Bruce And Moposters,
Obviously these are grey days
in the collectibles market on Ebay. Notice I didn't say just movie
posters because I am noticing precipitous drops with other collectibles that I
watch closely due to having a passing interest (tin
robots, Chein tin toys, futura pattern Roseville Pottery,
vintage Schuco motorized planes, boats and wind up cars, regional walking
sticks made from the penises of large animals, Disneyana, and WWI
Militaria. Actually, the least impacted seems to be Roseville
Pottery.
It is to me, the
Economy, first and foremost. A malaise has persisted seemingly
for two years fueled by a combination of apprehension to let
money slip by free wheeling for what are luxuries,
basically non-essentials we clump together and call collectibles
combined with actual realities of job loss, inflation, health care
and the like. But certainly second has to be Ebay itself for both
buyers and sellers but not for the same reasons.
Buyers, if new, are terribly
intimidated by the labyrinth of indifference when a purchase goes sour.
And sour seems to be all to frequent of after taste.
For sellers though, all one
need do is read the Ebay posting sites and the sheer volume of
malcontents is staggering. The complete lack of seller support and
administrative access is outrageous. And sellers are bailing
opting for group websites, catalogues and direct mail pieces.
Therefore less desireable inventory and thus becomes a near firesale mentality
for the more plentiful pieces that used to command at least
double less than 15 months ago.
So surviving is all about personal service,
communication, and a positive history of business which is how
galleries survive. The barnstroming Ebay Days are kaput if you ask
me since no one is having fun anymore.
freeman fisher
