The final sale prices on almost everything that I watch

[sufrommich]

on Ebay has gone way,way,down. I watch(and sometimes buy) mostly mid century pottery and dinnerware,I sell it as well,the prices are rock bottom (where is an endless cash supply when you need it)except for a very few items that still sell at decent prices.Is anyone else seeing this in other categories?Vases that were selling for over $100.00 this summer are going for 1/4 of that amount now. I'm hanging onto my stuff and hoping the prices recover some day.

[Vinca]

1. I've been watching for a Shelley cup to go with a saucer I found

for more than a year. It finally appeared and it looks like I might get it for under $5.00 which is dirt cheap. Even with postage I should be able to make a decent profit on it in the group shop. Oddly enough, my booth sales haven't been too bad. ebay has tanked for me though. I haven't got anything on in an auction format at the moment.

[grasswire]

3. prices are still pretty up at the goodwill auction site

I'm always surprised at the bids there. A recent auction of a collection of 200 easter postcards sold for almost $350, and that is premium pricing without being able to inspect the lot.

[Vinca]

4. Do you think people are more apt to bid higher there because it's

a charity site? I've noticed items selling at a local charity thrift shop for more than I would mark them in an antique store . . . and they actually sell. Do you suppose people think they're getting a bargain because it's for a charity?

[sufrommich]

6. The goodwill site is interesting.I'm not sure what drives up

the prices.Things sell better on Goodwill than they do on Ebay.I imagine Ebay has ten times the traffic Goodwill does.

[sandnsea]

9. Trust in the authenticity

of the product, I imagine. People have it in their head that it's all donated items from Grandma's attic, so they're willing to take the risk. I think they also believe the sellers are more honest in their descriptions, as far as chips and cracks, etc. The first is probably true, but I've gotten many more things from Goodwill that were in worse shape than described. I think the people selling them don't realize it matters that much. But at least I've never gotten anything that I was pretty sure was fake, and that has happened to me with Ebay. I have gotten a few things on Goodwill that I sold for quite a bit on Ebay though, before the economy went kaplooie.

[grasswire]

2. that's interesting to know

In the back of my mind I've been thinking that now is the time to lay in some mid-century stuff and hold it until the economy recovers. If a person has some capital to do that, I suspect it is not a bad investment. I'm looking at table linens, kitchen stuff -- watching for deals.

I've also been considering things that can not/will not be replaced in our culture. Old photograph albums, old autograph albums, things that exemplify old ways people have communicated.

[sufrommich]

5. It's amazing,isn't it?

If I had a lot of money I'd be buying up antiques right now.

[yy4me]

7. Since the word of the Goodwill site has spread, they get far

more people visiting the site. I guess it is because they are so organized and have a clientele that is less caught up in the "if it is on e-bay it must be a good buy". I have bought from both sources and have found that although I lose items frequently, I like the format of Goodwill better and feel I have done a good deed by buying from them. Both have their place but e-bay is so huge, I feel lost wandering through 4350 items to see what I might be looking for in the category. I also like the going, going, gone section of Goodwill. I feel I have a better shot there.

Even though I'm sort of out of the biz, you know how it is, you never lose your interest in the things you love. Plus I have an excuse, my two girls and 2 grandchildren will always need stuff. Justifies my purchase.

I will admit, I have bought far less as of lately, the wallet is very thin. I was laid off for 7 weeks but they called me back. I have a feeling I will be laid off again. The company is suffering. The reason I was called back was not because of an increase in business, rather that boss discovered some hankey-pankey going on with one of my co-workers. Came to a surprise to all of us.

I don't make much money anymore, the career days are over but it helps to get a paycheck to supplement the very meager Social Security.

[grasswire]

8. hang in there, yy4me

So many of us are struggling that you have lots of company. The only thing I can say is that I'd rather be older now than young with a whole life of this new economy ahead. Opportunity for some, forced frugality for others.

[yy4me]

10. Lots of truth in your last sentence. I don't envy the lot for young

people today. My children and grandchildren will suffer. Everyone's will. I hope I live long enough to see things get back to something akin to normal. We all have such high hopes for Obama. What a job he has ahead of him. No matter how good he is, this mess will take a long time to cure.