If only I had a time machine.......

[CINDERS]

In 1976 I worked in a garage as a lube/driveway attendant from 7am - 6pm Mon-Fri 1 hour lunch plus working on Roster Station nights (Who remembers looking at the paper to find out where they were after 6pm) for the privilege of working there was paid 50 hours @$2/Hr $100/wk before tax our flat rent was $38/Wk did not leave allot for living.
Despite things being cheaper it was a thin line back then, I feel now in 2022 despite what's happening people are better equipped and more financially secure in their lives.

I have some pretty funny stories of garage life and customer interactions and a tyrannical boss!

[Promo]

Part of collecting though isn't what is the better 'investment' rather what you enjoy collecting. I have technically lost money on some of the trades and sales I have made, but I don't feel as though I have because I am happy with the result.

I did not intend to make a financial investment comparison, but to point out how the demand over the years had changed the ratio. Don't you consider it interesting that the ratio back then was for 4T to M1 was 3:4 whereas nowadays it is 2:1 (just a very rough estimate), or you may call it from 3:4 to a 12:4, if that helps understanding it better.

[Eaglelord17]

I did not intend to make a financial investment comparison, but to point out how the demand over the years had changed the ratio. Don't you consider it interesting that the ratio back then was for 4T to M1 was 3:4 whereas nowadays it is 2:1 (just a very rough estimate), or you may call it from 3:4 to a 12:4, if that helps understanding it better.

Sorry for jumping on you a bit there. I just see too many people at the moment concerned not with collecting or being interested in what they are collecting, rather only what they think will be worth money and trying to make quick bucks on the backs of the people trying to collect. It is a big part of why prices are going up so much. It is also frustrating as it is causing those who do want to collect to either not be able to afford it, or to leave the hobby as there is other things they would rather spend equivalent money on.

Ex. when I started most milsurps were around 300-500$ with some being a bit more, but your average ones in that range. It was a blast, and you can afford to buy and sell and trade at least one a month for those prices. Now those same arms 10 years later are 800-1200$ or more and it results in much less collecting as many of us can't afford to collect at those prices. Whenever a dealer has something in stock at a reasonable price you see it bought instantly and someone immediately attempting to flip it for double the money. Really makes it difficult to enjoy it.

[CINDERS]

In the 50 odd years I have been eclectically collecting WWI -II books/emphera/milsurp rifles/ordnance I would have sold about a dozen items, I brought a T cause I've always loved the 303 rifle it took nearly 30 years to get one now its in the safe its staying there along with the other 303's.
I collected because of a passion and partly due to my cadets also my fathers service in WWII, my brother being in the RAAF for 20 years before he passed away and my b/inlaw being a VN vet and to better understand what/when and how all those that went away managed to survive and those that did not come home.

For me it will never be about the money, just the memory from those that gave us what we have today.

[30Three]

For some of us; collecting can be a bit like chasing the horizon! The things that you really would love to own one day are always just out of reach.
The "Money" factor is important; as a lot of people today only ever think of money above all else. I have a perfect example of this last year.
This actaully start's about 4 years ago; I was told of a WW2 willy's Jeep that was part of a collection; the owner had died and the son who inherited it was going bankrupt. the guy who told me about it was helping with the estate sale.
He also did work for my boss occasionally; which is how I knew him. So every time I saw him I'd ask when the auction for the estate was going to be on.
Then covid turns up and I don't see him for 6 months; when I ask about the Jeep, he looks rather embarrased and say's it's sold! I ask why he didn't tell me about the auction; replies it didn't go to auction, it was sold privately.
He then admitted that it was my Boss who bought it. I was a bit ****ed off to be honest. So I go and see my boss and ask if he'll sell it to me; explaing that I'd been chasing it for 2 years. No he didn't want to sell it. Stuck it in a lock up and it stayed there not turning a wheel until now.
My boss died of Covid in May 2021. So in summer I spoke to his wife and said asked if I could buy it. She has inherited a large collection of Aston Martin's worth probably over 5 million Euro's plus the business, so she's not short of a penny.
I offered what was a couple of thousand more than what my boss paid, which is what I could afford. Initially she agreed, saying it would have to wait because the inhertance was being sorted. No problem, I asked her to let me know when, as I could wait no problem.
So last October she starts selling some of the Aston's; so I go and ask if I can now buy the Jeep. The reply "No it's worth far more than we bought it for so I can't let it go at that price. It's worth double and I need the cash flow!" "It's going to Auction with some of the Astons".
I've worked my gut's out for over 16 years for these people! I was hoping to have the opportunity to enjoy driving the Jeep with my daughter. but now it'll end up in some rich guy's collection gathering dust.
She's also selling the company; which I'm hoping will be a good thing; because I'm done.

