(by 14 people)
Buying or Selling your Treasured Collectibles Online?
Due partly to Hurricane Ike we will be closing our Penney's Collectibles ebay store and are now having a going out of business sale. We may offer a few things on auction but for the most part just don't have the time or income to commit to keeping the store open. Click on the icon to see what is now on sale at Penney's Collectibles. We will still be available here on Squidoo. What collectibles will you sell?
Knowing what collectibles to buy or sell on ebay or any website and how to promote your business can make the difference between doing something to suppliment your income or support yourself and only having cash flow or going into debt trying to learn it. Many struggling individuals have been sadly dissappointed when trying to learn the art of buying and selling collectibles online. In this lens we have attempted to give you many tips for wise buying and selling online based on our reading and experience to help you avoid the pitfalls. This is not a get rich quick scheme whether you sell on ebay or your own website or another site. It is work and you will have many decisions to make, but we may be able to save you some expense and trouble.
Do the research
Researhing your collectibles can save you $. What is hot today may not be hot tomorrow so check the market and research your treasures before jumping in. Some products just aren't going to sell on auction at any price but will sell in the store to the collector looking for just that one particular item. You may research your item by a google search or a number of discussion boards. For researching Collectibles KOVELS is great! They also put out a monthly newsletter which helps to keep you up on what's hot and what's Fake etc.
Find your niche
You should only buy and sell what you yourself really love. This will help you to write good descriptions. I suppose if I have a niche it would be decorative collectbles. As you will see, we have sold and are selling in a variety of catagories. We have sold collectible dolls and hand painted artist plates. We have also sold many wonderful decorative items like Fenton and Lenox and Lefton. We have sold practical items like clothing and Sterling Silver Flatware and Jewelry. Then there are New, Old, or Vintage Items and Items which are historical or help with the study of geneology. If it is collectible or artistic or just beautiful we have probably sold it or will sell it. If you are looking for a particular item feel free to e-mail us. If we don't have it to offer now, we may have it in the future.
Be Friendly and Helpful
Help others who are struggling to succeed. Be helpful and courteous.Learn some basic html
This will help you to save money on listings and to make a better looking listing or lense. With a photo hosting site like photobucket.com (FREE) and a little html you can host your own pics and save time and money. Check the lense in the right hand column called Basic Html Squidoo. This will not only help you to add pictures and links here on squidoo but other sites like ebay as well. We will be adding more tips, resources and shopping information throughout this lens and wish you all the best.Don't Be Fooled
When Buying or Selling Collectibles
Do the research when you are interested in genuine collectibles. The more collectible it is the more likely there will be copies. Genuine Shirley Temple Composition Dolls were first made by Ideal after Shirley starred in Stand Up and Cheer in 1934. Shirley Temple was stamped on the back of the body and the back of the head in a half circle. To be certain you should have both stamps. If you own a composition Shirley Temple or other composition doll she will need tender care as they do not do well with extreme temperature changes or in high humidity. To learn more about Shirley Temple Dolls you may want to check out this excellent website Shirley Temple Dolls and Collectibles Learn about your collectibles.
Collecting and Classifying Coloured Diamonds: An Illustrated Study of the Aurora Collection
Amazon Price: $294.00 (as of 11/21/2008) 
Collecting Contemporary
Amazon Price: $34.29 (as of 11/21/2008)
Complete Price Guide to Watches
Amazon Price: (as of 11/21/2008)
Avon Collectible Fashion Jewelry and Awards (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 11/21/2008)
Buying to sell? Consider These Tips!
How to find the Good Stuff !
The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.
What Flatware and Dinnerware is collectible and why?
Look for quality, style and durability.
Describe your treasures accuratelyHow often have you brought your antique vintage or old glass or porcelain treasure home only to find it has a small chip, stain, crack or has been repaired in some way. Sometimes it makes it worthless and sometimes it doesn't. It depends a lot on how rare or unique it is. At any rate any and all defects should be disclosed.
Avoid the Real Junk!
Most of our treasured collectibles have come from estate sales and auctions. We are particular about quality and realize the fact that our internet buyers do not have the privaledge of handling our products before buying. Knowing this we go to great lengths to examine and describe our items even taking magnified pictures of defects we might find. Even new items can have defects therefore these are examined as well. Items are checked before listing and again before shipping. We would prefer not to sell an item than have an unhappy buyer. Ebay shows we are at the top for buyer satisfaction. We are working hard to keep it up.
