$30k Jawa proof on FB!
- Thread starter wrighty
- Start date
This new mentality really annoys me. It only seems to apply to Star Wars collecting, and since Facebook took over. There have always been rare or even one of a kind things in this hobby, but that used to just mean hard to find, not necessarily expensive.
Now every bell end who has something they think is a one-off automatically tries to sell it for a ludicrous amount of money. I bet he paid about $200 for it, because that's what it is worth.
Now every bell end who has something they think is a one-off automatically tries to sell it for a ludicrous amount of money. I bet he paid about $200 for it, because that's what it is worth.
I don't think anyone can really justify spending $30k for a proof card (even one as interesting as that one) or the seller asking that much. With the way things are right now though, people are just putting silly numbers on things to see what happens. Those with deep pockets who are happy to throw money at things they desire are to blame, nobody else.
FWIW Gallo has always been high, his prices have made many eyes water over the years :lol: but hey, if someone turns up tomorrow and says they'll take it for $25k or even $20k - who wouldn't take it? It's not like you can buy another one somewhere else and people who own these unique items are fully aware of that fact and are milking it.
FWIW Gallo has always been high, his prices have made many eyes water over the years :lol: but hey, if someone turns up tomorrow and says they'll take it for $25k or even $20k - who wouldn't take it? It's not like you can buy another one somewhere else and people who own these unique items are fully aware of that fact and are milking it.
Too many people now buying stuff just to say "i paid this for this so that how much its worth" its not worth any where near, not buying it because they think its good or have any attachment too it not really even collectors.
I collect my things because they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.lol.
I collect my things because they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.lol.
When I first got back into collecting, I had this thrill when I get something I want and also the hunt in tracking in down. In the process meeting fellow collectors and making friends. Even though I really like to add the Jawa proof to my collection and if I paid $30k for it I think rather than thrill I will feel sad. BTW, James Gallo don't own that proof he is brokering for someone for a commission!!
The game has changed so much in the last few years that it's become somewhat pointless to even debate prices for pre-production items, especially if they are extremely uncommon or in fact unique. People stopped listening to reason with regard to prices/research etc etc years ago and it appears that many are quite desperate to add something a little different to their collections, something that nobody else has. We've arrived at a point where there is apparently no rhyme or reason to the prices of high end items, especially when each sale pushes the prices even higher.
In a market like that sellers aren't going to cut anyone a deal when it could potentially mean throwing away thousands of dollars.
Lets be honest though, however much we like them, no toy related item should really cost thousands, let alone tens of thousands. I would say that these days pre-production items of a high calibre are sadly way out of reach for most people. Even those on a good wage are going to think twice about spending sports car money on a bit of cardboard (or at least they should!) so all you are left with are the millionaires and the ones close to becoming millionaires. You know, the people that aren't going to even miss $30k!
Uncharted territory.
As Todd likes to say "move over and let the big boys in" :lol:
In a market like that sellers aren't going to cut anyone a deal when it could potentially mean throwing away thousands of dollars.
Lets be honest though, however much we like them, no toy related item should really cost thousands, let alone tens of thousands. I would say that these days pre-production items of a high calibre are sadly way out of reach for most people. Even those on a good wage are going to think twice about spending sports car money on a bit of cardboard (or at least they should!) so all you are left with are the millionaires and the ones close to becoming millionaires. You know, the people that aren't going to even miss $30k!
Uncharted territory.
As Todd likes to say "move over and let the big boys in" :lol:
I cant see this fetching $30k - the market just isnt at that point yet, thankfully. I dont buy the argument that it's only a toy, or only card so can't be worth $30k - plenty of comics get to that level (and way above).
Most people who would want to spend that kind of money would prefer to anonymously - not responding to some 'for sale' advert and the whole community knowing the purchase price - I'd suggest that just having it advertised has probably burned it.
For the record, I hope things never get to the point where $30k is sensible money for a proof - or any star wars 'toy'. It's not 'fun' money anymore for all but the 0.1%, and how many of those collect Star Wars, and Star Wars prototypes? Not many, I bet.
Most people who would want to spend that kind of money would prefer to anonymously - not responding to some 'for sale' advert and the whole community knowing the purchase price - I'd suggest that just having it advertised has probably burned it.
For the record, I hope things never get to the point where $30k is sensible money for a proof - or any star wars 'toy'. It's not 'fun' money anymore for all but the 0.1%, and how many of those collect Star Wars, and Star Wars prototypes? Not many, I bet.
Great points Joe and Max. I feel the person that buys this will appreciate it much less than someone that has been hunting the $100 item for many years getting their hands on it! This Jawa proof will probably disappear into some black hole collection and never be seen again!!
ODB
Jedi Master
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- Jun 2, 2010
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- 701
I bet half of these things never sell at their advertised price. There has always been an element of society that brags about things, over values them and tries to make money at all costs but they have typically not been in any of the collector markets as they were rapidly shunned. Facebook however seems to have done away with those older trends and replaced it with the bragging situation we have now.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, people are just throwing money around with no prior thought, research or even common sense, with people trying to peddle stuff at overinflated prices its little wonder that prices are spiraling up. I'm hoping that at some point it all swings backwards as people grow tired of it but if there's one thing you should never underestimate its how stupid people are.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, people are just throwing money around with no prior thought, research or even common sense, with people trying to peddle stuff at overinflated prices its little wonder that prices are spiraling up. I'm hoping that at some point it all swings backwards as people grow tired of it but if there's one thing you should never underestimate its how stupid people are.
