PRS-505 How much for a used PRS-505?

[Worldwalker]

It's like cars. Some hold their value longer and better than others. Is US$30 million too much for a used car? Someone didn't think so. Personally, if I ever hit the lottery, I'm buying a Jaguar XK-120. I could get two brand-new cars for what I'd have to pay for a 60-year-old car with a wonky electrical system, but they're not making them anymore.

For the people who like the Sony PRS-505, there is no substitute available. Not from Sony, not from anyone. So we'll pay what we can afford to obtain one.

[flyash]

Obviously you should check completed listings on ebay.

The reality is that the iPad has totally changed the game for e-readers. Many of the high-end readers will have to come down in price - not many people (outside of those with very specialized needs) are going to spend $500+ on a reader when they can get an iPad for that price - and that puts pressure on pricing of low-end and mid-level readers.

I just picked up a barely used Sony PRS-600 in great condition for $150.

[anactoria]

I've just ordered a refurbished PRS-505 on eBay after lurking around here for a day or so - I paid £170 on a buy it now auction (kind of expensive, but it comes with a one-year warranty, which I figure is worth the extra).

[OMGSnarf]

Don't forget to check Craigslist if you're willing to meet someone in person in a public place and take the chance. I got my PRS-505 used for $125 and plan to gift it to my Fiance on an upcoming trip to Ocean City. Not too shabby

[dorino]

The reality is that the iPad has totally changed the game for e-readers.

[afa]

Actually, Dorino, as far as the price example he gave, I agree with flyash. I'm probably never going to buy an iPad, for the simple reason that I don't buy things I have no need for, and I have no need for an iPad. But, considering how stupidly priced the Kindle DX is, for example, the iPad is a bargain. Why would I pay $400 for a DX, when I could just add another $100 and get a device that can do all the things the DX can, plus 500 others?

Originally Posted by Halk

Or is there an extra price premium on getting the device across to Dubai that there would not be for buying the 505?

Exactly.

Have you considered getting family/friends from where you are, to send one over to you there (assuming you're not from Dubai originally?)

I'm not from Dubai, in the sense that I'm not a national, but I grew up here, so my family is here, as well. I do have friends (as well as a brother) in US; unfortunately, none of them have plans to come down any time soon. I think the nearest is a friend who's visiting in December/January.

I'd be much more inclined to buy a new device than a second hand one - but there are differences between the 505 and the 600, the touchscreen does hamper contrast for example.

Believe me, I would rather buy a new device, too. I have only very rarely bought used electronic devices (in fact, only once), but the 505 is supposed to be terrific, and is discontinued so if I want it, it'll have to get it second-hand. Plus, as you mention, the screen is a lot better.

As far as my potential purchase goes, the guy wasn't willing to come down to a price I found reasonable, so I'm still looking...

[KNI]

I'd say they are worth about $150 - I bought two used ones for that - with the leather cover included. It's a really great reader - supports so many formats - not least it does a beautiful job with MS Word files - but you have to use the Sony software for that - Calibre won't do MS Word. Another important thing about the 505 - it is not difficult to get areplacement battery for it, and not difficult to replace it yourself if you have modest skill. The technical manual is available on line. It really is Sony's sweet spot.

[flyash]

Originally Posted by dorino

Care to elaborate?

Originally Posted by afa

But, considering how stupidly priced the Kindle DX is, for example, the iPad is a bargain. Why would I pay $400 for a DX, when I could just add another $100 and get a device that can do all the things the DX can, plus 500 others?

Right, and once Amazon lowers the price on the DX, it will have to lower the price on the Kindle, so the iPad's entry will force lower prices across the board for e-readers, and will almost certainly drive some of the many e-reader manufacturers out of the market. There just isn't enough room/pricing power for 20 different e-reader manufacturers in a market where the iPad is available for $500.

[lustyd]

Originally Posted by anactoria

I've just ordered a refurbished PRS-505 on eBay after lurking around here for a day or so - I paid £170 on a buy it now auction (kind of expensive, but it comes with a one-year warranty, which I figure is worth the extra).

Blimey that is pricey. see this link for new ones from a high street shop for £179 with full warranty.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...s|14419705.htm

[JSWolf]

How much is a used 505 worth these days?

[TrvlrsChick]

The price for the 505 should be coming down on eBay shortly, there was an amazing deal for the reader in Books-a-Million, and the slickdeals community snapped up several per person. Many of them are eBay resellers, so there should be a glut going up soon. Note that most of them paid $85 or less for each of those.

[RCR]

Originally Posted by flyash

........
The reality is that the iPad has totally changed the game for e-readers.....

I have to agree. Since I got an iPad, my old Sony 505 rarely gets used.

The iPad is a good ebook reader now. And because it is a new device, improved ebook apps will surely be written for it over the next 12 months or so.

When Sony stopped making the 505, I bought a backup in case my original got damaged. But despite a lot of abuse, the original is still chugging along faultlessly. It's a very well built gadget.

I don't know what I'm going to do with the backup unit. I suppose if someone in Melbourne offered me $200, I might take it. That price sounds about right. At the moment, it just lives in a cupboard with all my other unused electronic devices.

Apologies for sounding like an Apple fanboy. The iPad is my first Apple device and it's hard to suppress my enthusiasm for it.

[Esquire1]

When people say they use the iPad for reading over e-ink, I have to wonder what kind of reading they do on the iPad. I own both an iPad and an e-ink e-reader. For reading heavy text, e-ink is far superior to LCD.

[Siwickimom]

Originally Posted by TrvlrsChick

The price for the 505 should be coming down on eBay shortly, there was an amazing deal for the reader in Books-a-Million, and the slickdeals community snapped up several per person. Many of them are eBay resellers, so there should be a glut going up soon. Note that most of them paid $85 or less for each of those.

I am one of the folks who got one of these, for our family, not as a re-seller...I think that total, there were only about 100 total...lots of orders, also lots of cancelled orders. It seems that many of the people who bought multiples are not getting their orders filled, whereas people who made reasonable orders (1 or 2) already have their readers.

I don't think that it matters at all that sellers were lucky enough to buy them for less than $85 each....the holding power of the price of these readers is a testament to how great they are.... it is still discontinued and very hard to find, particularly new, as these are....I imagine the folks who really want one will still be willing to pay a pretty fair sum for one. Though that deal spent 2 days on the frontpage at SD, B.A.M. doesn't have the inventory to fill all the orders, so there aren't that many readers flooding the market, in reality.

But, if you want one, odds are good there will be more available than usual for the next little while...

[Siwickimom]

Whoops double post