[Archive]

Posted By: Hankron

The hobby market is inefficient, and the dealer makes his/her living on this inefficiency (disparity betwen sell prices of the same item). In fact, a side effect of a good dealer is that he helps make the market more effiecient and consumer friendly. This is exemplified by the dealer who buys bulk, then it into singles for the normal collector who only wants one or two, and couldn't afford the original bulk lot must less want it.

If one were to say to a profitable dealer, "Man, the prices are all over the board on this type of stuff," the dealer might respond, "I know. That's how I make my living."