Depends who is selling, where they are selling and how they are selling. I am not convinced eBay is the place for highest prices but rather the opposite.
I'm not sure about "the opposite" but it is an accurate reflection of the "market". If you want to sell your item THIS WEEK, that is what people will pay for it.
The "market" includes both end users and dealers.
If you have any item that you want to sell in a short period of time you have the option of selling it privately and hopefully finding a buyer willing to pay "retail" value or you end up wholesaleing the item to a dealer.
If you want to sell it "sometime" over the next year, then you have different options of presenting it to another market.
If wealthy collectors are the top of the market how many of them have time or inclination to watch eBay auctions.
few. that is why they attend Live Auctions.
That is why Fine Art failed to sell on eBay when they first tried years ago. A Live Auction provides an environment that allows one to have more of a sensory experience when inspecting an item for potential purchase.
plus there is a social aspect to it that is lacking from buying via a computer screen.
My understanding is this car had a very substantial offer made for it which was turned down.
My understanding is that the SELLER made the car available privately at a substantial offer that was discounted from the "Reserve" and it was turned down.
Or at least not accepted.
Has the owner in fact overplayed his hand and devalued this car in proving that few are interested in it at top money?
I would say "yes" because so many people do not bother to notice that the Reserve has not been met.
There are still people that believe that "other" yellow Tg that has been on eBay.de a few times has actually "sold" for over 100,000 Euros despite not reaching Reserve and despite being listed a few times.
Those same people will look at this and think that either there is something "wrong" with this car or that the market value has plummeted.
I always tell people not to pay any attention to prices that do not meet Reserve, but few people pay attention. They just look at the numbers.
These are the same people that see a £2000 car for sale for £20,000 and say "Wow! Look at what they are going for these days!" Never mind that the car has not sold.
I do not doubt there are offers in place which are below that which the owner wishes to sell but above that which we, the impoverished enthusiasts, would be able to pay.
I agree and I know there are. There is "new blood" in the microcar collecting hobby and "new money" as well. However it is not just wealthy collectors. There are number of new enthusiasts out there that are car nuts that have discovered Microcars and are learning all they can about them and find them fascinating. These people will actually bring a car to a meet, talk with people, share information...just like regular folk. Because they are. But they just have a bit more money and different perception of what things are "worth". They are not "super rich". But they do recognize when they are looking at something that is rare, has a fascinating history and are willing to pay more money for it than some others, but not "stupid money".
I have had discussions with a few people at length about this car, serious buyers who were willing to pay just a bit less than what this went to this time. They were bidding on it. But they were not playing around like some other bidders who are bidding only to try and keep the perception of the market high.
I do not think that this car would bring big money if presented to a "super rich" collector or put into a high-end Live Auction.
It is not "original enough" and it is not completely restored and perfect. For all intents and purposes it is just "a Messerschmitt" to them. For an investor it is a risky buy as there are few established "values" for it. It has not been "blessed" by the marketplace enough to warrant the attention.
I don't feel TOO BAD for the seller though, he came in to the MOC forum looking for parts for his Tg, everyone was very excited about a new Tg owner and tried to be very helpful.
Once he got the parts he needed, he put the car up for sale. I think that more than a few people felt duped.
Of course the seller was led to believe the car was worth much more so he got "duped" as well.
Karma, it's a bitch.
