Why EBAY never ceases to be entertaining

[Marc Chevalier]

Part of the fun for eBay sellers is analyzing the hows and whys of auction results. Take, for example, those green shoes. (I promise, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll be the last time!) What happened? Here?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s a guess. Some of my best customers for vintage men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s shoes are Australians and New Zealanders. South of the Equator, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s the middle of summer right now. Could it be that my customers are on vacation and away from the Internet? Seems quite possible ?¢‚Ǩ¬¶ in hindsight, alas!

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Yep, and you should see Japanese Collectors with Blue Angels stuff!

I sell 40's and 50's mens stuff on Ebay, and 90% of my customers are from overseas! As far a vintage American clothing goes, price is no object for these fine folks!

I don't know where they get such deep pockets but there is a select group of them who just love US Military Aircraft Demo Team memorabillia.
DR

 

[Lauren]

I knew someone who flew for the Blue Angels. He was a friend of my parents. Unfortunately, he went down in a crash. He always thought the guys who abandoned the expensive airplanes weren't very courageous.

 

[Solid Citizen]

The Green Lantern's Spectators

Yes, its sad but true:

1. These were the very spectator shoes worn
by Justice League hero The Green Lantern when
not on duty!

2. We understand that they were then passed on
to The Green Hornet.

3. Hornet rented them out on several occasions
for St. Patrick Day gatherings.

SC

 

[Marc Chevalier]

In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog, "It isn't easy being green."

 

[Zach R.]

And I'm pretty sure that they were originally owned by Oliver Queen(aka Green Arrow) before being passed on to the Green Lantern.

 

[Solid Citizen]

Emerald City Chorus Line (Mr. Greenjeans Producer)

1. The Green Lantern

2. Green Arrow

3. Green Hornet

4. Kermit The Frog

Thanks guys I know were all green with envy!

SC

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Trends,...but how to predict them?

I buy and sell on ebay under two IDs...been on it for several years...must have around 800 transactions. And it still surprizes and puzzles me. I regularly see top gear go for peanuts or not at all while junk goes through the roof.OK, maybe I can't tell good gear from junk (hah!) but how to explain two B3 flight jackets, same size, same condition, virtually identical search words and category listing, listed within hours of each other...one gets about thirty bids and goes for $700 the other doesn't sell for $100. I see stuff like this all the time. Which reminds me I'd better log off and go check my auctions, looks like I could be seeing some more of it soon.....

I've noticed this same phenomenon. Sometimes absolutely no one will bid on a completely awesome and desirable item! (except me ) Sometimes everyone bids on a mediocre piece.( also me :rage: ) Maybe more practice, (and patience) in the art of e-baying is needed, or maybe it's just blind luck?

 

[Solid Citizen]

The Beauty of Ebay

Major Nick, thats whats so cool about Ebay.

1. Over the years I've picked up some great militaria
items @ Ebay well below what you would have paid
in a catalog, shop, internet or show.

2. Its the old right place at the right time & luck +

"Knowledge" which can be a lethal tool in the hands
of savy colletors!

SC

 

[jake_fink]

Solid Citizen,

1. When and why did you decide to post all thoughts and remarks numerically?

2. Do you think it will catch on? (I like it.)

3. You negelected to number the following:

"Knowledge" which can be a lethal tool in the hands
of savy colletors!

and that had me worried about anarchists.

J-F
:cheers1:

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Maybe more practice, (and patience) in the art of e-baying is needed, or maybe it's just blind luck?

1. Both, although

2. the "luck" part

3. can

4. be minimalized.



By George, it is catching on!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I was recently caught up in a frenzy of bidding,....

....for a particularly desirable WW2 item,.......
1. I did NOT win the auction!
2. I am GLAD I did not.
3. Because I looked at the sellers history and I saw that he stumbled upon said item at a buy it now price of around $100 bucks.
4. Said item finally sold for a little over $300!!
5. So I think there is a bit of luck involved,.... Ebay Gaurdian Angel?
6. :cheers1:

7. (P.S. ~ Yes, I did learn a valuable lesson there!)

 

[Senator Jack]

I've been selling on and off for a few years now. The oddest of sales?

1) My girl and I were at an estate sale. I tossed her a purple tissue box. 'Here, maybe someone will want this.' We paid a quarter and it went for $53.00

2) A pair of vintage pink oven mitts that went for $51.00!

You never know when people are going to get into a bidding war for the most mundane of items.

BTW, I saw those green shoes and cursed when they were too large by one size.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Marc Chevalier]

You've got to make your feet bigger.

 

[Sefton]

Is it possible to post it on Japan's ebay? You'd be hitting your target audience with that suit.

Actually there is no Japanese Ebay. As was mentioned,the Japanese check the U.S. Ebay. Also Yahoo! Auctions Japan is quite large. My wife (she's Japanese) buys there all the time. Most sellers in Japan won't ship to the U.S. but we have our items sent to my wife's parents home. You'll need a contact over there to get stuff sent to the U.S.

 

[Senator Jack]

Here's how I usually promote my unique items.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8383460884&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

that is why there are no old, bold pilots. just old ones

I knew someone who flew for the Blue Angels. He was a friend of my parents. Unfortunately, he went down in a crash. He always thought the guys who abandoned the expensive airplanes weren't very courageous.

PM Me with his name and years he flew with the team.
dr

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Good one Senator

Here's how I usually promote my unique items.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8383460884&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

Regards,

Senator Jack

A very colorful description for a colorful suit. Looks to be from the planet Trafalmadore, as the inhabitants are known to be little green men. :cheers1:

 

[Fedora]

Most sellers in Japan won't ship to the U.S.

Do you have an idea of why this is the case? Does it have something to do with the price of postage? I have found it is relatively cheap to ship my hats to the rest of the world, but my buddy Marc tells me it is expensive to ship to the States from Germany. Fedora

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Do you have an idea of why this is the case? Does it have something to do with the price of postage? I have found it is relatively cheap to ship my hats to the rest of the world, but my buddy Marc tells me it is expensive to ship to the States from Germany. Fedora

That's wierd. Actual shipping costs from Europe aren't that expensive. For example, a two piece suit from the UK to the US is 17 pounds - pretty much the same as it is to send a similar suit the other way.

Now, the shipping cost the seller asks for is a very different kettle of fish. There's one particular seller in Britain (sorry if it's someone here) who asks for upwards of thirty (30) pounds to send a two piece suit to the US. This kind of scalping seems to be rampant on eBay.co.uk I'll bet when those things arrive they have 17 pounds worth of stamps on 'em. I've heard of handling costs, but some sellers are simply ridiculous.

bk