Am I missing something?

[fred J Borgmann]

I am sure you all have noticed how often military medal groups are split up on ebray. An old turn of the century Wisconsin National Guard marksman group of three medals was listed in two lots. I did not “need” the medals but wanted to keep them together so I watched the bidding and no one was bidding on both lots. Two of the medals were named and were clearly identified as such by the seller, so I bid on both lots and got sniped on what I considered the lesser lot but did get the better of the two, the distinguished marksman suspended from a state team brooch. I suppose it is possible this was an over site by the other bidders or am I badly underestimating the value of a privately named army(?) silver sharp shooters badge with a broken pin? Any thoughts?

[John_Allgood]

Sadly, I think the seller did this on purpose. There seems to be an attitude that they can get more money if they divide up the groups. My main interests are with British medals and it happens all too often. Some times an email to the seller puts the group back together but that isn't too often I'm afraid.

John

[JB Floyd]

Unless the are knowledgeable in militaria, most sellers don't understand the concept that three dissimilar items may constitute a set, or group, even if they are engraved to one person. This is a constant complaint among specialists in every area of collecting with terminology that is specific (and often carefully defined) to that area. I recall a bookseller's forum that had a running thread about how Ebay sellers would list a book as "Very Fine" when it had no dust jacket, a torn page and crayon marks on the title page. Among book collectors "Very Fine" has a definition that most non-collectors wouldn't understand. ["Very good condition for its age" drove them completely nuts.]

O'Hanlon's Corollary says: Never attribute to malice what is adequately explained by stupidity. In a case like this, I think it's more ignorance that stupidity, and I'm always happy to take advantage of that ignorance. That's why the "See Other Items" is an important link in any Ebay listing.

The collector in me hates to see groups broken up, but the seller in me has a tough time arguing with someone who is trying to make a living listing something in a way that will maximize his return.

[fred J Borgmann]

Thanks John and Jeff, I understand why a vender would break up a group thinking that he will do better financially that way. What surprises me is that with the number of collectors on ebay no one tried to bid on both items other than one bidder who just bid $1.00 on both lots and yes I assume he was just a watcher. Why some one would bid $50+ on one lot and not try bidding on the other is beyond me. Maybe they just collect the Federal marksmanship awards and don't care about the rest. In that case I should be happy just to pick up the left overs and not let it puzzle me too much.

[JB Floyd]

The psychology that drives collectors is a strange phenomenon. I'm always amazed at the number of flea market buyers who will buy only the named medals from a group and leave the others.

Of course, many of us rationalize that we are saving money by passing up what we consider a duplicate of something we already have. And, many are pure type collectors, willing to pluck a single piece out of a group, even if its integral to the group and an orphan outside the group.

We're an odd group.

[Hsin C.]

Just saw an ebay auction where this seller took apart a Japanese rifle and is selling it in 3 lots. Not sure why?? But yet, he is getting so far 2.5x more than as if he sold it in one piece. Yet, there are a lot of bidders on each. So, it all comes down to $$$$ and selling out history. Sorry for the rifle comparison, but just saw it in the Japanese section in ebay...

[megan]

About 10 years ago I was in the computer drop-in centre at the local community college (being at that time their webmaster) when a older lady came in to class with a British War Medal 1914-20 on a chain around her neck. We got into conversation, and she told me that it was one of the 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred' group awarded to her father. He had had three daughters, and each had one of the medals.

Collectors might, with justification, scream - but it was also a beautiful way to keep that old soldier's memory alive!

Megan
http://www.medals.org.uk/

[fred J Borgmann]

Thanks Megan, I am in total agreement with you on that one. The Japanese rifle story is some thing I would have never even dreamed of!