[barrysloate]

I guess I'll play too. Myths:

1) Only the biggest auction houses get top dollar for consignments. That is both an oversimplification, and a misunderstanding of how the market works. World record prices are set based on who is bidding. Often there is no rhyme or reason for why crazy prices are realized, except for who the bidders are. I had a tiny auction house with a small catalog and set many world record prices that stood for years. Was I better or worse than anyone else? I doubt it, as every auction company uses the same pool of bidders. All the great prices I achieved were solely based on who was bidding, nothing more. I've seen big auction houses get great prices, and I've seen them tank. The size of the auction house is irrelevant.

2) Something that Ichieh said on his Pete Rose thread precipated my next thought: "Dmitri Young owns the PSA 10 and he won't be selling." Ichieh, if I had a nickel for every collector who was never going to sell, and then bailed out of the hobby, I would have a very big bowl of nickels. Circumstances arise that change the course of people's lives, and many decide to sell collections they hoped to keep forever. It happens all the time.