Daryle Lambert: Nothing Lasts Forever

Thanksto www.images.main.uba.edu

One of the things we enjoy about dealing in antiques, fine art and collectibles is that the quality names seem to stay with us regardless of market conditions. If you like finer things, how would you ever forget Meissen porcelain, Rookwood pottery, Tiffany glass or Rockwell paintings? These names are etched in our minds, but how about other companies we have grown up with that have always represented quality.

Here are just a few: Royal Doulton, Wedgwood and Waterford. Did you know that, because of changing times, these companies have all come together under the same company and that through the years, even though they have retained a certain amount of their original quality, most people would agree that it isn't the same quality as it was in the past.

The reason that I am bringing this to your attention is because the company that incorporates these names has just filed for bankruptcy. The company tried to find a suitable buyer but none was to be found. Quality is quickly disappearing from our society as we accept the throw away mentality of the world today. This is a general statement but I believe it to be true. However, there will always be that remnant of people that appreciate the finer things. These people will support the secondary markets that we deal in for antiques, fine art and collectibles. In fact, as more and more of the household names disappear from the retail marketplace, it will be better for us, as collectors try to recapture things they remember from their past. Because of the expense involved in producing quality items, I feel that the future is dim for the people that want to live as they did in the past. Paper and plastic plates and utensils are here to stay and the paper table cloth won't be replaced by a linen one any time soon. The new reality is that if it looks okay it is good enough.

You must be asking why then am I so encouraged? The reason is that fewer and fewer people will be able to recognize quality items, but we will, and this limits competition and will allow us to maximize our time in finding items to fill the requests we receive from the true collectors in the future. Also, as companies discontinue making products, the price on the secondary market for their older pieces will increase and that make us very happy.

Wedgwood, Doulton and Waterford may never be the same again but their items produced in the past can be our pathway to success.


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Daryle Lambert: Antiques should be on People's Want list

The bird is gone and most people have had enough football so what is next? Gift time, right? I hope we all thought of the blessings we have received this year before we go out and spend too much money on things that perhaps we don't need. I personally have been looking in every nook and corner to see what I still have that someone might want to purchase as that special gift. I am surprised at the items that I had forgotten about that were just sitting out in the garage and storage room. Yes, you will soon see them listed on eBay. I think the deals that they will be offering during this Christmas season will make it well worth using their services. The cost of selling the $12,000 Kentucky Derby Glass on eBay was just $250, not bad at all. But don't forget that other sites such as Online Auction may charge even cheaper rates.

What will people be looking for this year that we can provide? Royal Doulton and Lladro figurines are being sold at almost give away prices. I think the mothers on your list may be looking for one of these; ones that bring back precious memories of their little girls or boys. Dads will be buying sports figurines for their young sons that involve the sport they love. Husbands may purchase that vase that is perfect as that special centerpiece on their table or that lamp that makes their living room complete. Wives will be scouring the shops for a collectible that can add to that special collection of their husbands. But this Christmas, I believe people will be shopping much more carefully and quality will count. Isn't it strange that we have been teaching that quality counts from the 31 Club’s formation?

Remember: if you don't show people what you have for sale soon, the season will pass quickly and you will have missed an excellent opportunity to decrease your inventory and increase your bank account. So how should we advertise?

The local papers are excellent venues for advertising during this season. You may want to say “Christmas Specials” (Antiques and Collectibles for the Ones You Love) and your phone number. You should find this ad to be very inexpensive yet effective. Also, don't rule out Online Auction.com or eBay.com or a new website called seeauctions.com that you may want to investigate. All of these sites’s traffic will pick up over the next few weeks and this increases your chance of success in selling the items you have listed.

I believe that the best way to sell your items at this time of year is to call or e-mail past customers to inform them that you have something that would make a fantastic gift for a loved one. For many years now I have sold one of my customers a painting for his home each year and I don’t think this year will be an exception. I know a person that prepares a list of special items that they have for sale and a letter wishing their past customers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. They also include a list of items they have available for sale. I think that is quite an original and inexpensive idea. Most stores make 80% of their profit for the year during this season so maybe they have something to teach us.

