Are these wheel cover rings rare?

[atlaw4u]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...AMEWN%3AIT

[53 0val]

The originals ARE rare, but the prices have dropped because of the current batch of repros. When they are on the car it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the OG ones and the reproductions. As recently as two years ago the originals were selling upwards of $150.............................This is just another example where repros have reduced the collectability and price of the originals. The repros sell in the $70 range and also come in white. White originals are impossible to find and can sell for as much as $250.
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"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." Dobee, Dobee, Do

[Brezelwerks]

Actually real collectors don't worry about reproductions affecting price at all, as "collectibility" only applies to originals. Reproductions relate to "useability" since they are generally much more affordable and you worry alot less about actually using them, which is what the buyer is usually looking for, and its why reproductions are very popular. In fact no original accessory that I own in my reasonable collection has ever been devalued because either I or someone else has produced an excellent reproduction, most of my originals have actually increased in value.

Instead, the so-called price "issue" here with reproductions is making the mistake of trying to sell original accessories to non-collectors, where the price falls because the supply is there and the demand is low due to the high price. Also, non-collectors do not tend to know the nitty gritty authenticity details to verify if something is original or not, so "risk" plays into decreasing the price that someone is willing to pay if they are unsure. Collectors also generally hold price on originals, and they do not concede price just to make the sale. A collector is vestedly interested in building the value overall of original accessories over the long term, and not to just make a quick buck.

So far the only impact on price that I've seen occur to original accessories over the recent years are noticeable fluctuations in the general economy, which affects generally what all collectors are willing to pay for something. Or, as other markets and venues develop (samba, ebay, etc) which have provided greater visibility and the supply of something, like for example when Alex Bernhard in Germany (AlexWOA on Ebay) continues to supply the market with multiple NOS accessories.

Overall though, many non-collectors "enjoy" accessories much in the same way as collectors do, but both use and appreciate them usually very differently, and both serve their own useful purpose.

Gary

[IN2VWS]

IMO....I don't mind repros as long as it is easy to tell them apart from originals, and the sellers clearly represent them as repros.
Manufacturers of repros are regularly selling repros as NOS or RARE, and they are clearly not. Or they are very vague in their descriptions and they show pics of the part with German writing on them, giving the impression that the item(s) are orginal.

No offence Brezelwerks, but IMO you are partly guilty of this in your ads. example: you Dehne fuel guage faces. In the title of the ad you say its NOS, but to your credit in the ad you say it is a reproduction. Why use the term NOS when it is not NOS?

[Brezelwerks]

No offense taken and you are right, thanks for pointing that error out farkengruven, its one of the few if only ad left that is titled that way. That ad was created over 3 years ago and was titled purposely to come up under "NOS" keyword searches (to help build interest), and then the ad would usually always clarify the item as a reproduction, a marketing tool I no longer do today nomatter how much a part may be equal to or better quality than an NOS part. Those older ads are renewed by a part timer here whom is building their knowledge, but its a reminder for me to do a few more scrubs of the ads.

Gary

[iowegian]

[atlaw4u]

Thanks for the information guys. Your knowledge is appreciated.