$250/$350 for an American strat is a great deal. I had a 1992 Strat Plus Deluxe and I think I paid around $800 for it. That was the last new guitar I bought.
Like I said. The $250 guitar is a ‘long story’.
The 89 that I got for $350 was from a kid in jersey that wanted to buy a dirt bike and put it up on Ebay. I just happened to be the high bidder and won it.