[jsfriedm]

I do think there is a basic difference between buying wholesale and selling retail versus buying retail and selling retail. Dealers who buy whole collections, go to estate sales, garage sales, etc., sort through collections to create lots, etc. are providing a service to collectors and should be paid for the service they provide. On the other hand, dealers who outbid collectors at auction because they have more capital and can do so are like someone who walks into a Walmart, buys out their supplies of paper towels, and sets up a table in the parking lot to sell paper towels at a new higher price. There is no utility provided to the end consumer in that instance, just price-gouging.