12-20-09 Newsletter - The Wild West of Auctions

     This just in…

 

It’s like the Wild West out there when it comes to actual live auctions via online bidding! There are fortunes to be made on every level, if you can realize the advantages of this relatively new genre. Unlike eBay, which is a ancient and experienced by many online auction standards, online bidding at live auctions through sites like iCollector.com is an alternative in an uncharted territory.

 

To find out ten advantages, read the rest of this article:
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Do you think it might pay to consign auction houses selling through  iCollector.com? Perhaps:

 

The Wizard of Oz book I reported on last week rocked with the help of Thorsten Bonn and the iCollector team. See just how much it sold for.

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My first guest article: 

 

Last week I asked anyone who may be interested, to write a guest article for the newsletter, and Wayne Jordan, auctioneer, antiques dealer, appraiser and author came through in spades! 

 

Wayne has an interesting story which I’ve posted beginning of below. The entire story is posted at AuctionWally.com

 

By Wayne Jordan

“The World’s Fair held in Paris in 1867 must have been a sight to behold.  The principal building was almost two football fields in length, containing a central pavilion crowned by a dome and surrounded by a garden.  Over 50,000 exhibitors displayed in more than 100 buildings.  Among the exhibitors were 400 piano manufacturers, all competing for the gold medals that would assure their brands’ future dominance of the world piano market… Read the rest of the story.

 

Mr. Jordan is an auctioneer and personal property appraiser. His writing was recently published in the Antiques Trader. (The story was an interesting read on how the antiques business can capture the attention of GenX)

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                                 I‘m looking for writers:

 

 I’ve got a good size following and am willing to share my exposure, in exchange for your article, news story, event review, etc.

 

 Send in a short article, 100-250 words, about your business, event or item. Keep the focus auction or antiques related.

 

If I can use it, I’ll publish the article and include a link back to your web-site and contact info.

 

Not only will your article go out to my email list, but since I’m now publishing my newsletter on www.auctionwally.com, your article will stay on my site forever.

 

  Your article must have information, value and be of interest to my readers. You’re welcome to promote your website in the article, but if the article is strictly an ad for your product or service, I can’t use it.

 

Please use good grammar and the spell checker. Send entries to: articles@auctionwally.com

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                                5 tips for earning finder’s fees:

 

There are many ways to make money in the antiques business without using your own money, my favorite is the “finder’s fee”. I’ve been on both end of the finder’s fee, and I can tell you, it’s my favorite way to spend AND to earn money.

 

Here’s how you can start earning $ with finder’s fees.

1. Get a list of names and numbers of people who pay finder’s fees.
2. Start to work in an area you’re experienced in. But if a deal sounds great, don’t disqualify it because it’s not in your field. Remember, this is NOT your money you’re playing with. That said, in order to save time and energy, try to screen each deal as much as possible before you send a referral along.
3. Find out what kind of compensation you can expect from the dealer you’re referring to and when you can get paid. I usually pay 10% of the purchase price as a finder’s fee, and only pay on deals that are consummated. I pay the finder as soon as I seal the deal.
4. Remember, you are the picker, or the finder. Get as much information as you can to forward, but DON’T try to broker the deal. That is for the buyer and the seller to do. If you do this prematurely, it will backfire 99 out of 100 times.
5. Search, search, search. There are so many ways to find things these days, and so many people selling, that it’s a goldmine out there. I like craigslist, local newspaper classifieds, and that old standby, “word of mouth.” Start calling yourself a broker, or a picker, and tell everyone you know what you are doing. You’ll find things, believe me!

BTW, if you think you have something that I’d be interested in, contact me, because as I said, I’m happy to pay finder’s fees!

 

I like large collections of:

 

antique books

jewelry

coins

postcards and paper items

whole estates (Obviously, there’s big earning potential here)

musical instruments

vintage toys

paintings and prints

 

Call me at 978-636-3101 or 978-355-2094

 

email to wkolenda@gmail.com

 

put “finder’s fee” in the subject line

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                                        Update on Barre MA Thursday  auctions:

 

This week at the Dec 17th sale, we had the best crowd so far. Highlights were a Fender Squire Stratocaster that sold for $110.00, Fox moto-cross  gear, and more.

 

We’ll be running every Thursday Evening at 6:30 pm but of course will be taking the next 2 Thursday Eves off as they are Christmas and New Years Eves.

 

Our next sale is on January 7th, and will be our strongest sale as of yet by far. It will include furniture and other contents from a Monson MA estate, costume jewelry, antiques, china, and much more.

 

Details will be posted starting Monday at Auctionzip.com                               

If you’re in Central or Western MA, please tell a friend about these auctions. They’re a lot of fun!

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                             ep 89 of AuctionWally Show is up.

 

This episode features on the air antiques appraisals, a review of a couple of antique websites I admire and a preview of a very neat Civil War auction coming to the Berkshires on January 16th.

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                                           Got Experience?

  If so, and you can answer “yes” to a few simple questions, you may be able to start making good money as an antiques appraiser. I have a one day seminar that will help qualified candidates start earning between $75 and $150 per hour as a Professional Personal Property Appraiser. Find out more here.

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                                               Ask an Auctioneer

If you have a question about antiques, collectibles or auctions,  email me at ask@auctionwally.com (a few good .jpg pics of any items is essential.)

 

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I’ve launched a new website, http://massauctioneer.info

This site will be used to provide information and news about mine and on occasion, other local Massachusetts auctions. 

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                                                 The weekly contest:

Thanks to last week’s contest winner Fox of  Jane S. of Sierra Vista, AZ, who correctly answered, “Ernest Shepard” to  last weeks question, “Who is the illustrator of the children’s book, “House at Pooh Corner?” The answer can be found at the the The Children’s Literature Auction at iCollector.com ” There were several people answering correctly, but Fox was the first. 

Thanks Fox, I’ll be sending out your envelope of goodies this week!

 

                                           This week’s question:

 

In ep89 of The AuctionWally Show, I appraised a rattan basket, what was the price range I appraised it in?

 

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?

There are a LOT of auctions out there. Knowing how to search and qualify them for just the items you’re looking for can be an enormous time saver.

 

The best way I know how to do that is to use Auctionzip.com the largest live auction locator.

 

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

 

                   

 

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

 

 

Winter is here, and travel can be difficult. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on great auctions! 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 ;)