[Strange Al]

I was one of the unlucky folks that queued for over two hours and didn't get a print. Blissfully unaware that a large portion of the prints had already been set aside for those people who queued in the rain earlier in the afternoon. Cest la vie - with limited supply and such great demand, you're never going to keep everyone happy.

Funnily enough, although bitterly disappointed, part of me was glad that the prints had sold out. My time spent in the queue was like going to an office outing (although not my office). I was surrounded by people who all knew each other and had come straight from work. Interestingly, very few of them had any idea what print they were actually queuing for. Perhaps this is presumptious on my part, but I don't think many of them had any intention to put a SBFO on the wall or even agreed with the message of the piece.

Do I blame these people? No. Fact is, you'd have to be pretty crazy not to try for a SBFO print with these sorts of returns; particularly, if you aren't into the scene or collecting art. If someone told you, I've got a job for you which basically means you have to stand in line for a couple of hours. You can chat to your mates or read a book and make £600+ in the process. Who'd turn that down? While many of us live and breath art, owning prints is by no means a necessity. Particularly, with the wealth of other artwork out there if you miss a particular release. You miss out on a print, life goes on as before. Therefore, it's very easy for someone outside the scene to justify flipping.

While I don't blame these folks, it does make me sad. It also reinforces my belief that this scene is actually pretty unstable. But that's a debate for another thread.

As we all know, the issue of flipping is as an incredibly complex one anyway. At what point does a collector who sells a print for profit become a flipper/bagger? Now I won't deny that I've bought and sold prints for profit (as most people on this forum either will have done or are likely to do at some point) and will continue to do so. Though, I wouldn't class myself a flipper. Every artwork I have bought I have done so because at the time of purchase it was a piece of art that spoke to me and that I wanted for my collection. Where I've sold it's been to trade up for a more expensive artwork or simply to pay the bills. Pezlow - posted a very reasoned post on this very issue in another thread just the other day.

Finally, it's been said time and again, but flipping will continue until there is no longer a return on the investment. The easiest way to ensure that would be to make all editions open. Though, as we all know, there are plenty of reasons why this course of action would never get widespread support in the scene.

[gbh]

Do they galleries really even give a shit at all?

If they did, would they not do something about it? (anyone listening?)

[mammal2]

I got into the que at around half 2 and it was pissing it down! There were around 20 peeps in front of me. The guys at LSG were amazing and allowed us all to be put down on a guest list and come back later. I feel sorry for the folks on here who failed to pick one up, but that kind of service to me anyway is simply amazing. I mean I cannot imagine for one second POW would do that. Santas Ghetto?!? I picked one up for a friend who will get it at cost!! My misses picked up hers for our wall. Its starting to grow on me a right treat. Props to Pezlow for the drinks. Big up the Curley for being Curley, and above all the dreadlocked legend whos name I forgot due to massive consumtion of booze again, but who saved the day.

[pezlow]

Good to meet all of you in the queue. Jjoschi - didn't see you mate. Would have been good to have said hello.

Sorry to everyone who missed out. I can see how galling it must be to now see 8 on the bay.

[corblimeylimey]

I really don't understand the kind of prices these SBFO prints are demanding, IMO Turin Scam is a better print and it's a run of only 75, and has been selling for around £300 - £350. We have SBFO prints on ebay already raced to the £400 mark with 4 to 6 days to go on auction, while a TS seems to be stagnant at £435 (which I think is a record price)

[bobbyt23]

corblimeylimey said:

I really don't understand the kind of prices these SBFO prints are demanding, IMO Turin Scam is a better print and it's a run of only 75, and has been selling for around £300 - £350. We have SBFO prints on ebay already raced to the £400 mark with 4 to 6 days to go on auction, while a TS seems to be stagnant at £435 (which I think is a record price)

I love this print but I really like the Turin Scam. I think the SBFO is a bit like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.

I think these prices are just a reaction to people missing out and now trying to get one.

[pezlow]

I agree CBL. I think there is always something about the the lure of the brand new that interests people. Take Mantis for instance. I bought an Ineed off the bay about 6 weeks ago for £102. Compare that to the price of AFD. It's bizarre.

