Ebay Goes Down Wrong Path and Hurts Those Who Helped Build Them

Do you feel the ground shaking and hear the sound of distant thunder? That’s the sound of the coming stampede of Ebay sellers making a mass exodus to other sales venues.

Ebay has, once again, presented changes in their venue, many of which I predicted last year, that will be sending a good portion of their sellers elsewhere to do business and leaving their stockholders in a long holding pattern or perhaps experiencing new lows.

Starting last ast year, and much to my dismay, I started predicted eBay would lose a good portion of their market share to their competitors. It looks like this will continue to occur as the company implements their most recent changes. (Links to articles in which I've made eBay predictions are below.)

You see, eBay forgot who got them to where they were, and it wasn’t the buyers. They’ve spent entirely too much time trying to please the buyers, when it was the sellers who helped build the company. In my opinion, it may be too late to salvage their position in the marketplace now or in the future.

Since eBay has continued to raise the percentage they take on completed sales, I predicted eBay would discontinue listing fees altogether, and stated it was in their best interest to do so. Today, they’ve dramatically cut listing fees but have not eliminated them. Most sellers don’t mind paying a little more if their items sell, but if they don’t sell, they take a direct loss which isn’t acceptable.

While from time to time, the company runs special days offering sellers no listing fees, I still predict the time when eBay permanently offers no listing fees will be just around the next bend. However, by then, it will be too late to bring back those who’ve been comfortably comfortably in another company’s pasture.

In their effort to make up for lost revenue and please their stockholders, other changes the company made will prove to be a big turn off to its sellers. Like the increase in fees for their PayPal services and their insistence that this is the only way to pay for fees when doing business with them. Forcing customers to use only the programs they provide will prove to be a mistake in the future. It’s cheaper for their sellers to go elsewhere and use other merchant account providers with more reasonable fees. No, the public isn’t going to let eBay make up their loss in revenue in this way.

Any reduction in fees will prove to be beneficial for those of us who use eBay to sell our wares, but the other restrictions, I believe, will be rejected in the market place. It may prove that eBay has, for too long, underestimated the intelligence of the customers who helped build them.

Ebay’s efforts to swing in the direction of retail sales by emphasizing fixed price selling is about four years too late. Companies like Amazon are not likely to surrender their market share to eBay without a fight.

What eBay might do next in their effort to increase revenue, will be to charge for their completed sales information. I made this prediction earlier, and I stand by it. Only time will tell.

To re-establish their growth pattern, eBay will have to reinvigorate their seller base, and that isn’t going to be easy. In fact, they might have to reduce profits for a while to build future sales volume. This might very well put eBay stock in a holding pattern for quite a some time and their stock prices might even hit new lows.

As I have stated in the past, what is bad for eBay can be good for us. So, when they have specials, take advantage of them, like listing several items on free listing days. Try not to get caught in the traps they set like reserve price auctions and the other gimmicks they state will bring you greater returns but actually cost you more. “Keep it simple” is a good rule to use here. In the meantime, investigate other selling venues if you haven't already done so.

Keep Skip McGrath and his newsletter close to you because I think he has the pulse of what eBay is doing down to a tee. You will find his many great resources available on our site. Don't forget our friend the “ The Auction Rebel – Gary Hendrickson” as he demonstrates his method of being successful on eBay.

Ebay made a change in my life, and for that I am very grateful, but they’ve been very slow to change with the markets. They might have thought they were invincible. But, none of us are. I still hope it isn’t too late for them. They’ve been a tremendous help to me and my family, and I thank them for that. God protects the humble, but if we try to do all things ourselves and even go down the wrong path, He allows for that too. I believe eBay has gone down the wrong path.

LINKS to my Previous eBay Article Predictions:

10/02/07 Will eBay Remain King of the Hill?
01/30/08 eBay Serves Scrambled Eggs
02/14/08 Is Ebay Running out of Juice?
03/25/08 eBay Fighting Hard in Wrong Direction

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Selling Antiques, Collectibles & Fine Art Part II: Where to Sell Common, Everyday Items

What do you do when the item you want to sell isn’t worth a fortune? Placing it on a shelf and waiting for someone to come and find it isn’t the answer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t make money with a shop or booth at a mall, but we’re aiming in a different direction. We’re aiming to transform our lives into a life of wealth secured over time. This simply can’t be achieved today by waiting for customers to find your item.

In today’s business environment, waiting for customers will limit you tremendously, and hamper your prosperity. It’s completely opposite of the guidelines I write about in my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, and opposite the guidelines 31 Club Members follow to build wealth buying and selling antiques, fine art and collectibles. I’d compare the “waiting for customers” thinking that some have to those who think the horse and buggy will be the transportation for the future. Today, you must market your items where they best fit.

Where to Sell Your Antique, Collectible, and Fine Art Items

Today, there are many places you could choose to market your more common and less valuable antiques & collectibles. Let's tackle the biggest fish first, eBay, and then some of the others.

Ebay
Without this company, I wouldn't be in the Antique Business today, but I only use them on a “when needed” basis. I’ll explain. After I’ve researched an item, if I still don’t know its identity, then I list it on eBay. You see, with the following eBay has, nothing listed there will go totally unnoticed. The pros will see it listed, and even though it might not bring retail, my item will get a fair price. Yes, eBay’s commissions have skyrocketed, but if you use it selectively, not listing items that more than likely won’t sell, this is still a good venue to use. But, listing items that have a high probability of not selling will eat up your profits on the items that do sell. It cost money to list, and it’s not as inexpensive on eBay as it once was. With the kind of items I buy, eBay is usually my last resort, and as you ascend the steps of our program and are buying and selling more rare and valuable items, you will use it less and less as well. I will, however, use eBay to sell when they feature a special – like no listing fees. Then, I jump all over it.

