In response to David Dewey's question in yesterdays MMD, is $3.60
per roll too high?  Well, yes and no.  If you are in search of that
one special roll that perhaps you have been looking for, for many
years, that's cheap.  But for a bulk lot of run of the mill rolls,
that is on the high side.

I have been collecting for about 25 years and have learned that
patience is the best policy.  If you let it be known that you are
interested in acquiring roll collections, they will suddenly appear
out of nowhere.  I've lost track of the boxes from neighbors and
relatives garages and attics that I acquired for $.50 to $1.00 per
roll.  Many will simply be given to you.

So unless there are several rolls in that collection that you really
want I would pass.  There is always eBay.  I have acquired and sold
thousands of rolls on eBay.  But this source has its drawbacks, you
can't view then first and you have to pay shipping.

Watch that shipping cost -- I buy only if the seller will ship via
USPS Media Mail.  If they don't offer it then ask.

Recently many of the big eBay sellers are using Media Mail and tacking
on a service or packing charge.  I try to buy from the small or
independent seller rather than the big eBay stores with thousands of
sales.

The pictures on eBay will tell you a lot.  If they are old bedraggled
rolls I don't bid over $.50/roll.  If you like to repair rolls, and
I do, you can often find large batches of unboxed rolls for next to
nothing.  But remember even the cheapest roll box will cost about
$1.00.   If I'm buying bulk lot rolls on eBay the bottom line I use
in making my decision is the cost per roll and that includes shipping.

Happy roll collecting,
Tom Hutchinson