05-16-2002, 03:23 AM
Art,
The examples are so many thats its hard to give a specific example. I have had almost anything from a Hero Star, to an Order of Glory 1st Class to OGPW 1st Class come into question (not to mention the regular items that I have posted about in other sections of the board). If I need to use an example, I will use the OGPW 1st Class. I hope I am not spilling trade secrets, but the gold content in an OGPW 1st sells for about $95 in Russia. Therefore, it is impossible to buy this Order for less then this amount. Now try to sell one in the US for much more then this amount. It just will not happen. If you get $110, you had a good sale. You can get alomost that price in Russia, and you do not have to worry about shipping (both the cost and the risk), the FSB, KGB or whatever the name the police are using today, jail time, bribe money, or any of the other treats and joys that go along with buying and selling Soviet Orders and Medals in Russia. If you were a Russian dealer, what would you do? I've had one supplier stop sending groups (which is what I specialize in) to me that include OGPW 1st Classes as he can't make a profit, and I cannot sell them for enough money to make a profit.
I also recently had an example of a documented Suvorov 3rd Class with research that I had for over one year. If I remember correctly, the price, with research was between $600 and $700. I had to send it back to Russia as the owner had a buyer there which paid more then my price in the US. While my figures might be off, the point remains the same.
I know it does not make sense in many cases, but I stopped trying to make sense of Russia about 5 mintues after I started living there. I love the country and the people but as the saying goes, "without vodka it doesn't make any sense."
I have now seen this price issue arise with all three of my personal suppliers, and in several of the other well known wholesalers. Its happening in too many "mainstream" places not to be true. Now, saying this, I am sure that many of the members to this board will still find excellent prices through their direct connections, but for the mainstream collector, this should raise some issues.
The examples are so many thats its hard to give a specific example. I have had almost anything from a Hero Star, to an Order of Glory 1st Class to OGPW 1st Class come into question (not to mention the regular items that I have posted about in other sections of the board). If I need to use an example, I will use the OGPW 1st Class. I hope I am not spilling trade secrets, but the gold content in an OGPW 1st sells for about $95 in Russia. Therefore, it is impossible to buy this Order for less then this amount. Now try to sell one in the US for much more then this amount. It just will not happen. If you get $110, you had a good sale. You can get alomost that price in Russia, and you do not have to worry about shipping (both the cost and the risk), the FSB, KGB or whatever the name the police are using today, jail time, bribe money, or any of the other treats and joys that go along with buying and selling Soviet Orders and Medals in Russia. If you were a Russian dealer, what would you do? I've had one supplier stop sending groups (which is what I specialize in) to me that include OGPW 1st Classes as he can't make a profit, and I cannot sell them for enough money to make a profit.
I also recently had an example of a documented Suvorov 3rd Class with research that I had for over one year. If I remember correctly, the price, with research was between $600 and $700. I had to send it back to Russia as the owner had a buyer there which paid more then my price in the US. While my figures might be off, the point remains the same.
I know it does not make sense in many cases, but I stopped trying to make sense of Russia about 5 mintues after I started living there. I love the country and the people but as the saying goes, "without vodka it doesn't make any sense."
I have now seen this price issue arise with all three of my personal suppliers, and in several of the other well known wholesalers. Its happening in too many "mainstream" places not to be true. Now, saying this, I am sure that many of the members to this board will still find excellent prices through their direct connections, but for the mainstream collector, this should raise some issues.
