Antique and Flea Market Information

By Gary Ruplinger

If you’ve never been to a live auction, then you may not have ever heard of the term “collusion.” Not all auctioneers mention it, so even if you have been to an auction or two, you may never have heard of the term.

Collusion can be defined as “The unlawful practice whereby two or more people agree not to bid against one another so as to deflate value or when the auctioneer accepts a fictitious bid on behalf of the seller so as to manipulate or inflate the price of the property.”

Despite the fact that it’s illegal, it’s still a pretty common event live auctions.

Here’s a typical scenario. You’re at an auction and let’s say you’re looking at a pallet of computers. You see a lot of items on there that you could use and say to yourself that you’ll be bidding on that. You notice there are some printers on the pallet that you don’t need, but will still bid on the pallet when the time comes. Now, while you’re looking at this pallet of computers, another bidder has noticed your interest and approaches you. He asks you if you’re interested in the computers or the printers. You tell him you’re only interested in the computers. He says he’s only interested in the printers and wants to make an agreement with you. He says he wants to bid on the pallet, but will not bid if you agree to sell him the printers for half the bid price. Now if you agree, that’s collusion.

It may sound tempting, but as enticing as it may be, don’t do it. It hurts the seller at the auction because now there’s less competition than there should be for the items and makes it likely that the item will sell for less than it would have.

Some auctioneers have even been known to plant people to try to get people to agree to collusion, and if you do…well, it’s not good.

Now let’s look at collusion from the other side where the seller uses it to his advantage. In this case, the seller would plant a person to bid on an auction in order to artificially run up the price on the auction. This person has no interest in buying the item. They just want to make you pay more than you would have had to.

Next time you’re at an auction, just keep in mind what collusion is and avoid it. Keep the game fair. An auction is already a place where you can get a great deal.

About the Author: Gary Ruplinger is a former eBay Powerseller and shares his tips to getting up to 420% more for your eBay items in his free report – eBay Conversion Secrets. To get this free report, visit AuctionConversionSecrets.com.

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By Ryan Ginster

eBay is a great source of collectibles. There are so many unique objects that you cannot find anywhere else, making collecting these items one of the most enjoyable things to do on eBay. This articles lists a few tips to help you start buying these collectibles.

1. Find your category

Decide what type of collectibles do you want to be looking at. From Star Wars paraphernalia to antique vases, it is likely that all the items you are looking for are listed in the same category. Adding this category to your favourites on your internet browser allows you to come back and dive straight into purchasing items which you are interested in, rather than sifting through all the other items available.

2. Look for mistakes

Being a collector, you probably know a lot about the item, possibly even more than the seller. This can prove to be a golden opportunity for you. Sometimes, the seller does not even realise that they are in possession of a rare item. Email the seller to ask a few questions to confirm your suspicions. You might just be able to obtain an extremely rare item cheaply, either for resale or for collection.

3. Don’t trust the descriptions

Most sellers call their items ‘rare’. Just because an item is labelled as ‘rare’ on the description doesn’t mean it actually is. Don’t bid on an item unless you’re absolutely sure you know what you are buying.

4. Follow other users

When collecting something, you will notice that you are constantly buying from the same sellers, or bidding against the few same buyers. Add their user pages to your Favourites. Checking back on them often will allow you to search for items that interest you far more efficiently.

5. Be prepared to walk away

There are so many items being listed everyday on eBay that even if you lose a single auction, chances are that it will reappear in no time. If you cannot walk away from an auction, expect to pay a premium. Rather than being caught in a bidding war on an expensive item, go and bid on a lower-priced auction. There is virtually nothing that is so rare that another seller won’t be able to sell.

6. Be aware of shipping

Collecting many small items of low value might result in the postage costing as much as the item itself. You should always be aware of shipping costs as they can slowly add up to significant amounts. A good strategy to use is to always buy a couple of items from the same seller. This can result in them offering a discount on postage. Even if they do not, it is good to build a reputation with a certain buyer as they may offer you discounts on further purchases.

Some auctions go slower than others, perhaps even several days before they receive a new bid. In the next article, I will explain how you can take advantage of these ’slow’ auctions to make a profit, or to grab a bargain.

About the Author: Learn how to successfully sell your stuff for a profit on Ebay at: Free Ebay Articles Find more articles like this at: Free Online Content

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By Benedict Smythe

An antique is an object which belongs to a past era valued for its artistry, craftsmanship, rarity and age. The term originates from the Latin word “antiquus” which means “old” or “ancient”.

Antique experts and collectors have different factors in considering or defining antique, but a common denominator is the age of the items. An object has to be made from an earlier period than the present. Moreover, an object has to be at least 100 years old to qualify as antique.

Other antique experts and collectors regard a hundred year old object not antique enough compared to an item that is at least 300 years old. An antique item in one country may not be considered antique in another country at all. Thus, defining what antique also varies from person to person or from place to place.

Aside from the age of a piece, some antique experts would only describe an object as antique if it is made of the highest quality and features a striking ors one-of-a-kind design.

Antiquing Defined

Antiquing is the art of antique collection. It involves the process of shopping, identifying, negotiating, bargaining and buying so called antique items. Antiques may range from pieces of furniture such as a table, chair, desk, or dresser among others; a piece of jewellery; kitchen pieces such as tableware, dinner sets or pots; sculptures; paintings; maps; coins; stamps; books; other home pieces such as clocks; and carpets as well. Antique furniture is one of the most commonly collected items because of its practical uses.