Dannywhiteley
Jedi Master
- Joined
- May 6, 2015
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- 556
I don't see the problem. Someone wants it they make contact, make an offer that's either accepted or refused then a little bit of haggling, it's sells or it doesn't. It doesnt mean diddly squat to me or my collection, its as far removed as my Mondeo is to a $1m supercar. It's all relative, but Gallo (or his client) are free to ask what they want and either it sells and gets hidden away for ever or remains unsold and gets hidden away again.
Value is totally subjective, the billionaire would drop this as quickly as i woukd buy a pack of polo's and not bat an eyelid. The top level of the hobby has never been accessible to me, and never will be. I don't expect it should be. I wouldn't be interested at $3k so the fact he wants $30k makes no odds to me.
Value is totally subjective, the billionaire would drop this as quickly as i woukd buy a pack of polo's and not bat an eyelid. The top level of the hobby has never been accessible to me, and never will be. I don't expect it should be. I wouldn't be interested at $3k so the fact he wants $30k makes no odds to me.
What is interesting is that the $30k price is justified with reports of others fetching $15-20k - but no clear evidence of sales. So, actually the price could simply be bananas but becomes the new 'market price' because of a high asking price sale and unconfirmed reports of sales and offers. It's stuff like this which is fuelling the rapid rise in prices.
jedisearcher
Sith Lord
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2012
- Messages
- 1,450
So what? The only figure that matters is what it actually sells for.
Plenty of chancers list junk every day on ebay for ridiculous prices but no one gets too bothered and inventing spurious prices to justify a price is on page 1 of the 'Selling For Beginners' manual.
Anyone remember when some people were convinced that the SW price bubble crash was inevitable and hundreds of collectors would be living in cardboard boxes under motorway bridges?
Plenty of chancers list junk every day on ebay for ridiculous prices but no one gets too bothered and inventing spurious prices to justify a price is on page 1 of the 'Selling For Beginners' manual.
Anyone remember when some people were convinced that the SW price bubble crash was inevitable and hundreds of collectors would be living in cardboard boxes under motorway bridges?
jedisearcher
Sith Lord
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- Feb 26, 2012
- Messages
- 1,450
maxf said:
of course it's not good for the hobby and I never said it was but the healthy dose of scepticism in his sales thread tells you what many people thought about his 'evidence'.
The market for a $10k+ item is a tiny proportion of the collecting community, and of that tiny proportion there is an even smaller number of people who'd pull the trigger on one or more of these items. Is everyone suddenly going to start buying 12back Proofs for $10k+ just because Gallo said that they're worth that? It doesn't seem likely.
Unique items get unique prices but at this moment that price is just a pipe-dream because it hasn't sold and if/when it does we won't find out about it.
Dannywhiteley
Jedi Master
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- May 6, 2015
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- 556
Exactly. The percentage of the entire collecting community who can drop $10k on a single item, nevermind $30k is miniscule. If they are prepared to spend that without knowledge or research they quite frankly are idiots and deserved to get burned. The next buyer of an airbrushed 12 back won't be swayed just because this one eas 'valued' at $30k without any evidence. At the top end they are either super well informed or super rich. They will know their onions or they won't care either way. It's not setting a precedent in that respect, as the next sale of its type will be based on its own merit at a price based on mutual agreement, not purely the fact that this one was advertised at a ridiculous level.
£91 naked Jawas and the other crazy stuff that goes on on facebook pages a bit closer to home are far more damaging to the hobby. The lower end collectors are far more susceptible to getting badly burned.
£91 naked Jawas and the other crazy stuff that goes on on facebook pages a bit closer to home are far more damaging to the hobby. The lower end collectors are far more susceptible to getting badly burned.
indianawars
Sith Lord
Yet again, genuine collectors deprived from owning an item because some idiot thinks he can ask for whatever he wants for It because it's "rare".
As much as it pains me to say this, but I hope this guys dog eats it... then he can try and sell **** for $30K.
As much as it pains me to say this, but I hope this guys dog eats it... then he can try and sell **** for $30K.
tiefighterboy
Grand Master
Joe said:
For the record, that was one of those facebook group high rollers that said that. ****ing tool.
My first impression was "wow thats over priced". As far as i'm aware that price is unprecedented and I've never heard of 12 back proofs going anywhere close to that until now. But then again the rarer 12 back proof cards don't often exchange hands publicly so maybe I'm out of the loop on these things.
A couple of year back the relatively easier to come by 12 back proof cards like Tusken Raider, Stormtrooper, Luke Farmboy, Leia and Chewbacca were going for about $3k-$4k with blank backs around $6k-$7k. I recall a blank back Death Squad Commander (one of the rarer ones) going for $8k. And I had heard that the rarest of the 12 backs such as Vader were over $10k. Interestingly there was also a similar airbrushed 20 back mock up Tusken that went for around $6k at the time (so less than the blank back). Prices of 12 back proof cards seem to have doubled in the last couple of years. So with that in mind i would have expected $20k to be a reasonable price for the Jawa. It is one of the rarer 12 backs along side Vader. From what i hear there are only 2 blank backs and this airbrushed 20 back mock up proof card.
A couple of year back the relatively easier to come by 12 back proof cards like Tusken Raider, Stormtrooper, Luke Farmboy, Leia and Chewbacca were going for about $3k-$4k with blank backs around $6k-$7k. I recall a blank back Death Squad Commander (one of the rarer ones) going for $8k. And I had heard that the rarest of the 12 backs such as Vader were over $10k. Interestingly there was also a similar airbrushed 20 back mock up Tusken that went for around $6k at the time (so less than the blank back). Prices of 12 back proof cards seem to have doubled in the last couple of years. So with that in mind i would have expected $20k to be a reasonable price for the Jawa. It is one of the rarer 12 backs along side Vader. From what i hear there are only 2 blank backs and this airbrushed 20 back mock up proof card.
