What is "sumgai"?

[Pepin]

I've seen it used in several contexts. It sounds like a pensoteric term.

[Silvermink]

"Sumgai" is that guy who (supposedly) shows up before you at a flea market, estate sale, antique shop, or what have you and cleans them out of all their good pens - "Oh, yeah, I had a Parker Snake this morning, but sumgai came by and gave me a hundred bucks for it."

Edited June 29, 2009 by Silvermink

[Glenn-SC]

Sumgai is short for "Some Guy".

 

"Sumgai" is that mythical person who always manages to buy an extremely rare pen for an extremely inexpensive price, usually from the Seller from whom you are trying to buy; as in, "Yeah, I had a whole box of those yellow Parker pens but I sold them all yesterday to Some Guy for $5! Can you believe it?"

 

The term is now used for any person who buys something very valuable for a very low price.

[Renzhe]

A sumgai is also an instance where you (yourself) are some guy who gets an excellent deal on an auction or a sale.

[lovemy51]

what they said, plus this link: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=sumgai

[offbase]

Also, part of an ethnic dish you wanna stay away from ...

[penmanila]

if you use the "search" function, you'll see that many previous threads have been devoted to this, most recently one just a few days ago

[Gehaha]

if you use the "search" function, you'll see that many previous threads have been devoted to this, most recently one just a few days ago

 

:ltcapd:

 

 

[GladWriter]

"sumgai" (literally some guy)

 

Some guy was just here and bought every single one I had.

 

I had one, but "some guy" just bought it. I'd had it for years and nobody wanted it, so I let him have it for $???? (some amount that's ridiculously small.

 

I used to go to the Rose Bowl flea market often and they have a newsletter. This term is used by their newsletter for the little Reader's digest style joke/comic thing they do.

[OldGriz]

(As originally conceived by Bill Riepl, who invented him) The dread nemesis of all collectors, Sumgai always visits the antique shop just before you and gets all the good pens. Read “The Story of Sumgai” Below.

 

The Story of Sumgai

by Bill Riepl

 

 

The name Sumgai has by now become synonymous with the dread nemesis of all collectors, the cause of “the one that got away.” Of course, the real dark secret of Sumgai is that we all get a chance to be Sumgai ourselves sooner or later. As a wise fellow once said, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

Well, it has finally happened, yet, as I relate this tale, be warned! In true Lovecraftian fashion, I am certain that It is still out there, somewhere, biding its time, awaiting the moment in which to strike again… It had been a poor couple of days, lots of looking, stopping every few blocks or so, to root through antique malls and shops, only to hear the same sad story. It had been here… The dark and malignant presence of the evil demon of pen collectors, Sumgai. I heard the same terrible story from a hundred dealers.

“Oh, yes, we had a bunch of pens, one big old red colored one, and one was all silver. But Sumgai was here yesterday and bought them all.” It was truly horrible, the devastation that had been wrought upon this area. I quailed under the knowledge that I was too late, I had missed my chance to save these pens from the grasp of Sumgai. It was as if It was everywhere at once, through some awful porthole to another dimension It came, snatching up the pens, never to be heard from again.

I began to despair of finding anything, so as I turned towards home, I was of a mind to pass by the gleaming new antique mall. But then a sixth sense warned me. I vague feeling of something calling to me, deep within the recesses of my mind. I stopped and pulled into the parking space that was suddenly there, right in front of the door. I went in, and for the first ten minutes, it appeared as if It had been here, or if there had just never been any pens to begin with. Then suddenly, I saw them! A case with about ten pens in it! I looked wildly around for a clerk, certain that It had already gone to find one and was on Its way back to buy them all! But no, I found one, and she opened the case and laid them out on the countertop! Four Vacumatics, and a couple of 51s.

The Vacs were all priced the same, $125. There was a toothmarked black standard, a green demi, a brown standard, and… A brown Oversized! The 51s told the same story, both priced the same, $50, a plain beaten black one, and a Signet capped double jewel. This was the time for action, swift and certain action! At any moment Sumgai could stroll through the door, and there was no telling what It might do when It found out I had beaten It at Its own game! I offered $150 for the Oversize and the Double jewel 51. No doubt glad to have helped in the defeat of Sumgai, the dealer agreed! I had triumphed!

As I drove away, I thought I saw an awful form materialize and slink into the store. It seemed that there was an horrible cry, but I couldn’t be certain, I had the radio turned up…

 

[twdpens]

(As originally conceived by Bill Riepl, who invented him) The dread nemesis of all collectors, Sumgai always visits the antique shop just before you and gets all the good pens.

 

Thanks for citing the origin, Tom. For those of you who subscribe to the Zoss list you'll know that "Sumgia" first appeared there about 10 years ago, IIRC (maybe more).

 

Martin