25/04/2026 5:31 pm
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Ive been flipping vintage tech on eBay for like five years now and I usually just manually refresh my watch list to see if sellers drop prices or if stuff sells but honestly its getting impossible to keep up with. Im trying to snag a specific Sony Trinitron for my retro setup before this weekend because my current one just died on me and I need to stay under $200.
I tried using some basic browser extensions but they keep getting blocked by eBays bot detection or something and Im super stressed Im gonna miss a deal. Is there a legit tool or maybe some API script that actually works for tracking these price drops in real-time without getting my IP flagged?
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25/04/2026 5:55 pm
Just saw this and man, I totally feel your pain! I have been hunting for vintage Hi-Fi gear and some specific CRT monitors for my basement arcade for years now, and trying to beat the resellers is basically a full-time job. I remember when I was looking for a PVM-14M2U and I swear every time I checked my phone, the good deals were already gone... it was so frustrating but honestly so exciting when I finally scored one after a random price drop at 2 AM! It is such a rush when the setup finally comes together. eBay is definitely getting way stricter with those scrapers and basic extensions lately, which is a total nightmare for us collectors. Before you go down the rabbit hole of trying to code your own API script which is a massive headache for most people, I gotta ask a couple things to see if I can help you narrow it down:
- Are you looking for a specific screen size or model, like a 13-inch unit or one of the massive 36-inch monsters?
- Does that $200 limit include shipping, or are you strictly looking for local pickup listings? Those Trinitrons are getting so heavy that shipping alone usually kills the deal, but I might have a few tricks for filtering the local stuff more effectively if you are open to it. It is such an amazing feeling when you finally get that perfect scanline setup going... you are gonna love it once you find the right one! Definitely dont give up yet tho.
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25/04/2026 6:15 pm
@Reply #1 - good point! those PVMs are a whole different level of stress to find. honestly tho, i have to disagree with the idea of relying too much on automated tools for a sub-$200 budget. be careful because most of those legit api tools are actually geared toward high-volume power sellers and they usually come with a monthly sub that eats your profit margins fast. plus, ebays bot detection is no joke lately and catching a ban isnt worth it for a single flip. you might want to consider if you're overcomplicating things for just one monitor. quick question though, are you looking for a specific model number like a KV series or just any trinitron that fits the setup? and are you strictly looking for shipping? shipping a heavy CRT is usually where the budget blows up, so focusing on local listings might be a better use of your time anyway...
