I'm all about the Perfect Original Condition of things in my store and at home. When something has its original price tag, etc. on it, it STAYS on the thing. I'm the Minnie "Purist" Pearl of the antiques world. Ok, fine. Once a month I get someone who looks at an original price tag, may or may not see my price tag, and says something like:

- "Is dis da pice? Cuz dat's aw-rite!"

- "Is this the rill price? Haw haw. I'm just jokin', ya'll!"

- "Man, you've really jacked up the price since it was first made!"

And, that person means it. They're upset I'm asking more now than what it sold for 50 or 100 years ago. Really.

A guy recently said that to me. I said "Mint condition is mint condition." I don't think he got it. I sat there at my desk prepared to ignore further comments from him, when I had the idea to do a little math experiment: divide the price of gasoline (within the same era as the object upon which he commented) into the price of gasoline now. Gas rose approximately 12.5 times. I then used the same math on the mint condition item. It had gone up a mere 8.3 times.

Don't even GET me STARTED on the original price of a Van Gogh in 1890 verses 1990 auction results.

And no, I didn't bring this up to Mister Commentator.