Anyone else having trouble getting good prices on ebay.

[Mike Nelson IV]

Hey Guys!

This is the first post from an avid lava lamp collector - only the USA-made ones though!

I just sold a #21 Purple/Red lava lamp (USA made) on ebay for around $14.00 dollars - I even threw in an extra lava for good measure, and was surprised this was all I could get.

Anyone else think this was kind of a bad deal, or should I just be happy that I sold it? Btw I also lost out on the shipping, sadly...

Thanks!

[Mike Nelson IV]

Thanks Bohdan, yeah it seems we could make more selling at a yard sale or craigslist!

[Modulo '70]

Bohdan's right. Lamp sales are a bit in the doldrums at present This is to do with the recession I guess and lack of money that people have to spend on 'luxuries'.

[WeeboTech]

It also depends on what you are selling and to who. I have some rareities that are flying out the door.

In fact I had to turn down work offered to me so I could reserve saturdays as a shipping day.

I also have had some low offers which make me put them to the back of the closet.

[Goo Geek]

Lava Lamps are collectibles whose value is determined solely by collectors bidding against each other. As much as we collectors may value them we need to remember that they don't have any real intrinsic value. They are collectibles not rare antiques made by craftsman. We determine their value by bidding against each other. Sellers of collectibles make the mistake of seeing a high final price on Ebay and in their minds that is the new base price that a similar item should sell for. In reality it is all about who is bidding against each other. Remember Beanie Babies?

[Gooboy]

I have also had bad experience selling collectibles on Fleabay. Stuff that a few years ago, before the bottom fell

out of the economy, where selling for top dollar.

Now, no one is buying anything! everyone is looking for "bargains".

 

I have a collection of tin robot toys made in the 50's to 70's. Many have high value a few years back, now, it's hard to

find a buyer and prices have fallen.

 

I also have boxes of old collectible Simpson's toys and figures which we all thought would appreciate in value, which

they did for a while, then when the recession hit, now you cant give them away and I am stuck with cases of Simpson

toys!! :(

I have contacted the big toy dealers on Fleabay and they are experiencing the same problem.

[Goo Geek]

As a buyer of collectibles you have to be careful not to get caught up in the buying frenzy thinking that short term price increases are going to be a long term trend. Don't buy and hold collectibles unless you really love them and are willing to keep them.

[Goo Geek]

Robots are cool collectibles and they look great in your lava photos Bohdan.

[Gooboy]

Thanks for the heads up. I havent checked the market in several months, and do have some tin bots to auction.

Maybe now is a good time.

And I agree, tin bots from the 60's look great displayed with LL's :)

Bohdan said:

Even though lamp sales are still down Robot sales have begun to go up. I have seen a few on Ebay now that are into the $3,000.00 to $7,000.00 range and some even have hit the $12,000.00 for them.  Perhaps by April we will see lamp sales start to climb up some what. As with any collection you collect for the fun of it and in time you may find that a few items you have will give back a small fortune

 

.http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110656879230...

Stanley Post said:

I have also had bad experience selling collectibles on Fleabay. Stuff that a few years ago, before the bottom fell

out of the economy, where selling for top dollar.

Now, no one is buying anything! everyone is looking for "bargains".

 

I have a collection of tin robot toys made in the 50's to 70's. Many have high value a few years back, now, it's hard to

find a buyer and prices have fallen.

 

I also have boxes of old collectible Simpson's toys and figures which we all thought would appreciate in value, which

they did for a while, then when the recession hit, now you cant give them away and I am stuck with cases of Simpson

toys!! :(

I have contacted the big toy dealers on Fleabay and they are experiencing the same problem.