Local Auctions
Local Auctions are a good place to sell your antique & collectible items that aren’t worth a fortune or are not very rare. Our goal of turning our money quickly can be better achieved if you know your local auction houses and their schedules. When you’re aware of their schedules, the time between buying an item and selling it will be shortened when you know what Auction House is holding the very next sale. This will keep your money moving for you.

Second, when you use the auction houses regularly, they will negotiate a better commission rate with you. So get to know the people who run the auctions and begin building a relationship with them. These are great relationships to have, and let them know if there’s something special you like to buy. I use Direct Auction in Chicago, and one features that I really like about them is how quickly they pay you. If your sells on Tuesday, they pay you on Friday. Now you can't beat that. This has made them one of the most active auction houses in town, offering an auction every other week.

House Sale
Believe it or not one of the best ways to reduce your inventory is by having a House Sale or Garage Sales. If the idea is to sell what you have and not put it back in inventory, prices must be fair. I wouldn’t recommend doing this more than twice a year because people will stop coming if you do. My rule of thumb is that I don’t do this type of sale unless I think I have enough merchandise to bring in more than $5,000. I’d be giving up a weekend of buying to have this kind of sale, and so for me, It simply isn’t worth the work for less than that.

Newspaper Ads
These have been successful for me, however they can be quite expensive.
Piggybacking with Dealer in Their Booth. Helping a Dealer with heir booth at a major show, if they will let you, can give you the opportunity to put a few of your items in the booth. This can prove very profitable. I did this at the O’Hare Show one time and it brought me in $20,000 without having any expenses.

Consigning Items to a Dealer
You can pay a commission to other dealers who sell your items to their customers. This commission should be between 10% and 20%.

Selling When You Can
I purchased a set of plates for under $200 at a house sale one time. It was a good buy, and I listed them on eBay, hoping to get perhaps $400 or $500. Almost immediately, I got an e-mail from a man in Connecticut who asked me if I would edit the listing and put a “Buy It Now” on them. I told me that I wouldn’t, but if he could tell me what the plates are worth, I might consider it. He hesitated at first, but then told me they were worth $2,500, but he could only pay $1,250 for them. I said, “Sold.” I changed the listing, and he bought them. Are you wondering why I took the $1,250 when I could have gotten more? He had the customer. I didn’t. And besides that, I had just met an honest man.

REMEMBER: GOOD THINGS SELL THEMSELVES.

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Vintage Sunglasses Can Prepare You for Summer

Vintage Chanel sunglasses sold for $620 on eBay. There were 19 bids.

I was asked by many of our members to tell them about more items that might be purchased at a reasonable sum to get them started, so that's what I’ll do over the next couple of Blogs. Yes, $10,000 or $50,000 treasures are waiting to be discovered, but while we're working our way up and preparing ourselves to be ready for them, why not have some fun and make a little profit for ourselves in the mean time?

Today, I stumbled upon something I hadn’t been aware of, while I was on my way to look up something else. I love when this happens because it can open up a whole new world. I think this discovery can be an item that can help you get through your early steps of the 31 Steps and put some good money in your bank account. I discovered the price of Vintage sunglasses.

So, I went to eBay, as they seem to be the first place I usually go to for my initial search. Low and Behold! There were sunglasses selling for $800 or more, and many of the vintage pairs were bringing $300 to $400 a pair. How many of these pairs of glasses have I ignored in my search? It seems that I am getting a good education for myself by posting this Blog for you. And, I'm sure enjoying each new scrap of information I’m adding to my data bank. I also hope that you can see by my writing that I am still following the principles I have set out for you. I believe that in the next 60 days or so, one or more of you will be writing me about that great find you’ve made in a pair of sun glasses bought for fifty cents to five dollars and then sold for $300-$500.

Some of the things I will be sharing with you might not be found in price guides, but through research on the web, you will find prices for most of them. As I said, a great place to start is eBay or other sites like Online Auction (ola.com).

By the way, I got an E-mail from a very nice gentleman today by the name of Dan Brownell. Dan is with the Book Division of Krause Publications, the publishers of Antique Trader. Turns out, he is a regular reader of this Blog. He also shared with me that a new price guide for Beanie Babies will be coming out in August.

As the weather warms and the garage sales start increasing in number, be sure to check for vintage sunglasses. And don’t forget the other items I’ve written about to help you get through the early steps, like vintage toys and comic books, Beanie Babies to name a few.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

See the fine paintings we have listed in our gallery from artists like Robert Woods, William A. Slaughter, William Horton, Tom Darro, and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

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Please leave a comment. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate! -- Daryle Lambert

Be sure to watch this Video on Collectible Sunglasses from Antique Trader. Click on Brimfield.

Beanie Who? Beanie Babies May be Back.

This Beanie Baby bear recently sold for $500 on eBay.

I thought the Beanie Baby craze was over, but I was wrong. I recently looked at eBay and found beanie babies bring in some big bucks. Some are over a thousand dollars. The Royal Blue Peanut the Elephant, 1995, sold for $1,000. You can check these for yourself in the Completed Listings.

I guess I could plead temporary insanity, because last year I bought three large boxes of Beanie Babies from a house sale and then gave them away to some under privileged children at a Christmas party I went to. I thought they would make great gifts. Because I got about 250 of them for $25, I was able to give more gifts. No, I guess I didn’t lose my mind. The excitement and and smiles on their faces as they plowed through those boxes was a joy to see. I know I did the right thing. I only wished I had had another 1,000 Beanie Babies to give away that day.

Another time, I was called into a house where again there were several hundred Beanies. The woman gave them to me for a trip my friend Colin and I were taking up to visit the Lakota Souix tribe in South Dakota. We packed them all up and off we went. Colin loves the reservation, and members of the Lakota Sioux tribe have taken him in as a member. I think he has made over thirty trips there in the last 5 or 6 years. The Native American children were thrilled so see these cute little animals and gathered them up by the handful.