[Flying10uk]

I offered what was a couple of thousand more than what my boss paid, which is what I could afford. Initially she agreed, saying it would have to wait because the inhertance was being sorted. No problem, I asked her to let me know when, as I could wait no problem.
So last October she starts selling some of the Aston's; so I go and ask if I can now buy the Jeep. The reply "No it's worth far more than we bought it for so I can't let it go at that price. It's worth double and I need the cash flow!" "It's going to Auction with some of the Astons".
I've worked my gut's out for over 16 years for these people! I was hoping to have the opportunity to enjoy driving the Jeep with my daughter. but now it'll end up in some rich guy's collection gathering dust.
She's also selling the company; which I'm hoping will be a good thing; because I'm done.

My advice is to definitely go to the auction and see what happens. It may not reach the hammer price that the seller is hoping for and you may still have a chance to buy it.

Most of us here have probably been promised things for sale, at one time or another, that has ended up being sold to someone else behind our backs. I know from personal experience that it can make one feel "seriously P****d off".

[Eaglelord17]

For some of us; collecting can be a bit like chasing the horizon! The things that you really would love to own one day are always just out of reach.
The "Money" factor is important; as a lot of people today only ever think of money above all else. I have a perfect example of this last year.
This actaully start's about 4 years ago; I was told of a WW2 willy's Jeep that was part of a collection; the owner had died and the son who inherited it was going bankrupt. the guy who told me about it was helping with the estate sale.
He also did work for my boss occasionally; which is how I knew him. So every time I saw him I'd ask when the auction for the estate was going to be on.
Then covid turns up and I don't see him for 6 months; when I ask about the Jeep, he looks rather embarrased and say's it's sold! I ask why he didn't tell me about the auction; replies it didn't go to auction, it was sold privately.
He then admitted that it was my Boss who bought it. I was a bit ****ed off to be honest. So I go and see my boss and ask if he'll sell it to me; explaing that I'd been chasing it for 2 years. No he didn't want to sell it. Stuck it in a lock up and it stayed there not turning a wheel until now.
My boss died of Covid in May 2021. So in summer I spoke to his wife and said asked if I could buy it. She has inherited a large collection of Aston Martin's worth probably over 5 million Euro's plus the business, so she's not short of a penny.
I offered what was a couple of thousand more than what my boss paid, which is what I could afford. Initially she agreed, saying it would have to wait because the inhertance was being sorted. No problem, I asked her to let me know when, as I could wait no problem.
So last October she starts selling some of the Aston's; so I go and ask if I can now buy the Jeep. The reply "No it's worth far more than we bought it for so I can't let it go at that price. It's worth double and I need the cash flow!" "It's going to Auction with some of the Astons".
I've worked my gut's out for over 16 years for these people! I was hoping to have the opportunity to enjoy driving the Jeep with my daughter. but now it'll end up in some rich guy's collection gathering dust.
She's also selling the company; which I'm hoping will be a good thing; because I'm done.

The other side of it is I personally have been burned by doing someone a favour just for them to take advantage of it. I remember selling one rifle to this one guy who was very interested in it. He didn't have much for funds but it was the same time of rifle his family used back in WWI and was very interested in the history of it so I sold it for what I had in it (even though the price had gone up significantly). Not even two weeks later he had it up for sale for twice what I sold it to him for. Leaves a bitter taste in your mouth afterwards.

[Warren]

Sounds familiar and as I am only a few miles from you I wonder if it was the same guy.
He could not live without a rifle I had so when I did finally did sell it he sold it to a guy waiting in a car at the end of the street.
How's them apples.

[30Three]

I understand that possibility; but I was always taught that it is important to keep your word.
During the same period, I agreed to sell my 1973 Kawasaki Z1 to a friend of my brother in-law, who lives in Ireland. We agreed on a price 2 years ago just as Covid was kicking off. So he could not travel to France and get it. He hasn't paid a deposit, and I've been offered more for it locally.
But I gave my word, so I will wait. I'll give him a fair chance to complete when Covid esses off to allow travel. If it gets to the point where I think he's taking the ****. I'll tell him. But I won't be changing the price agreed. That may seem dumb to some people; but there's more to life than money.

[Flying10uk]

I wouldn't have thought that putting the Jeep in an auction would achieve significantly more than you originally offered for it. If the owner has decided to put it in an auction then I would try and buy it from that auction, if I really wanted it. If the owner ended up being out of pocket, which could happen, due to seller's premium etc and no-one else wanting it, it will be their hard luck. If you can't get to the auction then you could probably be able to phone/internet bid.