I've heard the "companies have mountains of surplus, and need E-bay to get rid of it for pennies on the dollar" spiel before. Almost makes it sound like you're doing them a favor, sending them money!
The Reno area's biggest business is -no, not gambling- warehousing. For a variety of reasons, a very large part of what sells in California is warehoused, and staged here. If there were ever a place where companies would be "stuck" with tons of stuff they just couldn't dispose of, Reno would be the place.
Guess what? It just doesn't happen that way. Period.
We have a marketing system that is essentially free. This means stuff sells for what it's really worth... the prices are neither falsely inflated or artificially discounted. "The market" ensures that.
So I agree with those who are suspicious when an expensive tool, one that is usually company provided, becomes available through unusual channels, at a large discount. To just make up an example, you can be sure GM does NOT have a lot full of Cadillacs that they just HAVE to dispose of for $400!
