posted on August 28, 2004 01:10:18 PM new
I'm just learning this vintage pottery stuff and I seem to be a slow learner. What's the secret to getting good prices on stuff? Seems like they price according to ebay prices around here. I know they cut prices on the last day. Do you just wait until half price time?
Thanks
posted on August 28, 2004 01:20:09 PM new
Same thing around here. At a huge church garage sale yesterday I was talking to one of the workers about some of the dishes they were selling. She made the remark "on ebay these are selling for $9 a plate". That may be true but when your buyer audience is in one town you can't expect someone to come along that will pay that and someone who wants to buy to resale can't go that price. It is getting hard to find things low enough to make a profit. It's just a hit and miss here.
posted on August 28, 2004 01:20:49 PM new
The secret is------shhh, don't spread it around. You have to know more than the person selling you the item. I get some of my best buys at antique stores. Nobody, not even F----y or I----tea--er knows everything.
Edited to add--I'm sure that some of the people that haunt my antique booth get great deals from me.
[ edited by max40 on Aug 28, 2004 01:24 PM ]
posted on August 28, 2004 01:50:15 PM new
Just make sure you really DO know more than the person selling the item.
I clean up quite nicely at my own garage sales selling to people who think they know more than I do.
It's not enough to know names and read marks. What is that particular item going for in the marketplace? Can you sell it for three times what the seller is asking, or if not, are you prepared to have it in your life for a long time?
posted on August 28, 2004 01:50:56 PM new
when someone tells me what an item is going for on ebay, i tell them that on ebay there are millions of people searching for items "how many have stopped by your yardsale today?", then i leave.
my biggest pet peeve is "it's old, $20.00". hey, i'm old too, doesn't make me worth a penny more.
posted on August 28, 2004 03:16:18 PM new
And the best way to "know" what it's going for? can you sell it for 3X more? etc.. is?? Books like Kovels? or pottery books? or sitting here in front of this screen and get bug-eyed? I search vintage on ebay but sometimes feel like I've wasted so much time, not that I won't do it if that's the way.
Thanks,
Teri
posted on August 28, 2004 03:26:47 PM new
Price guides are just that--guides. For instance, a widget is listed having a value of $100 in Kovels. Another widget that is similar shows a value of $20.
No matter what market you are in, the $100 widget is more valuable, but not necessarily worth the $100. Actual value may be $90 in a mall and $75 on eBay, or vice versa. Or, the value may be higher than the price guide shows. To get top dollar for your widget, you have to know what you're selling, and know your market.
posted on August 28, 2004 04:50:32 PM new
I sell a lot of pottery and the only thing I can suggest is to specialize in one or two different brands and get to know all their patterns and market values and commit it to memory. You have plenty of time to expand into other lines. If you narrow your focus, you can self-educate yourself very quickly. As far as the books go, use them for identification purposes only. The prices you see in them mean nothing. The only price that means anything is what is on the check or money order when it arrives in your mailbox.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on August 29, 2004 07:02:50 PM new
Your best bet is to visit sales done by legite estate sale companies. They do know the ebay going rate and realize that most of the patronige will be from resellers and will price accordingly.
Avoid sales done by antiquers as they usually will price items at ebay prices or higher. Also, if you find someone stating that this sells for $XXX.XX on ebay, it is in your best interest to turn around and move on to the next sale.
The problem with waiting until the last day is much of the good items will be purchased. Although checking out sales for a return date on the last day can prove beneficial as well.
