Ebay ridiculousness

[ardyer]

This one came as a bit of a shock, was expecting it to coming at about a hundred pounds - came in well above that - obviously, folks spending their Christmas present money following the festivities. I now feel I got a real bargain just before Christmas ; but I put that down to - people watching the pennies, before having to put their hands into the piggy bank.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172460455211? ... EBIDX%3AIT

My New Years resolution is not to buy any new figures in 2017!

Paul / Golgfag1

Mine too! Sadly, it's already broken

 

[ramshackle_curtis]

Hi Oldhammers,

I'm the one who bought the Nuln Spearman.

I've felt offended by this topic.

Im interested in why you would pay so much for such a basic model.

I could sculpt you something better and more fun, of your own design, for less and cast it up for you in your preferred material. Its totally crazy to spend that much on a single model and you need your head examining.

I feel offended that you took part in a such a stupid price hike on such a total lump of crud! You are encouraging the worst kind of scalping and recasting, you should be ashamed.

Support sculptors not re-sellers!

 

[Golgfag1]

Congrats! I was tempted by that, glad it went to someone in the community

Hey, I considered it too good an opportunity to miss, adding such a large haul of lead to my already large collection of unpainted metal figures - Anyway, inspired by the purchase- since the beginning of December, the bolt throwers & crews are almost finished and the chariots are well on their way too, then there's the Cold-one riders which are gentle soaking in a bath of Dettol, all to the positive in my book.

Paul / Golgfag1

 

[Fimm McCool]

I feel offended that you took part in a such a stupid price hike on such a total lump of crud!

That's a bit harsh. No, it's not a wonderful model. Yes, you could easily pay for a handful of custom sculpts with that money. I get the impression that it's not about the aesthetics of the figure though, but that it appears to be unobtainable. As you'll have gathered from my previous comments I think it's a waste of money and not worth anything like that amount but at the end of the day if you've got cash to throw it's down to you where you throw it. There's no evidence of scalping or recasting here, the seller was almost certainly ex-GW, had some 'valuable' figures, probably let the auctions run untampered and did well out of his collection. But yes, support your local sculptors.

 

[ardyer]

I feel offended that you took part in a such a stupid price hike on such a total lump of crud!

That's a bit harsh. No, it's not a wonderful model. Yes, you could easily pay for a handful of custom sculpts with that money. I get the impression that it's not about the aesthetics of the figure though, but that it appears to be unobtainable. As you'll have gathered from my previous comments I think it's a waste of money and not worth anything like that amount but at the end of the day if you've got cash to throw it's down to you where you throw it. There's no evidence of scalping or recasting here, the seller was almost certainly ex-GW, had some 'valuable' figures, probably let the auctions run untampered and did well out of his collection. But yes, support your local sculptors.

I'm just happy it went to someone whose not going to recast it

 

[ramshackle_curtis]

One of the main reasons re-casters do what they do is because silly fools with more money than sense buy models at inflated prices! By buying this sort of thing at stupid prices it encourages scalpers. Simple. I dont think that "if he has the money he should be able to spend it how he wants" is a good argument. Its mental to spend that kind of money on a single figure. Its literally a mental abberation to want something just because its rare. SO silly.

 

[bug16]

I've been adding a few more metal marines to my RT Marine army and pre-Christmas I was averaging about £2-3 per metal marine depending on the sculpt or if I was buying in bulk or not and since the New Year I've watched very common sculpts of RT marines regularly go for over £10, some have sold for over £15. Bonkers really.

 

[ramshackle_curtis]

Im sorry I realised I may have over stepped the bounds of reasonable etiquette with my language on my last post. I just get so "troll-y" when Im passionate about a topic!

Of course its a very awesome thing that the art we all love is valued so highly by collectors. Im just annoyed by capitalism and its short-comings!

 

[bug16]

Another example of a Rogue Trader Space Marine going for nuts money:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381902082070

It has an iffy bid history on it though, spot the shill bidder.

Either way I paid £4 including postage for the exact same miniature not all that long ago.

 

[Mr Papafakis]

Im sorry I realised I may have over stepped the bounds of reasonable etiquette with my language on my last post. I just get so "troll-y" when Im passionate about a topic!

Of course its a very awesome thing that the art we all love is valued so highly by collectors. Im just annoyed by capitalism and its short-comings!

I'm with you on this Curtis, I don't get it either

I'm a bit of a car nut & the amount people pay for "rare" cars is mind blowing! Some people earn or have so much money that their perspective on it's value/worth gets all screwed up from reality.

There's no way in hell I'd pay that much money for a piece of lead, don't care how "rare" it is

 

[dieselmonkey]

I'm a bit of a car nut & the amount people pay for "rare" cars is mind blowing! Some people earn or have so much money that their perspective on it's value/worth gets all screwed up from reality.

That's the thing though, it's all about perspective, and their reality is just as valid as yours. I freely admit, I've paid a good three figures for a single 'rare' model in the past, all this guy's done is have a disposable income that's an order of magnitude higher than mine. What people spend their money on is none of my concern. I nearly spent well over £5k on a motorbike frame with a V5 before xmas, and that's just some rusty bent tube and a piece of paper.

Personally, after a disappointing experience with Panini World Cup stickers in the late 70's, I'm not a completist as regards anything, so don't see the point in paying that amount for a decidedly mediocre model, but I can see that with a certain level of disposable income and a rabid completist gene, that's all fair enough.

