posted on July 13, 2001 04:17:17 PM
I live in the Northeast-find that my buyers are usually from the midwest- almost never from the East coast-Just curious whether others have had the same experience- also what do you think dealers should be looking for now as tomorrows antiques
posted on July 13, 2001 04:54:10 PM
First as far as tomorrow's antiques, it's probably all the stuff I've gotten rid of already.
As for demographics majority of mine seem to be California, Texas and yes Midwest. I live in Connecticut.
The interesting thing is that before I started schedulling my auctions, and did them one by one during all kinds of hours I had bidders pretty well distributed. I think I was catching a lot of lunch hour traffic from people eating at their desk and shopping. I may have to re-evaluate my schedulling now that you made me think about this.
posted on July 13, 2001 06:11:32 PM
I'm in NY and I've sold lots of items to Texans (horse related).
California's number two (antiques, collectibles), Ohio's number three (household, decorative).
posted on July 13, 2001 08:05:52 PM
I find most of my customers are around the perimeter of the country - the coasts east/west and gulf. I just don't sell that much to the midwest.
I think you could easy double the economy of this country if you could divide the continent into 4 big islands so there was more coast.
posted on July 13, 2001 08:39:07 PMwhat do you think dealers should be looking for now as tomorrows antiques
Rugrats, PowerPuff Girls, Gameboys, cell phones (especially analog-only), AOL Free Sign Up Diskettes and CDs, fax machines, shrink-wrapped OEM copies of Windoze, anything on VHS tape (the 8-track of the future), sushi.
posted on July 14, 2001 12:51:07 AMclancey99, it's ironic that you should say you live in the Northeast and most of your sales are to the Midwest. I live in the Midwest and although I've sold at least one item to just about every state, the majority are to the West Coast (CA, WA), Eastern states and Texas.
I can understand on some collectible items like pottery (McCoy, Hall, Homer Laughlin, Roseville and such) that are plentiful around here in the MidWest where they were made. But some items I sell should be available everywhere, but I great prices from the above mentioned state. Go figure.
And yes, as pwolf mentioned earlier, I also found that any item I sell Western or horse related, always goes to Texas!
posted on July 14, 2001 06:57:36 AM
This is a helpful thread!
My sales are pretty much in proportion with the population which is larger on the coasts than inland, but here is my kicker....
I get the most bids from wherever it is raining (or snowing or freezing or boiling).
I guess people who are cooped up go on line more. I remember when I was involved with the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Labor Day telethon we used to hope for lots of rain all across the country so we would get more pledges. Still makes sense!
posted on July 14, 2001 08:29:12 AM
I sell mostly clothing, and live in the midwest. Mostof my sales go to the coasts. But I have sent things to most everywhere.
I have noticed, in my travels that the general cost of living is cheaper in the midwest, so that might have something to do with the overall auction demographics.
A high price to me is still sometimes very low to someone who lives in California.
posted on July 14, 2001 12:43:09 PM
Interesting thread!
My stuff goes all over the country, but for some reason over 75% of my stuff sells to people with AOL email addresses. Don't understand why AOL didn't think of this auction thing and go head to head with eBay.
posted on July 14, 2001 02:15:33 PM
We seem to be in the California and Texas orbit. The floods in TX last month really through our autions for a loop. And I have to agree, anywhere with miserable weather generates bids. We also get quite a bit of DC area, Minneapolis and Chicago. Some rural, but not much. And almost every province in Canada, no Newfoundland or Nova Scotia yet, but all the others. We're in Colorado, and have not had 30 sales total in the mountain time zone.
