posted on February 18, 2001 09:13:41 PM
After Hearing Dale Earnhardt died this morning I checked number of auctions on Ebay using Dale Earnhardt in search.
Total at 11 am when I was listing a cap in anticipation of the race was 3200 items.
I just checked total out of curiosity and 11 hours later the total is a shocking 7011.
I saw this with JFK Jr And Princess Di
Is this a shocking shame or just a way to make profit.
JB
posted on February 18, 2001 11:03:00 PM
While it isn't a choice I personally could make, selling morbid memorabilia is putting food on somebodies table. These sellers have a right to get what they can, while they can. Just like the Christmas PS2 people, or the Beanie Baby sellers in their heyday.
Somebody wants to buy, then somebody's going to sell it to them. But I could never condone pictures of the crash in the auction. That's just too crass.
I haven't been able to watch Nascar since "my" driver, Alan Kulwicki died.
posted on February 19, 2001 03:45:39 AM
Ever since Dale died I've been telling my husband I'll never watch another nascar race again, and now I know it's possible. It's as though I've lost my grandfather all over, Dale was the greatest driver in the sport, and he will be sorely missed.
posted on February 19, 2001 04:45:30 AM
Yes, it is very sad about Dale. Davey Allison was always my favorite driver. I haven't watched NASCAR much either since his passing. (He was killed in a non race related accident.)
A few weeks after his death, someone gave me a framed photo with Davey's years of birth and death engraved on it. This was obviously something that was whipped up in order to make a quick profit. I know that some people like this sort of thing, but it gave me a very bad feeling.
No doubt we will see the same kind of thing with Dale. May God be with Dale and all of his family and friends.
posted on February 19, 2001 04:50:22 AM
>>>>I just checked total out of curiosity and 11 hours later the total is a shocking 7011<<<<<
Try over 22,000 now listed. The sellers making the most money it seems are those who had already listed merchandise before he passed on. Others just jump on the bandwagon. Nothing new. It did happen with Princess Di and JFK, Jr. You'll probably notice a huge amount of zero feedback sellers listing then it will slow down in a few weeks.
posted on February 19, 2001 05:36:29 AM
living in Florida and being fortunate enough to also have lived in Daytona at one time, I sell quite a bit of NASCAR.Race season only. I sceduled my NASCAR auctions to launch Last night starting around 10:00 P.M. (EST). after watching on of the most exciting 500's I ever had the pleasure of watching, and finding a new fondness for Mr. Earnhardt, only hours later to hear of his death, I pulled all auctions. I sell enough assorted categories, I felt I did not need to add these 10-12 auctions at this time. They were not all Of Dale one was even of Mike Waltrip, In my opinion I did not consider it timely, nor respectful to the drivers and the industry.
posted on February 19, 2001 06:36:31 AM
When JFK Jr. died, I had a magazine with him and his wife on the cover already up for auction. In fact, it was a relist. I received several nasty e-mails from people who thought I was cruel, insensitive, etc. I also received quite a few e-mails from people just wanting to share their sense of mourning. Bad taste or not, I did not pull the auction.
A lot of people get caught up in the moment with bidding on these items. My $100+ bidder never paid for the item. I gave her the deserved negative and she hid her feedback.
Several weeks ago I sold two pictures of Earnhardt to a woman who was decorating her child's bedroom in all Earnhardt items. I wondered about her and her son yesterday.
posted on February 19, 2001 08:57:52 AM
Today is quite somber in my household.
Somehow we knew something was very wrong immediately after the crash, but there was no televised live news coverage on Dale's condition. We flipped from sports channel to sports channel with no updates.
My 12 year old daughter was sitting at the computer constantly reloading the Nascar page in hopes for some news that Dale was okay. A half hour later and a hundred reloads she burst into tears repeating over and over that he was dead . That vivid scene is forever indelibly imprinted on my mind.
It's hard for others to understand our grief. We didn't know him personally, but he touched our lives in a very real way.
