Dealers' Pricing at the National

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

The Nike store in downtown Bethesda, MD gets robbed twice every week (for the last 3 weeks). A group of people walk in, grab a bunch a stuff and walk out. Nobody does anything. My kids were there last week when it happened -- no violence, they never felt in danger, it was all very civilized, etc. Just seems there are no rules anywhere anymore

When the punishments are subjectively removed in many states, those without moral compass tend to have zero reason to avoid lawlessness. Soon many major cities will lose all ability to purchase important items like basic staples due to states prosecutorial negligent law changes leaving those without the ability to drive out of the city without options. You can't blame stores for leaving when they operate at a loss. The unknowing will state they have insurance but companies or small businesses cannot afford the rates for policies that have claims that are higher than their sales.

The repercussions of this will cause decades of distress for cities and their residents. It's just really sad when I still regularly see the damage the riots of 67' did here that still have never recovered. No one knows what is really coming from these events and you don't want it. One positive in Detroit is that we already know what happens and have quite honestly avoided most of the issues the past years as the city is somewhat self-protective due to our past. It took literally 50 years for real grocery stores to return to the city proper, those that remember their absence don't wish to lose them again.

That said, it still exists and we are trying to keep it from escalating. It's both comforting and sad the couple times a year I go to the nice mall a mile down the road and the luxury side seems to have more armed guards than Blackwater has on the payroll. What a world to raise a kid in...

[Exhibitman]

Unfortunately, we have substituted the language of blameless status for the language of personal responsibility in many walks of life. It is a short step from thinking that nothing about your life is your responsibility to thinking that everything is your right. Hence the whining about the evil, awful dealers price gouging. Guess what: none of us has a right to a 'reasonable' price for someone else's goods. Simple enough answer: don't buy stuff you think costs too much. Of the tables that have material I collect, I probably walk right by 50% of them because I can see that the prices are more than I want to spend.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Unfortunately, we have substituted the language of blameless status for the language of personal responsibility in many walks of life. It is a short step from thinking that nothing about your life is your responsibility to thinking that everything is your right. Hence the whining about the evil, awful dealers price gouging. Guess what: none of us has a right to a 'reasonable' price for someone else's goods. Simple enough answer: don't buy stuff you think costs too much. Of the tables that have material I collect, I probably walk right by 50% of them because I can see that the prices are more than I want to spend.

You hit the nail right on the head.

I am amazed at the collectors that have this mentality:

"My cards are worth so much. But I won't pay those prices" or

"These prices are reasonable, but my stuff is now worth less, so I can't pay that"

Folks, prices go up and down. If you want the card, buy it. If you don't, move on.