Seek out Genuine Collectiles
Flatware and dinnerware are collectible for several reasons. It is fun when collecting antique or vintage dinnerware to come up with a complete set. Sometimes it is just what Mom or Grandma had as a child and it brings back the fondest memories. It is fun to bring out your collectibles on the holidays whether it is a complete set or mixed set. It is also just awesome to see such quality artistry that has lasted in good condition for so long. Some sell better than others because they are harder to find in their original state or they are just a great brand name. Maybe someone in the family worked as a silversmith or potter or discovered a popular new way to make porcelain china. Sterling silver flatware is much more colectible than silverplate and antique or vintage patterns are often more popular than modern because they are more rare! Towle and Gorham and Mikasa are well known for their quality! Did you ever wonder about the beautiful dinnerware you use or collect? Find out more about pottery, porcelain and glass
Afraid to Shop Online???!!!!
How to have safe transactions on the internet!
We offer Paypal checkout to all our buyers and use it ourselves for online shopping with no problem. Paypal charges sellers a fee based on the total transaction including shipping but it is worth it for the ease of use and peace of mind.
The first rule for safe shopping on the internet is to never give personal information over an e-mail link. Honest internet businesses will never ask for information through e-mail.
When shopping with someone for the first time it is good to check their feedback. A buyer or seller can get an unjustified negative but a red flag should go up if they have a very poor feedback score.
I would also ask myself if the person I want to transact business with appears to be serious about staying around for a long time. In other words are they serious about having a good online reputation.
Take Great Close up pictures
Remember your buyer can't touch or examine the art himself so the macro setting of your camera is a fiend to your buyer. It will show you and your buyer details that might otherwise be missed!
What Rings your Bell? Advertising Your Collectibles and More!
Do's and Don'ts of Advertising
advertise effectively Effective advertising is going to call others to view and consider your products and services. How do you get the word out? It will cost you in time or $ or both But there are ways to save time and expense as well.
Never use pop-ups
Never Spam your buyers
Pop-up and Spam e-mails are not only annoying, they waste time for both you and your buyers.
Listing with bells and whistles{unless they are collectible}can also be annoying as is listing with all capital letters or capitals and lower case letters throughout a word. How do you advertise effectively? See our discussion on Advertising Paid and Not
Our Bell Collection
Here is our collection of Bells. I love the look of bells and the ring tones. Bells have been used for a variety of purposes. The dinner bell called the farmer and his children to dinner. The church bell would let the community know it was time for church or other meetings. These bells are just appreciated for their beauty. We have the Fenton in the strawberry pattern and the Lenox with the date tag among others.
Click on the picture to see which are currently offered for sale.
Home Decorating with Antiques and Collectibles
The art of decorating with vintage and antiques!
Art Glass Crystal and More
We love all kinds of art collectibles and sell in a variety of categories as you can see here. If you don't find what you are looking for please feel free to e-mail us.
Click on the picture to see more collectible glass!
This lovely bell is by Lenox. Lenox is one of our favorite glassmakers. We love the decorative Avon bottles, and Mikasa Crystal. We love all types of decorative glass, ruby glass, frosted glass, and milk glass.
Great Stuff on eBay
Here is some great stuff by good sellers worth looking at! Enjoy!
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Selling Buying Collecting Tips, Advice, and More
You will find many interesting and hopefully helpful discussions here about collectibles and collecting.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byCollectibles on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byUnique and Cool Gifts
Disney, Dept 56 , Mcdonnald,s and More!
Click on the picture to see more unusual gifts new and not so new.
Unique Shakers
Click on the picture to see more figural shakers
Figural salt and pepper shakers are fun to collect. These Vintage shakers from Japan had cork stoppers. It is unusual to find them with cork stoppers today because the use of cork in shakers was discontinued in 1960. This one doesn't have a mate but collectors often collect singles to display with other collectible figures and other shakers as well.
Avon
Click on the picture to see more collectible Avon in our store.