Having said that, I'm *almost* disappointed that it hasn't gone to a recaster, as at least that way, the idiotic value will at least start to come down when some prick starts flooding the market with units of them.

 

[Mr Papafakis]

I see your point Diesel, I really do, but just because you can afford something, or it's within your budget doesn't mean that it's morally ok to do so. Personally I would feel terribly guilty spending that much money on a piece of lead when for someone else that could mean food on the table for months. I try to keep my spending on all things in my life within "normal" parameters. Just because I "can" doesn't mean I "should".

Years ago I got dragged along to a fashion sale with my wife where they were selling Versace seconds & other over priced clothes brands at a HUGE discount I literally shouted "$3000 for a fucking shirt!" inside the store when I saw the SALE price . I was shocked & depressed that people would willingly delude themselves into thinking that that's OK. Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating for all clothes to be made from newspapers or leaves But spending exorbitant amounts of money on something which is predominantly used just to cover your body with? No, that's just wrong.

Unfortunately, decadent indulgences in our modern societies are increasingly seen as OK now. Living in a developing country, I see that on a daily basis.....it's sickening.

My two cents

 

[Fimm McCool]

Unfortunately, decadent indulgences in our modern societies are increasingly seen as OK now. Living in a developing country, I see that on a daily basis.....it's sickening.

Agreed.

Years ago I got dragged along to a fashion sale with my wife where they were selling Versace seconds & other over priced clothes brands at a HUGE discount I literally shouted "$3000 for a ****ing shirt!" inside the store when I saw the SALE price . I was shocked & depressed that people would willingly delude themselves into thinking that that's OK.

Especially when some poor people in the 'developing' world are being exploited to produce said consumer goods and the massive profit for the company making them. At least this mini was made in the UK!

 

[Stormbringer]

just because you can afford something, or it's within your budget doesn't mean that it's morally ok to do so.

I don't think it's possible for me to disagree with this statement more than I do.

The man is free to spend his money how he pleases and to try and impose some kind of moral value on it is ludicrous. Now if it was public money that would be a different story.

I'm just amazed he thinks a single miniature is worth that much (and also amazed that anyone has that amount of free income to spend, but if he does then good for him).

 

[ramshackle_curtis]

We all, as individuals, have responsiblity for the world we livein. SHocking wastage and miss-spend capital are awful to watch and morally wrong. I think that I DO have a right to know how you spend your money, as I live in your society. If you are grossly mismanaging your finances then why shouldn't I know?

However, the main fault is with the SYSTEM of using money and capital. That cost can outstrip value is an inherent problem with using capitalism the way we do. There should be blocks to dissalow scalping in this way, as it is morally wrong. TO even charge that kind of money if gross, let alone the mentality needed to pay it.

The whole financial system is based on ridiculous and faulty premises which are becoming more and more evident. We will eventually move onto a more robust resource exchange mechanism, its just not here yet. These kind of disgusting abuses of money are examples of why we need to develop alternative systems.

 

[Zhu Bajie]

Economics is a system. Money doesn't somehow magically disappear because someone spent it, it just changes hands. The seller now has more to do with what they will, be it feed themselves, give to charities, support business, whatever. The only thing that has changed is who makes the next decision, and who holds a Nuln Spearman. There is no moral or material injury here.

The Perrys (or whoever it was, anyone know?) were presumably paid a living wage to produce a Nuln Spearman, so it's not like their labour has been grossly abused. Same can't really be said in the case of Versace clothing being designed by unpaid interns, produced in sweatshops, and sold for shedloads or blood diamonds or people illegally reproducing artworks without permission or any of the actually injurious abuses of capital that go on.

 

[Stormbringer]

I think that I DO have a right to know how you spend your money, as I live in your society.

That is an absurd notion. I suppose since you live in my society you also believe you have a right to gaze through the windows of my house, so you can know what I do in there too?

Economics is a system. Money doesn't somehow magically disappear because someone spent it, it just changes hands. The seller now has more to do with what they will, be it feed themselves, give to charities, support business, whatever. The only thing that has changed is who makes the next decision, and who holds a Nuln Spearman. There is no moral or material injury here.

This is truth.

 

[ramshackle_curtis]

Its not the truth!

Money does not really exist as a "thing", its just an idea. It has no physical presence. It represents an exchange of resources.

Its value is determined arbitrarily by consent. I do not consent to the values assigned, but I have no power to alter it. How is it that one person gets £1million for kicking a bladder badly around a field, where another cant survive on the money from being a doctor?

We COULD re-evaluate money, change its premises and usage. Its not real so we can alter it in any way we choose. We dont do that because foolish people get hooked on the myth of value! Money should be a basic exchange tool, that does not dictate social standing. All people should have access to the same resources, but money stops that. It gets in the way! Its broken! We need Money 2.0.

 

[jon_1066]

If you want to see where this kind of discussion goes then look at this thread on BGG:

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1212667/london-real-peter-joseph-zeitgeist-movement-resour

or this one for an even more off the wall "discussion"

https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1113636/bitcoins-blockchain-technology-has-changed-world-f/page/1

I suggest we not go there.

 

[Fimm McCool]

I suggest we not go there.

Indeed. Of course there's a huge debate about money and ethics, it has, after all, been one of the most divisive issues in politics and society for as long as it has existed. The important thing to remember is to respect the other viewpoints, even if you disagree with them. Debate (even heatedly) but don't make it personal is usually a good rule.