But back to my point about these collectibles. It seems that to the collector, these fuzzy little creatures still have value. But to the public at large, they are a thing of the past. This, then, is the perfect storm for us. Buying large quantities of the Beanies in one location can help you reap a great harvest. You may or may not find one of the $1,000 Beanies, but still, many others are selling for $70 or $80 dollars on eBay today.

What if you bought 100 of these little creatures for $2.00 apiece and sold them at an average of $8.00, what would that have done for you? Lets see 100 times $8.00 equals $800 minus the cost of $200 for a net profit of $600. Three times your money. Yes, that definitely meets the goal of doubling our money and it takes us one step closer the the finish line in our Million Dollar Race. Who would have thought it was possible with these little bears?

The shipping on these creatures would probably be less than $5. However, if you wanted to get paid a little for your labor, a $2 add on might be justified. This would push your profit up to $800, or four times your investment. Instead of putting this money in the bank for them to profit from, just go and spend the money one more time. At a four times return, you will have $12,800 in your bank account. That might even start paying for a college education for one of your kids.

You have heard me say that we want to move up to the rare and unusual as quickly as we can, but you may want to stop along the way and pick up a few of these little creatures. Right now I think it would make great sense. This could prove to be an excellent way to spend your first $100.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

See the fine paintings we have listed in our gallery from artists like Robert Woods, William A. Slaughter, William Horton, Tom Darro, and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

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Please leave a comment. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate! -- Daryle Lambert

Ebay Still Fighting Hard in the Wrong Direction

Ebay Fights Back with New Promotion

Several months ago, I wrote a Blog about what I thought eBay was going to do. First I said they might do away with the listing fees all together, but instead, they raised them in a very deceptive manner after their leader left. I think now they are beginning to see that their listers have seen through their crafty manuever.

EBay is a wonderful company that is going in the wrong direction. It is a mature company that needs to think about giving back to their stockholder, for their patience, as the stock continued to grow. But it is no longer a growth stock whose earnings are going to quadruple every year. At this time, they need to service the customers they have accumulated since their inception and give them reason not to jump ship.

EBay sent out e-mails this week promoting one cent listing fees, but they come with several conditions, and none of them are in the best interest of the customer. Why not do the right thing and just eliminate the listing fees altogether instead of squeezing every last dime out of their customers they possible can?

EBay stock has been a cash cow for its investors over many years, but over the last six months, they’ve seen the stock drop by 25%. In fact, the last several years haven't been that great for eBay stock holders. Its price has declined 50% since January, 2005. Do I still admire what they have accomplished? Yes. I just wish that they would realize who and what they are, and be responsible to the many people that depend upon their service and who have helped make them successful by their support.

EBay might think they are not replaceable, but they are. And, as I predicted months ago, their competition is coming at them from every direction. One of my favorites is Online Auction, http://www.ola.com/. If you are doing consistent business, you might want to look at their program. Another is Blackwells Live Auctions, however I’m not sure they have worked out the bugs in their program yet. Another interesting auction site for antiques and art is igavel.com. I encourage you to take a look at these other companies.

Please don’t get me wrong about eBay. The purpose of writing this Blog isn't to knock eBay but to hopefully show them that we are all very concerned. I encourage the 31 Club members to take advantage of all the specials eBay offers, if they are to their advantage. But, if after using these specials, eBay’s regular program doesn’t present the best deal, be sure to be flexible and check your options.

Ebay has the most capable people outside of eBay who have been supporting them for years, like Skip McGrath, Terry Gibbs and Gary Henderson just to mention a few. By helping other people to learn their way around the eBay system quickly and getting thousands of individuals and merchants up and running efficiently, they have helped support eBay's growth. But what support so they receive from eBay?

If we all worked together for the good of the customer, there will be room for all. But if we get greedy, the market will most assuredly replace us.

So, while eBay is still putting up a fight, I don’t think they are quite ready to surrender. But I don’t think the last chapter is in yet. And I have hope for this fine company.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

See the fine paintings we have listed in our gallery from artists like Robert Woods, William A. Slaughter, William Horton, Tom Darro, and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

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Please leave a comment. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate! -- Daryle Lambert

Daryle Lambert Blog: Spring Antique Market and Vintage Toys

31 Club Member found this Vintage Donald Duck Toy now at auction on eBay with a bid of $327

Yesterday, as I stepped outside, there was something different about the scent in the air, and I finally felt assured Spring is just around the corner. A moment of peace came over me, and I felt so thankful to God that He blesses me each and everyday as I get to interact with the wonderful people that He is bringing into my life through the 31 Club. Whether it is a person asking for prayer or someone sharing their joy of finding a treasure, it greatly enhances my day. God Bless each and every one of you.

With Spring waiting just around the corner, I remind you that there is no better season to make money in the Antiques, Collectibles, and Fine Arts business than Spring. People will be cleaning out and remodeling their homes, so the garage sales and house sales spring up like the new flowers. From items given up as trash in garage sales, spring new life to knowledgeable treasure hunters.

Everything is fresh and new in the Spring, so don't you think it would be a great time for you to complete those first steps in your race to your first million? For some of you, this would be a wonderful time to leapfrog over those beginning steps and rise to where the real money is in this market – the less common and more valuable items.

I am challenging all those that are still waiting to see if the plan that the 31 Club has shared with them really works to go out and prove it to yourself by taking your very first steps. If you’re still a doubter, I’ll share a story with you that will show you its truth. But for now, I’m giving you an assignment, and here it goes:

Over the next few weekends, circle all the garage sales that list children's toys. Attend as many as possible and look for tin toys from the Japanese companies. These may be windup or friction and buy anything that is under $5.00. Next make a list of toy companies that you remember as a child such as Mattel, Disney, Hubley, Marx, Chein, Arcade, Lehmann. There are many more so make your own list. You might ask your parents, or older relatives and friends to add to this list, depending upon your age.