Usually I am a humbug this time of year but for some reason I have the Christmas spirit already! I think it may have something to do with all of you and the encouragement that I receive from you. Many thanks and happy hunting…

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Secrets to Identifying Value in Art Pottery

Louise E. Edwards Decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase offered at 31 Gallery & Marketplace



Many people mistakenly believe that an item’s size contributes greatly to its value, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Often times, size is only one contributing factor, and we'll take a look at others here.

Many companies, in addition to their more commercial lines, had talented artists decorating their items in their “artist lines.”

Regardless of which company’s pottery you come across, there will always be certain artists’ work that stands out, and their wares are the most sought after and will bring in top dollar. For example, Doulton had Noke, Barlow, Tinsworth, and Marshall as their premiere artists. In America’s Newcomb pottery, Bailey and Simpson lead their group of artists. Daley, Sax, Shirayamadani and Nourse are the leading names in Rookwood and are quite valuable.

Being able to recognize specific artists’ work for a particular company will set you ahead considerably, among other things.

The 31 Gallery & Marketplace has a Doulton Lambeth-Louise E. Edwards decorated vase. While Edwards wasn’t in Doulton’s top tier of artists like Hannah Barlow was, Edward’s works are more rare than Barlow’s and also quite desirable.

Any piece produced by top artists will bring big money, but this is, again, just one factor in evaluating a piece for price.

Next to which artist decorated the piece, I believe the most important factor in price evaluation is its GLAZE.

Many Doulton pieces will bring very little in this market regardless of their size, but if you add one of the top artist names to the piece, bingo! Now, to get the piece to the stratosphere in value, just add a very rare glaze to it. Double bingo!
Familiarize yourself with Doulton’s Chang, Chinese Jade, Sung, and Titaniam glazes so you’ll be able to spot these when you come across them.

Most dealers are familiar with Rookwood, but few can distinguish their different glazes. Knowledge of their glazes will give you a great advantage because this is where there can be huge price differentials. Rookwood glazes commanding top prices are Coromandel, Dip/Drip, Goldstone, Tiger Eye, Oxblood, and Rust. If you are fortune enough to find pieces of Rookwood in these glazes, you’ve found a true treasure.

Now, here comes the story: I walked into a high end antique store in Chicago and couldn't believe the prices they were asking for what I thought were quite common pieces. Still, I couldn't leave until I had looked at every item they had for sale. In the back of the store, I spotted a very small vase looking rather lonely, about 4” in height. I picked it up to examine who the artist was, but as I looked at it, I realized it was a very rare glaze by a very early artist.

The store was having a sale that day and priced the vase at $400. I quickly offered $200 and it became mine quite quickly. As I left the store, I’m sure the sales lady was shaking her head saying, “There goes a fool without his money.”

Little did she know that I consigned the vase to the Cincinnati Art Galleries and it brought in (drum roll) $2000 at auction.

My friend Cecil did the same thing recently. He bought a piece of Owens pottery for less than $100. But, because it had a special glaze he recognized it and knew it was a great buy. That piece was hammered at over $2400 at auction.

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LINK: 31 Club Article July, 2007

THAT SMELL - Can Mean Money to You Perfume and Scent Bottles for Both Men and Women

Perfume Bottles can be a wonderful scent for both men and women. In fact I knew a woman by the name of Sherry that made her living buying and selling only these bottles and she does quite well.

These wonderful bottles predate the ancient Egyptian empires but today days collectors are looking for the ones from the nineteenth and twentieth century. These examples can be found made of cut glass, pressed glass, art glass, silver, enamel and yes even plastic.

There seems to be a endless supply of these bottles to be found and this give the collector ample opportunity to add items to their collections. Also perfume bottles come in all price ranges from the beautiful decorative ones selling for only a few dollars to the special pieces made by the best manufactures that may command tens of thousands of dollars.

These bottles usually have a top and these tops can come in two styles first just the common closing ones that are required to keep the perfume from evaporating to the atomizers that are used to apply the perfume to the area on the body where it is to be used. The DeVilbiss Company is the best known producer of the atomizers, they started in business in 1888. Their pieces are marked and a high percentage of the bottles are also.

You will see examples of the perfume bottles at most sales you attend and often there will be real bargains to be had if your eye is sharp enough.

