I have collected around 250 mills and grinders and have learned a few things for other beginners such as myself.

 Price varies, but you should consider the shipping and handling as part of the price. If you buy a mill for $12.oo and shipping is $6.00, you have an $18.00 mill. This is fine if you like to collect for your own use, but could out price them if you want to re-sell.

  The best way to collect them is yard sales, flea markets and estate sales. next in line is buying off eBay. The big advantage of eBay is that you know what you are getting without having to search all the yardsales and so on. You also very quickly see what values are by the bids on the item. Watch both the amount of bidders and, of course the amount of the dollars you are bidding.. If you are just finding out that you like peppermills, but know less than you should about which ones are worth the amount bid, watch how many bids there are, Assume that at least some of the bidders know more than you do, and see what that particular item goes for in the end.

It is almost guarenteed that another one will eventually show up -either on eBay or at some sale you go to and then you will know if it is a bargain at the price you are willing to pay.

 The above is true for anything you are interested in and will help buy at a good price. I am interested in Pepper mills, as the walls of my dining room will attest, but you can buy smarter by watching the bidding before you commit to spending more than you might be able to afford.