I don't usually get put off if I see one of the perceived big guns of collecting bidding on an item I'm interested in. I know I'm 99% likely to lose the auction, but I go ahead and bid how much I'm willing to pay anyway. And every now and again it turns out to be more than the other guy.

I remember collecting Dragon magazines last year, and was buying issues in the 10-25 range. Normally they would sell for say $5-10 each, sometimes up to $20 for a NM copy... but everytime one came up another user would bid in the last minute and win the issue. I don't remember the username, but I do know I got so frustrated in being beaten everytime I decided to see how high the guy was prepared to go - so on one issue (#18 maybe?) I saw his bid with 60 seconds left, and I bid $67 in the final seconds - and it still wasn't enough.

I know I've paid more than what an item is really worth a couple of times, for stuff that I really want - but it's pretty rare. How some people are able to do it as a bidding strategy mystifies me.

Speaking of Cougarrinard, I've been after copies of modules H1 & H3 for a while, but I refuse to pay the sort of money he thinks they're worth. And he seems to acquire all copies from other sellers... but yesterday I managed to get my hands on an H3 that he obviously didn't see - for $15.59. It's not often I get what I consider a 'bargain', so I was very pleased.

myalbinogorilla wrote:I completely disagree that this strategy is smart.  It's only smart if you're filthy rich, totally impatient and need everything immediately.  There are just way too many bidders out there who have no clue who they're going up against and therefore bid in good faith regardless of who has bid before them.  It may discourage a few knowledgeable bidders but over the long haul this strategy is costing them waaaaaaay more $ than it should to complete their collections because other knowledgeable bidders resent this kind of bidding behavior and "bid up" items on them to try to teach them a lesson.   I know I have "bid up" a few items I never intended to win just to discourage a particular a-hole from repeatedly buying the same friggin' thing I've been trying to get for months.

I agree that is exactly what everyone should do.  If you want to kill the big fish then bid up the items they continuously covet higher and higher, then eventually this will start to hurt their bottom line, especially if they're resellers.  But it seems some bidders, perhaps even on this board, just give hope when they see a big fish bidding.  IMO, that's unfortunate.

AD&D L3 * DEEP DWARVEN DELVE * VERY RARE!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... egory=2545

About 11 1/2 hours left, and it's currently at $36.00   .

Sweet... I just bought the whole 25th anniversary set in Shrink for 24.95 (buy it now). I didn't have one of these (I still haven't ripped the shrink yet since I see it as great trade fodder).

When I bought my set is was also in the shrink and about the same price.  Might have to keep an eye out for an extra L3 if they keep going this way  

Yeah.. I was going to go 40... but that's kind of my budget for these things....

Who's Pitbull.. is he on here?  I kinda have to root for Burnie if no one else on the board is bidding or winning.

I'm still waiting for someone to call dibs.  So far.. the only thing i REALLY wanted was the game Burnie lost on...

The other stuff so far isn't that exciting... COOL, but not 'exciting'.  The TSR memorbilia is neat... but... I ain't going to go there because down that path is only woe and suffering.  I'm stilling to D&D modules and cool fantasy boardgames.

Yeah, pitttbulll has bought from me a couple of times. . . I guess it's not appropriate to give out his name and though. . .

He did "Buy it Now" a mint black cover Monstrous Manual for $24.00 though!  

That made my day.  

Ralf Toth wrote:He did it again: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... %3AIT&rd=1

Dathon, I thought you said you quit collecting Licensed TSR material???

I have, but this one looked pretty cool.  I collect TSR minis and this one had wood ones so I was game.  I don't do plastic however, which is one of the other main reasons why I'm auctioning off the Orc War set and the Castle.  
I wasn't heartbroken about getting beat on the diorama set.  If they were  metal, I would have gone over $100.  I completely missed the Lance boardgame.  I would have gone to $100 on that item if I had caught it.  I wonder how high pitttbulll was going.

Ralf Toth wrote:He did it again: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... %3AIT&rd=1

Dathon, I thought you said you quit collecting Licensed TSR material???

Rhea is making good money there and all because it's shrinkwrapped. The items from Rhea's current auctions are all in a very good shape. Quite ideal.

Woh... the last time I saw this on ebay it didn't sell for $19.95... Rhea is not getting good $$ he's getting great $$

Rhea's auctions are a blast, I'm having a great time going through them and winning and losing on items.  He's getting great end bids for a few reasons.  First, we know him and like him, and that goodwill translates into more bids.  Second, the stuff is in excellent condition, if not, amazing condition.  Third, there's so much of it that you can win multiple items and then save on shipping costs.  All good fun!  

As for miniatures collecting, I think this area of the hobby has really taken off in the past few years.  Grenadier gold box sets are getting amazing prices compared to 10 years ago.  Old Ral Partha is also doing very well.  I think the most valuable item in my collection is potentially my "solid gold" Grenadier wizard that was advertised as a contest in Dragon magazine back in the issue 50's range if I remember correctly.  I've never heard of anyone else having one and have never seen one come up for sale or auction yet.  Someone please correct if I'm wrong, and then my gold wizard won't feel so special anymore.  
As an aside, I detest plastic miniatures.  I've been collecting all the recent Games Workshop LotR miniatures but never buy the plastic.  I can't game with plastic and metal minis side by side.  The plastic ones just look like wimps compared to the metal.  Ditto for the cardboard heroes and tokens.  The Dwarven Forge products are amazing when combined with well-painted metal minis.  Just wow...
Any other old Grenadier/Partha fantasy minis collectors out there?