T - by your own admission, you get most of your gear for free anyway.
Everyone has to make a living. If you don't like it, no problem, but from you said it shows you don't understand.
If Posterati charges x amount for a poster, and CineMasterpieces charges x amount for the same poster, but Joe Bloggs charges a cheaper amount for the same poster, then logic prevails in buying from Joe Bloggs. However, dealer experience (communication), dealer knowledge, dealer/seller regard and dealer clientele are all factors that come into play - and you must remember, a lot of the dealers who have 'high' prices sell from bricks and mortar, not just the internet.
I for one am becoming increasingly preferred to Bruce's auctions and the Heritage Auctions as opposed to ebay and the like.
Sure ebay can be a hell of a lot cheaper, but listen, Bruce & Heritage know how to talk to their customers; they also know how to package items.
I received a poster last week that I won on ebay. The seller is a major collector, so you would think the packaging would be pretty good, right? Wrong. Poster bunged into tube with nothing else. The poster was mint; now, the edges are damaged.
I find there is much less hassle involved with Bruce and Heritage, and dealers, compared to ebay.
The movie studios don't buy from ebay; most buy from Christies (probably the most expensive).
My point being that if someone wants to buy from Bruce, Heritage, Christies, Posterati or CineMasterpieces, then what's the problem?
The sellers don't force the public to buy - rather the buyers purchase from where they feel most comfortable.
As far as I am aware, Bruce is a dealer.
Correct me if I am wrong, Bruce, but don't you sell your own posters direct from the website?
And have your own archive?