Craigslist collection - all 300% too high

[GOAmules]

I thought I might have a chance to get a better M3, or a couple Krag bayonets this guy had on craigslist. He had a few photos of about 10 US bayonets, several M-1, some M-4. I'm no expert, but he said he was out of town last week, and he'd talk to me today, monday. Well got the call, and decided to ask for some prices just to see. He had no prices listed. Obviously knows very, very little about them, but spent a few minutes talking to a gun shop, and probably surfing the internet. So to gauge the worst case, I asked about the M3 price. "Oh, they go for up to $2500.....I'd need at least $600 for this one.....blah, blather, condition....blah..." I said how about one of the Krags? "oh, I sold all but one (from out of town?).... I'd need $300 for the one left...." What about the M4 bayonet, I asked? "oh....that one is gone, blah...blather".

 

I am SO GLAD I didn't go to meet him blind about his prices. I told him forget it, I'll get a Krag on ebay for $90.

[CNY Militaria]

That's normal these days. Fair deals are still plentiful and out there, but some sellers won't budge. There is a local to my area who has had a collection of about 100+ military uniforms on craigslist for several months now. He will only sell it as a lot and will break none of it up. He is set on his price as well.....the problem is that about 95 of them are 1970's - 1980's junk without insignia, and the 5 that I am interested in he won't break off. Too bad!

[GOAmules]

I see that "will only sell as one lot" fallacy with my other hobbies too. One guy has a bunch of cheap, plastic 35mm cameras. I collect quality cameras, mostly 1800s large format. He was trying to tell me his $200 worth of junk was "worth $27,000....but I only want $10,000...." Right.....