posted on December 7, 2002 12:30:24 PM
I have a schroeders antiques price( 1999),it seems like many prices are incorrect ,also many items not listed that should be in a general guide,any thoughts on your favorite guide?;maybe someone should put out an ebay price guide ,boy would this schock the antique world ,book value verse ebay price.
posted on December 7, 2002 01:14:54 PM
In the good old days these price books had some value in giving a fair appraisal of an item that had sold for a set amount-These days they have little or no value other than as reference material to validate an item as being authentic-
As for price thanks or no thanks to EBAY all of that changes daily- The only good thing is that dealers are listing less and less antiques and collectibles on EBAY so customers have to go back to the antiques show, auction gallery routine- I would guess that in the next 5 years EBAY will become a source for new merchandise and serivces only-
posted on December 7, 2002 02:33:11 PM
clancey99,
BINGO!!!
I believe you are correct in your assessment. Doing things backwards as I have the tendency, I am now a full-time antique dealer in Asian antiques but started in off in the biz by selling small pieces on eBay.
I, too, find the prices in guides to be of little value and have stopped selling antiues on eBay. I have encountered an enormous amount of bargain hunters and skeptics who try to devalue or discredit my merchandise. I will no longer sell off quality authentic pieces on eBay just to recoup my costs. I am making 2-5 times as much selling thorugh antique malls and shows though it takes a little longer.
posted on December 7, 2002 02:57:45 PM
eBay has changed the times and made Antique price guides obsolete. If someone made up an eBay price guide today by the time it was printed and distributed it probably would be as worthless as your 1999 guide.
Antiques and Collectibles are now like playing the stock market and like the stock market we are seeing more down days than up.
posted on December 7, 2002 03:09:08 PM
I don't buy books anymore because I feel they are a waste of money. At least for what I sell. The older ones have what I sell, I look them up for a ballpark price then set the price at what I want. I am from the midwest and it seems like the two coasts get a lot higher price for their items then we do here. I guess that is why I sell on eBay. In my mall space prices are low because nobody wants to pay the price. But that's okay because I do make a little on them.
posted on December 7, 2002 03:52:27 PM
Sopme storefront dealers swear by Schroeders & Kovell. I think they are only good for getting a ball park figure. Libra, You so right. I have a friend who has an antique store?mall. He makes 2 trips a year back to MO, IL, IA & MN. Buys from dealers there brings it back sells it here in CA. His wife also sells has a booth in his store & another in a town 18 miles away. She makes a trip in the spring & Ray picks up her stuff along with what he buys. He & I are both from IA, & I used work in his home town. Small world.
posted on December 7, 2002 04:11:26 PM
Most of what I sell are family treasures from "little old ladies" who, for various reasons, are downsizing their lives. Quite a few have no children and most (typical of the older generation) have saved things from THEIR parents and grandparents. So, I hope the prediction that eBay, as a place to buy and sell antiques/collectibles, will fade into memory is incorrect. They're not in a position to haul stuff to the local antique malls and, so far, have been pleased, for the most part, that their "treasures" have sold. And, I'm still having a GREAT time selling for them...and learning a lot in the process. Sometimes, it's absolutely amazing what they've had stored in their attics all these years! A real glimpse into the past.
posted on December 8, 2002 09:25:57 AM
blueyes29,
Do you sell items for people, like commission sales?
I have been successfully selling antiques on ebay for a few years and doing well, but from time to time I am asked to sell something for a friend or aquantience. Recently I started to develop a Commission Sales Rate Chart/ Agreement outlining a sliding percentage commission for selling and shipping items for clients.
Do you have such an agreement and what do you consider a fair commission?
posted on December 8, 2002 12:04:26 PM
I have many books but use them only to help me identify the maker and age of items...the value is never near what they say
posted on December 8, 2002 03:42:28 PM
freyj; Have you looked into the eBay Trading Assistant program? I am getting set up to start after the first of the year. Thewre is a lady in NM that has a contract set up. I can't think of her name, but I have it on file. She sent me a copy downloaded into Word. I don't know where ypou live, (doesn't make any difference) but if you register, eBay puts you in your area code with all others & they are listed in order by the # of feedbacks from highest to lowest. Out here in Central Coast of CA under the 805 area code there are about 80 T.A.'s in an area about 100 miles long & 80 miles wide.
posted on December 8, 2002 08:48:33 PM
Hi freyi...Yes, I've developed a "selling on eBay" packet for my friends/relatives...outlines all the "ins and outs" of on-line auctions. Basically, my commission fees are 25% of the final bid price up to $100 and 15% of the final bid price for items over $100. Then, all fees are deducted from that. I'm not making a WHOLE lot of money...but enough to make it worth-while...The main thing, though, is that it's still a lot of fun! I'd hate to think, however, that putting food on the table and keeping a roof over my head depended on my eBay commissions! Like sanmar, I've thought about the "eBay Selling Assistant" program but, frankly, have been getting plenty of items to sell from friends and "friends of friends" through word-of-mouth. I don't like to run more than 18-20 auctions a week...and even that many stretches my time some...Right now, I've got 5 BIG boxes of porcelain dinnerware/figures (I think) from a "friend of a friend" who sent them from California...the items are from her grandmother and mother...can hardly wait to open them to see the treasures...but right now, they're still unopened and sitting in the middle of my still-to-be-put-up Christmas decorations! Good luck...If you'd like me to send you a copy of my packet, feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] and I'll send you one.