In the past I bought the kids Dale #3 beanie bears on eBay. I'd always promised them I'd buy them each an Earnhardt cap and somehow never got it done.
As a family we were searching for ways to help deal with a deep feeling of loss. I logged onto eBay to fulfill my mission and buy the girl's each a cap. Somehow it just seemed comforting to do it. Like it might somehow ease the pain.
Every single buy it now auction was gone. Most all completed between 4 and 5 p.m., shortly after the wreck that took his life.
In searching other auctions I noticed staggering prices on ball caps that were listed as regular auctions as opposed to BIN. The seller's who used the BIN function had sold for a fraction of what other auctions were bringing.
I understand I guess why people were bidding the high prices. Sure they likely know that prices will come back down. It's more of some kind of appeasement to the soul. Some attempt at finding comfort.
So I guess in a way the sellers were helping to fill that void, and yet at the same time they were capitalizing on a tragedy.
The ones that were currently listed through no fault of their own, simply fate. The ones that followed I feel differently about.
It was so sad to see, I left the listings on eBay and simply headed for the Nascar online store. Nascar has temporarily pulled the store site .
I understand the dynamics of the marketing and those who are listing Earnhardt memorabilia to take advantage of the frenzy.
I am deeply touched by the sensitivity of sellers who have pulled their listings.
posted on February 19, 2001 09:21:11 AM
To me what is really a reflection of our society is that when someone like Mother Theresa passes at the same time Lady Di did – one heard almost nothing of Mother Theresa ; although she had lived an exemplary life of giving and caring for others.
Our society is too caught up in bigger than life celebrities, and seem to hold in little regard people who have really made genuine a difference in the world.
I am not minimizing the loss of Earnhardt, but as I read on CNN, regarding his approach to life and racing , particularly in wanting to surpass Richard Petty’s record, CNN basically said before the race, and his tragic accident “Earnhardt would have run over his mother, his son, his wife,” to beat Petty!
The way the world is now, I wouldn’t be surprised if, hypothetically, Billy Graham pass away tomorrow that his passing would be dwarfed by the passing of Earnhardt! Sad commentary on today’s value system.
posted on February 19, 2001 09:23:54 AM
Heartsong,
I can certainly understand how your family feels. I had to break the news to my husband and 6 year old son last night when they came home. It was a complete shock that something that horrible could happen to one of the best racers out there.
I think that it just hit my son today what has happened. He said he is not wearing his Dale jacket anymore, and that he doesnt like little Dale anymore. He wanted to know if it was okay for him to have John Andretti as his favorite driver. He is now going thru his room and putting all of his Dale items on his shelf. Doesnt want to play with them though.
I have a hard time with sellers who are going to list Dale E related items right now. I can understand that they want to get the most that they can, and I guess now would be the time to do that. However, if I had some of his items to sell, it certainly wouldnt be now.
Anyway, back to doing what a mom does best. Need to go see how my son is.....Very sad day
[ edited by pumpkinhead on Feb 19, 2001 09:25 AM ]
You can go to your preferences on ebay and hide your feedback. HOWEVER, it is NOT recommended! Most people do not want to do business with someone who has hidden their feedback for obvious reasons.
(edited for sp)
[ edited by sharkbaby on Feb 19, 2001 09:26 AM ]
posted on February 19, 2001 10:02:00 AM
Let's say the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of American freedom and all of which is red, white and blue, was struck by a ship and crumbled into little pieces into New York Harbor. It would be a sad day for all U S citizens. This would be a national monument that could not be duplicated.
Let's say I had a Statue of Liberty postcard up for auction. Do you think anyone would send me hate mail or think my auction was in bad taste?
I realize that this is not the equivalent of a human life; however Earnhardt, Princess Di or JFK Jr. were all symbols of something to someone. They were a great sportsman, a defender of the downtrodden or the closest thing we have to American royalty.
