eBay sellers

[Brian]

Hi, Gang.  As a long-time eBay bidder, I want to share my opinion that a seller named avaliotiko may be taking advantage of loyal DARK SHADOWS fans by offering items for sale at highly ridiculous prices.  The claim is that this seller knows market value of collectibles--but after spending the last two years viewing and bidding on eBay (and other auction sites), I find this seller's prices completely NOT in line with what else is available.  So, I only say:  BEWARE!!

Brian

[Brian]

Maybe I'm the one who is wrong--but please check out this auction and decide for yourself if "the price is right."

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1546651400

Brian

[Brian]

Please make up your own mind without consideration of my opinion.   Thanks, Brian.

[Nancy]

Please make up your own mind without consideration of my opinion.   Thanks, Brian.

Brian, I don't think your opinion on a price is not obstructing anything or anyone.  I think buyers would appreciate your input since you are experienced at purchasing items on ebay.  I certainly would.  People are free to consider or ignore your opinion so I don't see where you are obstructing anyone's rights.  At that price, chances are that interested buyers are going to scope out the market themselves before committing to that kind of money and they will learn it can be had much cheaper if that is the case.  I don't think I've ever seen any DS poster go for that kind of money ever.  The seller will most likely find out himself he is asking too much.

Nancy

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Please make up your own mind without consideration of my opinion.   Thanks, Brian.

Brian,

While we discourage finger pointing on the forum, the intended spirit of that guideline doesn't really apply in this particular situation. You're expressing an opinion regarding the pricing of a certain set of DS memorabilia and warning people that it's your opinion to beware of such pricing practices. Personally, I've collected DS memorabilia for close to 35 years, read the ads in TWODS and ITOH, the various fan catalogues, and have both bought and sold on eBay - and frankly, I nearly fell off of my chair when I saw that expected starting bid! But that's purely my opinion.

While it's certainly true that the person in question is well within his/her rights to set a starting bid at whatever price he/she chooses, that doesn't quite mean that the rest of us have to be willing to pay it. But as Nancy quite rightly points out, ultimately the market will be the decision maker as to whether or not this individual is overpricing his/her items - not anything that any of us might say.

[Gerard]

Please make up your own mind without consideration of my opinion.   Thanks, Brian.

Well, I guess the seller is right about the free market.  Ironically, he'll find out that the free market won't tolerate prices that high and he'll have no choice but to lower them - IMMENSELY.

Gerard

[Brian]

Thanks for your comments.  I still think he/she is WAY overpriced--but he/she will soon learn the reality of DS fandom/bidding. . .we're not all rich.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

we're not all rich.

Even if we were, it wouldn't mean that we're also brain dead.

Oops! Did I actually do more than just think that comment?

[Julia99]

Would someone kindly help J99 off the floor, she's still down after seeing that bidding/asking price. . wowsie!  $1600!! Is this parallel time?

[Karen_#2]

--but after spending the last two years viewing and bidding on eBay (and other auction sites), I find this seller's prices completely NOT in line with what else is available.  
Brian

Hi Brian,

I too have watched this seller over the last several months since be began listing on eBay, and have been rather amused at his asking prices.  

Indeed, he does offer some unusual items time to time, and most are all in excellent condition. However, his interpretation of "free market" will hit him well when he realizes what "the market" will offer him for his collectibles. They are only worth what one is willing to pay, not his perception of it.

I'm sorry you got into an online hassle with him/her. He should thank you for the feedback. Notice a lot of those items are not selling, eh?  

Karen #2

[Darren Gross]

I had emailed him suggestions about his prices a week or so back. I get the feeling he's received several of these kind of emails.

What I don't understand is why he doesn't just start them at $1.00 and make them reserve auctions? if he really won't sell them for under $1600 (insanity) than he wouldn't be obligated to make the sale unless bids reached that amount. In a state of bidding madness, someone might go that high but to start off with such a high amount seems imprudent.

Imagine how much he'd want for a print of the film! I mean, he was asking $75 for a single Quentin fold out poster card!

[Mysterious Benefactor]

but to start off with such a high amount seems imprudent.

To say the least.

he was asking $75 for a single Quentin fold out poster card!

Well, just to put some perspective on how out of step this person seems to be with current pricing: Back in the '80s, when DS memorabilia went for premium prices, an entire mint condition set of the 1897 posters would sell for $200-$300. But since the advent of Web sites like eBay, I've seen complete mint sets sell for less than $75. So, by this person's way of thinking, I suppose we shouldn't be surprised to see him/her ask $1,200 for a set ($75x16 posters) - which would be 4-6 times what was asked in the '80s, when DS memorabilia was really a sellers market!

 :-/

[Brian]

In one of my messages to this sellar, I mentioned I had "won" eBay auctions for vintage movie posters of HODS (30"x40") and NODS (40"x60"), both rolled and on what I would call "card-stock", for $85.00 and $49.00, respectively.  (I'm still in awe that I was able to find these posters and have been able to put them up in my living room--albeit with tacks. . .I can't afford to have them framed--yet!!--but that's another story.)  The sellar pretty much told me that I knew nothing about "collectibles."  (It doesn't help that most of my other bids within the last week or so have been in the range of $5.00-$10.00--but that's also another story--RICHARD RODGERS' items are not going for outrageous prices on eBay)  Okay, so  much for his opinion.

Anyway, I've seen copies inferior to mine of those HODS/NODS posters go for much more--and more power to the sellers of same--but let's all try to be reasonable about this stuff.  (I guess WE are!--but not everyone in the world.)

I'm rambling for no other reason than I can't believe someone would think a DS fan would pay nearly $2000 for such a collection:  but the real kick in the face will be when we next check eBay and find that someone actually did pay that much!!!  LOL.

[Karen_#2]

In one of my messages to this sellar, I mentioned I had "won" eBay auctions for vintage movie posters of HODS (30"x40") and NODS (40"x60"), both rolled and on what I would call "card-stock", for $85.00 and $49.00, respectively.  

Hey Brian,
According to a recent memorabilia guide I picked up at the Fest the other day ("A Guide to Collecting Dark Shadows Memorabilla" by Stockel and Weidner), the HODS and NODS movie posters you describe seem to go anywhere from $35-$150. This printing was dated 1992, well after the DS "rush" of memorabilia in the 80's.

I didn't see pricing references in Craig Hamrick's DS Collectible book, because I just skimmed it.

This guy's pricing is pretty far out, you're not alone in your thinking.

Karen #2

[Brian]

Just for fun, I'm going to mention a few of my DS items--with which I have no plans to part--I'd like to hear from some of you what you might be willing to pay:

1)  View Master reel set--mint condition;

2)  Original copy of Sam Hall's TV Guide article: "In Case You're Curious. . ."

3)  Original copy of TV Guide article: "Where Have All The Werewolves Gone?"

LET'S HEAR ALL THOSE HIGH BIDS!! (LOL).

Brian