Is it just me, or have the prices of SS skull insignias fallen?

[Military]

Gents,

I was looking at the e-stand and a glance, i feel that prices of SS skulls, while the asking prices are way up from 3 years ago, prices have considerably fallen and less takers.

What are your thoughts? due to economy, lack of interest? or both?

Perhaps interest and prices in militaria has now come to a plateau?

Mil

[PBR]

You are quite right.
Up to 2 years ago a 1\52 skull would last minuts on the Estand, now they are pretty hard to sell: rare variations like Alu 52 or G.G. 52 still sell if in very good condition, but average ones have fallen quite a step.

Also the green BeVo one, that was pretty rare and sold for big money, now is still alone there unsold.

I think crisis gonna affect badly at least the average\medium standard items, while very high end will always bring money (even if not as big as before).

[SScollector]

Everything is harder to sell now. The economy situation is horrible.
I don't think that there is a loss of interest in militaria, (other than due to the economy forcing change in peoples lives). My interest in the hobby certainly has not changed. Also, if that D&SM was for sale on some other sites, it would have sold long ago for that cheap price. A zinc M1/24 just sold for $1,100.00.

Best, Chris

[besslein]

very good,as from my point of viev 1000$ for a common maker skull was crazy.

[Obergruppen2]

W-SS militaria is overpriced IMHO and the dealers and old collectors arrogance has no limits, lets get reasonable here, the world economy is getting nowhere and it will get worse, much worse, once the recession hits hard the prices will go down...
The old collectors had luck to start collecting when one could purchase visors & uniforms etc for funny money compared to todays dealers prices, i have calculated, to buy a W-SS Officers visor, an M-43, M-40,W-SS helmet, Officers tunic etc i would need to spend at least $ 50 000, give me a break, please

[CWP]

Prices are down across the board on virtually all of this material, in all Third Reich collecting categories, not only on common items. I think the global economic situation is only part of the reason for this. The massive rapid price increases of 2000-2008 were not sustainable, and I believe that we have seen the peak of interest in this time period and related collectibles. We are seeing a market correction here, and with many items sitting unsold at prices that would have been considered huge bargains in 2007, I don't think we've hit the bottom of it yet.

[ErichS]

Prices are down across the board on virtually all of this material, in all Third Reich collecting categories, not only on common items. I think the global economic situation is only part of the reason for this. The massive rapid price increases of 2000-2008 were not sustainable, and I believe that we have seen the peak of interest in this time period and related collectibles. We are seeing a market correction here, and with many items sitting unsold at prices that would have been considered huge bargains in 2007, I don't think we've hit the bottom of it yet.

But, the prices realized at European auction houses as of late are pretty high so the market must not be too bad on the international market. As we know most of the rare and high end items went for the big $ while the common items didn't do so well.

[Military]

Erich,

Not to go against your line of thought, but personally i feel that auction houses are not a good gauge of price and demand because we do not know whether the prices are rigged, as compared to the e-stand system which is also international. Dont get me wrong, but just my 2 cents.

Mil

[Robert H]

To every customer I go in the EU, in the US and south America is booming sky high.
That is in the automotive world and some times mixed customers like deep sea oil equipment and whats so ever. The news in Germany said all is bad, I see it quite different and then comes the news for a 3% plus...

For items I look for are not going down at all. The Elbe sold right away, the N tab the T tab I wanted went up sky high. Rear facing skulls are 4x high as around 6 years ago.
Pending what u look for, SA's compared to SS's daggers is always a difference.

[Jon Fish]

Erich,

Not to go against your line of thought, but personally i feel that auction houses are not a good gauge of price and demand because we do not know whether the prices are rigged, as compared to the e-stand system which is also international. Dont get me wrong, but just my 2 cents.

Mil

Mil, are you suggesting that the German auction houses rig their prices to make it look like the market is strong? How would this work with the consignors when they see an item sell for 5000 and expect that minus the 20% selling commision? Not possible mate.
And jesus these 'has the market crashed' threads are so bloody boring!!!! There seems to be one every month, if you don't like the situation anyone then dont collect any more !

[wolfslair44]

Age of Collectors

Besides the economy, I think an interesting exercise for the site would be to find out the average age of collectors in TR Militaria. If the average age of collectors continues to rise, then prices will also fall. Sadly most veterans of WW2 have passed, and even the 2nd generation are now heading towards retirement years. Without younger collectors entering into the hobby to take over interest, ulimately, prices will fall regardless of the economic picture.

[Thorsten B.]

It´s weekend, someone feels bored and opens a thread.

And no, the WAF E-stand still does not represent the status of world´s TR militaria market.

[Military]

Thorsten,

The WAF forum is an established site with international members. Perhaps you are right that the 31,137 registered members is not a gauge of TR militaria market, but otherwise what other ways can we use (besides auction prices)?

Jon, sorry that this thread is not entertaining enough, but just my observations and opinions. Not meant to stir up some pot for the evening dosh.

Mil

[Jon Fish]

Besides the economy, I think an interesting exercise for the site would be to find out the average age of collectors in TR Militaria. If the average age of collectors continues to rise, then prices will also fall. Sadly most veterans of WW2 have passed, and even the 2nd generation are now heading towards retirement years. Without younger collectors entering into the hobby to take over interest, ulimately, prices will fall regardless of the economic picture.

Oh man, its all been done before, multiple times! There is a poll or two or three on the site about collectors ages,go look.

Thorsten ''It´s weekend, someone feels bored and opens a thread.''

I agree Thorsten and I'm sick to the back teeth of people asking if the market is falling out. Who bloody cares!! Either spend you money on militaria or don't. I love my collection and if it becomes worthless I'll still love it just as much. Only those wanting to make money from it care about the value all the time. And those are the ones running the prices up over the last 10 years.

[Jon Fish]

Thorsten,

The WAF forum is an established site with international members. Perhaps you are right that the 31,137 registered members is not a gauge of TR militaria market, but otherwise what other ways can we use (besides auction prices)?

Jon, sorry that this thread is not entertaining enough, but just my observations and opinions. Not meant to stir up some pot for the evening dosh.

Mil

Its not about entertainment at all, its just a boring subject because people don't stop bleating about it !!
And out of those 31,137 members probably only 2000 max are regulars.