Junkers EK1's Why So Pricey?

[Steve Campbell]

Why are L/12 Junker marked EK1's so much more expensive than other EK1's? Yes they aren't as common as other makers but come on! I've seen a few offered for sale recently and the prices are nuts. Are they that rare? I think it's a bit much really. What does everyone else think?

[Darrell]

Why are L/12 Junker marked EK1's so much more expensive than other EK1's? Yes they aren't as common as other makers but come on! I've seen a few offered for sale recently and the prices are nuts. Are they that rare? I think it's a bit much really. What does everyone else think?

Because people will buy them at ridculous prices. If no one wanted them, they'd be priced like all the rest.

[Mike Kenny]

Why?

IMO absolutely NO reason at all.

It can't be rarity as they seem to pop up on various dealer sites every week and they can be found with several hardware configurations - to me indicating higher volume production rather than lower/rarer numbers. Seems to be a few variations on the actual maker mark as well.

Collectors have somehow conned themselves into thinking that a Juncker marked EK1 is worth 2 or 3 times as much as any other standard mass-produced EK1 because Juncker made desirable RKs - and dealers just love that con.

It's even worse when you consider that L/12 marked 1914 EK1s sell for more money than truly rare WW1 produced Imperial EK1s.

I can't wait to read how those who have already spent crazy money on a Juncker EK1 justify it.

Regards
Mike

[Stu W]

Prices

Well I'm glad to see that others voiced what I was thinking. It's unbelievable what they fetch. As long as we keep buying them the dealers will keep selling them. Can't blame them. We are doing it to ourselves. L/12 are not the only items either. Just look at the 50% increase in price of tombac U-Boat badges in the last year on some of the major dealer sites. I've seen nice ones now passing the 1500 USD mark. I wish my investment portfolio increased in value at that rate.

As to George's question on Juncker RK. Saw two sell in last month. One uncased for 10K USD and the second, cased, for 13,500 USD. An uncased K&Q was 8K a year ago and now is over 9K.

There may well be some dealers you know who are selling for less but that's just what I have seen recently.

Having said that, I think it's time to break the trend so if someone wants to offer a nice Juncker EKI or tombac Schwerin U-Boat for 300 bucks let me know. I'm prepared to buy it and set a new benchmark...for the good of the hobby of course!

Regards to all,
Stu

[Sal Williams]

People have gotten plain stupid about eks in general. With the amount of these made there is no justification to prices asked. Some of the worst offenders are on our estand. Higher than dealers very often. I don't know why anyone buys an ek1 in a case. Buy the 2 parts seperatly and you save 100 to 150 euros right there.

[StefanK.]

Juncker EKs are so pricy because of the dependece of collectors on dealers - who at last "make" prices. If some "Key Dealers" in Germany or in the US would rise prices of e.g. a EK1 "65" to 400.- everyone would adopt the price...


.....thats my opinion....


Stef

[Steve Campbell]

Sal, I'm glad you mentioned the cased EK1 prices. They are always more than the sum of thier parts. It's no problem to see a cased cross going for $450 at the low end to way beyond that, such as $600 plus. Why? A case rarely goes for more than $150 US. Most EK1's run from about $200-$275, so why aren't cased example starting at $375? Lots of EK1's to be had for $225 US. It's not as if the majority of them are a matching set, it's almost always a generic case with no maker markings. I know condition will dictate price, but cased EK1 prices haven't made alot of sense to me. I ask myself, would you pay $375 US for that EK1 and $200 for the case, because that's what you are essentially doing when alot of these offerings are considered. And I'm talking about the estand here, not dealers, although often there's very little difference.

Having said that, the estand still has some great deals, and I actually think prices on EK2's, which shot up last year are leveling off. Marked examples can again be had for under $100 US if you shop around.

[ekhunter]

Why are L/12 Junker marked EK1's so much more expensive than other EK1's? Yes they aren't as common as other makers but come on! I've seen a few offered for sale recently and the prices are nuts. Are they that rare? I think it's a bit much really. What does everyone else think?

