Is the economy bringing any bargains to eBay?

[grasswire]

Just wondered if anyone here is watching eBay to see if it is changing with the economic downturn. I haven't spent much time there lately, but would go back to cherry pick if it's a buyers' market now.

[sandnsea]

1. Depends on what you collect

Mid-century is still selling. The hardest to find collectible pieces seem to still sell well. But if you wanted to start a collection, or fill in some more common pieces, you might find some good deals.

[sufrommich]

2. Personally,I'm buying more than selling right now.

I'm going to hang on to my best stuff and try to sell some "lesser" mid century collectibles(dinnerware,etc.) I'm keeping my good pottery and glass until the market improves.

[eleny]

3. Did you see the posting of today that they're cutting 1000 jobs

Here's the link to the thread. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3528983

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I heard that, t oo. My first thought was about Cheney

"How's that workin' out there, ya Dick?"

[grasswire]

9. I assume that you saw McCain's comment in the debate.

I'm not too keen on Meg Whitman running the finances of the U.S. of A. She sure knows how to kill a good money maker.

[Neecy]

4. I don't know about eBay....

I haven't checked it lately. But I've found some really good bargains in the last couple of weeks on craigslist - an excellent condition iRoast coffee roaster (retail $189) for $20, and two iPod Touch 8GB (one each for my nephews) for $125 each.

People are selling off a lot of stuff, and more and more they're using craigslist because of eBay's outrageous fee structure. It's worth perusing a couple of times a week.

[grasswire]

6. I've been watching shopgoodwill.com...

...although that is a bit different because it's a charity auction and dependent on donations to sell. Bids are generally very healthy there, I think, at least in the categories I watch. I haven't actually bought anything there yet because things run up to a point where I wouldn't get a bargain even though the item is quite desireable, and I'm not going to pay a premium.

What frosts me a little bit is that many of the items I would buy are from my LOCAL Goodwill and so I know that the best stuff is skimmed off; no point in me going to their shops here.

[old mark]

11. Agree with that last - I used to go to a Goodwill near my workplace

4 or 5 days a week at lunch just to get away from work, and I managed to find a lot of re-salable and collectable items there several times a week - some real antiques and good just old stuff.

No more.

Most things that look interesting are either badly damaged or reproductions. Whoever does the sorting is pretty sharp - I have been able to find some good stuff, but very little, and nowhere the quality of before the website.

I guess I should check their site and see where it all went.

mark

[zabet]

7. Some bargains, depends on what you collect.

One thing I have noticed (My Dad (78) has coin collected all of his life), he told me a few months ago to start checking my change I get back from purchases. He said due to the economy, old coins would show back up in circulation simply because people need to spend them instead of save them. Sure enough he was right, this week alone I have gotten back 11 wheat back pennies and several pre-1940 nickels. I am saving all I get to let him look through them and see if he needs any for his collection (which I doubt, it was been appraised years ago at over 6 figures), or to tell me if they are worth saving.

[grasswire]

8. very interesting tip, thanks!

My nephew has a busy coffee shop. I'll get him to watch out for the coins that come through just so he can reap any benefit.

[Hubert Flottz]

10. I haven't been shopping on Ebay much but...

I have been going to a few live auctions over the past year and the prices are coming down. Still lots of bidders showing up but, they are not spending like they did a year ago. Bad news for sellers right now, but it's quickly turning into a buyer/collector's market at the estate auctions I've been going to lately. If you have the space and the spare cash, the good deals are out there at this time on the quality antiques and collectables, if you know how and what to buy.

I know you've all probably seen this web site but...

http://www.auctionzip.com/

If you are looking to find things to resell, or maybe a treasure to keep for yourself, look for a live auction near you. The auction gallery I go to once or twice a month keeps several people in that area employed and is for the most part keeping that little town alive. I haven't seen this volume of clean, quality, antiques, sell this cheap, in this area, since the 80s.

Check out auctionzip.com for some action near you...even if you don't have a lot of cash, it's a fun way to spend the day. Highly educational and highly recommended entertainment for the antique buyer, seller, collector and lover.

One little tip...always, try and look any item or items that you may decide to bid on very, very, closely, before the auction/sale starts.(something you can't do on Ebay)