The Avon Company was founded in 1939. It was originally the California Perfume Company. Their adorable figural perfume bottles became great collectors items, but their product samples, awards, jewelry, magazine ads and catalogs have also become quite collectible.
Our Jewelry Treasures
New Vintage and Antique Collectible Jewelry
Click on the picture to see more collectible Jewelry.
Here you will find an assortment of jewelry items from Vintage to New Gifts and Costume to Fine Gold or Silver. For New Artisan Jewelry check out Rachel's Designs.
Kerosene Lantern Collection
Collectible Toys
Here you will find Ty Beanies, Mcdonnalds Toys and more
Shipping a Big Concern For Buyers and Sellers on Ebay and other sites as well!
Shipping is a concern for both buyers and sellers.
Always figure fair shipping and quote itOnce you have given a shipping quote stick to it.
Some new sellers don't know how to pack for shipping or what to charge for shipping products.
The buyer wants to know if he is going to recieve his collectible or gift in the same condition as described and in a reasonable amount of time. The seller has to be concerned with packaging so that it doesn't bend, break, come apart in the mail etc. Both will be concerned about the cost of shipping. Buyers cringe at the prospect of paying high shipping for small collectibles unless they are extremely rare or unique and sellers want to cover their cost at least somewhat when estimating shipping cost. I have been burned a few times and eaten the extra cost. Now that ebay has the star system you must be extra careful! I have seen some packages at the post office that would make you cringe. Don't they know their package is going to be tossed, dropped, rained on and crunched under other packages. Fragile all over the package won't necessarily protect it. You can pray that it isn't run over with a truck or that the truck doesn't catch fire! Plane Crash!
Maintain excellent feedback
O course you can do everything right and someone could still fault you, so if you get a nick on your record don't be discouraged! Pick yourself up and get going again. If the discouraging word is not justified most buyers and sellers will recognize it for exactly what it is.
Our Buyers Feedback
What makes great Customer Service?
Are you committed to serving?
Do you have or are you thinking of starting a website or online store? If so you will definately want to visit this forum!
Jewelry Collectibles Small business Forum
Visit Our Ebay Store
We try to keep at least 100+ items listed however we have more to offer. If you don't see what you are looking for please feel free to e-mail us.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byHelp!
Still need help researching your collectibles?
Here are some excellent sources for researching many of your collectibles. Discussion forums are also an excellent way to find more help and resources and make friends as well.
China Pattern Identification, china dishes , crystal , glassware ...
Then e-mail the images directly to us at research@ more...1 point
What's Collectible
1 point
PM&M - German and related porcelain marks and facility history]
This is a page of the 'Porcelain Marks and More' s more...1 point
PM&M menu [Fake & Repro Marks]
This is a page of the 'Porcelain Marks and More' s more...1 point
Our Holiday's Collectibles Gallery
These Collectibles are Most Useful During the Holiday's
If you are already getting ready for the Holiday season or just looking for collectble gifts take a look here or click on the picture above! We have many items in our store which make nice gifts including Rachel's Designs artisan jewelry.
fancy chandelier gla...
Mikasa Crystal Bowl...
deer shaker
bird mikasa
Our Lantern Collecti...
Our bell collectible...
Mikasa Crystal Servi...
babydoll
Vintage blue clip on...
Vintage link bracele...
Reader Feedback
Hi and welcome,
We hope you enjoy this lens and will come again. We would enjoy feedback from you. A thumbs up would be great as we try to improve.
chisumtrailmercantile wrote...
Very good information for anyone buying or selling - love those "doll babys" - Chisum Trail Mercantile
Posted January 02, 2008
MyKidsInheritance wrote...
What a wonderful, wonderful lens. Full of great advice...5 stars!
Melissa
Posted December 11, 2007
trueprosperity wrote...
Your lens is awesome. 5 Stars. Great information. I have some china that I inherited from my grandmother and the whole set is in excellent condition (She may have only used it on a couple of holidays). I don't know what it's worth but it means a lot to me.
God Bless
Posted September 04, 2007
Glyphman wrote...
Really looking excellent! I was surprised to see the Avon bird bottle. I have that same one sitting on my bathroom counter for decoration. You have put a lot of work into your lens and it shows. Great job!
Posted August 28, 2007