The principal of it is the very reason that I don't have a Juncker 1st class. It's madness!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaveJ]

In this hobby, the stuff is worth what one wants to pay for it, nothing more nothing less.

[ekhunter]

In this hobby, the stuff is worth what one wants to pay for it, nothing more nothing less.

That's hitting the nail on the head.

[Paratrooper]

Juncker EKs are so pricy because of the dependece of collectors on dealers - who at last "make" prices. If some "Key Dealers" in Germany or in the US would rise prices of e.g. a EK1 "65" to 400.- everyone would adopt the price...


.....thats my opinion....


Stef

Hi!

Thats my opinion too. Most of the collectors think that the prices are a result of e free market. That's only a wish. The reality is that the dealers have the power to konstruct the prices in different way. The easyest way ist for example the catalog for prices of the awards from Niemann. Every kind of award have a price without makers mark, made from Tombak, made from Zink and made by Juncker.
That has nothing to do with a free market. Also the argument that Juncker allways has the best quality is not right.

As a EK-Freak i naturally love Juncker EKs but i would never pay an overpriced item.

Regards
Andreas

[Bob Hritz]

Simple economics of the free market is operating. Collectors set prices, not dealers. The collectors have all the power, not to buy if something is not valued properly.

Now, if you refuse to buy, but other collectors pay the price, then the price is correct and the collector, refusing to pay, is incorrect.

It is only supply and demand. Some items are more costly because there is a greater demand and the price reflects that demand.

The simplicity of the market is it's brilliance. Just remember that it is a competetive market. A dealer must compete to buy his inventory. If he has to pay more, for a higher demand piece, you will have to pay more, to allocate a profit for the business.

Looking for bargains is wonderful, given that you consider your time at a low value. However, there will always be another Iron Cross, but no matter how much cash you have, you cannot buy back a single second. I value my time very highly and would rather pay (within my financial ability to pay) for something than waste valuable time searching and searching. Also, while you are searching for the bargains, the items are escallating in value (or cost, given the current economic trends continue). Waiting several years to find the item may result in a higher price, yet, and lesser quality.

Another factor is the daily decline in the value of the US Dollar. Internation trade will cost you more as the Dollar continues it weakening trend against the Euro, and other more stable currencies. There is speculation that the Dollar is being intentionally weakened, by the Federal Reserve, so the trade balance deficit can be rectified by the US exporting goods via greater demand because of lower brices, on the International Market.

We all enjoy the hunt, but if a high demand items is offered, it may be better to secure it than to hope for a bargain; unless you really don't 'NEED' it. Need is just a desire, when it comes to collectibles. We really don't 'need' any of thiese trinkets.

Bob Hritz

[Rich G]

I just don't get the madness some people here are inflicted with. I mean, why would you pay £400 ($800) for a cased EK1 when you can get them all day long for half that price or less? Even minty examples!

I just would not pay those prices, not for an L/12 not for any EK1 unless perhaps it was a nice 'round 3'.

Rich

[Bob Hritz]

Rich,

Quote Rich: "I just would not pay those prices, not for an L/12 not for any EK1 unless perhaps it was a nice 'round 3'."

Therein lies the crux. You have proved my point!

Bob Hritz

[Sal Williams]

There is the factor of folks who are unaware of the proper price and apy too much. This happened with ek2's a small number of enthusiastic collectors were paying quite high prices for mm ek2's everybody started pricing thier ek2s accordingly. Once this group all had various mms now those same mmed ek2s arent selling. This in conjunction with dealers setting similar pricing and willing to let the items sit can force an items (common and not rare) price up artificially. Unless no one is willing, for example, to have a junker ek1. It is like gas prices, if the majority of gas is controlled by a few companies and they get together and set the price you have to pay it. Well you don't have to, you can buy an electric car. Same thing.