Hello Alan,

The article by David Goldstein was on point. I think you were at the Symposium in September 2008 when my appraiser friend Price Prazar and I both spoke on a panel. To refresh your memory, I am an Econometrician and I specialize in predicting future trends in business sales, customer satisfaction, profit, and value. There are only 1700 of us in the USA, many trained like I was at the Wharton School of the U. of Pennsylvania. Before I made that presentation, I gathered and analyzed years’ worth of data from eBay (not difficult as they were a previous client). I remember what a negative reception Price and I got from the members in attendance when we were honest enough to talk about the value issues surrounding clear Steuben (i.e., they had already gone done) and that it was likely to happen in the near future to the beautiful colored Steuben we all love. It seems so ironic that David has come around to the same topic, from a slightly less quantitative angle, some 12 years later. I doubt the reaction will be quite as pronounced.

Let me know what you hear back.

Best,

John

P.S. I also remember asking how many collectors ever used their Steuben for dinner parties and other more formal events. I remember just 2 members saying they each had done it once or twice. I do it several times a year (including yesterday with 2 dear friends who also have been vaccinated) and it gives me enjoyment and makes me feel that what I paid for it has in some qualitative way been amortized. I also feel that’s what Carder thought it was intended for: to be used everyday and enjoyed.