[Jukebox-list] Jukebox market dead along with the state of affairs?

[David Breneman]

--- On Sun, 10/5/08, Kuglarb at wmconnect.com <Kuglarb at wmconnect.com> wrote:

A few friendly comments giving my prespective on that
you said:

> Let's face it, with gas at $4.00 a gallon and rising,

$4.00?  Wow, I just filled up for $4.47 and was dancing a jig!
Gas here (Puget Sound area) was $5.79 this summer and has been
declining for the last two months.

>  The real estate market is in devastating condition

No, the real estate market is finding its level after a
huge speculation bubble ("Flip that House!!") has finally
burst.  Anyone with eyes to see has seen this coming for
the last five years.  It's a well overdue adjustment
that's finally bringing a little sanity to housing prices.

> as well as the Stock Market.

Over any 20 year period in the last century, including
the great depression, stocks are still the best long
term investment.  Within a year or two the market will
be back where it was, unless the government does too
much to "fix" the situation.  That's the real danger.

> The biggest concern is our unemployment rate.  There 
> are so many without jobs.  Yea, I know...our leaders say
> that the unemployment rate is low, but what they don't
> say is that many are employed with jobs 
> paying minimum wages or a dime or two above it.

Unemployment will be a problem, but I don't see people
going from middle income jobs to minimum wage.  That
sounds like an exaggeration.  There are many sectors
that I wouldn't want to work in right now, but at least
from what I've seen it's not as dire as you paint it.

> Even with all of the fun and games that I have 
> collected over the years, how many of them will put food on
> the table if the time comes?  Yea, I've got the toys,
> but there won't be any buyers.  

It's unwise to look at such things as investments.  I know,
there are people who look at Beanie Babies and Hummel
figurines as investments, but there's no law against
being an idiot.  

> As much as I love my toys, a new vintage box or phono is
> the last thing on my mind right now.

Ironic, because as a collector, now is exactly the time
that I'm on the lookout for bargains.