[Rainmaker (Matt)]

I think the demand is certainly outstripping supply at the moment with many suppliers hamstrung by the pandemic. The weaker AUD has also meant importing stuff is less attractive and this leads to used gear being more in demand and sellers know that.

As for some comments here, I see no reason that a private seller should absorb PayPal fees. The seller sets a price that he is happy to sell at, if he has to add for PP fees then it seems unfair to those who deal in cash or bank transfers.

I don't trust transport companies with optical gear too much... especially as they don't accept responsibility for damage to optics unless they pack the items themselves.

I live in Canberra and drove to Queensland to collect a Dob that became the donor for my Excalibur, I also drove to Brisbane to collect my TMB-LZOS refractor. I drove to Melbourne for my Skylight AR101 and to Mildura for a mint FSQ106ED ($3900).
I actually paid over the asking price for the Skylight and the FSQ..........