Try to buy them as cheaply as you can. I have found that toys at most garage sales can be bought for under $15.00. Don't stop until you have completely spent your hundred dolls. Remember, condition is very important and damage can hurt the value. Check to see if they are reproductions, especially banks. However, don't pass by a great toy by for condition reasons only if it is priced reasonably enough.
I can almost guarantee that you will make at least you first step in the million dollar race if you will follow this plan that I have just set out for you. If you will do this just as I have described it here and you don't double your money, I will personally refund the cost of your membership in the 31 Club. How’s that for a no loss proposition?

If you’re still a doubter, this story, from one of our members, might give you some encouragement.

Daryle,

Let me first say "Thank you!" for your inspiration and encouragement with regards to antiquing. Your book is a wealth of resource to which I greatly appreciate.
Two weeks ago I went with my father-in-law a few miles down the road to a friends antique barn. This man has thousands of items packed into his barn. Granted, most of the stuff is junk, however I thought there could be a treasure somewhere. I've been to this place a few times in the past but was never really searching for treasure. Well, this time I was determined to find something, but would keep the rules in mind.

During my browsing, I came across a small display case. In it I saw a toy Donald Duck riding a tricycle wagon. It was made of tin and the pictures on the side of the wagon were definitely early Disney. Remembering your blog about how popular tin toys made in Japan were, I asked to look at the toy. The toy was in very good condition and on the bottom it read Line Mar and Japan. I asked the man how much he wanted for the toy. He said he couldn't take less than $25. I told him I would think about it. As the man and my father-in-law went on discussing other things, I went out to the truck and looked up the item in my Kovels price guide. I found a similar item for $112. I thought that I could probably make $70-80, thus staying within my goal. I went back in and asked the man if he would take $15. He said "No, but I'll take $20." So I bought the toy.

Well, I listed the toy on eBay on Thursday. I checked the price on Friday and it was $26. I thought, "At least I'll make my money back." and left it at that. Things completely changed yesterday evening. We were at my in-laws and I thought that I would go on-line and check the price. To my utter shock, the price was $280! The whole family felt like we won the lottery!

I just checked the price this morning and it's up to $327, and we still have 3 days left! Well, I didn't mean to write a book. I just wanted you to know how appreciative I am in your encouragement and information. I'm so excited about what other treasures are just hidden around the corner!

Your Friend,
Kurt

Kurt can write a book for me any day. And yes, it is just like winning the lottery, only with far less competition. Kurt, you are our Star of the Week. I can't wait to see what the toy is finally sold for. If you want to follow his listing, look up Item number: 250222886600 on eBay. Or, do a search for "Vintage Donald Duck Toy."

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE. My mentoring comes with the club membership. Right now, it's only $19.95 to join, receive a FREE book and get FREE Mentoring. How can you beat a price like that? This offer is worth thousands of dollars, yet right now it's only $19.95! What are you waiting for? You'll spend more on a good pizza than it cost for all this right now. Join Here Now.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
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"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
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a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

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Daryle Lambert: Vintage Comics Bring in Bucks

I heard from one of our most faithful members today, and she supplied me with a real story for you. Vicki H. has been communicating with me almost from the day we started our Blog. If there is still anyone out their that doesn't think treasures can be found today, they must not have run into Vicki H.

This latest story is even better than the ones she has shared in the past. We all have heard that Comics can be profitable, but do you know which ones are making Vicki jump for joy? You might be surprised that the funny books, as they were known as at the time, aren't the ones that are bringing the most money. Even I was caught off guard. It's the Horror Books that are moving to the head of the class. Vicki H. has just listed several lots of comics, and one listing is already standing out. This lot is for two Golden Age Comics from 1952-53 and titled "Tales of Terror." Having 13 bids, standing at over $400 for the two, with five days left to go their final price is anyone's guess.

Yes, Horror is where it's at, but why? Let's think about it together. First, parents might not have wanted their children to read those, so there might have been fewer printed. Second, the story lines were limited, so this could be another reason for their rarity. If you have any thoughts on this please comment.

I can check how Vicki's listings are doing, and so can you by going to zvicki40 on the advanced search under "sellers." If you aren't aware that you can look up individual sellers, then this is a great eBay tip for you. When you make a list of sellers who deal in items that interest you, you can checking their sites directly. This is a good way to find listings that can be purchased for your customers at prices that can meet our goals. This way you don't have to continually check all the listings on eBay to find what you want.

So often I have been at garage or estate sales and have seen boxes of comics that I passed by. I was so sure that if there had been anything rare, someone would have pulled it from the pile. Duh -- how dumb was I? By doing this I have probably passed by tens of thousands of dollars when I could have purchased the whole box lots for only a few dollars. You see, even though I have been in this business for over 40 years, I am still learning! That's what makes this business fun, as well as profitable.

As you can see, money in this business can come from all directions, and you will never run out of things to purchase that will put a smile on your face when they are sold. In this case, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, when you have the opportunity to buy multiple items at one time, usually the price is cheaper, and there is always the possibility that there could be a real treasure hidden in those boxes.

Way to go Vicki! Thanks for educating the rest of us. I will be waiting with bated breath for your next success story.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling. A plan that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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Getting Out of the Gate with Antiques, Collectibles & Paintings

Royal Haeger Collie Figurine had 11 Bidders

Talking each day and sharing with you gets me so excited, I usually can't wait for the next day to roll around. Telling stories of sales bringing in tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands gets my blood pumping. It's like being back in that race car in the days I thought I might someday race in the Daytona 500.

But Cindy brought me back to earth yesterday. She told me, "Daryle it's okay to talk about all the items in the way high range, but let's take care of today and first help people get out of the gate." I understood. I was getting caught up in the excitement of where I wanted to take you all. That's why it's good to have a partner who can douse you with a bucket of cold water when you need it.

I've given you plenty of information and insight about the path we'll be heading down, so let's focus on getting you out of the gate. When a horse jumps out of the starting gate, they take very short strides until they are underway. That's the way it is in the race you are beginnng. After you've take a few strides, then it's easier to put it in drive and sail along until you get near the finish line.

