Younger people is not the problem. Because generally they don't have the money.
Maybe there are few with money to spare, and a passion for old stuff, but they are too few to get the price inflated.
For what I seen there are two main problems.
The middle age people who run into a middle age crisis at this point in time. And they try to enter in this world without any clue.
Internet, anyone make the prices based on what they see online, plus maybe a bit more, because why not. It's a self-perpetuating problem.
There are people out there who really believe to buy gold.
I know for sure of a guy who wanted to buy an old console to leave as heritage for his daughter. Fortunately for him, he contacted an honest person, who convinced him to desist.
I know about a console got for 100 bucks, and sold for 1000. Because the buyer wonted an old stock item. So the sellers gave him what he wanted. They found a bad shaped console with a good box, then they spot a good console in another place, then they managed to get the manuals, and all the other accessories and they so they gives made a patchwork of stuff to sell to this guy. And no, before someone ask. This people don't want to know where the stuff come from. They want to believe that is an old stock unit. So they don't ask.
There is a lot of bad things out there. Fake bids to inflate the prices. Fake buyers for lots to keep the price down.
The main problem for me is us.
The point is still the same. If you think the price for something is too high, don't buy it! It's simple.
The point is don't have rush. We don't really need this stuff. It's an hobby. We lived half of our live, without that stuff, and we lived well. So, we can definitely stay the same amount of years without.
It's not a race. The point is not who have more stuff, or who paid less that thing. No one win.
Don't fall in the trap of the last item. There still a lot of stuff out there. And the sources still the same, mostly cellars, attics and garages.
Plus someone who sell his stuff because, a new child is coming, and the wife don't want that garbage around. From time to time an old store.
What is happening with retro electronics, already happened with other stuff, like retro furniture, stamps, old models, probably old toys, and so on.
This is nothing new.
And no. We are not saving historical items. Almost none of this stuff deserve to be preserved.
Exactly the same happened with furniture. Stuff who once was sold for his weight in gold, now is good only for the fire.
Of course there are some very important items in the computer history. Like the first computers, mostly valve stuff. And some few items.
The rest is only mass produced products. I mean, with this logic every electronic device must be preserved, because soon or later that will be representing a particular moment in time.
But even no.
To be clear. I have nothing against who try to sell stuff at high prices. I even hope for them to get what they hope.
But, I have to admit that was a lot more funny in the old days. When we, the mad people, who got old garbage from houses and dumpsters.
And it was more logical. People sold his old stuff instead of thrash it. And other people get old stuff saving money. Everyone was happy.
It's even funny that the same people who now sell their stuff on internet for a lot of money, one was the same who where happy when you comes to get rid off their garbage for free.
I don't know. Maybe I'm nostalgic even for this. Maybe even my old days in retrogaming now are retro.
Oh well.