ebay & antiques

I get all manner of things brought into my store for consignment. My
usual course of action for items that I believe may have some value is
to check my various resources for specific or similar items, check for
any mfg marks etc... in order to determine age, rarity and of course
value. It has become almost common to find something that has some value
as an antique or collectible, only to find it on ebay for a fraction of
the presumed value.
Is this because ebeyers are *so* anxious for a sale that that they're
willing to nearly give these things away? Or perhaps because the prices
at more conventional antique dealers are artificially inflated?
I've actually made money both ways. Selling thing on ebay that don't
sell retail, and selling thing retail that I've purchased on ebay. What
do you think?
Peter

Balanced View...

As an appraiser I run into that all the time, but it is important to
look at the market and the knowledge of the purchaser. For example you
could have a lot of Royal Doulton figurines and tobys come up at a local
auction, that say for example, sell for the average "Going Rate",
$150.00 for a figurine and $35.00 for a small toby. The bidder has based

William Black...

Good grief.

They sell for about a quarter of that (on average) in the UK.

Balanced View...

Read again what I said:

"that say FOR EXAMPLE, sell for the average "Going Rate", $150.00
for a figurine and $35.00 for a small toby.

There are, as you say, exceptions to this but Royal Doulton figurines very
rarely go for more than new price at auction.

Balanced View...

While what you say may be true about more recent issues,it is not the
case of older or discontinued examples. For example, a not so rare
HN1751 Sir Walter Raleigh figurine issued from about 1936 to 1949 just
sold for $599.00 USD on that famous online auction that starts with "E".
In fact five listed there in the $1000.00- $1800.00 range have sold, as
well as 14 in the $500.00-$900.00 range.

This is precisely what I'm talking about, " A little Knowledge is a
dangerous thing". A person really must be aware of all the facts and
offer items in the most appropriate market to get the best return.

William Black...

Nobody should ever expect a return on an antique or collectable.

They should buy it because they want to own it.

Anyone who want to make a living out of antiques needs to be able to buy
cheap and sell dear, and most of the time you can't without taking risks.

Antique dealers are professional gamblers, amateurs shouldn't gamble with
professionals...

Peter...

Definitely good advice. But I'm a natural born risk taker.
Peter

Mike Wilcox

Peter...

Balanced View...

Hi Peter,

What I'd do to start is get up a list of Bookmarks for auctions dealing
with the items you most often sell. The best way to start is simply do a
quick check on web-search, EG " Northwood glass auction".

If a site comes up that seems to specialize in glass, Northwood glass in
particular, bookmark it under Glassware- Northwood for quick reference.
Do the same for any item you look up online and before you know it any
value or reference information you need is only seconds away.

Mike Wilcox

Okay, so tell me more about appropriate markets. I have a retail flea
market & consignment business, but I'm located in a fairly rural area. I
have a web store currently in development and I sell on ebay. Any other
suggestions?
Peter

their assessment of what they're willing to pay on averages, which is
all well in good, but has it's pitfalls.

The pitfalls are generally a lack of specific knowledge, while the
figurines on average may sell for $150.00 and the small tobys for
$35.00, it sometimes amounts to a case of "the one that got away"
or a "sleeper" ( a ordinary looking piece with extraordinary value)
not being recognized. This happens at all levels of the business, at
online auctions, traditional auctions and retail shops.

To give you an example of unknown value, take a look at this toby and
have a guess at its value ;~)

Mike Wilcox

Peter...

Thanks for the input Mike. That "lack of specific knowledge" you
mentioned has bitten me I more than one occasion. While I have seen
examples of these mugs, I am admittedly new to this business so I'm
going with Doug's standard answer "about $100.00"
Peter

Balanced View...

$2,385.64 USD, it's was made for Canada's Centennial year, some have an
incorrect HN Number, or carry no HN Number at all ;~)

Mike Wilcox