What is an appropriate finder's fee?

[delekkerste]

Is there a "rule of thumb" for the appropriate amount one should pay for a finder's fee? Say you were looking for a hard-to-find comic in the $20K range and wanted to entice people to help you by offering a finder's fee for information leading to a successful transaction - what would be considered a fair amount to offer?

 

Gene (and no, I'm not looking to spend $20K for a comic...just curious)

[Illiterati-migration]

Is there a "rule of thumb" for the appropriate amount one should pay for a finder's fee? Say you were looking for a hard-to-find comic in the $20K range and wanted to entice people to help you by offering a finder's fee for information leading to a successful transaction - what would be considered a fair amount to offer?

 

Gene (and no, I'm not looking to spend $20K for a comic...just curious)

 

A hunk of beef jerky and a tub of Ben & Jerry's seems to placate most all of the comic collectors I know...

[qualitycomix]

I think 5% (1K) would be appropriate for a comic of that price range. A less expensive book and I might say 10%.

 

Brent

[comicwiz]

I've offered as high as a 15% finders fee on comics I really wanted. On a 20K book, that's 3K, but then again, I've never gone after anything in that kind of price range.

[ghoulaid]

I agree with Brent: Normally 10% is fair but for that price range, I'd be OK with 5%.

[delekkerste]

I agree with Brent: Normally 10% is fair but for that price range, I'd be OK with 5%.

 

Would it make a difference if you weren't actively soliciting someone to help you find such a book, but someone you knew (e.g., a friend, a fellow Board member) who volunteered his help for free? Say you posted in the "Marketplace" section that you wanted to buy a FF #1 CGC 8.5 and a fellow Board member PM'd you saying that he knew someone with a copy and would ask them on your behalf if they would consider a sale. Say that a deal is done at $20K. The Board member has not asked for a finder's fee and nor was one offered in exchange for his help, but you wanted to be a good guy and cut him in on the action. Would you still offer $1K (5%) or more?

 

Gene

[ghoulaid]

It actually does make a difference (to me) if someone offers to help and no finders fee was offered or asked for. In that case, to be a nice guy and show my appreciation, I would offer some token of compensation but it might only be a couple hundred $. I certainly wouldn't feel an obligation other than to express my thanks.

 

Take Ian for example. He's enlisted Board members help to find the remaining books on his list but I don't think I've seen mention of a finders fee being offered. I've looked around and tried to find his wants of my own free will because it's fun. If I actually found something he needed I wouldn't expect anything more than his thanks, even if I found a Double Action #1.