Fan Obsession and eBay

[jenepherre]

I'd say we've hit an all time low in fan obsession, by setting the all time high price record for QAF props & wardrobe items sold on eBay... (as least as far as I know)

Brian's sheer python print shirt from ep. 117 (Dr. Dave's party for the senator, when the gang shows up uninvited and dressed to impress LOL):
just sold for $4,550.00

Brian's leather jacket from a couple of weeks ago didn't even sell for that much, and it's leather... and a coat. And was worn more than once. (It went for $4,075.50)

Oh, and the person who just spent over $4500 for the shirt? It's the same person who spent $1,425.00 on a mini iPod that was a QAF crew gift.

You know, I love Gale and I love QAF and I even won a couple of items from the set sale on eBay myself... but no way would I spend anywhere near that much money on a fandom memento. That's just... irrational, in my opinion. I just don't get it.

Not sure what else to say.

ETA: One of the replies to this post includes spoilers, so Spoilerphobics should beware!
Sorry severina2001! :-(

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/bliss_/]

Do you happen to have the link for that shirt?

Thanks

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4724015267

[jesster2282.livejournal.com]

Oh my god. I don't think there are any other words to express my feelings at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I love the outfit he wore to the party for the senator, but $4,550.00??? If I had that kind of money, I don't think I could spend it on a pre-owned shirt that would more than likely be stuffed in a box somewhere within the next 10 years.

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Right there with you on this.

[nerdanel.livejournal.com]

I think, at some level we have to respect that eBay induces irrationality (as every eBay user knows, you get into this "Oh no you didn't!" mentality when you are outbid). We have to accept that some people with a lot of money feel that this is a good use. And...I guess we just have to accept that some people have different priorities to the point where they seem irrational to us. I don't get it either, but I'm willing to accept that that's what they want to do with their money. For some people, I guess fandom's important enough. When I realize that I've spent enough hours on LJ talking about QAF that I could bill many times $4550 for that time during my very first year out of law school...it kind of puts it in perspective. Different strokes for different folks :)

[nerdanel.livejournal.com]

To clarify my meaning re: the billing comment: it's not that I think my time is worth a lot - it's that I've spent too many hours to count ;)

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

LOL I understood. And you're absolutely right. I see it as being all about priorities and obviously all of us have different priorities... it's just that... there are some that I really really don't understand. ::shrug::

[marishna.livejournal.com]

Um... I'm torn between wow and wtf? I just... it seems so totally insane. *shakes head*

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

::nodding in agreement::

::shaking head at the craziness::

[lorelei633.livejournal.com]

Well, if I had tons of money to burn, maybe. But if I did, I hope I wouldn't pay that much for a used shirt either, lol.

BTW, Jen, I LOVE the new look of your LJ. It's freakin' gorgeous! I wanna be you when I grow up. *g*

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I don't know. It is a great shirt and Gale looked gorgeous in it, but jeez, they only bought the shirt. I'd rather look at pictures of him wearing it. It just isn't the same without him *in* it, you know?

Thanks re: my LJ layout. It's a work in progress. Once I really learn how to do this stuff, I could probably fancy up yours if you wanted me to. It might be a while though... definitely still learning.

[equusentric.livejournal.com]

Holy shit.

I could buy a couple of nice custom saddles for that, and they'd at least get used and last longer than me...dayum.

And I second the layout comment...it's gorgeous!

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

See? Now *that* I could understand!

And thanks re: the layout. Like I said, still a work in progress.

[carr0ts1979.livejournal.com]

From what I can gather from people who went to the sale, everything was going for dirt cheap. So I persume that seller just made $4,500 not bad, I should of flow up, brought a $1000 with me and I wouldn't of had to work for the year...... But you know it's all relative, for some that's just pocket change, for others that's four months of work, unfortunetly I don't fit into pocket change part :( Still I don't want any clothing from the show, cause I really don't see the point in have a load of old clothes in my wardrobe that I'm never going to wear. I know different strokes for different folks............

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

I totally agree. I'm not in the 'pocket change' category either. And what you said about clothes is right on too - the things I bought are things I can hang up on the wall and enjoy. I suppose if you spend $4550. on a shirt, you can have one of those nice glassed in frame box thingies like they put a superstar athlete's jersey in sometimes - like you might see up on the wall at a restaurant or something. But still... odd. Just... odd.

[carr0ts1979.livejournal.com]

Thank God, a woman after my own heart, and I thought I was the only one, I'm doing the same, stuff I can actually use, although I did get hunter adoption papers, not the most useful but still I thought it was pretty cool, my most prised possession is a mock up for the rage film of rage fucking some guy over a table, very graphic, but soooo happy with it :D

[humming-along.livejournal.com]

Back when I had money, I once went up to a grand for a Krycek outfit, jeans, shirt, and leather jacket. Now the idea of spending that kind of money on fandom merchandise makes me want to go back in the past and slap myself.

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

That doesn't sound quite as ridiculous though - a whole outfit that includes a leather jacket. It's still more than I would pay, but ::shrug::

No need to go back and slap yourself though. I think life has beaten you up enough lately. ::hugs::

[shingalingp.livejournal.com]

II'm thinking that the person who bought the shirt is someone who was promoting Gale's movie 'Wake' last year when there was the LA(?) showing. I'm pretty sure that is the same name I saw on a yahoo board giving info about the event...think she sent me a Wake postcard...interesting...

[jenepherre.livejournal.com]

Yes, it *is* that person.

[1daftpunk.livejournal.com]

She's from Las Vegas. What can I say...we do everything excessive here.

:-)

[allisgood.livejournal.com]

didnt see this before......
now I know who you mean...............

[fiercediva.livejournal.com]

She also won the auction back in the day for the shiny pants worn with the shirt in that episode, so perhaps she *really* wanted to complete the outfit.

[allisgood.livejournal.com]

Dont know who you mean Jen but I guess it depends on how much money you have to burn, and what your priorities are.

Fans spend thousands every year on travel and hotel expenses when they run around to signings, conventions, premieres, etc all over the country--

when I was in Boston some woman had come all the way from Spain just to see Gale, not a side trip even.
It seems excessive

but so's spending IMNSHO
$50 , 000 on a car $100,000 on a race horse, $1000 for a Madonna concert , $20,.000 on a Safari with nothing to show for it but an ugly mounted head to hang on the wall.

Not really disagreeing with you, I cant see myself doing it either - just trying to put it in perspective from the other end.
but then again,.when I think of some of the huge chunks of time I used to spend, when I was a newbie to fandom I just sit here shaking my head repeating over and over and over.


.WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF WTF WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF............


I love love love your animations btw!!