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 Friday, February 01, 2008
Clearly, "lower listing fees" should be in quotes
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
I'm getting a tremendous amount of email from readers on our question of the week - see below - and I clearly should have put lower listing fees in quotation marks. I apologize for the oversite, but love the passion that people are bringing to this argument, whether in support of the changes (a few) or against (most)... Alot of these responses will be in the 2-20 issue of Trader, with the rest online. Meanwhile, keep responding, and keep on keeping me on the straight and narrow...
antique | Antiques | Antiques, blog, question of the week | eBay
Friday, February 01, 2008 7:16:11 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00) 
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Effect of eBay changes on smaller antiques buyers
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
One of Trader's online readers, Frank, responded to our question of the week - Can eBay stay relevant with its current changes? - and raised a good point from the view of a "casual" user, of which there are many - myself included. Here's what he has to say: Noah:
I was reading about eBay, the current subject for your new blog site. Here are my comments. I'll let you decide if they are "bloggable".
I have been a registered eBay user for nearly 10 years. While my selling has been fairly limited, I planned to increase it in the coming years when I retire. My area is mostly antique toys in the $75. to $800. range (at a few dozen per year, a very small dealer in eBay terms). So I look at every strategic and revenue adjustment at eBay from that perspective.
I don't really think that the site thinks of me as a member of one of their most important revenue categories. If that turns out to be increasingly true, then I may go over to listing quantities of items with traditional auctioneers (some of whom also use eBay or some other internet auctioneer anyway) to appeal to a wider range of buyers. It all comes down to dollars. If it's a wash, who needs the hassle of packing, shipping and the occasional non-payer? The decision will be an easy one.
Frank
I have to agree with what he says. I believe that eBay might be hurting themselves from the standpoint of the small user, like Frank. If, however, these "small" users are spending anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 a year on eBay - listing and buying - that has to add up when you consider the sheer volume. EBay might get some of the money from users like Frank, using bigger eBay dealers, but alot of that money is going to go to other dealers on other sites that are specifically dedicated to antiques already, and aren't as problematic, like Ruby Lane, et al.
antique | Antiques | eBay | Toys
Friday, February 01, 2008 4:01:07 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Worst Building Ever?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
I am, at heart, a a great lover of groundbreaking architecture - Modern, post-modern, post-post-modern - you name it, I'm an adherent and a seeker. Esquire Magazine's Web site regularly features some of what it considers the worst architcture on the planet, and I have to frequently agree with the choices of its writer(s). The alert for the column that came across the Web today is for what writer Eva Hagberg calls " The Worst Building in the History of Mankind," it's the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, and I'm not necessarily discinclined to agree, though there is something amazingly thrilling and strange about this monstrosity that was abondoned 2/3 of the way through building, and has sat vacant for the last two decades. It's a great little essay, with a great couple of videos - totally sci-fi and futuristic in a retro, steam punk kind of way. From the article: "A picture doesn't lie -- the one-hundred-and-five-story Ryugyong Hotel is hideous, dominating the Pyongyang skyline like some twisted North Korean version of Cinderella's castle. Not that you would be able to tell from the official government photos of the North Korean capital -- the hotel is such an eyesore, the Communist regime routinely covers it up, airbrushing it to make it look like it's open -- or Photoshopping or cropping it out of pictures completely." Somehow the cleresy of the North Korean government in the 1980s must have thought that the hotel would be a shining beacon of communist architecture, anticipating the flood of visitors to Pyongyang when capitalism fell. Now, simply, they are saddled with it. I have to say, though, there is something awe-inspiring - and frightening in a totalitarian sort of way - about it. Read the link above and see what you think. 
antique | Antique news odd | Architecture | pop art
Friday, February 01, 2008 3:40:26 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, January 31, 2008
A blow to Antique Glass collectors and dealers
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Probably not what glass lovers wanted to hear.