A friend of mine likes to play devil's advocate and that is all this post is. This does not necessarily reflect my personal views on this subject. I hate debates, so I have no intention of getting into a debate on this subject either.
posted on February 19, 2001 10:17:22 AM
Some of it is distasteful I'm sure, but mostly this is the last chance fans have to get memorbilia of this man. The sellers are just meeting the demand. It's awful that Earnhardt was killed, but if people were to stop selling the stuff then maybe a new fan wouldn't have an opportunity to have something to remember him by. I just see sellers of the memorbilia after death as providing something to remember him by. In a way, I think it's honorable.
My mom bought a plaque with Davey Allen and Alan Kulwiki that had the dates of their death. Both died in non racing accidents. Their deaths were also close together. She has a small corner in her living room dedicated to their memory. She's a big fan. I'll probably be searching for something for her now of Earnhardt. She was also a big fan of his.
posted on February 19, 2001 10:34:08 AM
The total is up to 25202 items now when you do a search for "Dale Earnhardt"
It is rediculous how high these auctions are going for. I looked at a few auctions, some of them started before the race started. Most of them however started today and yesterday.
-Trey
***********************************
"If your mind can concieve it, and you believe it, then you probably can achieve it."
posted on February 19, 2001 10:36:08 AMauctionqueenieI just see sellers of the memorbilia after death as providing something to remember him by. In a way, I think it's honorable.
Sorry but I see nothing honorable or noble in someone profiting from someone's death.
posted on February 19, 2001 11:07:36 AM
don't understand, I don't see where anyone is really profitting. The auctions I'm seeing are selling for around book value. In several months however when the market dries up, then the sellers will be profitting big time because fans won't want to part with it as easily as before his death.
The sellers are meeting the demand. That's their job. It's economic. Many of the sellers are probably fans themselves. The most I've seen something sell for so far is $20 for a picture, which is what I've seen them go for before his death too.
The racing cards I'm buying are $3.00, which is what it books for anyway. Actually, one books for much higher than that. I'm not reselling them, I'm getting them for my mom who's a big fan.
This is the last chance to get memorbilia at cheaper prices. What I find, however, there's a lot of sellers buying things up at the lower prices now and they'll be selling it a lot higher in six months when the market is dried up. Right now the supply is enough to meet the demand.
posted on February 19, 2001 11:26:26 AM
I just have to say that I am sooooo pleased to see how many HONORABLE and RESPECTFUL sellers are out there not wishing to capitalize on someone's death! Geez, you can wait for awhile instead of slapping his family & friends in the face by raking in the bucks in the wake of his passing!
Do you think his family and friends give 2 craps about Dale items selling on Ebay?
Get a grip!
WHY are you acting like these sellers KILLED Earnhardt? They're not profiting from his death, they're taking advantage of the sudden increase in DEMAND for Dale related items! Economics 101, HELLO?
Any seller who DOES NOT put their Dale items up now, and is waiting for later, when they'll certainly get less.....is a big schmuck!
[ edited by battlecreek25 on Feb 19, 2001 12:06 PM ]
posted on February 19, 2001 12:12:09 PMSorry but I see nothing honorable or noble in someone profiting from someone's death.
Tell that to the funeral home business or attorney's who specialize in personal injury. I doubt any of the sellers of Earnhardt merchandise are going to retire tomorrow off his/her sales.
Not toybuyer on ebay.
edited for grammar
[ edited by toybuyer on Feb 19, 2001 12:13 PM ]
[ edited by toybuyer on Feb 19, 2001 12:14 PM ]
posted on February 19, 2001 12:13:27 PM
And on the other hand.......
It's not at all necessary to be rude and demeaning to people that have feelings that they put above their pocketbooks for a small amount of time in their lives.
posted on February 19, 2001 12:14:19 PM
I have no Dale items, but see absolutely no problem with anyone selling them right now.
It's human nature to be interested, and as common place as can be in America & elsewhere. You think any newspaper isn't featuring the photos of the crash with a big fat headline -- no way, it sells the papers right now, people are fascinated by these tragedies, moreso when the person is incredibly famous -- that's just the way of things, no biggie.
