"Badge" day at Detlev's

[Greg]

If you were looking for IAB/GAB/PAB, today was your day at Detlev's! And wound badges as well. Too bad I didn't look until 1130 my time ...

Greg

[VonLuger]

who got the FCL GAB? wish it was me

[mvm71]

Don't feel bad guys, I tried to get this beauty within the first 5 minutes and got the "sorry sold"

Better luck next time,
Mike


I know one of our Detlev "aces" snagged it!!!!!

[johan]

who got the FCL GAB? wish it was me

I GOT IT

[greg.hays]

There were a couple of real gems. I finally got my first "yours" after over a year of attempts!

[Chet Sowersby]

There were some very nice examples available today. I have also noticed that the prices are going up and comming in line with other dealers who have charged more in the past. I'am not making an issue of it as it is merly an obversation on my part.

Chet

[greg.hays]

I thoroughly agree Chet. I was happy because it was a badge I wanted very badly but his prices have definitely caught up if not exceeded others. I seemed to have missed the good ol days

[Greg]

I thoroughly agree Chet. I was happy because it was a badge I wanted very badly but his prices have definitely caught up if not exceeded others. I seemed to have missed the good ol days

Yeah ... the good ol' days when you could walk into any German show and nice PABs were DM100, and that was US$40 ... seems like a long time ago.

So why did I pay $65 today for a zinc wound badge in silver that doesn't even have that great of a finish? Because it says L/53 on the back!

Best,
Greg

[Bruce Simcox]

Well......

......the internet has certainly made Herr Niemann into a rich man. I miss the 'good' ol' days too, but when you have collectors that will pay enormous sums for run-of-the-mill badges......let them have them.

The deals are still there.....just rarely on-line these days.

[Panzer Rob]

......the internet has certainly made Herr Niemann into a rich man. I miss the 'good' ol' days too, but when you have collectors that will pay enormous sums for run-of-the-mill badges......let them have them.

I have also noticed that the prices are going up and comming in line with other dealers who have charged more in the past. I'am not making an issue of it as it is merly an obversation on my part.

Chet

I’ll make an issue of it. Some of his prices are downright ridiculous, but what's even more ridiculous is that 95% of that stuff sold within hours. $1160 for a DKIG with the entire swastika section missing?!? $400 for bronze PAB's? $150+ for common IAB’s? What the hell is going on?

I simply can’t understand how people can complain about higher and higher prices, yet continue to pay them. They have no one to blame but themselves. This prices in this hobby are getting completely out of control and I fear that it’s rapidly approaching the point where newer collectors are going to be “priced out” of the hobby, stagnating interest and ultimately future growth. Watch how quickly prices come back down to reality when there aren’t any new collectors entering the hobby simply because they can't afford to buy anything. The law of "supply vs. demand" works both ways, and from what I have seen and heard, the supply is a LOT greater than most care to believe. Can you honestly see yourself paying $600 for a PAB? $5,000 for a near mint M40 steel helmet? $15K for an un-attributed Knight's Cross?

I’ve basically given up on ever owning a nice Tombak IAB, PAB and GAB, a DKIG or even an Anti-Partisan badge. Same goes for a SS dagger, a SS steel helmet, or even a nice double decal M35. And SS camo??? Forget it. I used to dream about one day owning a black Allgemeine-SS tunic but that will probably never happen either. These days it takes $20,000+ to put a halfway decent tunic, some badges and medals, a dagger and a few pieces of headgear into your collection. Another $6- 10K for a Knight’s Cross. You basically have to be rich to compete in this hobby

[greg.hays]

Well, great catch on that L/53 WB Greg .

I guess the price thing will always be a real flashpoint. I picked up a bronze hollowback FLL IAB which is certainly not common for 140 which is a little high but.........like I said a far from common IAB. So I guess its all about what you collect to some it is a "common IAB" to an IAB collecter it is the exact opposite. But there certainly was a noticable jump in prices for his badges, enough for me to say I got a nice badge but too late to take advantage of his formerly lower prices. Needles to say I will not be so anxious to see his update in coming weeks. It can now wait like everyone elses until I have saved up the cash for a particular item. If its there when I have it then it was meant to be.

[freemason]

Ah, the "Good old days".........

Gentlemen,

Perhaps we could all agree that in 10 years, we will collectively sigh, "Remember when.........?" - just as some of us said those very words 10 years ago ! The same is true with any collecting hobby. It's funny......When we sell something for a profit, we're happy that the price received was higher than the price we paid. But when the shoe is on the other foot, well.........Misery loves company

I bought a zinc hollow version GAB from Detlev last Friday for 100 Euros, or $129US. Yesterday, I went to a large military show in Toronto (Canada), and saw GAB's for an average of $175 Canadian (which is about $160US). But at least I bought from a reputable dealer, and not a fly-by-night vendor at a local show, perhaps never to be seen again. (And some of the stuff........You'd hope never to see again ) I realise now that it's not the badge that I really wanted, and I'll throw this GAB on E-Bay, or our E-Stand, and wait for a tombac voided GAB. (Anyone have an early EK I 1939 unmarked for sale, too?)

So.......The alternative is E-Bay, where you get the pleasure of fuzzy pics, and even fuzzier transactions from your friendly Euro-Asian fakers (and besides, E-Bay is busy working on eliminating Third Reich items for sale entirely, anyway)
or.............deal between ourselves here at WA, OR.........dealing with dealers.

When Detlev finally goes to Collector's Heaven, I'm sure that we will surely miss him ! Of course, you could always go to Jamie Cross................................

Cheers

Bill

[Robert P.]

... I got the solid tombak IAB...lost two others...

Robert

[Calvin Hall]

The deals are still there.....just rarely on-line these days.

So true, so true.

[Bruce Simcox]

Hi Calvin......

......Yes, so true. I do remember, however, when George S. picked up that EK 1 for you from that guy at the show he also had a very nice Luft officers buckle, for $40. Not knowing much about buckles I let it pass. It was a beauty too, in absolutely mint condition.

Oh well....it's either live and learn or conversely, learn and live.