Badmovies.org Forum

I just wanted to throw this out there to see how everyone feels about the subject.   When an celebrity passes on, it is well known that their collectible stuff skyrockets.   For example, with the recent passing of The Ultimate Warrior people can't seem to scoop up enough of his items that were all laying dormant on Ebay weeks before.   

How do you feel about people who profit off of this?   I'm on the fence on the subject personally.   I mean I understand money is money and as mentioned above things will be more desirable when people are gone.  (What that says about us as a society is kind of sad to be honest)  However, what about the money grubbers out there who jack the price to ridiculous amounts.  Who's at fault?  The collector naive enough to pay that much or the seller?  Thoughts?

Good question.
I have a  vintage 1976 campaign button for Jimmy Carter - one of the big 4" ones.
I plan to put it on EBay when he passes, not out of disrespect for his memory, but simply because
that is when interest in his Presidency is going to spike.  However, I'm not going to have some insanely
high starting bid - I am going to put it out there and see what someone will give me for it.
Does that make me a bad person, or just a capitalist?

Capitalist, pig dog!   :bouncegiggle:

I'm kidding.

If you just throw it out there to see what someone will give you and it is something you don't want anymore, you are just striking while the market is good, like buying stock in a company when the stock is low.

If you gouge people in an effort to make a killing in any circumstance, you are a jerk.

The only arena where this doesn't apply is selling illegal substances. If you're gonna risk arrest, make the cash grab. Of course, if Obama would just legalize...but that's a topic for another time and place.

When Dan Aykroyd was touring selling his Crystal Head vodka, I went to one of those events. I spend $60 for a bottle of vodka, but what was important to me was that I got to shake his hand and he autographed my bottle, plus I got my picture taken with him. I looked on eBay at the time and the empty bottles were going for $60. I still haven't decided if I'm going to sell that vodka or not. I don't drunk that much so maybe if I started now that bottle would be empty by the time he passes away, but wouldn't an unopened bottle be worth more?

Really though what is the point of collecting stuff?  Its the enjoyment of collecting and the hope that those items will be worth something in the future. I don't have an issue with people selling items trying to make the most after someone dies.

I don't see the slightest ethical issue here. These items aren't necessities. Sell and buy for whatever price both parties agree to. If I owned anything like that I would sell it for the highest price I could get and not think twice about it.

Collecting is generally not about profit.  However, any savvy collector learns that buying and selling are a big part of collecting.  That aspect alone can be addictive.  However, collecting is mostly about love, or admiration. 

I have an autograph of LeAnn Rimes (country singer-turned-homewrecking skank) from when she was 13 years old and literally two weeks before her star took off and she became country music's most famous karaoke singer for a time. I am wondering how much money that autograph of hers will be worth when she inevitably dies of overt skankiness, which I imagine may happen sooner rather than later.  :question:

I don't see the harm in it. If people are willing to pay for the stuff, you might as well strike while the iron's hot.

Funny this comes up cuz I was closet cleaning the other day and found my 8x10 "Batman" photo autographed by Adam West and I remember thinking "he ain't getting any younger."

I doubt I'd part with it even when Mr. West does pass, though, because meeting him (twice) was a major Geek Moment for me after being a fan for so many years.

Similarly, I have Joey and Johnny Ramone's autographs on the cassette insert for their 1992 Mondo Bizarro album, but you can have that when you pry it from my cold dead fingers. I want that damn thing buried with me!