Post #157411 by Swanky on Mon, May 9, 2005 12:22 PM

On 2005-05-09 11:59, teaKEY wrote:
I'm with Philot. I've been buying the higher and higher price mugs as I get more and more into the tiki world and actually better mugs are being made all the time. The mug makers seem to be toppong their last mug.
A lot of peple here like vintage but I'm wasn't around when some of these mugs were even created. I bet some of the vintage mugs were free with a drink, back in the day so actually paying any amount for them is paying too much. (don't get mad at me, I do understand all about the appeal) but the new mugs that are sold for 20.00 are worth the price if you like them cause that is the price that they are. They were never cheaper and you know that you aren't paying 8.00 for a 1.00 mug cause that is an 800% increase. This is a good piont for the mug selling companys.
On the other hand, is a mug really worth 30.00? I mean , if you like it, yes but stores like can sell a non-tiki mug of the same qualtiy and finish for 3.00 dollars. And 3.00 dollar may be the highest price someone is willing to pay. Just a thought. So I just that I am head-over-crazy for the tiki too.

I am a vintage collector. The new mugs have no interest for me for a few reasons. Number one, they have no history. They are made by an artist as a collectible. The vintage mugs were made by an artist to be drunk out of at a tiki bar. The new mugs may never have a drink served in them. The vintage mugs may have had hundreds of drinks served in them. Modern mugs have no place. Vintage mugs often can be traced to a restaurant that used them. New mugs are bought in retail stores and vintage mugs must be found in antique or thrift stores or on Ebay. They are out "in the wild" adrift at sea waiting to wash up on some shore where us collectors will find them. "How did this Bali H'ai get to Tennessee?" A story. A history. A depth.

As for value, I find more value in a vintage mug than a new mug too. The new mug has an artificial value due to the popularity of it's artist maker. The cost of making it makes it cost a certain amount, but it's long term value depends on who is out there looking for a Munktiki. A vintage mug has a value more based on scarity. A leilani can be had for 50 cents. That's pretty close to the free mug you talk about coming with your drink. And you can get those dollar mugs. But the high price mugs are only going to get more valuable. There are only a certian number out there and no one knows how many or when another one will appear.

When I know I can buy a mug at the store any time I want, I have little interest in ever buying it. Even if it's a limited edition. I have to really want it. When I see a vintage mug at the antique store, I know this is likely the only time I will ever see that mug (unless it's those darned common ones...) and I have to buy it before it slips away...

I can make a drink in my vinatge mug and connect with the past.

A lot of collectibles were things given away. Part of the value lies in that it was disposable and survives. That's also why, for many years, antiques dealers just threw them away, and may still do so...