I agree with what has been said by Jinx and Hoover 
Dam.  

The fact is, none of us likes the high prices that 
have been driven by the US market.  It's annoying! 
 I've missed out on all kinds of cels because the 
prices went up unbelievably high, and in most 
cases, I seriously can't understand why someone 
would pay so much for a cel of the quality they 
are sniping for.  It's especially sad when it 
happens to cels you saw sold 2-3 years ago for 
maybe one quarter of the current price.

But that's what economy is.  Supply and demand.  
This is going to apply to any collecting hobby, 
and it's one that we probably ought to get over.  
Does that mean that all complaints are invalid and 
you shouldn't bother us on the forum with these 
posts?  No!  I do it myself from time to time.  
But let's be careful about what we say, people!  
No raping is going on here.  If you buy a cel for 
an extremely high price because some US bidders 
bid it up at the last minute, or dealers charged 
more, or whatever:  IT WAS YOUR CHOICE.  NO ONE 
PLACED THAT ORDER/BID BUT YOU.  If you can't 
afford it, be responsible, and wait for another 
cel to come along that is more reasonably priced. 
One always does.

Those who argued that rape is not to be taken 
lightly are absolutely right.  It is pretty 
inappropriate and very disrespectful to anyone who 
has been through that kind of awful situation.  
Not trying to jump on anyone here, it's just that 
I think this point needed to be made (let's say it 
was directed at the general public).

Oh, and Adm Neal, I'm terribly sorry you missed 
out on the cel in question.  I hate it when that 
happens.  I hope you can find one just as nice 
somewhere else.

Well, I've put in my 2 cents (more like a buck 
fifty, wasn't it?) ^_-

~Anne