Why dey do dat?

[Magpie]

So, I was at an auction, having received a heads up from an acquaintance who was local, and informed there were 4 trays of straights going up.

The online photos were crap, but it looked like there were some possible gems in the garbage.

So I dragged my sorry, sick, hacking wheezing self down to see for myself.,,

Most of the blades were well worn, and at least half of them were covered in devils spit. Each of the 4 trays had between 12-15 razors.

I gave each tray a dollar value, and was prepared to bid up to that number, using the determination of "If I go to sell this, can I get all my money back, plus the buyers premium, plus tax, plus the fees I would have to pay if I sold them online"

There was only ONE good blade in the first tray, I couldnt see ever bidding more than 80 bucks. 2 guys bidding against me, I quit at my max, and they drove it to 140
Same guy won each tray, and it was quite clear that he was determined to win them at almost any cost. I drove tray 3 up to 200 dollars, as it had a decent Puma Gold, and a nice W&B 7/8 and a clean no honewear sheffield I had never heard of (and no longer recall what it was)
The man had no hesitation to keep it going, and I have no doubt he would have continued on until I gave in.

After it was over, I asked him if he was a collector, or a dealer, and he replied, "No, I'm a buyer"

Can any of you, ANY of you, explain what this guy might have meant by that? What was this guy talking about? Why would a person who is not a collector pay prices so high that reselling could net you only 5 to 10% ?
Why dey DO dat?

[bouschie]

Either he has money he does not know what to do with or he was paid to buy them for someone else. Makes no sense to me.

[JP5]

Sounds like he was a buyer for a third party with $$$.
That, or he thought he was being cute when he answered you.

[Hanlon]

Maybe one of those people who gets caught up in the excitement of the auction and just has to win the bid at any cost? I've seen a few of those. Seems like a weird mentality to me, but if that's how they get their kicks....

Could also be like bouschie said and he was buying for someone else without properly communicating with the 3rd party beforehand. Lots of relatives used to gift me razors that they'd won at auctions. It was sweet of them, but they never once came up with a razor I would have bought myself.

[jfk742]

Can you give him my number, I have a few blades I wouldn’t mind getting rid of for ridiculous money.

[thebigspendur]

Since he wouldn't tell you anything he probably either thinks he knows something you don't or he is an agent for someone else.