I think that you will recognize some of these names Christain Dior, Cartier, Chanel, Lucien Lelong just to mention a few. Believe it or nor you will find bottles that haven’t been opened where the content may be worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars. This can prove to be a nice little bonus because full these bottles will even have a higher price than if they were empty.

Lets look at some examples now Thomas Web and Sons cameo glass duck bill, value up to $10,000 plus, Christain Dior Dog shape, value $15,000 plus, Cut Glass triple miter Overlay valued at $12,000 plus, Lubin magda of woman’s head $9500 plus and I could go on and on. There is a guide book on these perfume bottle called, Perfume, Cologne and Scent Bottles by Jacquelyne North and Duane young. If you can find it I think this book will make you money by knowing the rare bottles from the common.

My favorites as you might expect are the ones made by Charles Lotton, you may want to go to his website www.lottongallery.com and look at several of his beautiful bottles. There are others by Lalique, Steuben and many other companies that command premium prices for their bottles. These fabulous scent bottles are in demand and we should expend the energy to fill this need.

One last little note there is a word factice which is used to refer the person to the large store display bottle and you will see these in your search. Since there are so few of these manufactured it is only reasonable to think their prices might be quit high and you would be right. These are usually filled with colored water.

Let us hear from you. We are always open to new ideas and your input is highly valued.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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FINE RUGS - Are You Standing on a Fortune ?

FINE RUGS - ARE YOU STANDING ON A FORTUNE ?
ORIENTAL- RAG-HOOKED-BRAIDED

You may be standing one of the greatest treasures that you will ever find and not know it. What am I talking about? Rugs of course! To my amazement, I have found where rugs have brought $100,000 plus (and those pluses might be a lot).

Attending the local auction house several years ago, I was tired and most of what I came to see had been sold. I decided to stay for the furniture and why, to this day, I don’t know. The auctioneer had just about completed the furniture and rugs when he pointed to this one rug that was sitting under several pieces of furniture and ask for a bid. Why would anyone purchase this for their home, I asked myself. It was dirty and damaged.

Turning my head away I heard the cry, "I have $100 do I hear $200?" "Yes!" was the cry. "Do I have $300?"

Turning back around and looking closely at the rug, I said to myself, are these people crazy? On it went to $500, then to $1000, then $5000, finally stopping at well over $10,000.

The room was abuzz with everyone asking what is so special about this rug? I have to be honest, I was completely amazed myself. But one thing I did know was that the people bidding knew, and there were more than one of them.

I went out and bought some books on Oriental rugs and, after reading them, I realized the buyer probably got a bargain. How many rugs like this one had I passed by at estate sales or garage sales I will never know.

If you have done one of the first things mentioned in my book, 31 Steps To Your Millions, you now own a Kovels price guide. Please open it to Rugs, and there you will find prices from a few hundred to over fifteen thousand dollars, and these are not the expensive ones.

The Oriental isn’t the only rugs that bring big money. Many of these pieces made in America can fetch a pretty penny also such as Rag, Hooked and Braided rugs. So take a good look at what you're standing on when you are searching for your treasures. This may be one time you don’t want to just look straight ahead.

Rugs, like everything else, increases in value if they are signed so look very carefully for signatures. Condition is also important and should usually be taken into consideration before purchasing.

I must share this with you. It happened again just last week at the same auction house. You may want to check it out if you are in Chicago. Their name is Direct Auction and they have a sale Tuesday Night twice a month.

Last Tuesday it was like a dream happening all over again. The first part of the auction was over and the furniture was being sold when the gallery man pointed to this rug under a table and chair. It was announced as french but most of the people in attendance gave it very little attention until the price began to escalate. Finally finishing up at a hefty price of over $7,000 the crowd gave out a loud burst of applause. Don’t forget about the rugs.

I would like for you to keep my son Daryle II in your prayers today. He will be in the hospital for testing.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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OUR TIME TO SHINE - Will Antiques and Collectibles be Good to You ?

We now know what we are facing, but how can we go to the head of the class? What must we do different than others? Is it possible to do the things that Daryle says we can?

So many questions. So where do I start in answering them? The truth wouldn’t hurt ... I don’t think. So here goes.

The way we are going to the head of the class is the simplest part. We are going to be smarter and better prepared than most. No matter how long it takes, the 31 Club will provide its members with the information they will need to be as successful as they can see themselves being. By using time management, combined with sufficient knowledge, there will be no one that will be able to match you as your future in Antiques and Collectibles unfolds before your very eyes.

