Originally Posted by
holli4pirating
Perhaps we disagree on what scarce means. I don't think 1 or 2 per week on ebay is scarce. I'd actually bet that Filly's were more available when the prices were nuts than they were when the prices were low.
Yes, antique store stock is lower than it used to be, but I do not think it's gone. I actually think Ebay is largely responsible for the stock disappearing. A lot of people who may have taken razors to antique shops are going to ebay instead, because there are more buyers and more impatient buyers on ebay. And antique shops themselves are also turning to ebay for the same reasons. Not to mention a lot of people who don't know anything about straight razors think their poor condition razors are worth big bucks because they "saw it on ebay."
And that "saw it on ebay" is the same thing that drives up prices. People have seen Filly's selling for hundreds so now that is what they are "worth."
If you believe in supply and demand, than regardless of the differences we may see in supply, we believe the same thing about demand. Ultimately, it is the demand buyers have for razors and their willingness to pay the massively inflated prices that keeps straights expensive. You may not assign as much of the "blame" to the buyers as I do, but I don't think you can escape laying at least half the "blame" for high prices on the buyers. After all, they are half of the "supply and demand" chain.