Let's spend your first $100, and then, the money each later buy and sell creates for you. I'll spend more of our time here writing about the kinds of items you'll be starting out with as you climb the steps toward the more rare and valuable items. You see, it's those early steps that will provide the seed money that will eventually produce the funds that will enable you to be well taken care of in your golden years (or way before that if you are diligent.)

So rather than talking about Tiffany, Daum Nancy or even Stueben, let's talk less expensive glass, pottery and porcelain. Like Carnival Glass. Names like McCoy, Haeger and Frankoma. These first steps can be taken in anything you find that you can buy low and sell high. Things like comic books, political memorabilia, vintage Christmas items, vintage kitchen ware, vintage cook books. I've written about some these during the year, so scroll back if you're new to the Blog and the 31 Club.

If you'll remember, our member, Vicki H. purchased six boxes of vintage phonograph needles for her first step. She spent $100, and she divided them up by manufacturer, then sold them individually on eBay, making herself about $800. Mike, from Vancouver Island, was working on his first step and found a bagful of vintage sterling bridle rosettes he paid $30 for. He sold one of the rosettes for $183.

While there are rare pieces of Carnival Glass listed, like the People's vase for $50,000, there are far less expensive and more common pieces listed for around $200, too. While you are studying, you will begin to recognize the more common pieces from the valuable ones, and if more common items appear at a sale and meet the requirements to be purchased, this would be a good place to start. For example, if the most current price guide shows $200, then you should add it to your inventory if you can get it for $50 or less. Remember, the goal is to, at the very least, double your money.

Glass, pottery, porcelain and even paintings can be used to complete your first step, so let's take a look at some pottery that can get you started. McCoy, Haeger, Frankoma, and many others are pottery you're more likely to encounter. If you'll buy a pottery and porcelain price guide -- one of those big thick ones, you'll be able to see just how many makes of pottery there are out there. These guides can serve you well. Don't forget to look up some of these names on eBay and do a completed listing search to see what some of these items look like and sell for.

You might find a Haeger Blue Dog figurine at a garage sale, because you'll have recognized the name. Today's Photo shows a Royal Haeger Collie figurine that sold a couple days ago on eBay for $108.28. There were 11 bidders. Familiarize yourself with the different types of items these companies produced.

You might run across a McCoy cookie jar, even the McCoy Harley Hog made in 1984. In my 2001 guide, that cookie jar lists for $155. Do you think you might find something like this at a garage or yard sale? You bet. Do a search of "McCoy cookie jar" on eBay in completed listings and see what prices come up.

When you get a good price guide, frequently studying the manufacturer names will etch these names into your mind. A method of study that Cindy uses is to make flash cards. She started with 5 names, and every couple of days, she adds three more and reviews them them all. Then she quizzes herself.

At a sale, When you come across an item whose name you recognze, or that you can recognize on sight, you'll feel great and you can say, "Aha, I know that." Keep the price guide with you in the car. If you have internet access on a lap top or phone, that helps, too. And don't forget -- if you see something you think might be of value, pick it up and claim it as yours. You can always have someone set it aside for you while you check your guide back in the car.

Paintings can often be found at garage and estate sales. Though most may not be listed artists, you can still make money during your early steps with these items. I see many of my friends buying paintings for $25-$35 on Friday and Saturday, then, at the local auction house on Tuesday, there they are awaiting auction that week. These often bring in $250 - $450 for a quality piece. Not a bad return for two days. I've even known dealer friends of mine who have picked up a painting for $35 and it turned out to be the work of a listed artist and sold for thousands.

When attractive paintings showing some quality are found at garage sales, it might well be worth the risk to buy them, and turn the pieces quickly at a local auction. There are always people looking for decorative art.

As you get started on your 31 Steps, I am just as interested in helping you with these kinds of items, as I am in the items you find down the road.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Ebay "Specials" Won't Raise the Sinking Ship

Contact Lists of Collectors and What Items They Want to Buy

eBay has sent out several e-mails to their customers announcing "specials" they are running. I believe the time for that is long gone. Now, it's time for them to come clean and raise their sinking ship. If they don't, their next quarter earnings are going to really shock their stockholders.

Up to this point, the market has been wonderful to the eBay stockholders and their buyers and sellers. However, the bulk of eBay's business is the middle to lower priced merchandise, and now the ability to make enough profit on these items is seriously in question. The game is over when the expense of doing business becomes so great that a merchant no longer has the incentive to do business. That's what is happening to eBay users today.

In my opinion, it isn't the commissions that are going to do the damage. It's the number of customers they won't retain. I'm guessing they won't be able to continue to add new customers as fast as the old customers high tail it out.

For the members of our 31 Club, I will be watching new developments in the market place. I know that a few "specials" offered won't stop the impending strike that's been planned by merchants, nor will it defer the competition from eating away at their customer base. eBay will either have to change their business model, or the results could prove disastrous for them. We would all lose if this happens.

As all this disorder takes place, believe it or not, listing your items in the local newspapers or trade magazines such as Antique Trader, Antique Week and Maine Antique Digest might be coming back as an effective way of merchandising. Also, private websites such as ours (www.31corp.com) are coming into vogue again, so you might want to check it out. We provide a great place to list your paintings and other items at a low fee with no buyers premiums to discourage your buyers. Private sites like ours have the ability to link to hundreds of other sites where your items will be seen.

Other resources that help you locate collectors for your particular items are right in the back of antique and collectible magazines. They often will have an ad in the classifieds and will list the items they're looking for. This is a quick way of finding a new buyer you haven't dealt with before.

There are books on the market that list collectors and what items they collect. One that I like and have used is Trash or Treasure Guide to the Best Buyers: How and Where to Easily Sell Collectibles, Antiques & Other Treasures by Tony Hyman. This book has contact listings of collectors and what they collect.

Some of these suggestions will eliminate the commissions all together and enhance your profits tremendously.

