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**Bruce Simcox** · 05-18-2007, 11:37 PM

Hi Dan......

......As well as over $400 for a GAB a couple weeks back.

As the saying goes(and this will probably rub some people the wrong way, but hey):

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

**R. Schmitt** · 05-19-2007, 12:54 AM

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with that - If a collector, and that has to be only ONE collector, is willing to pay whatever price a badge or award is being offered, he'll have put some thought into this purchase... It's the principles of a free market, not communism. To you, these pieces may seem overpriced, and I would not buy them for that much money, either, BUT Someone else obviously did, and the two buyers are probably happy with what they got, it's not like someone forced them to purchase them.
To give you another example, I would not buy a KC for 10,000 dollars, simply because I don't have the money and I'm not really looking for that kinda right now, but I'd get one if it was only a thousand bucks, you with me?
Boycott does not work, Price regulation doesn't either, not even in communism, You would wanna get the best price on your badges as well if you sold them.... and if they don't sell at your offered price, that means that there is not a single potential buyer willing to pay what you're asking for - the market regulating itself again..... another seller offers the piece for 0.01 dollar less and sells.... Just my 2 Euro cents on this.

**MIKE12550** · 05-19-2007, 01:00 AM

I have had 2 RK marked GAB's zincers, and now looking at the PAB that was offered, have no love for it. The design is unimpressive, as the GAB design is. I would hope they are tough to find, as I have bought a near mint buntmetal wurster PAB for less than that.
Mike

**MIKE12550** · 05-19-2007, 01:11 AM

I used to collect badges just to collect badges. I now find myself collecting badges with finer detail. But we have to remember, maybe the person that bought this PAB was looking for this for a while and was looking for this specific one. Just because it doesn't trip my trigger doesn't mean anything.
Mike

**Steve Campbell** · 05-19-2007, 01:27 AM

Maybe it was someone who didn't know what they were talking about, with more money than sense. Perhaps in a few months or a year they will do more research, discover other sources and be kicking themselves over the time they paid an arm and a leg for a particular piece becuase they "never had a clue" at the time. It happens. We've all over overpaid or bought a clunker somewhere down the line either in this hobby or some other aspect of life. If just one or two of these people appear and make a purchase like this every update, then the dealer has a good reason to keep the prices up.

**Darrell** · 05-19-2007, 01:39 AM

If you take a look at many items the dealers sell, they wouldn't fetch sometimes 1/2 or 3/4 on e-stand what they sell for on say Detlev's Site .... kinda makes you wonder how many don't know where badges etc. can be bought other than at those sites

**Steve Campbell** · 05-19-2007, 01:57 AM

I've been looking at field gear lately, so I use dealer sites as a reference and to see what is available, and now I'll just wait till similar or better items become available through the estand or collector contacts for a fraction of the price.

**R. Schmitt** · 05-19-2007, 02:08 AM

Good point! look for similar objects by other seller and if you like that price, grab it and leave the stuff you think is overpriced where it is - works as long the item is not unique in some way. Simply a matter of preference, information, and experience. Can't blame anyone for paying a price that's higher that oneself eould have paid for that item - happens to me on ebay all the time.... Others are willing to pay more (for whatever reason, but can you blame the buyers to place a higher bid than yourself or the seller, in case of a fixed price sale and a sold item, that they boost prices in general?). It's simply the way the market works, please check and see what happened to the U.S. real estate sector within the least couple of years for reference....

**Bruce Simcox** · 05-19-2007, 02:20 AM

Yes......

......fellows I do agree that a price asked is just what it is. That doesn't mean that someone is 'arm-twisting to get a sale. It doesn't mean that he'll get it either. Hell's bells: I respect herr Niemann. If he can get what he's asking for his goods then that's fine. After all he is a dealer.

I usually discourage discussing price other than through pm's. Why? Because when I buy(or sell) badges my pricing lines aren't near what dealers want, nor do I feel they should be. Though I'll pay close to the average mentioned below.

If you really want to learn about pricing then take to heed this:

Dealers generally pay 25-40% of market(retail) value(averaging). They do have overhead expenses.
How one determines retail value is to sample retail prices from many dealers and then average them out.

Yes, some buyers don't really see all the available markets. Perhaps they have money to burn and don't care or, as mentioned, desire badly a particular piece.

Boycotts, as mentioned above, don't work, nor do I advocate them.

What rankles me is guys that have given price estimates one day, to someone asking(as a potential buyer), that are right up there with dealer pricing. And then on another day will lo-ball a price(to a seller) because they are interested in purchasing the piece in question. To me, that's bull. That's a good example of double standards.

Yes, a free market will set it's own limits.......as a general rule. Can you say: baseball cards?

In the end, I still enjoy the heck out of this hobby and don't see my interest waning because someone wants to pay what I consider to be ridiculous prices. That is, after all. just my opinion.

As I see it there is still plenty of it out there and one doesn't have to pay huge sums to get it.

**R. Schmitt** · 05-19-2007, 02:38 AM

Nicely put, Steve, point well made and I agree with you
... except with your last statement leaves the UNIQUE pieces uncovered that pricing in general very difficult due to the lack of reference pieces or similar items, but that's for another day and thread.... Enjoyed the discussion, have a good night fellas!

**Steve Campbell** · 05-19-2007, 02:52 AM

Yes, but this thread started out by referring to common items that went for high prices. Unique pieces or truely rare items have to be treated differently.

**R. Schmitt** · 05-19-2007, 08:42 AM

Originally posted by Steve Campell View Post

Yes, but this thread started out by referring to common items that went for high prices. Unique pieces or truely rare items have to be treated differently.

BTT - you're right, Steve....

**Tim Curley** · 05-19-2007, 10:08 AM

What caught my attention with this "R.K." Silver PAB was not only the price it fetched as a common badge in very average condition, but the fact that I have 3 examples by this maker in far better condition and I could not imagine selling them for anywhere near that amount. I suspect the buyer may have a rude awakening down the line if he tries to resell it. But as others have stated in this thread, we have all over paid for items at one time or another.

I certainly can't blame the dealer. He sets a price and folks are free to not buy.

**Darrell** · 05-19-2007, 10:25 AM

While the prices some people pay are way out there ... guess what?

There are actually people that don't buy every single thing in their life for an "investment" or to make a big buck down the road. They are sometimes called "Collectors". Right or wrong, high or low ...

Hell .. take a look around ... all us peeps in this hobby are a little strange. Tell anyone "outside" our fraternity what a simple EK2 costs. They'd roll their eyes and say "FOR THAT?" !!!

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