Hello All,
I have been looking at some older posts and what attracted my attention is the repeating questions and complaining about prices, the last topic been the SS overhoff hull text buckle a few days ago. Is this the only thing the forum is good for?
Prices are based on what the collector is willing to give for a specific item.
By some dealers one item will be expensive for one customer and the same object will be cheaper for another customer. He will speculate on the financial capacity of the customer.
Other dealers will overprice the item because they deliver a lifetime warranty and do not want to deal with cheap customers; they only need customers with loads of cash. No time to waist!
Some collectors will collect only one limited type of objects and will have the tendency of giving more for this object as it is the only thing he needs even if they pay much more than the value, others, who collect everything will have to be more careful as there are lots of things they need.
Some people just have no time to shop around to discover the “ best price” but want something right away and original. These will go to the best dealer and will be happy to pay for this comfort.
The nickel SS EM buckle one buy at the gun show for $200 but 12 H driving or more from home will cost more than the $500 one from the ruptured duck when calculating the spending on gas, food, lodging and time! A 4-day trip to the max show cost for a European who have one table at the show about $2500 including hotel, flight and food. Driving from CT to Pittsburgh to attend the 4 days MAX show cost minimum $1000 including one table
Lots of $$$ for the two buckles at $150 or $200!!!
Some people are lucky and have time to spare and are spending 10h and more a day on the Internet to browse all the possible sites where one of these buckles could be obtained, not everybody has this luxury. Some people time is worth lots of money and prefers not to spend it on surfing for the hypothetic miracle.
Just imagine a good dentist who’s time is worth hundred of $$$ a hour surfing the interned, the forums and E-bay instead of working. This to discover the rare buckle he’s missing from his collection. The day this item comes up he will also have to fight other people so the price will not necessarily be cheap. The final price for this “$150 buckle” will end up costing him thousand’s of $$$!
He will prefer to work and make lots of $$$ and just wait for a Californian dealer to call and say: “I have the item you need, it’s $ xxx. I’ll send it to you by fed ex, you have it tomorrow”
I have done it all; the far flea markets and shows 12 h driving in the night to get there before the others. (This never succeeds anyway)
The all night long surfing on the net (when e-bay was not censored) to end up fighting the fellow collector and ending up paying the full price.
I even had my very own successful militaria shop. In the best days of the militaria collecting time (the 80’s)
This all has teach me a few things
It seems that all what interest most (not all) of the collectors is the price of the object!!! Unfortunately most of the collectors are this way; they collect a specific item because it is worth money, easily sellable (they think) and very popular.
I take my head of for the collectors of tinies, tram uniforms and Red Cross material!!!!
The basic golden rule to recognise a good, successful antique dealer / collector is: buy at the price of yesterday and sell at the tomorrow’s price!!
Ones one item has been sold for an overpriced price, not matter why this happen, this price will set the tendency and will be adopted by everyone.
I have buckles in my collection that I paid $500 at the last MAX show, these buckles where on the tables for two or more days at this show. This means the price was too expensive. (I would guess logically) Now, one year later some collectors are willing to offer me $1000+ for the items. What is the value?????? $500, $1000 or $1500 ??
So, buy if you like the item and if you can afford it. At least you will not spend this money on drugs, cigarettes, (the same) or booze ( also the same)!!!
Don’t listen too much to the ones who tell you that prices are ridiculous but who themselves are buying the items cheap only to resell them for the maximum top value under another name.
An remember:
When one loves, he doesn’t count!!!
Marc V.
I have been looking at some older posts and what attracted my attention is the repeating questions and complaining about prices, the last topic been the SS overhoff hull text buckle a few days ago. Is this the only thing the forum is good for?
Prices are based on what the collector is willing to give for a specific item.
By some dealers one item will be expensive for one customer and the same object will be cheaper for another customer. He will speculate on the financial capacity of the customer.
Other dealers will overprice the item because they deliver a lifetime warranty and do not want to deal with cheap customers; they only need customers with loads of cash. No time to waist!
Some collectors will collect only one limited type of objects and will have the tendency of giving more for this object as it is the only thing he needs even if they pay much more than the value, others, who collect everything will have to be more careful as there are lots of things they need.
Some people just have no time to shop around to discover the “ best price” but want something right away and original. These will go to the best dealer and will be happy to pay for this comfort.
The nickel SS EM buckle one buy at the gun show for $200 but 12 H driving or more from home will cost more than the $500 one from the ruptured duck when calculating the spending on gas, food, lodging and time! A 4-day trip to the max show cost for a European who have one table at the show about $2500 including hotel, flight and food. Driving from CT to Pittsburgh to attend the 4 days MAX show cost minimum $1000 including one table
Lots of $$$ for the two buckles at $150 or $200!!!
Some people are lucky and have time to spare and are spending 10h and more a day on the Internet to browse all the possible sites where one of these buckles could be obtained, not everybody has this luxury. Some people time is worth lots of money and prefers not to spend it on surfing for the hypothetic miracle.
Just imagine a good dentist who’s time is worth hundred of $$$ a hour surfing the interned, the forums and E-bay instead of working. This to discover the rare buckle he’s missing from his collection. The day this item comes up he will also have to fight other people so the price will not necessarily be cheap. The final price for this “$150 buckle” will end up costing him thousand’s of $$$!
He will prefer to work and make lots of $$$ and just wait for a Californian dealer to call and say: “I have the item you need, it’s $ xxx. I’ll send it to you by fed ex, you have it tomorrow”
I have done it all; the far flea markets and shows 12 h driving in the night to get there before the others. (This never succeeds anyway)
The all night long surfing on the net (when e-bay was not censored) to end up fighting the fellow collector and ending up paying the full price.
I even had my very own successful militaria shop. In the best days of the militaria collecting time (the 80’s)
This all has teach me a few things
It seems that all what interest most (not all) of the collectors is the price of the object!!! Unfortunately most of the collectors are this way; they collect a specific item because it is worth money, easily sellable (they think) and very popular.
I take my head of for the collectors of tinies, tram uniforms and Red Cross material!!!!
The basic golden rule to recognise a good, successful antique dealer / collector is: buy at the price of yesterday and sell at the tomorrow’s price!!
Ones one item has been sold for an overpriced price, not matter why this happen, this price will set the tendency and will be adopted by everyone.
I have buckles in my collection that I paid $500 at the last MAX show, these buckles where on the tables for two or more days at this show. This means the price was too expensive. (I would guess logically) Now, one year later some collectors are willing to offer me $1000+ for the items. What is the value?????? $500, $1000 or $1500 ??
So, buy if you like the item and if you can afford it. At least you will not spend this money on drugs, cigarettes, (the same) or booze ( also the same)!!!
Don’t listen too much to the ones who tell you that prices are ridiculous but who themselves are buying the items cheap only to resell them for the maximum top value under another name.
An remember:
When one loves, he doesn’t count!!!
Marc V.
Comment