One of the most overlooked ways of making a sale is to go back to a person who has purchased from you before. This is the easiest sale you'll ever make, because they have already done business with you and know that you're honest and truthful. These sales represent over 50% of my business. I've got no advertising costs or commissions to pay. What could be better than that?

Don't worry too much if eBay doesn't wake up and smell the coffee soon. There are a lot of ways to turn a profit with antiques, collectibles and fine arts. Maybe soon they'll realize the world does not revolve around them. There has always been a market, and there always will be.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage

.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Can Ebay Predict the Election Results? Political Memorabilia - McCain, Obama, Hillary Clinton

Barack Obama Campaign Print Sells for $5,900 on eBay. Highest Price to date.

What a difference a month can make. Not too long ago, I wrote a blog about political memorabilia. I suggested that you might go to all the current presidential candidate's headquarters and gather up all the campaign items you could. How many of you did that? If you did, your rewards might prove to be fantastic.

Who would have thought that an old, worn down soldier could have survivied against the Millionaire and the 9/11 Hero? But, he did. Three months ago, John McCain would have gladly given you his autograph. If he did, today you might be holding the signature of the next President of the United States. Pretty much out of money and with little hope, his campaign posters could have been collected by the bundles. How the scenario has changed today. You still might have time to pick up some of the buttons or other items that will become very valuable collectibles if he wins. What kind of returns will you have make on John McCain's memorabilia if he is elected President?

Next, let's examine Barack Obama, a freshman Senator running against the Senator- Wife of a past President. Not any President, but Bill Clinton, one of this country's favorites. The press had crowned Hillary early on and suggested that anyone who challenged her was wasting their time and money. Yes, I think Senator Obama would have gladly signed your autograph book, and probably several times. He is proving to be one of the most charismatic campaigners that I have ever seen. Do you have anything from his campaign headquarters? How about Hillary's? As this race gets heated up, anything that has Barack Obama's name or Hillary Clinton's name on it will gain in value. You won't have to wait ten years to see it. This will happen between now and November. If you doubt me, just check some items on eBay now and then, again, right before the election.

As I write this, there are 2282 items listed on eBay under "Obama". 1438 Items listed under "Hillary Clinton." 647 Items listed under "McCain." I checked the completed listings, and as I write this, the highest price paid so far is $5,900 for a Barack Obama 24'' x 36'' Edition of 350 (signed and hand numbered)
"Progress" print. Clinton and McCain have less impressive completed sales prices. Can eBay be predicting the Election Results?

Isn't this business fun and easy? All you have to do is think outside the box. That's what makes this fun and profitable. While everyone else is running around like a chickens with their head cut off trying to find items that they will make a 20% return on, you are being given information about things that will prove to be real treasures. You can sell some and keep some, because the cost is zero. Twenty years from now people will be asking each other, “How did he or she do that and who did they know to get those things.”

This is the greatest advantage to doing business the 31 Club way. You never have to be in a hurry. You're always ahead of the trend, because you take the time to become knowledgeable. You'll know the direction of the trends.

Have you picked up any of these items? If you have, please share what you've got in the comments section. Then, if you sell them before the election, please share that with us, too. Our members will be watching to see if I have shared a truth with them, so help me out.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Is eBay Running Out of Juice?

Photo from worth1000.com

Who would have ever thought that eBay could be unraveling? I did, and I've written about it right here in these Blogs, starting back with my September 29th Blog. You see, you can only squeeze an orange so long before it has no more juice. And from what I'm hearing, eBay customers, particularly the sellers and merchants with eBay stores, are so displeased with the new changes, they are even willing to take a financial loss to express this by threatening a strike beginning February 18th.

If eBay does the right thing now, by taking their customers, both buyers and sellers, into consideration, their stock might go down over the short, but over the long term it could become much stronger. But, eBay just might get the surprise of their life if they continue to only think about their stockholders and try to maintain a certain income growth. That surprise will come when the stock plummets. Then their stockholders will be the biggest losers. You see, if they continue on their present course, the competition will gain a larger and larger portion of the market, leaving eBay in a downward spiral.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an eBay hater. I've been a big supporter of theirs and give them credit for my success in the Antique and Fine Art Markets. I am sad to say today, that in my humble opinion, they've lost their way because of one thing -- greed. Anytime you put your success before the welfare of your customers, your success will prove to be short term. That is what I think has happened with eBay.

I've been talking about this present scenario for months now in some of my past blogs. On September 29, 2007, I wrote a Blog asking if eBay will remain king of the hill and made predictions on what changes might come and what results might come from these changes. You can scroll back to that Bog, or read my October 2nd article based on this Blog:
Will eBay Remain King of the Hill

Or, read the October 4th press release Cindy wrote :
Author, Daryle Lambert Predicts Ebay Changes On the Horizon

And here was my response to the news that has made so many customers angry: eBay Serves Scrambled Eggs

It is not too late for eBay to make its ship right, but the longer this imbalance remains, the more market share they will lose. And this will be a permanent loss. No one ever thought that GM would lose their number one spot in the market to a competitor, but look what's happened to them. Their last report showed they had the biggest loss in their history. Never forget that customers and their opinions DO count. IT WILL NEVER BE ABOUT WHAT THE COMPANY WANTS BUT WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS.

That same principle applies to the new business that we are creating -- becoming the best Antique and Fine Art dealers in the world. My rule has always been to be honest and to take care of your customers. When you do this, you'll find they will take care of you. This is part of what I discuss in my book "31 Steps to Your Millions in antiques & Collectibles." If you operate with intergrity and an eye out to satisfy your customers, you'll succeed.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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

Daryle Lambert: 73 Year Old Takes On Ebay with Blackwells Live Auction

Wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air to return to the days of olde, when you were present at a live auction, bidding on an item by holding up your paddle, and the selling fees were reasonable?

If Mr. Donald Karr has his way, this just might be possible, but with a modern twist.

