From what I can tell, declining prices are not something limited to just
mechanical musical instruments, but rather to most collectibles.  It
used to be that I'd stop at every antique store I'd drive by in the
hopes of finding a piano roll -- any piano roll -- and I was willing to
pay nearly any price for it.  Now, one merely needs to sit in front of
the computer to find hundreds of piano rolls at a couple bucks apiece.

The same holds true for many collectible items.  It used to be if you
wanted something in particular, you'd have to go all over looking for
it.  So when you finally did find the item you wanted, you'd be willing
to pay pretty much whatever the store asked, instead of spending many
more weeks or months looking for one.  I have a friend who is in the
antique business, and he says it is very much a problem.

My main business is the restoration of musical instruments.  Not all
that long ago I could sell a rebuilt saxophone for $600.  Now, a
customer comes into the store, and when I tell him the price, he
invariably points out, "But you can find them for only $100 on eBay."
Of course, this would not be a rebuilt instrument, but people don't
always understand these things.

Now that buyers can so easily find items they wish to purchase, there
are many more to choose from.  If they cannot get one at a price they
are willing to pay, there will always be another one coming along very
soon.

In my early eBay days I got caught up in a bidding war with another
person over a particular piano roll.  I gave up when he went over $50
for it, even though I desperately wanted it.  Over the next few weeks,
_three_ of the exact same roll showed up!

We are talking supply-and-demand.  I'm not sure the demand is less, but
certainly the supply is quite ample these days.

John Miller
Saint Paul, MN
http://www.PianoRollStuff.com