~~ The Drawing Room ~~

[jaymor8]

I thought about this yesterday when I was looking for Lisa. I was getting impatient wondering if anyone had seen her. I didn't want to post in another thread because it may have been mised, so I had to email her instead. (Which was no problem by the way)

Then I thought...maybe we could have a thread where we could come and ask about someone or just to say something that just doesn't pertain to anything in particular. It's always a bit weird going 'off subject' in someone else's thread.

So, this thread will be for EVERYone and it could be about ANYthing. You don't ever have to use it, but if you need to, great. Doesn't mean you can't make your own thread, it just mimics the ski chalet after a day of skiing. Say what you want - ask what you want - show your pictures - comment on the dot com threads (yuk yuk) A veritable freebie. I hope it will be useful but if it's not - then...$screw you guys - I'm going home! 🙂

Jackie...

[muminlaw]

Jackie, I had a customer ask me to finish on Sunday (said it gave him something to do on the most boring evening of the week) and no-one else has objected. I switch to Monday if it's a holiday here or in the Untied States.

Glenda

[jaymor8]

Glenda - so you did it? If so, how is it working for you? And...that's actually a good idea to do the switch on the holiday. Never thought of that!

Jackie...

[muminlaw]

Jackie, it worked very well at first. I was getting all sorts of Sunday evening snipers and some things were going much higher than we'd hoped. Now ... well, we've been selling off DH's token collection and we're running out of the good stuff so it's slowing down. I don't think the day has anything to do with THAT! lol

We're adding vintage postcards and some stamp related stuff so ... time will tell if we can build a following for these.

Glenda

[jaymor8]

Glenda - Is there any market for old photos, and that includes the tin ones? Also, is there any market for old Christmas cards...with writing inside and stuff??

Jackie...

[gloriaguides]

I decided to spread mine out, for a variety of reasons. I find the guys are home (or in the dorm) Sat. night and buy video games alot then. Moms check ebay on Sun afternoons so I have kiddie stuff and "girly" collectibles finish on Sundays. I find the books don't seem to matter when they come off and I put them on whenever. I used to do 2 sets a week, but DH is pushing for 3 since he wants to clear some of the stuff out. Sigh...he's not really keeping track of the market on alot of things and wants to sell what's not moving well at this time of year. Men can be so darned impatient sometimes! I got sick of the Christian thread awhile ago and haven't followed for a bit. Must pop over and see what's up now. I had no idea people were getting involved with eachother through ebay. Wow! Talk about taking it all a bit too seriously. I kind of like having 2 very separate lives--the ebay personae and the regular at-home happily married Mom person. Glori

[muminlaw]

Jackie, that's a pretty specialized market. Actually, if one man made it, another man will collect it but it's not always easy finding the collector! Old studio photos and cabinet cards seem to sell at an average of C$8 - $10, and I've seen tin-types sell at collectibles shows for $10 - $15 each ... more if it's a famous person or historical event, but old snap shots are a dime a dozen, and same with greeting cards unless they're by a well-known artist. I just sold a Christmas card with a Louis Wain cat last week for US$36 -- the buyer was another card dealer who thought it was going too cheaply, I guess.

Glori, the Christian thread evolved into a real soap opera for awhile with Jackie getting in a few really good points and doing her darnedest to keep things in perspective - don't see it today, maybe it finally got pulled.

happily-married, stay at home grandma, Glenda

[jaymor8]

Glenda - it did get pulled. I think the OP reported it, I have no idea. I just know that it went out on a serious note from kpamber and it was great!

Thanks for the info on the cards and stuff. I also have a box full of WW2 letters from a man to his mother and to his wife. I have read them all and I loved them. It is such an intimate look into a tortured soul. Apparantly this fellow became a well known and highly decorated Air Force Flyer and he had newspaper write-ups about some of his missions. Come to think of it - from that same grouping, I also have some WW2 war plans that were classified and top secret. It is such fascinating stuff. What I need is to find a WW2 buff :)))

Jackie...

[treasure-pot]

That was a very unfortunate thread.

I understand that, late last night, several of those that had climbed so high onto their soapboxes to preach broke through and suffered minor injuries.

At least that's the rumour...

BOING!

[jaymor8]

Hey Bill - how are you today? Are you having a good auction week? I think it may be starting to pick up again. Let's keep a good thought.

Boingggggggg

Jackie...

[muminlaw]

Jackie, if you want to drop me an email on the WW2 correspondence and stuff, I might be able to put you together with a millitary collector who would help you evaluate it and would probably make you a fair offer as well. (I sure hope this isn't against eBay rules!)

Glenda

[treasure-pot]

Hi Jackie;

It's been a pretty good week all round despite having a major fallout with one of my largest vendors. Not repairable either so... it'll be a mad scramble to find other likely widgets in time for the holiday season.

ahhh.... I can hear the jingle bells now off in the distance even as I type this message. Oh... no, it's just the neighbours cat.

