Not sure there are that many Japanese collectors left at the moment Paul? I am sure "Them" on here or someone can tell us for sure though. Many of the big in demanders in recent years have in part been sourced from Japan, and re-imported into the UK.
Some of the comments on this thread generally however are nausiating.
Three points to remember:
- It takes at least two bidders for a price to stick, not just one looney tune operating in isolation
- this auction site is clearly viewed by many more people than any list or record box that's trawled around nighters, and has a global audience, including other scenes such as funk etc.
- people on auctions such as this are, because of the way the auction is configured (with maximum bids) likely to bid more to "knock out" the competition.
Some of the auction prices do go crazy - Detroit sounds of Friction being a recent example - can only assume that's because at least two people have put in very high bids to secure (this also happens on Ebuy).
I have won two items in the last 12 months off of the JM auction - a rare UK item at around 400 (not Yuro or Banks far rarer than both of them) and a rare deep soul item at under 250, and am happy with both. and also happy to face off any of you who wish to be critical because I bid and won those two items , so you see it's not all megabucks and idiots with too much money.
Steve