KirbyCollector

Just an update, I reached out to Larry Tun (was told he was already kicking around the idea of a get together around the Baltimore Con). Will let everyone know what I hear!

I live just outside of DC and collector Larry Tun's efforts (see Bill Cox's latest YouTube update) to get collectors together in Vegas inspired me to wonder if anyone would be interested in a meet up in the DC area. I know Lee Benaka, Thomas Fish and Jim Warden live in the general area... am sure a lot more great collectors are here as well! My plan would be to get together at a bar, have some beers and wings, discuss the hobby and maybe swap some art! Anyone up for it?

Animus towards individuals is wasted energy for me. I remind myself that is time is on our side, for two reasons: 1. Age. I spoke to most of the dealers at the Sunday show... none of them has a successor/family member who desires to take over the business. For those who have adult children, it is simply not something they want to do (I imagine the lack of health insurance plays a part, especially for those seeking to start their own families). At some point, health (I believe the dealer median age is low 50s) or a desire to retire will cause them to leave the business... meaning the art will come out, and at more favorable prices. 2. Economy. I do not want to provoke an insane discussion here, but speaking cyclically, we are overdue for a recession -- a generational recession, not this little hiccup right now. This one will be large enough to reset financial markets, financial institutions, debt, etc., on a scale not seen since the 30s. I know some individuals here have postulated that the art market is immune to financial downturns, but if the event is large enough everyone will feel pain -- especially those invested in the stock market. This will hit collectibles, and cause liquidations or significant revaluations -- meaning there should be more art at much lower prices. Honestly, if I am any of the dealers (especially those sitting on $50M+ of inventory), THIS is my biggest worry right now -- how to get out without a) tanking the market or b) being stuck with thousands of pages worth pennies on the dollar.

Love David's use of his own fingerprints in panel 2... he used that technique a lot in the early days... one of the nicest artists I've ever met... good luck with the sale

Solution

So this was the original post: Another time, I looked at a piece Bechara was trying to sell. I asked him how much, and he quoted me a very high price. I told him I thought the last time he had it for sale, he priced it at $2,000 less. He responded that he never raises prices on things he had bought. Is it possible the price was consigned to him, sold to someone and then sold or traded back to him at a higher price? I know for a fact pieces have left his hands and then circled back in trades. All I am saying is, without knowing all the facts it is dangerous to jump right to "he lied to me."

I'm going to front load this by stating I have no relationship, personal or professional, with Bechara. I have purchased a few pieces from him over the past 15(?) years (if that means anything) but I have never consigned anything to him. In other words, I owe him nothing. However, this relentless criticism of him is unwarranted. He operates a business for profit, the same as every other dealer. His practices, acquisition strategy and pricing are proprietary, i.e., it is in his interest not to disclose certain things because that gives him a competitive edge and helps him remain in business. Isn't that what any good business, OA related or otherwise, does? I don't buy anything with the notion that the underlying cost should be exposed to me -- why would any business provide that? As far as raising prices goes, I'd like to see a business which has NOT raised prices over the past xxx years. OA has gone up -- WAY up. Just look at the other post about the Zeck recreation -- prices have seemingly increased 400+% on those pieces since 2018!! Again, any business wishing to stay in business during a hot market will of course increase prices... just stroll onto a Ford lot right now and trying buying a new Bronco for less than $10,000 over MSRP. Again, if a buyer contacted me and asked me to buy a piece, am I under an obligation to tell him I paid 15% of the current ask when I acquired it? Do I have to disclose the price was less six months ago? No -- so why do we demand this from dealers? We are all adults here... if you do your research and know pricing, you buy or don't buy from me. I don't understand the need to beat up a dealer for doing what we all do, which is try and make a profit.

