HermitFromPluto wrote:We shouldn't have made such a good web site. We've helped spawn a new generation of nerds like ourselves - but they are young, energetic and have lots of money.
Mars wrote:I can understand how Wee Warriors spikes up to $4k and $230ish for RPGA modules is not uncommon. The DM Index got some hype here so that might have added a few dollars but the 2nd print Monsters Monsters for $250 is a bit over the top.
Kingofpain89 wrote:I just dont see what you are seeing there. That Wee Warriors auction would normally have topped out at $3000....maybe. Those R-series mods went for about what I would expect had they been in better condition. But that R4 looks fairly well used, almost looks like an animal gnawed on it in the upper left. Given the fact that the U.S. economy is in the crapper (and most other countries as well) you would think there would be a bit of a downturn in the prices of collectible items not an upturn.
JZavoda wrote:You have to remember that a bad economy is very, very good for some people. The money just doesn't disappear, it simply gets concentrated differently and usually by a smaller (and smaller) group of people. The rich get richer.
Badmike wrote:Plus collectible markets are relatively recession proof. I've never had a time in the last 14 years or so where my sales dipped appreciably, even as the economy experienced ups and downs. Sales seems to be by far more based on time of year (EX, lots of sales in Jan/Feb, sales go down in May, pick up again in Sept, etc) than what's going in in the economy. Plus, people tend to buy what they can afford, and the collectible RPG market with a few exceptions is still quite affrordable in contrast to, say, a new TV or computer system. And as Jason said, someone else just has the money and right now they are overseas buyers. The dollar is down but the Euro is up and I've seen an increasing surge in my overseas sales as a result.Mike B.
sauromatian wrote:Henry Ford during the Depression said something like "these are actually great times but no one wants to say it." Similarly today, sales of luxury items have risen while sales of more mundane goods have declined.I don't want to get into a discussion of economic justice here [just for the record, I advocate torture & the guillotine for individuals even slightly wealthier than myself, which is all of you]. However it is relevant to our hobby to predict where the sales will be. I had sort of anticipated:-more foreign sales to accompany the drop of the dollar.-a shift to high ticket items would likely mean a greater stress on pristine condition.-good items sold in lots rather than nickeled-&-dimed away.
JZavoda wrote: I think that trying to sell good items in lots is a way to make far less on them than if sold individually. I've been out of this for awhile, maybe times have changed.
sauromatian wrote:No, in general what you've stated is the rule for lots, piecemeal is better. I'm speculating that big spenders won't mind buying an entire lot to get a couple of items they really want.
JZavoda wrote:For poor items selling in lots may be the only way to sell them. That is how it used to be.
