Un-beleivable bargins can be obtained on Internet Auction sites. These sites are steadly becoming a large force online for aquiring product at a low cost. The problem, however, is knowing what's a high cost, and more spicfically, where to stop.
As far as Security, Ease of navigation, and overall efficency is concerned, ebay.com, and yahoo.com's Auction section are the best choice of services to find a good product.
Since we're talking Star Wars created, you're going to run into alot of things. Ranging from Figures, to Pictures, to Autographs, to a coffee cup George Lucas drank out of on the set of Episode One selling for $500 (Our webmaster tabbi would gladly purchase it at that price). Here are the product catagory's your going to run into. Listed next to them is the average STARTING PRICE for the product. It's listed from most expensive at the top to least at the bottom.1. Autographs (30.00 to 80.00, depending on cast member)
2. Set Memorabilia (Old notes, equipment used on filming-40.00 to 70.00)
3. Plaques (Plaque Photographs and title-40.00 to 60.00)
4. Action Figures (10.00 to 35.00)5. Posters (10.00 to 20.00)
6. Toys (10.00 to 30.00)7. Standard Photographs (5.00 to 20.00)
8. Playing/Trading cards (.50 to 80.00-Can get that high if buying a set orbox)
Starting from the top with overveiws...Autographs are mainly the most disireable thing, and they can sell for insane prices. It's acctually not a bad deal to find a non-huge actor who played a part in one of the movies and bid on it for between 10 and 15. The main rule for Autographs is that the seller MUST have a COA, or Certificate of Autheticity, with it. If they dont list it as including a COA, dont bid on it. Try to find pictures of an autograph of the same person, compare the sig's. If they match, and it's within reasonable prices, by all means throw in a bid. Know how high an autograph can go, even if it's signed by the most disireable actor. If we're talking Darth Maul or Mark Hamill, it'll push 70.00 if it's a good photo with a reliable seller.
Something like Billy Dee Williams or Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), will probably go for between 5 and 15. Then there's stuff like Natalie Portman's, that will jump all over the place from 20 to 80. Basically it does that because of the picture. If it's a picture of Amidala, in costume, glossy and in excellent condition, it'll push 60 or higher. If it's a non-star wars related where she's NOT in a bathing suit, such as a playbill from something like her role in Anne Frank on broadway, it'll push about 10 bucks. It's an autograph after all, decide if it matters to you or not if the picture is important.
Set Memorabilia can consist of something as tacky as a film lense used on a projector for filming or a glossy photo of the set. It can go at a high price, and most of it's rare stuff, though not really worth bidding on unless it's a must-have. Plaques are just starting to be a large thing with perticular genres. Star Wars plaques tend to be pretty dang cool, with a label and usually glossy photo. You can catch them cheap too, if you find a good one, dont pass it up.
Action Figure auctions can be tricky. Only bid on it if it's one you know you wont be able to find at the nearest Wal-mart. Scans can be deceivng, the case could be bent beyond recognition. Or it could be perfectly fine. The seller rating really comes into play here, you have to go with his word on it. Dont bid on these unless you feel you must.
Posters are usually a good buy, just a pain to ship, and a pain to receive. But that's the seller's problem. These go for cheap, and look good. Usually one of the best buy's you can do.
Toys, (see Action Figures)
Standard Photographs are the best buy. They're cheap, easy to ship, look good in a frame, and you can usually find some really good shots at cheap prices. Go for it.
Playing/Trading cards are tricky. Many sell single cards for something like 50 cents or so. Others sell opened, complete sets. As opposed to open sets, it's usually wiser to go for a sealed box of the same cards, which will usually go for about the same price, but now you can experince the thrill of opening the pack.I'll leave you with a few guiding rules.
1. The most important part of a product is it's seller's rating.
Never bid on a product being sold by someone with no ratings, or more then five Negative's. Read over the comments left by the buyers. Get all the information you can, then bid.
2. If you have even the SLIGHTEST doubt about the price in yoiur head, dontbid.
3. When in a battle for the high bid, use the classic cheap tactic: Cent by Cent incriments. Go up .50 cents on everything they throw out. Resist giant leaps in the price unless you feel it's the only way your going to scare your competitor away from the product.