Having the herd mentality will only lead you to failure, so we must work together as a group to set ourselves apart from the rest. We will not be seen as Chicken Little, but as the new voice of our industry. In the future, just saying that you are a member of the 31 Club will command respect, because all will know that your preparation has been done, and you have the full force of your club behind you.

If you have been following the blogs, by now you should have no doubt that the plan that we are following together works. As our numbers grow, we will become a mighty force to be reckoned with. Yes, we will all be working for each other rather than just ourself, and I will be telling you how very shortly.

I come from a farm family, and for most of my early life I saw individual farmers complain that the market was taking advantage of them by always lowering the prices for their products at harvest time. You may ask, how does this apply to us? That's exactly what I am going to show you.

You see the farmers banded together to form co-ops were they could store their products such as grain, meat, milk, and so on. Now the time of year has very little to do with their sales, because now they can hold their items until the market price is fair, and this gave them the upper hand. Today most farmers get fair prices in the market place because of the action that they took together.

Auction houses, eBay, and estate sales conductors hold our very success in their hands, but together we can change that. If auctions charge commissions that are unfair, going from 5% to as much as 50% over the last fifty years, this might be considered too much. e-Bay is increasing their fees every month just so that their stockholders will remain happy and that may not be fair to us. Estate sales are charging retail or better and if items don’t sell, they get sent to auctions that could be questionable as to the way we are handled. But what can we do about these and so many other things that might put us at a disadvantage. You guessed it! We must band together and act as the farmers did so many years ago. But how can this happen?

Your Club has been assembling all the parts necessary for us to accomplish this very thing for several months now. First, the book “31 Steps to Your Millions...” was written to give you a plan. Next, came the other parts that would free us from the hands of others. One of which is the marketplace where you may find items to fill orders that you have received from your customers.

Have you looked to see what is offered on our marketplace? These items can be bought with no commission tacked on so I would think that your customers would be very happy about that. If the prices are a little too high for you, then make an offer. Most of the things being listed are very reasonable. In fact some of the pieces may even be bargains. You may be surprised at the response to your offers.

Next, do you have something to sell and have you posted it on our market place? Ten percent commission is the most that you can be charged if you use this service. How does this compare with the up to fifty percent that you will be charged by others? Calculate your savings and see if that interests you.

The more items listed by us on the 31 Club’s website - the more people will search there for their future purchases. Our success is almost a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more we help others the more we help ourselves. Isn’t that great? It almost sounds as if it came from the Bible. Now we control our own destiny, and I guarantee you, this will be noticed in the markets.

To be successful with this plan, we must buy something. There is a wish list where you can post the things that you are searching for, and when responses come in, they will be directed to you. Wow! Free advertisement. Can you imagine that?

We will continue to grow these services and so many more will be coming your way. Also we are constantly looking for ideas that will help our Club members. Do you have any?

Working together, we can make a difference, and we will. If you're not already a member of the 31 Club join now before December 31 and be a life member. www.31corp.com or www.amazon.com and enter daryle lambert.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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SELLING is EASY - BUT WHERE IS THE QUESTION ?

By now you know that the Antique and Collectible market is competitive, but if you have the knowledge required there is no limit to the money that you can acquire. Yesterday we talked about the conditions we are facing to purchase items that will meet our goal of a double or more when they are sold. All this information can be found in my book “31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles” and it can be purchased either on our website www.31corp.com or www.Amazon.com. I think that you will agree with me, that with the information being provided to you by your 31 Club, it will be only a short period of time before the doors to you success will be flung wide open.

Now let's explore the world of selling the precious Treasures that we have acquired. I will be listing the options at your disposal in the order of their importance.

First and foremost, the individual collector will always be your first choice. They will be where you will receive the greatest profit. If you treat them right you can go back to them as many times as you have additions to their collections for them to see, and they have the money to buy them.

I hope that I have high lighted the necessity to keep good records of all your sales so that the name of each person and what they bought from you is only the turn of a page from your finger tips. I always contact my collectors first, even if I think that going to auction with a piece might bring me a little more money.

