My casual tracking seems to indicate there is a slight overall reduction
in the $100 and up area of poster collecting -- but that's to be
expected under the current economic conditions. The overall reduction
doesn't seem terribly steep, however, and certainly there have been
plenty of examples where high, and maybe even some record prices, are
still being set. Vintage movie posters seems to be holding up better
than many other collectibles, where 50% and even 75% price drops have
been common.
As for the lower-priced posters, it would only be natural they would
suffer a drop in demand in tough economic times. If collectors overall
have a bit less money to play around with then they did a few years ago,
chances are most would opt to bid on fewer items but focus on higher
quality items... getting the most bang for the buck as it were.
I have seen a few specific posters previously in the $400 to $800 range
dip rather dramatically in the last year, but it's hard to tell if that
is due to the economy or just the usual ebb and flow for a particular
title or style (i.e., most of those who really want that specific poster
have acquired one over the last few years and so now a lull in demand
has developed -- something that may correct or may not, you never can
tell on most titles). And there were some titles 3 or 4 years ago which
had become badly over-hyped/over-popular, but now buyers are realizing
that there seem to be a lot more these "hot" posters around than they
were led to believe (some of the excess in those "hot" titles may, of
course, may be fakes).
But, yeah, I would say that this is a "buying opportunity" of sorts...
not the opportunity of a lifetime or anything, but if you have a
particular title or two in mind, you may be able to get somewhat better
price right now than you would have 2 or 3 years ago.
-- JR
Bruce Hershenson wrote:
I was talking to one of my consignors on the phone a couple of days
ago, and he mentioned that he thought many prices were down in recent
months.
Of course, much of this can be attributed to the overall economy.
Clearly some people are short on money, and others are just being
cautious with their money. Also eBay has made such a mess of their
listings that they are likely bringing far fewer new collectors into
the hobby than they did in years past.
I have been buying and selling collectibles for 44 years now, and
*EVERY* time overall prices have been depressed (due to external
reasons, like a poor economy, or a massive collection coming on the
market), it has proven to be an excellent buying opportunity.
I have been looking at WHO is buying the better quality items in my
auctions, and who are the underbidders, and it seems like a lot of the
most savvy and longest time collectors are doing a lot of buying (or
trying to do a lot, but are getting outbid), and that would seem to
say that they agree with me and are trying to find bargains while
prices are somewhat depressed.
I also notice that the prices of much lesser items (those that auction
for $1 to $20) are mostly extremely depressed. I attribute this to
people being far more selective in what they buy, choosing to pass up
items that are in lesser condition or of low desireability, even if
they are dirt cheap (and they may be getting to spend the money they
would have spent on better items instead).
Anyway, I am betting that one more time this will prove to be a time
when people look back and think "Why didn't I buy more when many
decent items sold for reasonable prices".
What do *YOU* think?
Bruce
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