Antiques can be made of varied materials such as fabric, wood, porcelain, ivory or glass. Antiques are sold in antique shops all over the world. The internet is also a rich source of information for antique collectors. Several websites pertain to antiques which are useful for antique collectors, both old and new.

Antique collection depends on the interests and preferences of antique collectors. Some antique collectors prefer to collect antiques of a specific period only. Mostly, devoted antique collectors spend considerable time and money to acquire a piece to add in the collection.

Antiquing is indeed an expensive hobby but other antique collectors purchase antiques for potential resale and antiquing also refers to the process of making an object appear antique.

Antiques and its Purpose

Antiques are significant artefacts of the past which help historians and archaeologists from understanding the earlier period of human history. All antiques are valuable because these objects represent the past. However, some are considered priceless because they are vital in the recognition and education of the history of a specific place in a specific time so these antiques are placed in museums. Other antiques can be bought in various antique shops for the satisfaction of antique collectors. Antiques are also considered heirlooms hence, also priceless.

Monetary Value of Antiques

The value of antique depends on the number of items available in the market, the condition of the item, and the amount that collectors would pay for it.

Antique appraisal, or the process of determining the value of antiques, is essential to every antique collector. Finding a qualified antique appraiser requires meticulous research. Antique appraisers have different specialization on antiques. An appraiser whose forte is on antique ceramics may not be able to provide valuable details on antique jewellery.

It is also important to note that some pieces of antiques are recommended for antique restoration while others are more valuable as they appear to be. A professional antique restorer provides expert help in determining what needs to undergo essential restoration to add more value to the antique and restore it to its original appearance and function.

About the Author: Driscolls Antiques is a leading supplier of quality antiques and antique furniture. Benedict Yossarian is a freelance Internet Marketing Consultant that can help maximize your exposure online.

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By Sydney Johnston

Recently, a friend asked me to help her brother sell his collection on Lladro glass figurines on eBay. These are expensive glass collectibles and I knew nothing about them – but I don’t have to. The principles for selling expensive collectibles on eBay are the same, regardless of what is being sold.

Obviously, like any eBay auction, the seller must have a powerful listing with great pictures. This is always true regardless of what the merchandise is. Expensive collectibles offer splendid opportunities, but also need special precautions.

1. Price: decide the lowest amount you will accept for each figurine and set that price as a reserve. Then make your opening bid absurdly low – yes, absurdly.

Example: if you will accept $1,000 – make your opening bid $25. There is no risk in this, because you don’t have to sell unless the bidding reaches $1000, but the low price attracts buyers, (assuming there is demand, of course).

Looking at completed eBay auctions allows us to track prices, Again and again we learn that starting the price where the seller hopes it will end is not a wise tactic.

For instance, a seller wants to get $750 for his figurine. An opening bid of $750 won’t attract nearly as many buyers as an opening bid of $25 and – surprisingly – the lower bid almost always gets higher prices. There is some psychology at work with the cheap price. It may not make logical sense, but it’s the reality of life on eBay.

2. Devote space in your auction listing explaining how you will pack your item to ensure safe transit. This is critically important because in the back of every buyer’s mind is the dread of receiving a package that rattles. A collectibles buyer will inevitably be thinking of the hassle she will have to go through – and the possible loss of purchase price – if her item is broken. She needs to know that the seller has carefully considered this issue and has a solution.

3. For the protection of both of you, insist that the buyer pay for appropriate insurance. Don’t allow this to be an option. You definitely do not want the liability of a broken collectible that costs hundreds of dollars. In fact, if a customer objects to paying for insurance, this might possibly be a red flag. A genuine collector is very eager to add to her collection and wants her figurine to be protected.

4. We can safely assume that every Internet buyer has heard stories of fraud on eBay and elsewhere on the Net. Therefore, anything you can do to prove the authenticity of your collectible is well worth your time. Is there a marking on the bottom? Do you have the original box or other container? Does it have a label? Is there a certificate of authenticity or an appraisal by a respected organization? If the answer to any of these is “yes”, then be certain to emphasize your authenticity in your auction. Taking pictures of your proof is especially effective.

5. I don’t suggest offering a guarantee except in the most general way – that is, you, the seller, are telling the truth about the product. Anyone bidding on a collectible is knowledgeable and therefore they know what they’re buying so there should be no reason for a return. If someone expresses dissatisfaction and mails your merchandise back, there is every likelihood of it being broken. You do not want the hassle of trying to collect on broken merchandise or putting yourself into a litigious situation with someone who refuses to believe that the collectible was broken via return shipping.

Also, you don’t want to take a loss on your eBay fees, which might be substantial if the price is high.

6. With a really expensive item, always offer the option of an escrow service – at the buyer’s expense, of course. They may not take want this service, but make certain they have the option. You, of course, know that your merchandise is legitimate, but the buyer isn’t so certain. eBay recommends an escrow service that is available to all members.

7. If you’re willing to ship worldwide, you need to take special steps to protect yourself. In the US we have AVS (Address Verification System) which offers some protection. A very large portion of the fraud suffered by buyers occurs outside the United States and you are justified in protecting yourself. Losing the purchase price on a $5 item isn’t such a big deal – but a $1,000 collectible absolutely does matter.

Your bank can advise you on the time it will take to verify foreign funds. Be certain to let any prospective buyer know in your auction that there will be a delay if they are outside of your country. Do not let your merchandise out of your hands until you are sure!

If you follow these ‘rules’, the chances of selling your expensive collectibles at the highest possible prices will be greatly increased.

About the Author: Learn how to sell on eBay with 16 hours of online instruction taught by a 10 year eBay veteran. Own an eBay business instead of an eBay hobby. http://auction-genius-course.com

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