[corblimeylimey]

pezlow said:

I agree CBL. I think there is always something about the the lure of the brand new that interests people. Take Mantis for instance. I bought an Ineed off the bay about 6 weeks ago for £102. Compare that to the price of AFD. It's bizarre.

It really is bizarre isn't it. An AFD on ebay now for £390 with 6 days to go ( 190135448718 ) maybe it's the effect of the Found show giving these artists exposure out of the forum and SOS circles, I don't know. How much would the iNeed go for now? and can you remember how much the APs printed on the FT went for a few months ago?

[Strange Al]

IMO the high prices are down to the fact that a single sale on Ebay seems to determine market value at present. The first SBFO from the SOS edition went for around £1.5K, with a second soon following at pretty much the same price. The current prices of the Found edition are in line with that, taking into account these are from the larger run and not printed on the "real" counterfeit dinars.

All utter madness if you ask me!

[carlito]

everything has recenly gone totally out of whack..all my estimates are a good 50-75% lower than the prices things are going for... I guess I Need is now well over a 1k...*gulp* ... love Turin Scam but defo seems to be the forgotten of the 3 possibly my fave as well (there's a lot fallen catholic in that choice for me - lol)

[corblimeylimey]

Where does that put the 15 hand stencilled Turin Scams, offers of around £1000 were instant, but what now?

I agree with your jjoschi - utter madness & carlito - it's gone totally out of whack.

[corblimeylimey]

One good thing to come from this though, is I hope the artists Beejoir & Mantis will be able to see some of this extra cash themselves.

[bobbyt23]

corblimeylimey said:

Where does that put the 15 hand stencilled Turin Scams, offers of around £1000 were instant, but what now?

I agree with your jjoschi - utter madness & carlito - it's gone totally out of whack.

The bubble's gotta burst sooner or later. All the prints I've bought are because I love the image and want it on my walls. I worry for those that have spent thousands purely as investments. But any investment is a gamble I suppose.

[bobbyt23]

corblimeylimey said:

One good thing to come from this though, is I hope the artists Beejoir & Mantis will be able to see some of this extra cash themselves.

Indeed. It's nice to see new artists doing well. Especially people like Beej who are genuinely nice guys.

[corblimeylimey]

bobbyt23 said:

corblimeylimey said:

Where does that put the 15 hand stencilled Turin Scams, offers of around £1000 were instant, but what now?

I agree with your jjoschi - utter madness & carlito - it's gone totally out of whack.

The bubble's gotta burst sooner or later. All the prints I've bought are because I love the image and want it on my walls. I worry for those that have spent thousands purely as investments. But any investment is a gamble I suppose.

Well done bobbyt23, me too, all framed up, (except TS which is next) you can't go wrong when you buy for between £65 - £120 ish, but if you're paying £500 - £1000 or more I think a lot more thought is required.

[bobbyt23]

corblimeylimey said:

bobbyt23 said:

The bubble's gotta burst sooner or later. All the prints I've bought are because I love the image and want it on my walls. I worry for those that have spent thousands purely as investments. But any investment is a gamble I suppose.

Well done bobbyt23, me too, all framed up, (except TS which is next) you can't go wrong when you buy for between £65 - £120 ish, but if you're paying £500 - £1000 or more I think a lot more thought is required.

Definately. Had the chance to buy a Micallef JD a few months ago for £550 but couldn't afford it. I'm gutted now as it's one of the top few on my want list but I'll probably never afford it, well until that bubble bursts.

[Imoy-San]

Hmmm......

I fall into the small group of people who haven't got anything framed as yet.

Not a single print on my wall, but a 'shed-load' of canvasses.

I'd really love to have them all framed and hung, but - no wall space.

If the bubble goes pop!... It means I have a collection that is indicative of this era - a mad goldrush for fortune through art.

Art with a heart - that's what I say. I love my prints!

[bobbyt23]

yomster said:

Art with a heart

HaHa. That's gonna be someone's next print.

[Imoy-San]

I suggested the guys at TLSG use it as their motto.

They made quite a few friends and picked up brownie points for yesterday's effort.

Y

[pastiepie]

is it ironic that an anti-capitalist print is so sought after and fetching such high prices on a global auction site? Personally I don't think it'd complement my decor and it's really a piece for the streets.