Being looking at current Market Values (MV) for tropical items
$12,000 paid for a M40 Pz cap last week ,................ http://www.virtualgrenadier.com/sale_item.php?iid=4156
I'm amazed that M40's are still fetching such high prices, guess it's supply and demand
Probably closer to the money is this stripped Ist pattern tropical tunic at $1500 euros / $1650 us
For sale on the WAF..http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=842120
Interesting to see how quickly it sells
The WAF has had it fair share of doom and gloom predictors, IMO while the market is slow at present, Tropical items seem to be holding their value, (by example DAK helmets) more so than other areas of TR collecting
Keen to hear what others think and if we attracting new collectors into the tropical collecting field
Mark S
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Wow Mark,
People are still paying that much ha?
Well i guess there are always going to be rich guys around. If i was a milionaire i would also buy anything i desired without thinking. What is to think when you are so wealthy that you don't know what to do with all that money.
Is 1500 euros a reasonable price for a stripped tunic even a 1st pattern one?
I have seen several for sale and all were priced at less than half of that. I remember one at waf for 800 euros and it was sitting there for ages until it had dropped at 700 and i picked it up.
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Hi Mark, it would be an interesting exercise to see what percentage of the collector community is aged under 40 years.
Is there an interest in the hobby within younger generations which will sustain prices in the non immediate future? IMO the price of most things is determined by the level of demand (how many people want it), availability of the right product and ongoing customer satisfaction (i.e. do they know if they have been ripped off by repro's etc).
I reckon that in today's economic climate even many millionaires would hesitate at paying $12,000 for a cap - beautiful as it is!
Regards Markus
Last edited by Markus (27-01-2016 00:15:48)
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Agree Chris & Mark
There will always be those who can pay what ever money they like, if they want an item badly enough, IMO you don't see the majority of these collectors in it for the long haul. They tend to lose interest and move onto other collectables after a few years and sell off generally at a loss. The MO is to offer it around first then sell back to the dealers (at a loss) as no one will pay the asking prices.
it would be an interesting exercise to see what percentage of the collector community is aged under 40 years.
Good question Markus, personally only know of two DAK collectors under 40 in Oz
Regards
Mark S
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Hi Mark(s) - I agree completely with the last post.
I also see this, time and time again - 'Must have it' attitude, desire beyond control, and trading historic items for the next 'fix'. I have also seen collectors(?) who chase a section of interest, filling every conceivable void. As soon as that 'buzz' is fulfilled they drop that theme and start another. And yes, spend the money like nobody's business - I can't believe the cash that changes hands sometimes over the 'urge' to have something for only a few days - and it is only a matter of days in many cases.
I've been doing this for a few years now, since the 70's. It's always been part of 'who I am' and always will be - my family accepts that. I'm here for the long haul, and I hate to even sell a canteen, let alone a cap, boots or tunic. Yet I see other's buy and sell these wonderful things as trading cards to get the next thing and the next. Yes, they wind up with great items eventually (or quickly) but I cannot see how they appreciate what they have in their hands. These guys may like the stuff but what I see looks more like investment collecting than a real passion for the hobby.
Just my two cents.
Mark
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If there is a demand prices will be up..so i am under 40 years old.when demand will drop down i will be there to buy with better prices .
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Hi mates
I am completely agree with your posts.
Besides for me collecting militaria is more than a simple amusement, it is sacred fire! Making a mannequin as accurate as possible for dates and types of its components corresponding to the battle period is an outstanding activity.
Collecting militaria with these strict criteria is my Time Machine! A correct mannequin is the image and the memory of our grandfathers who lived in a sad and valiant historical period.
For these reasons it is really disheartening to discover, after so many efforts, something fake in own collection. Falsification is for me more worse than those who speculate by raising prices of our desired objects.
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I agree more. Collecting Millitaria is like collecting History and is about historical value. Not money value
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I noticed there a lot of Tropical M40 caps for sale at present, did a head count from three web sites
Tally is 9 EM's & 3 officers
Out of these 9, only three appear to have 100% war time original insignia
Certainly they not selling quickly as in the past..............comments welcomed
Mark S
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Hi Mark, i haven't seen them. What is the average price they were listed for?
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Chris
Prices vary, visit web sites for details
Virtual , Fisher(Buyer beware) and R_Duck
We may be seeing prices fall with many of the caps now been sitting on the market for some time
There a good mid war M40 on the WAF at $1200
Mark S
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Hmmm interesting.
Let's see if it will affect the values. I have noticed that nothing tropical is moving at WAF. I wanted to get that blanket coat for 1250 euros but i am currently broke. What a bargain that was, even in that salty condition.
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Hi Mark
There definitely seems to be an abundance of caps on the market right now. Unissued soutached caps have been sitting and with price reductions. If you take off the dealer commission prices are looking good compared to a few years ago. I do think the field worn items will still command high prices so I am interested to see what else comes up for sale and how fast the items sell. Agree with Chris and now is a good time if you have some spare $$ to spend.
Barry
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Barry your right, good time to buy.
IMO the number of DAK collectors is quite small compared to say SS or TR Medals, which can mean DAK memorabilia is more strongly influenced by demand over supply
Hence when demand drops for M40 caps either the seller will drop his price or lets the cap sit there, which is currently what's happening
Chris, I was directly offered that Tropical over coat for 1000 Euros
Mark S
Last edited by msteve21 (13-04-2016 10:16:42)
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Wow that was a bargain Mark. You didn't need it? One in good condition sells for 3K. That one was priced very fairly IMO.
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msteve21 wrote:
IMO the number of DAK collectors is quite small compared to say SS or TR Medals, which can mean DAK memorabilia is more strongly influenced by demand over supply.
True. Let's hope to see a drop of prices in all tropical militaria.
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Here's my take on it. The common DAK /tropical items, beehive caps, tropenhelms, unissued 2&3 pattern tunics, AKCTs etc will continue to drop as there are less & less guys collecting this stuff.
While there are a few dedicated young DAK collectors under 40, most are well past that point. So demand will slacken with time.
A number of old time collections will be coming out on the market in the next few years....but you have to seperate the good from bad in these collections. Still some very good items will become available.
The fabled used early salty M40 soutached caps will be the one DAK item that never really will lose value. Expect these iconic caps to still demand incredible prices for many years to come...
just my 2˘
Tim
Last edited by The Magpie (20-06-2016 23:02:48)
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