Albie wrote:

>*Routinely* plunking down $16-20 for one random and totally unknown item,
>from among millions of similar-appearing others, in hopes of striking
>gold...  that's just foolish.

I imagine a lot of the people on the list do just that.  I know that I do
when I can (and have pretty good luck, at that, but I'm pretty promiscuous
in my tastes).

Admittedly, not the best route for the newbie.

--Brian