[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by mcellpe
Having alumni pool their funds together to seek out and buy historically significant or older badges sounds like a great idea-that way, they can be preserved for the group's archives. But I would be very selective on what gets purchased, especially off Ebay... Trying to buy every members badge that turns up to keep them out of non-members hands is unrealsitc, and a very expensive proposition. The Badge rescue groups are, in effect, helping to spawn a high margin business on Ebay. Not everything is what it appears either- it takes a keen eye to discern the difference between a valuable badge and junk, or at worst, outright fraud.

I would encourage rescue groups to look beyond Ebay, which represents the "retail" end of the market. Old pins turn up at flea markets, antique stores, and scrap gold dealers all the time. It's not as convenient as Ebay, but also not near as expensive, either.

Good Luck!

mcellpe

p.s. If anyone stumbles across an old Fiji/Phi Gamma Delta badge out there, drop me a PM- I would like to talk about buying it from you!

We do both as well. And we have perfected the art of ebay bidding with the goal of not driving up the prices. We have also gotten to know a number of collectors and have purchased some directly from them.