Good for you if its picking up. Start listing like crazy... more is better... someone at eBay told me that so it must be true!

Cheers!

[jaymor8]

Bill - That's a shame about your vendor. Nothing like a good business glitch to put a damper on your weekend. Hope it works out for you.

Now, about the cat that wears sleighbells...any chance on getting a pic of that? By the way, thanks for the selling tip. Will give it some thought.

Glenda - are you a doll. There's nothing wrong with just getting an opinion on what I have now, is there?? Hehehehe....I will get an email out to you tomorrow. I have to try and find that box now and see what I have. I appreciate the help though...thank you!!

Jackie...

[firedept10]

Jackie,

Been trying to end mine all over the place. Does not seem to make a difference in the price. The good stuff will go high and the carp will go low. I generally end mine on Sunday evenings around 6 PM my time. This is just the best time for me to handle all the emails and packing. Which, by the way, I really, really enjoy doing. Not! It depends now on my shifts at work. I do it when I will have the most time to spare. Never yet found any higher prices at different times. Wish I did though.

Don

[kpamber]

I agree absolutely, Don. I have tried lots of different times to end...and as I said to my husband, if they want it, they will make sure that they get it, even if it is at 3 in the morning. I know that I do! I just make sure that my proxy bid is as high as I care to go, and if I lose, ah well, wasn't meant to be!
When we were neophytes, we used to list Saturday morning or Sunday morning for 5 days...they'd end at say 10:30 a.m. on a Friday...often did really well on those. Didn't make a speck of difference. We list on Fridays now because we fell into the habit of doing it...and my loyal customers get worried if I'm not running auctions that start on Friday night. It is so cute, I get emails like, "I hope that everything is okay, you're not losing money are you?", etc.
On that note, one of my buyers from last week emailed to apologize for the low price that she paid on a spinel ring...I told her that she could pay more if it made her feel better...lol!
I'm not sure that I agree that the good things go high, the rest doesn't...haven't you had auctions where you are afraid to send the item because they paid so much in a bidding war, or where your starting bid was low, and that's what it went for (or a few dollars more)...I always say that you need 2 bidders who really want the item, regardless of cost.
I'm a pretty happy camper about my auctions last night, thank goodness! Let's keep our fingers crossed that the trend continues!
Karen

[gloriaguides]

I've had several buyers tell me they were buying the item for a Christmas gift, so i guess Christmas season has begun!! I've been doing awesomely on Gameboy games and N64 games right now--people are stocking up for Christmas. I was also pleased to find a site where i can quickly identify My Little Pony ponies. I'm finding it makes a big difference in how much I get for them to make it sound like I took the time and trouble to identify them. Ka-ching, Ka-ching. Now I just need to find more time to list....unfortunately, I have to spend alot of time at that since I don't sell new items. Have a great weekend folks. Glori

[jaymor8]

Oh lord...when I think of the 'My Little Ponies' that my daughter had, I could scream. She later went on to become quite the horse woman so the interest was pure....but I could swear that she had ever pony that was ever put out. Bummer!

Jackie...

[jaymor8]

Does anyone have an opinion or any practical experience with whether or not home made soup is better is the bones are seared first, before boiling them?

LMK...Jackie...

[firedept10]

Karen,

I never get worried sending an item that had a bidding war. Most people are intelligent and know what their limits are. I have sat in some of the big auction houses and watched things I thought were worth little go crazy. Sometimes people have more money than brains. No insult intended to anyone with that comment. As long as the winner pays, I am happy. As a matter of fact, sold a brooch last night that would normally fetch no more than $5 and it sold for $36. Three way bidding war. The reason I feel no guilt is right after the auctions of mine are over last night, I get an arrogant buyer insisting I ship it her way and rubs it in my face that she got a good deal on a gold necklace. Her quote "I did not really need this necklace, but I can not resist a good deal". I was already disappointed to have sold it low. But then when I saw the other brooch sell so high, I felt much better as it had evened itself out. So never feel guilty Karen. As long as you are accurate in your description, you have nothing to fear. Besides the buyer may have more knowledge about the item than you do. Never second guess yourself or feel guilty.

Don

[jaymor8]

I know how Karen feels though. Right now I have a bidder on a ring that has gone right crazy (the bid amount, not the bidder. The bidder just opened her account 2 days ago and has no history. She is only bidding on my ring. Hopefully she just really likes the ring and it's not just someone who is getting their jollies but outbidding other folks 🙂

Jackie...

[thebidwatcher]

Jackie,

My husband Matthew is an excellent cook. He says that if you sear the bones first you will get better flavor and your soup will have a better colour.

Happy Souping!

Lisa