Why is this? Because if the collector has interest, you have finalized a sale. You didn’t have to wait up to four months for the auction to be completed, plus another month to get your money. Also you know that the goal for that piece has been satisfied. Remember time is important to us.

Next, there is no guarantee that your piece will sell at auction. at auction your I have entered items at good auction houses only to find that on that day or night there wasn’t anyone in attendance that had interest in my item. I can promise you that if you are expecting your items to sell and they don’t, it can be a long drive home.

Let's not forget the large commissions that you don’t incur if you make a sale to a collector, and that can be very important as you precede up your ladder of 31 Steps.

Second, on my list is regular auctions. If the item you are selling meets the standards of that particular auction house, often the results are more than satisfactory. You may get a surprise, and your item might bring several times its auction house estimate. This is the time that you cover your mouth go outside and give a great big yahoo. But remember, the commission when you are figuring your profit.

My third choice is eBay , but only for items of lesser value or where I can only reach that particular buyer by this method. These might include foreign buyers or people living on the other side of the country. I have found that eBay usually produces buyers willing to pay wholesale or less for their purchases. That might not only not make you money, but you might incur a loss.. Don’t be surprised to find that eBay’s commissions have come close to matching those of the auction houses.

Last and my least favorite place to sell is through ads placed in the paper or other publications. You will find that most of the people that answer your ads are doing the same thing as you, and they are looking for a bargain.

I have run rather long today, so I will have to finish this tomorrow, but I think you will want to tune in. This will be the time that I share with you how we, together, are going to get it right.

Yes, this is the best game in town, but you have got to do your homework and not get in too big of a hurt. Good things come to all that wait. I think I have heard that before, haven’t you?

Boy, am I please with the response that I have gotten about prayer. Not only have all of you been there for me and my friends, but I have received many requests from members asking to be remembered and wanting to be included as we pray together. I know of one person that just wants prayer for stability in the work place so that their family can continue to be a powerful force for the Lord. So be faithful and continue to pray for all that ask. Let someone tell me that we aren’t creating community and that God won’t bless our efforts.

I think that I read that the people were fed with two fish and a five loaves of bread, so I can assure you that He is watching us, and nothing is out of his control.
Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.

LET'S TALK - What is True in the Antique and Collectible Markets Today

I have been thinking about how to report some things that have been bothering me for some time about our business. The truth sometimes hurts as the old saying goes, but I am still going to venture into the high water.

Yes, there isn’t a better way of making money in the world than through Antiques and Collectibles, and I have pointed that out to you several times. Yes, the top of the market is flying off the charts, and that is true also, but you must equip yourself for these markets. Being knowledgeable will be your only advantage today over others that are trying to make money in this field. You should try to keep most of your business in the higher end items to assure your success, I did say that too. But remember, we have plenty of time, and it is on our side, if we have done our research. Then why are so many people complaining?

I will try to answer that if you will be patient with me, but it isn’t one thing that got us here, and it isn’t going to be a quick fix. To try and answer this, I will have to state the facts as they exist in our markets today and that will offend some people. For those that think differently than me, I would gladly debate the issues with them at any time.

Today, I will only have room to address where we purchase the things we buy, hoping to resell them at a profit. Tomorrow I will finish on where we sell our items and what some of the answers for us might be.

Twenty years ago, if we went into a home to assist a person by buying the items that they had for sale, they were glad to see us. Today those same people consider us the enemy. Why is that? Maybe because in the past, the sellers were completely at our mercy and basically they had to take our word for what their items were worth. You guessed it - today they have the internet and antique road shows to get information from. No longer can a person enter a home and offer five percent of what an item is worth and think the seller is going to say, oh thank you. Those days have passed and the ones that are still trying to operate this way have given all of us a black eye.

This is why I say that one of the most important things that we can do in this business today is to maintain our integrity. Most people today think of an Antique Dealer as just a few notches below a used car salesman.

Yes, we do have to purchase items at twenty five to thirty percent of their retail value, knowing that in the market place they probably will only return us fifty percent, but the customers will accept this as a fair price. Buying something that is worth thousands of dollars for five hundred dollars isn’t fair if you are being considered the expert.

Next, lets look at the Estate sales. They no longer price things for the dealers to buy but at retail or higher, and most dealer have no where else to buy so they pay those prices hoping to eke out a profit. I can guarantee that this is a hard way to make a living.

