Whats Hot, whats not

[administrator]

Hello Everyone.
Have you noticed some things really sell well on ebay, and other things.. Well.. DONT!

For instance: You cant GIVE away Avon decanters, and old electrical insulators on ebay! There are just too many of them for sale.

Also, have you notice EBAy has affected the prices of things in the Antique Shops and malls??

[Useless_Stuff_Antiques]

Hello from your newest member..

We have a couple mall booths and do sell on Ebay.  From my experience Ebay tends to be 60%-70% of retail.  Also three dimensional items have a very hard time.  (e.g. a modern statue I tried to sell on E-bay by a listed artist that I couldn't get a bid over $50.00.  It originally sold in a gallery for approximately $3000).  
Signed pieces...(well known) will do a lot better than just pretty pieces, of the same age.  Ebay makes buying for the shop a little tougher,  people see some of the great prices, buy don't consider shipping, insurance, special features, or really get to see the detail of the item.  Sometimes an item has to be held to really be appreciated.
I have found that The Antiques Roadshow has made my job more difficult.  Everyone feels that their old whatever is now worth thousands.  But finding a buyer at that price is nearly impossible.  Thank you for your time.

Steve

[dontbe]

You bring up antiques roadshow!! yes, that drives me, (and most real antique people) CRAZY!

Why? they only show the EXCEPTIONAL items, and dont tell you that the first 300 of the almost identical item would go for $25 at auction.

They are also suspect in their appraisials if you ask me. I had a friend bring in the same two items into two different road shows. (this is first person.. I know the items he took)

The appraisals at one show was not within 200% of the appraisal at the other show!!

Crazy.  :unsure:  :blink:  

As far as the "customer not taking into account the costs",, Has'nt that always been the bane of the retailer!!? We might as well get used to it, the customer will never acnowledge we have to pay rent, heat, electricity, hired help... they want  the item for what WE paid for it!

Take care, Ed