Grey, I agree with everything in your email. I just want to point out that I wasn't claiming Heritage puts artificially high prices on its posters, as it may seem from that quote you cited. Obvioiusly, as an auction house, it's the bidders who set the price. My point was that certain sellers look at Heritage results overall and make the assumption they can sell virtually anything for thousands of dollars.
I know there are sometimes excellent buys to be had at Heritage (gad, I'm giving all my secrets away), as elsewhere. One has to know how to find those excellent buys and how to recognize them when you do (as in my little Third Man tale), whether on eBay, Heritage, emovieposter, MPB, Sean's auctions, my listings, wherever. It's all about perseverence, timing, knowledge and luck, not necessarily in that order. That's what collecting is. Given that, I honestly don't know how anyone can claim to to have grown tired or bored or frustrated with the hobby. There's a helluva a lot of fun to be had! Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: Smith, Grey - 1367 To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 11:42 AM Subject: Re: [MOPO] I'm growing tired of this hobby Jeff, I think your frustration almost always hits a collector after a certain amount of time in the hobby when, as probably in your case, you are wanting to find better pieces as an advanced collector, but find that they are more expensive and more elusive. It really is the nature of a progression in a hobby. Granted, eBay is nothing like it used to be so the potential deals in the venue are harder to find, but realistically, the items you are looking for will always be tougher to find. You mention a Saul Bass WC as a nothing item, remember the time when you might have thought that WC was a real treasure? As the prices in any hobby begin to grow, not just due to the nature of a hobby advancing and growing but also due to the fact that a dollar doesn't buy what it used to, the more desirable items will be more in demand and usually will bring more money. Think of how that affects the potential of what you now own. The deals are still out there for more rare and desirable items as already mentioned, but you must wait, look and act when the item appears. Rarely do the deals fall in any collector's lap! I see that Dave Rosen mentions, "artificially high prices (dealers who put Heritage-type prices on everything they try to sell)," but these prices are set by the buyers in an auction, not the auction house. We sell items for very good money often, but there is always and will always be deals to be had in a fairly run auction. May I point out the following: Early sound John Barrymore in the Tempest. You won't get this price on eBay! http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7008&Lot_No=86023 Pretty tough to find German Night of the Living Dead- I have seen it sell for several times this price in the past! http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7008&Lot_No=85840 Pretty Garbo card from one of her more desirable MGM films. These are not common. http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7008&Lot_No=86029 Another great Garbo card! http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7008&Lot_No=85741 Title card to classic Frank Capra film Lady for a Day. Very inexpensive! http://movieposters.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=7008&Lot_No=85993 These are but a small few of the good deals had by many and no, most all of our buyers are not rich bigwigs, but collectors just like you. It really is a matter of watching, waiting and acting when an item comes available. From: MoPo List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Walton, Jeffrey Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 7:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [MOPO] I'm growing tired of this hobby It used to be fun hunting for the next poster, even hunting on the internet used to be fun..not anymore.it seems a lot of dealers are afraid of fair market value..again I use the same scenario as I have done before.if you go to movie posters on ebay list by the highest posters first, auctions only, you'll see what I mean. You have to scroll pretty long for anyone selling something without an extremely high reserve, you'll have to scroll pretty long to find someone actually bidding on a poster..the only one that seems to be generating some interest is a saul bass window card. Don't even get me started on the buy it nows.3 breakfast at tiffany's one sheet the cheapest starting at $7500 most say rare.rare? Really I just saw three in three seconds.show me a British quad for war of the worlds and I'll show you rare..an insert for 50ft woman for 10 g's..didn't a one sheet sell for a lot less just less than one week ago. Go ahead nail me to a cross but I've become so disenchanted lately with the dealer mentality (and it's not just movie posters). Hey I understand about profit, cost analysis, and all that jazz .I've said this before and I'll say it again.profit is one thing.blood from a stone is another..now everyone seems to wait for their piece to bring in the next big coinage..years gone bye, one would buy a poster for $25, sell if for $75.a tidy profit.now if one buys a poster for $25 and hears one just for $500..guess what the new price of the poster they have in stock.$500..or even $450 to make it seem like a bargain. I used to add probably a poster once a month to my collection.not anymore.it's not that I have it all, I see a ton of material out there that warrants a bid, it's just everyone wants a kings ransom for it now so guess what.they can keep in their stock rooms and I'll find something else to keep the economy rolling. Bruce aside, why can't we bring back fair market value, why be afraid of the knowledge of the collector..if you want to sell a poster let the people decide on the price it should sell.dealers should deal..not be in retail. _____________ The information contained in this message is proprietary and/or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please: (i) delete the message and all copies; (ii) do not disclose, distribute or use the message in any manner; and (iii) notify the sender immediately. In addition, please be aware that any message addressed to our domain is subject to archiving and review by persons other than the intended recipient. 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