I used to attend a fair number of auctions, not for typewriters, although I did buy a number of items from a defunct typewriter factory once during the early '90s. At the time collecting typewriters wasn't an interest, but I still can't forgive myself for what happened to all of the IBM parts that were in one of the supply cabinets I bought.

My drawn out point is that I've seen a lot of craziness at auctions, and I quickly learned that when it comes to auctions - online or in person - you have to leave emotion out of it, really know your prices, and be prepared to walk away from it once the biding eclipses your previously established maximum.

I don't know how many times I watched the bidding for items go far higher than their full retail prices, and this after having started at a fraction of that amount. The dumbest of the dumb were those bidding up the price of lot items that were to be sold individually (the bidding was to establish the cost of each item). Like so many selling systems and product marketing strategies, the psychological weaknesses of buyers is used to full advantage, and often to great success.

Similarly, the outrageous prices that typewriters are currently fetching is solely the blame of the current crop of buyers. If buyers remained patient, and only paid what was realistic given the available supply of typewriters, those prices would quickly drop.

As Phil pointed out, the first gen Hermes 3000 is typically a $300 typewriter. Is it worth that? Never. It's colour, form, and a lot of hype has turned it into a more desirable model, and there seems to be no end of people who will fork over ten times what it's worth. The last 3000 I bought was a couple of years ago - just before the pandemic started - and it cost me $30. My buying strategy is simple: a lot of patience, a lot of looking (arguably the best part of collecting), and the exploitation of an opportunity rather than chasing specific models with inflated prices.

Yup. The only thing I have paid more than 30 or 35 bucks for have been SM9s, and I didn't pay a lot more for those. If I can't get a typewriter to my door for 30 or 35 bucks I don't need it. Of course I have more pedestrian tastes than many collectors.

Uwe wrote:

I used to attend a fair number of auctions, not for typewriters, although I did buy a number of items from a defunct typewriter factory once during the early '90s. At the time collecting typewriters wasn't an interest, but I still can't forgive myself for what happened to all of the IBM parts that were in one of the supply cabinets I bought.

My drawn out point is that I've seen a lot of craziness at auctions, and I quickly learned that when it comes to auctions - online or in person - you have to leave emotion out of it, really know your prices, and be prepared to walk away from it once the biding eclipses your previously established maximum.

I don't know how many times I watched the bidding for items go far higher than their full retail prices, and this after having started at a fraction of that amount. The dumbest of the dumb were those bidding up the price of lot items that were to be sold individually (the bidding was to establish the cost of each item). Like so many selling systems and product marketing strategies, the psychological weaknesses of buyers is used to full advantage, and often to great success.

Similarly, the outrageous prices that typewriters are currently fetching is solely the blame of the current crop of buyers. If buyers remained patient, and only paid what was realistic given the available supply of typewriters, those prices would quickly drop.

As Phil pointed out, the first gen Hermes 3000 is typically a $300 typewriter. Is it worth that? Never. It's colour, form, and a lot of hype has turned it into a more desirable model, and there seems to be no end of people who will fork over ten times what it's worth. The last 3000 I bought was a couple of years ago - just before the pandemic started - and it cost me $30. My buying strategy is simple: a lot of patience, a lot of looking (arguably the best part of collecting), and the exploitation of an opportunity rather than chasing specific models with inflated prices.

My fully-serviced 1957 SM3 which I paid $ 250 for now seems like a good deal... LOL 
.

J******n won both of those Facits at just over 1000 and d********r was second at just over 1000 as well. d********r is also a bidder on the skyrocketing 58 QDL.

https://shopgoodwill.com/item/134733395

This is definitely verrrrrrry fishy.  I can't even find the terms of agreement on the site anymore to see if there is some language that allows this crap, since the "upgrade" has almost completely broken the site for me
 

Phil_F_NM wrote:

That QDL is insane. The white paint version is uncommon but that price is 40 times what it should be.
 

Sold for $2002 dollars!!