This pricing is done because most estate sales charge the sellers a percentage based on the total money collected for the sale. So it is to their advantage to charge as much as they can to make the sale worth their while. I can understand this,but I am just explaining to you what is happening today. We may want to rethink how we do business, and I will be sharing that with you tomorrow. Today our markets may have too many middle men for all of us to make the money we want doing business like it’s been done for the last fifty years. But there might be a new way.

The other thing that is happening is that most estate sales have a connection to auction houses where they send the better items to be auctioned, while still charging the seller the same commission on those pieces but usually being guaranteed that they will be sold.

Regular auctions pretty much speak for themselves. With their commissions so high and so many people trying to make a living or second income from the antiques and collectibles business, the chances of finding a bargain at these sales will be difficult., You can figure that at auctions the competition would be fearsome, and it is.

These are tough markets, and you will only find bargains at these sales or auctions on rare occasions. Just one more reason to be more knowledgeable than most of your competitors, knowing that the real money is made on quality not quantity. Where have you heard that before?

After we have finished with the education provided by the 31 Club, we will be on the top of the heap and others will marvel at what you have accomplished and wonder where all that knowledge came from.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.

DARK DAY - WITH A SILVER LINING

My wife and I lost one of our best friends yesterday. Her name was Andi Welsh and she was always an inspiration to us.

When I needed a pick me up, she was always there. I will miss her, but I am assured that I will see her again. Her spirital strength served her well, and she was a mentor to many. She only talked to you for a very short period of time until you would have her sharing her faith with you.

Her death again brings me to a place were I realize that if we aren't enjoying what we're doing, what's the need? I hope that by forming the 31 Club, we will all find a sense of pleasure in the relationships that we are gaining through the club and will be able to enjoy the moment. I found out yesterday, we aren't insured of more than what we have before us now, so we should cherish every moment. My heart isn't in writing a blog about Antiques and Collectibles today and I hope that you will give me a pass today.

It has given me a new purpose in life, trying to share with as many of you as I can, about finding pleasure in what God has given us. I prayed that if this adventure wasn't of him that it would fail, but if it was of him it would succeed. I am here to tell you that the positive response has been over whelming.

Please keep us in your prays.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

Buy it All - Make the Most Profit

A technique that I often use in buying is to say, "I will take it all." At estate and garage sales, you will find multiple items boxed together, and in that box you will find one item that gets your attention. Knowing that this piece will bring you a great return, it is only human nature to pull it out of the box and ask what the seller would take for just the one piece.

The way I handle this is to replace the piece I want back in the box and ask what the seller will take for the whole box of things. Often, I am able to buy the box for even less than I would have offered for just the one item. Surprisingly, often I find that the piece I wanted doesn’t end up being the greatest treasure in the box after they are all sold.

This method of buying will also work in stores. As you travel through a store, make a list of the items that you wish to purchase. Then find a clerk and ask what they would take for that group. I have found, that because the total dollars increase with the number of items you wish to purchase, the asking price may be reduced as mush as fifty percent per item if they are purchased together.

I spent the night in a persons driveway once just to be first in line for their house sale. A friend was conducting the sale and said if I might be interested in the Beswick horse collection that was being offered. Entering the house, I said in a loud voice, "All the horses are sold." There was about twenty-five pieces, and the total for all of them came to about $1,000. Then, the strangest thing happened. The clerk marked all the horses sold, however there must have been another person that had come to the sale for just the Beswick horses also. Even though they were marked sold, he started picking them up to examine them, and he did this with several pieces. Surprise, surprise, he dropped one, and it happened to be a piece that I had estimated to have a value of $500.00. I confronted him, but what could I say? The clerk just took one horse off my bill, but inside I was sick. The rest of the pieces sold for about $8,550 with the highest bringing almost $1,500. Not bad for a few small horse figurines.

Box lots, as they are known at auctions, can also be bargains. There is a story circulating about the lady buying a box lot for about $100 and finding this Indian Knife Sheath in it. I was told that this piece, at auction, may have brought over $8,000. There can be Treasures in those little boxes, so be sure to check them.

I am giving you notice that there is a great story that I am going to be sharing in a couple of days, and you will be starting your search in earnest after you hear it. Let me hear your stories or questions in the meantime.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert