posted on September 18, 2001 10:58:59 AM new
I have read thru the threads from sellers over the "hits" being down on many auctions and bids below average. I am one of the "buyers" who is still perusing the same catagories EACH day for things to buy....just on my "things to do everyday" list.
As a B&M antique shop owner, I am seeing a similar decrease in traffic the past week...off about 30%....but I am also seeing people spending money! Let's not TALK ourselves into a recession folks! Things ARE quite unsettling right now, but if we are to REALLY survive this insanity, we MUST stay with the program and keep the economy going! Cutting back on your listings would be similar to WalMart taking things off their shelves.....you won't sell too much from an empty wagon!
I would like to hear from others out there with B&M shops, what their experiences have been since the attacks....
posted on September 18, 2001 11:15:17 AM new
I heard that the box office receipts for this past weekend were up 48% over the same time frame last year.
My husband and I went to two different auctions this past Saturday. One was an estate sale and the heirs were bidding the prices way up. You cannot buy for resale when the heirs are bidding with sentimental value, so we left after about 45 minutes.
The other auction was in a small town not far from here and we attend this auction on a regular basis. There were only a few of the steady buyers present and not much cash was changing hands. I normally end up buying 10-15 items at this auction but only bought 2 items. There were many items that the auctioneer could not even get an opening bid and they put back for another sale.
posted on September 18, 2001 11:27:46 AM new
Well, I'm not a B&M owner, but as a regular eBay buyer, I am just not in the mood to shop. In a few weeks I suppose I'll snap out of it, but for now, the spirit is not willing.
It has nothing to do with whether I have the money or not. I do. But I just get no pleasure in spending it. I'd rather give it away to someone who needs it now.
posted on September 18, 2001 11:53:46 AM new
Greetings All!
We saw a huge decrease in shoppers and window shoppers last week -- all the stores in the area that we are in sell basically non-essential goods (no food, gas, flags).
We also saw very slow bidding on ebay. Our website orders followed suit and no one bought. We won't be open again at the B&M till Thursday (just reopened so we have limited hours right now) and will have to see how this week pans out.
HOWEVER, as of Sunday bidding went as we normally expect on ebay...sold all but one item at a very good price, in most cases well above the reserve. We have also received a number of telephone and website orders too!
We have just reopened as a B&M after two years of being on the road for shows and doing online sales. This is hitting us hard because we reopened the store on 9-1 and had not sent out a lot of info on the new store to the mailing list when we were hit by the terrorists and thrust into war.
We did not feel it appropriate to continue business as usual in light of events. In fact, I resented receiving notes from some the big stores like Target that I am sure are on an automatic feed.
As a country things are changing but dramatic change in our everyday lives just doesn't seem likely unless we were directly affected (loved one lost or injured) and even then all the counselors tell people to grieve and move on. Take up a strong stance and fight back as a country. So IMHO, unless we are devestated time and time again, we'll continue on with few changes in our daily lives. To do otherwise would be acknowledging that the terrorists have won. I for one will not let them win!
Ultimately I have faith in the country and believe that we as smaller sellers (below a million dollars a year) will be on virturally the same course we were on before this happened. In other words, if you were gonna make it you will.....obviously some will not.
We have an antique store and we also list weekly on Ebay. After 9/11, things on both fronts came to a dead stop. Nobody out shopping and Ebay was one of our worst weeks ever. Just the week before we were practically breaking out the champagne as we had one of our best week's ever!
Things began to get back to normal in the store this past weekend and Ebay has been promising.
We just keep on listing, acquiring merchandise, giving the best possible service we can, and hope for the best. Guess that's what we all need to do lest the tragedy lead the Good Ole' USA head long into recession.
posted on September 18, 2001 01:12:27 PM new
Last week was slow online and at the B&M store. Who was thinking anything but our national tragedy and where our nation is headed. On Tuesday, we didn't open--just too stunned but to sit, watch TV and all the horror it showed and talk with each other.
By the end of the week, the store had picked up--just starting listing again last night on eBay. So on with life. Our hearts are still hurting.
One good thing about a B&M, you can talk to people, look them face to face and share a tragedy together. Sometimes a bit hard to convey on line.
posted on September 18, 2001 04:08:20 PM new
In my B&M sales were way down last week-from Tuesday on. The week before had been amazing-even being closed on Monday. Things started to pick up on Saturday and sales and traffic flow seem to be back to normal now.
posted on September 18, 2001 04:46:56 PM new
Joice, Can you please convert my post above into a link? I think folks in USA should be aware of World Wide feelings.
posted on September 18, 2001 05:00:06 PM new
Thanks Joice. Will keep the board informed of donations. Guess they will beat eBay $1 million. Please note that The Governor of The Bank of England is a Trustee.
[ edited by GreetingsfromUK on Sep 18, 2001 05:12 PM ]
[ edited by joice on Sep 18, 2001 04:53 PM ]