OT: Collectors: A 50 year collection being sold.

Checked out his history... looks like a dealer who poses as a collector in need of money :)
 
samoand said:
Checked out his history... looks like a dealer who poses as a collector in need of money :)
Click to expand...

I was wondering about this. What did you see that led you to this conclusion?
 
Bill Marsh said:
I was wondering about this. What did you see that led you to this conclusion?
Click to expand...

I found 3 reasons. Each one of them is rather an alert than a dead giveaway; but all of them combined made me think.

1. Number of items sold in past, ratio of bought/sold. It appears that he sells a lot more then a typical collector. Last year only: 736 feedback comments from buyers and none from sellers? Hmmmm...

2. Clustering of his acquisitions. Typically collectors acquire their collections evenly, piece after piece, throughout a period of time. This guy's "item descriptions" left me under impression that he just shows up at an auction to buy out half of it.

3. Prices. I wouldn't know actual value of all his items, but those that I do know are overpriced. Example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4724&item=6516324589&rd=1
Even though those badges are more common with a different type of pin, still both were massively produced and are in no way worth $50. Not even half of that. Not even quarter of that. A friend also pointed out a $90 bayonet of a type that earlier went between $30 and $50 at different times.

To make long story short, he might be a reputable guy with quality merchandize. I would, however, do some comparison shopping prior to bidding on his items.
 
I think that you are right. Overpriced and too much of the same song. "Bought 30,40,50, years ago .... " Sounds like a gimmick. I don't see much here I would buy even at much lower prices.

I asked him if I could come see his 1,000 items. No response. Didn't think there would be one.
 
I wrote this guy when he first started dumping all his stuff a while back and he never responded. It seems he bought a lot of stuff that was never bid on at these auctions. At least in his Indo-Persian stuff I have seen many tourist items and very low quality. Can't speak for the other things but he would be considered a "scavenger" in auction terms.

I haven't read any of the feedback, but it seems he's honest just a bit misinformed and is only trying to do what anyone does: sell high
 
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