11/22/09 Newsletter - There's work in them there hills!

     This just in…

 

Ebay was crippled for a good part of the day yesterday, nothing except 3rd party ads and direct links to some items were working.  The search, browse and store functions were unavailable from about 8pm ET on Saturday. Things are expected to be back to normal by today.

 

                          The first Barre MA Discovery Auction went well!

I want to thank the people that showed up for the first Barre MA discovery auction! We sold about 60% of the lots, despite a bit of a low turnout. We were not able to do much in the way of advertising for this sale as in the last month, as we were not sure if the permit process was going to come to fruition.

 

All is good and we are ready to rock!  If you’re in Western or Central Ma come on out on December 3rd , our next sale.

 

Details at Auctionzip.com

Do you use Twitter? I’ve just review the best Twitter application I’ve ever seen, it’s called TweetBrand and I’ve been using it like mad since I’ve discovered it! Basically what it does is send a lot of traffic back to your website from each tweet you post!

Read the details here.

 

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                                          Plenty of work!
You’ll have noticed that the title of this email is “There’s work in them there hills!” A play on the phrase, “Thar’s gold in them there hills!” I went with the theme this week because there is a LOT of work and opportunity in the auction/appraisal/antiques business right now.

 Right now there are a lot of unemployed, and under employed folks in the country.  If you’ve been in the auction/antiques world for a while, you know that there’s always work!

 

If you’re new to the antiques/auction world, or an old hand that needs a refresher,  I’ll be posting tips and articles on how to get work in the business. This advice will show you how to get anywhere from few hours of work a week, to full-time gainful employment.

 

Employment tip:  Got a pickup truck and a strong back? At any auction you may attend, tell the auctioneer or the auction clerk you’re available to make local deliveries for customers that buy large items. I’ve seen this alone turn into a full time job, in fact in my early days, it was a full time job!

 

The same strategy can be used with local antiques shops, furniture stores etc. 

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 The next episode of The AuctionWally Show will be an “On the Air Antiques Appraisals” episode. Watch for it early this week.

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                                           Don’t get scammed!

 

If there’s one thing I HATE it’s a scam. There’s a craze on the Internet, that’s NOT REALLY an auction, but which calls itself one. I refer to the scam known as the Penny Auction. Don’t fall for them!

                                    

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                                                More employment tips

 

• Consider picking:  A picker is someone that finds things for dealers and collectors. They are often the first person to “discover” an antique or collectible in the home or shop. The great thing about becoming a modern picker is that it’s easier than ever to find things that people are willing to pay cash for. You can search you local neighborhood or your online one.  If you know how to look, places like eBay, Craigslist and others can be a virtual treasure map!  
• You need not put out your own money! Often pickers will get a finders fee, just for locating the right items. I, and many other auctioneers will pay a finders fee commission on an estate, lot of antiques, closeout or other situation. For more details on how to earn a finder’s fee with me: email me at wkolenda@gmail.com and use the word, FINDER in the subject line.  

If you’d like more tips or advice on employment in the auction/appraisal/antique world you can email me at the same address and use jobs in the subject line. I anticipate that this theme will be recurring in future newsletters.

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                          Here’s a field where there’s plenty of well paid work.
             Learn how to become a personal property appraiser in an hour! Guaranteed.

 

It sounds crazy doesn’t it! But I can show you how to start making $75 to $125 per hr. as a personal property appraiser in an hour or less! No license or certification is required!

 

There is one catch, you have to already have knowledge within the field you wish to start appraising. If you’ve got that, I can teach you how be become a well paid professional appraiser in an hour less over the phone! Guaranteed. Full details here.

                                            

 

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Upcoming:

Discovery Auction in Barre MA

Thursday Evening, December 3rd

The details are up on Auctionzip.com 

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                                               Ask an Auctioneer

Don’t forget if you have a question about antiques, collectibles or auctions, other than the specific value of an item, email me at wkolenda@gmail.com (a few good .jpg pics of any items is essential.)

 

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                                                 The weekly contest:

Thanks to last week’s contest winner Arlinda, who correctly answered, “Art Nouveau” to the question below. 

Last weeks question:  Name the style or period which the nude in slide #11 (lot 25) in this slide show depicts. (I’m looking for the style or period name of slide #11 ONLY)

                                           This week’s question:

 

How much did the copy of #15 Amazing Fantasy comic book sell for recently. The answer can be found in the prices realized section at my new sponsor, AuctionZip.com
 

The first person to email me at wkolenda@gmail.com with the correct answer is the winner, it’s that easy. Now of course, I’ll need a way to get that package to the winner, so send your snail mail address along with your contest answers. The prize is a neat collectibles surprise envelope which includes things found in a recent estate purchase I made. Things likely to be in said envelope are vintage postcards, ephemera and who knows what?

Odds are that you’ve heard of AuctionZip by now. But do you really know what it is, and how to use it? To learn how to use AuctionZip to it’s fullest potential read this short interview with Bill Defibaugh, AuctionZip’s customer service representative.

 

I’ve been using AuctionZip.com for years now, and I’m proud to have them as a sponsor.

 

In short, if you want to find auctions anywhere in the US, AuctionZip is an easy way to search online by zip code, the site is free to search and has a million uses within the auction business, such as:

 

• Find auctioneers
• See the prices realized section to find out the current value of items.
• Search for items coming up for sale
• Track which auctions specialize in specific genres
• Learn how to consign to auction houses

 

If you have an ecommerce business, in the antiques and collectibles genre, your link may be a perfect sponsor fit in this newsletter:

If’ you’d like to know more, please contact me at: wkolenda@gmail.com

 

                      Christmas is around the corner, are you ready?

 

See the best collectibles video podcast at http://Collectiblescornertv.com
Tammy Kahn Fennell provides tips, interviews and news with a lot of fun.

 

 

Did you know that iCollector.com is an online portal into hundreds of auctions from live venues ? You can bid live and even contact the auction houses to see if you can send your quality consignment to be featured in an upcoming auction!

 

 

Please forward this to friends.

 

 

 

Until next time, 

thanks for reading, and remember, it’s not spam if your requested the content ;)

 

Comments

[Wayne Jordan]

Hi, Wally;
For those interested in your "1 hour appraisal training", let me add my 2 cents. Folks, Wally is right. You don't have to pay a lot of money (like I did) to become an appraiser. You DO have to know your subject, and you DO have to follow certain protocols. Also, the "Appraisal Institutes/Societies" are good for snob appeal and for training if you are are learning new subjects. If you already know your subject, you don't need to join anything. Wally's price is reasonable for his information. And, he didn't give me a dime for saying this; he doesn't know me from Adam.