"Recreation." It's a good thing someone concocted this term for our hobby... hate those more offensive terms like fake, duplicate and copy

I don't use the term as a pejorative, it just fits guys like me... you know, a collector who loves odd cheaper pages and whose net worth is not that of a crypto gazillionaire

There must be a lot of ballers right now... heard the show might have been the high water mark for the year so far for several of the dealers... says a lot that a threadbare show in a tires hotel off Route 3 in Jersey brought out the heavy hitters vs glamourous SDCC

I think the new reality is, there is so much super wealth buying art right now that dealers don't have to deal with (or tolerate) the little guy anymore... so they aren't inclined to bend on a lot of the lower priced (sub $5K) inventory like they used to... Mitch, Glen, Mike, etc feel free to correct me, but that's how I see it

I was interested in buying from a large EU-based seller and noticed there were two prices on his site for each piece: one in euros and the other in dollars. The dollar price was 6-7% higher, which I chalked up to the seller not updating his currency conversions (the dollar is currently worth more than the euro). However, when I contacted him about buying at the euro price, or even adjusting the dollar price to the correct conversion rate, he told me, "US buyers have to pay more because I have to pay more for US product." Now, I know that two-tier pricing within the EU is illegal (you can't charge someone more just because they live outside of your home country). Does anyone know if this applies to EU-US transactions? It did not leave me with a good feeling.

Mystery question... who were the three foreign individuals (attractive 30ish brunette female with 2 men in Euro style clothes) buying art? I overheard Bechara telling someone they were "the Italians" who bought over $100K in art from him at SDCC and were buying more yesterday... she was in charge and they seemed to be very active with all the dealers.

Just for those not there, the video and the pics were not taken at peak hours... the whole room was actually pretty crowded... it's a shoe-in they will do this next spring. Btw spoke to Doug about an auction watching feature on CLink. He said hundreds have asked, CLink could easily do it, but adding it doesn't fit their business model or is supported by their data. In short, they find most auctions are won by proxy (already placed), not last minute, bids. They want more of these, not less -- so no watch feature. He also did not like the idea of a text alerting you to an auction end... again, CLink likes/wants more proxy bidding when the auction starts.

Should clarify... was talking about dealers, not collectors

I don't know what to think about today. I liked seeing the art and talking to dealers, but a huge shift has taken place from relationships to that of straight money. I'm not naive, but I remember things being better than this.

Made the trek, hotel in Somerset is great, veal parm sandwich (from an Italian sub shop, who else?) on deck for dinner, beers later across the street, piles of OA tomorrow at the show, all is right with the world. Just wish I didn't have to endure the first 10 miles of the NJ Turnpike to get here tho

I wonder what the future contains for some of these guys. Anthony seems to have a team of sorts which might have the ability to carry on the business if he decided to retire, but the others (Mike, Albert, Bechara) all appear to be flying solo -- so what happens to the business if they decide to retire? Mike can't just hand it over to his cats LOL Maybe they just all fade away like Spencer Beck has

Is Magneto snorting Wolverine's adamantium? Is this a Gil Kane "up nose angle" tribute piece? And why does Professor X always have that damn blanket on his lap -- is his Shi'ar techno-chair not equipped with heat? So many questions....

Bechara is a trader at heart, he always negotiates. Start with a price 15% lower with the goal of getting 12% off. If you show you know the prices for whatever art or artist you want, and are willing to tolerate some of his drama, you will get there.

It does if your Itoya says "Property of Jim Halperin"

Wonder how many are seeing paper profits right now and already dreaming of buying that house by the beach

What? No shots with Will in the parking lot this year?!? It's the only way I can find the courage to approach Rich at his table and ask about pricing

I was curious as to who would be at the NJ art show Sunday (have not attended in a long, long while), asked Joe and this is what he sent me: Will Gabri-El Anthony Snyder Hans Kosenkranius Rich Donnelly Jim Warden Dom Masullo ComicLink Nathan Rose Brad Savage Albert Moy Jason D ’Ambrosio Fisch Benz Bechara Maalouf Comic Connect Robert Stevenson Glen Brunswick Will Torres Julissa Osorno Andrew Kurita

As a former law enforcement officer (and 20+ year gun owner), images like this make me grit my teeth. In light of recent violent events, I suspect I'm not the only one who feels turned off by art like this -- another factor which may have contributed to the lower price.