nonfunctioning Teac A-4010S.....I'd have to practically GIVE it away....assuming I could even find someone who would want it.