Yesterday, I was privileged to speak with Donald Karr, founder of Blackwells Live Auction, for about 2 hours, and they were two of the most rewarding hours I have spent in many years. At 73 years of age, Karr is as young and optimistic as they get, and he wants to make it possible for individuals to still make money for themselves, as they sell their treasures, without giving a large chunk of what they make to the ones that least deserve that large chunk --the auction houses.

Yes, auction houses do provide a wonderful service for people who want to depose of their treasures and belongings, but over the last twenty-five years, the auction houses have truly gotten greedy. When I started in this business, as I have shared with you before, the auction fees were 5%. That was only to the seller, and there were no fees to the buyer. What a far a cry 5% is from where we are today with some auction houses, particularly those whose fees reach 50% when you include the commissions of both the buyer and the seller.

Mr Karr wants to return us to the Days of Olde in a sense, and has introduced a new concept in online auctions, Blackwell Live Auction. A resident of north Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Karr has been a long time Antique and Jewelry dealer well aware of the auction business and the changes that have occurred in the industry. So why am I so excited about this, and why is this auction different than any others? For starters, you will be a live participant at each auction you are a buyer in. Your name will be raised on a bidding paddle as you bid, and if you are the fortunate winner, you will know it immediately.

But it gets even better than that, and you'll know why each one of us might be praying for Mr. Karr's success. The news that landed me on my behind after the chair fell out from under me was this: THE TOTAL FEES FOR ANY ONE TRANSACTION WILL BE A MERE $2.99! Yes, I did say $2.99. You might want to pick yourself up off the floor and check out this website for yourself, because in addition to this great news, Blackwells Live Auction will be auctioning off $100 bills every day with no reserve in order to get people acquainted with the auction. Brilliant!

Let's see what this new concept in online auctions really means to you and me as sellers. Selling a $5,000 item at the regular auction, the seller will bid 20% less than he was willing to bid on your item because of the 20% buyers fee. On the $4,000 that he did bid, you will pay $1,000 in commission. That means that your item, that should have sold for $5000, now is selling for $4000 of which you will only receive $3,000. Not so good you say? Now le'ts do the same thing if you sold it with Mr. Karr at Blackwells. Your bidder bids $5,000 because there is no buyers premium, and you only pay $2.99 for the commission. You net $4,997.01. My math might not be very good, but $3,000 verses $4,997.01 means that you've just made an additional $1997.01 -- 66% more than if you had sold it at the regular auction. Now that is something to get excited about.

I have some hesitations about the technical parts of this venture, but Mr. Karr has assured me that every question I asked had been covered. I pray he will have enough server space, because I can already hear the thunder of the approaching stampede just around the bend.

I am always looking out for you and the 31 Club and will continue to bring you newsworthy economic and industry news as I see it.

LINK:

Blackwells News Release.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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

Daryle Lambert: eBay Changes Will Bring on New Opportunities in Online Auctions

Before eBay, I had the idea for an online auction. But with no technical experience or people that were knowledgeable, this thought soon vanished from my head. This may sound like an Al Gore story, but it isn't. Why couldn't this work, I kept asking myself?

Then, along came eBay, and it answered most of the questions I had about the possibility of doing sales on the net. Even though they struggled through their first few years, they were able to capture the largest part of the Internet market. Their fees were rather reasonable at first, and the risk of using their services compared favorably with the conventional auction houses. Knowing what I had learned being in the Securities Brokerage business, I thought this was too good to true. And it was. Once eBay got to the place that their business was stable, they began to raise their fees. Today, they are in competition with the auction houses to see who can charge their customer the most.

This came as no surprise to me, because I knew these companies have to please their stockholders, and know very little about pleasing their customers. Can you imagine what the decline in the value of eBay stock has meant to their top stockholders like Meg Whitman? Yes, she knew it was time to go, because the customers were beginning to rebel over the excessive fees. Checking her stock transactions just in 2007, she was able to pull hundreds of millions of dollars into her bank account by selling off a percentage of her holdings. Why should she stay with the sinking ship any longer? The stock has been as high as $40.73 this year, but today it sits at $28.02. With her options, this might mean a loss of a billion dollars or more to her. In my opinion, the future for the customers of eBay will be no brighter than it is now. The company will have to continue to raise their fees, and possibly even more than usual if the stock market doesn't begin to smile on the company more favorably.

Why am I writing about this market and the trends that are developing in it? I have shared with members of the 31 Club, since last year, that competition is coming to eBay's dominance in this market. Now my prophecy is coming true with companies like Online Auction, that we have featured, and a new developing company being organized that will have direct online auctions, where you will be able to raise your paddle just like if you were at the auction house but with far less cost. I will be bringing you this information as soon as it becomes available, as well as any other news that will tend to make your business more profitable.

This country boy says, get ready. The tides are changing, and there's power in changing tides. I believe this competition is going to be very favorable to the sellers who have often been forgotten in these markets today.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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

Daryle Lambert: Skip McGrath of Auction Seller's Resource - THANK YOU!

Skip McGrath

There is no better feeling than to be confirmed in your passion by a person you consider a giant in the field. When someone goes out of their way to recognize the effort that you have expended, that deserves a heart felt thanks.

This is what happened to us yesterday when Skip McGrath of Skip McGrath's Auction Seller's Resource wrote a review of our book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles." Skip is unquestionably one of he most recognized people today who has the pulse of eBay in his grasp. I have admired his efforts through his Auction Seller's Resource. He has provided others with necessary information on the highest and best use of eBay, and in doing so, has prospered the lives of many, helped employees become business owners, and enabled them to better provide for their families.

With his permission I share his book review with you:

"I discovered a great little gem of a book called 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles. Actually I didn't discover the book, it discovered me when the author called me asking me to review the book. He sent me a copy (its a printed book --not an eBook). The book is written by Daryle Lambert, who has years of experience in the business. At $19.95, the book is grossly under priced considering the valuable information it contains as well as free membership in his 31Club that comes with every purchase.

