Posted By:
Peter ThomasI'm don't think it is as simple as that. I think groups forming to go after sets, may actually increase competition and lead to higher prices as often as not. It is true that when some people who might go head to head team up, competition may be decreased, but by teaming up they frequently go after a set that otherwise the individuals would not bid on at all. I think that this is frequently the case with small E sets in low to middle grade. On items like this you get 3 groups of bidders. Someone look to acquire a set that they do not have; someone looking to buy the set a break it up to make a profit; and groups working on sets that need a few cards or upgrades that agree how to split the set in advance and how much they are willing their total bid to be. I don't think this is collusion in anyway.