Post #24136 by gonzo on Mon, Feb 24, 2003 1:37 AM

Guys..

I couldnt keep quiet any longer..For the shag collectors out there remember the following is an editorial and is my opinion only. If you have another perspective please post.

Before you part with your hard earned cash here is my two cents on the worth of this.

I have great doubts in the coming years these "collectable" decanters will be worth 250 bucks. Witness the beanie craze, pogs, popkemons etc....

There will be a proliferation of a careful studied number of cheaply made shag trinkets and shag prints to max profits until shag saturation occurs.

Recall econ 101 ...Supply Demand and price curves. Shag controls supply. Demand is astronmicaly driven by ebay. Ebay prices rise.....Shag sells to his friends (tiki farm.. ebay buddies.. galleries etc)... Then shags prices rise.

Shags own website even discounts the ebay scalpers. Baloney. He could put an end to it right now (remember limited edition) if he truly felt that way.

The collectable marketing is well studied science. They always begin the same.....fantastic profits on ebay. They always end the same.....fantastic losses on ebay. At this point in time we are still seeing the profiteering on ebay. I guess short term profits on ebay are possible at this point but risky. I noticed at least one fellow losing his shorts on a shag mug collection recently.

Note that nobody in their right mind is actually using these products.. This and the words "signed numbered limited editions" defines the highly suspect "collectable" in my mind.

If I had any of this shag Id be on ebay selling it off. After the fad is over buy it back on the cheap. Belive it this fad will end some day.

The closing of the Warner Brothers stores is a another good example of a fading fad. Animation cels are not worth near the money they were 5 years ago.

There are only so many collectable mugs, prints, and decanters people will buy. Shag will sell until people stop buying. When the demnad ends it ends quick.

How many would truly buy this stuff if the frenzy was over I have in doubt...Its human nature to want what everyone else wants. Recall cabbage patch dolls...Tickle me elmos.....JDSU.. tulip bulbs..pet rocks etc

I admire shag and his 250X$250=$62500 good fortune. Im sure he will get it. I just dont know how many more decanters he can sell. To me they all (three I believe) look roughly the same. Same cute little skull shot glasses anyways.

At least franklin mint collectables were worth the scrap silver.

Well I could be wrong on all this...

Gonzo