Actually I have it backwards. What you do is pay a one-time $19.95 membership to join the 31 Club - 31 Steps To Building Personal Wealth Step by Step with Fine Art, Antiques & Collectibles, then the book is mailed out to your for free. This is not an affiliate program (I wish it was because I enjoy making money from things I can really stand behind). I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles. The book and membership is available at www.31corp.com."

To my amazement, as soon as the review hit his newsletter and website, our computer began to register hits and orders. This is a great testimony to the strength of his position in the market place and in the confidence people have in his recommendations. The tools and information that Skip provide for professional auction sellers is almost limiteless. Skip's website is http://www.skipmcgrath.com/?kbid=1836&img=BasicGuide11.gif

Find out more about my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles. When you order, your membership in the 31 Club is Free.

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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Daryle Lambert: Vintage Visalia Bridle Rosettes Proves a Winner to 31 Club Member

31 Club member made 23 times his money on these Collectible Visalia Bridle Rosettes.

New 31 Club members are having success buying and selling antiques & collectibles in their early steps. Often, this success comes to those who have had little experience in this area yet, they are willing to take action and learn by doing. And, by keeping in touch with me, they allow me to guide them through the steps to assure their success in making successful buys and sells, and then learning how to grow wealth from their profits. Here's a letter I received from a new Vancouver member who came across some Western Collectibles.

"Hi Daryle............I'm quite enjoying your daily blog and am reading your book for the 2nd time.

About 10 days ago I was making a housecall to see some "old stuff" that was being disposed of as part of a downsizing effort.

I had picked out some old postcards and other odds and ends, and was asked if I'd like to see some jewellery (Canadian spelling!). There were some OK items and some bits of no value, but there was one sandwich bag holding a number of pieces of silver attached to small chunks of leather. I was told these were from a bridle that had been used in the '40s. Knowing nothing about equestrian items, I said I could buy them for their silver value, and was told this was acceptable. I paid $30 for the bagful.

Most of the pieces had "Visalia Stock Saddle Co" stamped on them, along with the word "sterling". The bag held 2 large rosettes, 4 buckles, a pair of rein ends and 14 conchos. Thinking I should start "doubling my money" as you recommend, I listed 5 lots on eBay. Here's a little info on one of them: (Cost on this one piece was $8).

Item: Sterling silver bridle rosette - Visalia Stock Saddle Co. - 1940s
eBay number: 160201724669
Date sold: January 30, 2008
Page views: 108
Bids: 24
Final price: $183.50
Winner location: California

In total, the 5 lots brought $475....and I estimate that, at those prices, I have around another $300 worth still to list.

Being a "golden rule" sort of chap, I expect to send some more cash over to the lady from whom I bought them, as I certainly didn't expect quite such a windfall.

The challenge now is: What do I spend the anticipated total of $775 (less expenses) on, in order to reap $1,550 ?

Any advice much appreciated.....................

Regards from Vancouver Island.................... Michael R."

Mike, you ask a very important question and that was, now that I've made my first purchase and sale, so what now? Just do it all over again. This doesn't mean that you have to find one item to spend all your money on, but just that you spend it. It may take three or four items before all your money is spent, but that's okay. However, you must make your next purchases as carefully as you did the first purchase. And keep learning. I suspect the time you spent researching your buy provided you with a body of knowledge that will likely stay with you. How do you feel? You are on your way to our millions in antiques and collectibles? There is no looking back now. And keep in mind that certain items purchased might do well in different arenas, and this is something to carefully consider.


Discover how my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you become financially free following the same simple financial principles that the wealthy follow -- all with antiques, fine art, and collectibles.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. Or, if you'd like to sell your item to us, contact us today.

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Daryle Lambert: EBAY SERVES SCRAMBLED EGGS

I hate to admit this is my opinion but, it is. Ebay has served us the fluff. Yes, they have taken their plan, confused it, and are expecting us not to know that it is just fluff, all puffed up. In fact, if you take an egg, fluff it up into an omelette, it's still an egg. I call this a "Lambertism": Confusion can't trump the truth."

Now it's evident why Meg Whitman announced her retirement. She knew that the market would explode with criticism over the changes that were coming down the line. Why should she stay and ruin the ten year legacy of being one of the top executives in the whole world when she knew the bubble was about to pop?

No matter how you slice it, Ebay's new changes is an attempt to increase revenues so that the stock will reverse its downward spiral. But I think I have news for them. It ain't going to work, and in my opinion, if these changes stand, this stock might be the best short in the market.

I can now hear the stampede of feet searching for other places to sell their merchandise. In fact, if these changes stand, I predict that there will be several new auction sites that will be opening in the near future. This pie is going to be sliced into thinner and thinner slices, and Ebay will be the loser.

Their competition must be in shock today. They were thinking that they might have to rearrange their own marketing plans, because Ebay would be taking away their advantages. Instead, they find themselves in an excellent position to take more market share from Ebay.

Now, it will be wise to evaluate each week where the best service is for the members of the 31 Club and recommend these companies. Does this mean never telling people to use Ebay? No. But we might tell them to wait until Ebay has a day of no listing fees, or other special offers, because under the present plan, these increases don't provide the best value in the marketplace.

One of the "interesting" changes, is that the seller can no longer respond to a buyer's feedback. Now what is this all about? The seller, under the new plan, can no longer respond to negative feedback given by a buyer. The sellers are just asking for a fair shake and the opportunity to defend themselves against unscrupulous buyers.

Stay tuned. I don't think you have heard the last of this yet. It will be interesting to see if the new CEO can stand up under the pressure that is sure to be coming over the next few weeks.

In the South we have an old saying: "Keep your powder dry." This might be a great time to practice patience.

Join me and the rest of the 31 Club as we build wealth in antiques, collectibles, and art, right here. You'll get my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" for FREE. Or, if you're not quite sure about joining and have some questions you'd like to ask me, or just want to talk with me, E-mail me at info@31corp.com. I'll personally see to it that we set up a time to talk with one another.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

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If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

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