Gary Barnum, a well respected glass dealer and collector sent this to Trader; not very good news for glass collectors whose buying/selling season depends in large part on the Marietta Civitan Club Glass Show during the Fenton shows:
PO Box 68
Marietta, OH 45750
Dear Glass Show Exhibitor:
We regret to inform you that the Marietta Civitan Club has decided not to hold the Glass Show this year. The combination of the organizational effort and increasing cost makes it impossible for us to continue this effort.
The club owes a deep debt of gratitude to Alice Hall, who along with her late husband Don founded the show, with the idea of using the profits to supporting Civitan. They put many years of hard work into the show.
We appreciate your support over the years and will miss the spirit of camaraderie that we have enjoyed with you. If no one else steps in to hold a similar event, our community will also miss the economic value that you and your customers brought to Marietta and the surrounding area.
To find out whether there will be another show during the conventions that may be helpful to you, we suggest contacting the following organizations:
Marietta/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau
121 Putnam St.
Marietta, OH 45750
(740) 373-5178
www.mariettaohio.org
Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America
702 W. Fifth Street
Williamstown, WV 26187
(304) 375-6196
http://users.wirefire.com/fagcainc/
National Fenton Glass Society
156 Front Street
Marietta, OH 45750
(740) 374-3345
www.fentonglasssociety.org
Thank you again for your support over the last twenty-five years and best wishes for your continued success in your business.
Very truly yours,
Marietta Civitan Club
And here’s what Gary wrote about the news: Subject: Annual Marietta Glass Show/Sale Closing
Sad news…
The very large Glass Show and Sale held annually at the Fairgrounds in Marietta during the Fenton Conventions will not (after 25 years) be held in 2008 unless and until someone can take over from the Civitan Club!
What a blow that is to the hundreds of vendors who, like me, counted upon the Fairground's Show/Sale to peddle their glass. What a blow also to the buyers who count on going to the event to find a treasure or a needed item to add to their collections.
The Civitan notice declares rising costs to be a reason for closing, but did not comment on the fact that they could have passed those costs on to the vendors. I, for one, would have expected an increase in the space rent to be normal under the circumstances. No. They are just not going to make the effort to promote or hold the show for the foreseeable future.
While I sure hope that someone or some organization can step up to the plate and keep the show going, I will be looking for other possible venues to set up and sell glass.
Options include: A.) Setting up in the motel holding the convention; in the rooms of the motel; B) Persuading the City of Williamstown to organize once again, the use of the City Park for vendors, or; C) Trying to squeeze more vendors into the Williamstown School Auditorium.
It looks bleak as it stands. I hope some enterprising person or group can and will step up and keep the show going and doing it during the Fenton Glass Society’s conventions, as before, the end of July. Heck, the NFGS, FAGGC and the Stretch Glass Society are ALL planning their conventions at that time. I know that all members of those groups will surely miss buying glass from the vendors who would have set up on the Marietta Fairgrounds.
If anyone hears more, please post the info or write a note to me. Wait! There’s a little more bad news, adding insult to injury… The Old Knight’s Inn, where a popular room-to-room show was set-up during the glass conventions is being razed, maybe to not come back… Here’s what Gary writes on this: One long time favorite of glass vendors for the Fenton convention scene is going into history, too.
Sellers would annually occupy a sprawling one level motel that was arranged in perhaps six rows of rooms with about 20 rooms in each row. The vendors packed each room in the place and sold glass out of their rooms. If the door was not locked, it signified seller was 'in' and for buyers to open the door and come in to see what glass was for sale. Sales there went on for five or six days during the conventions.
Here's the info about the Old Knight's Inn; Best Value Inn/Old Knights Inn is being torn down and replaced with a Microtel.
That means another glass selling venue in Marietta is gone and perhaps not coming back as a place to sell glass during future conventions!I’m curious to know what any of our readers who are in on the glass scene think about this, and what it says about the health of the market.
Antiques | Antique Glass | Fenton Glass | Antiques Show
Thursday, January 31, 2008 8:37:31 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Antique Trader Question of the week - Can eBay remain relevant?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Everyone in the antiques business - collector and dealer alike - have an opinion about eBay. However you feel about it now, it's played a major role in antiques commerce over the last decade. The role, however, has been changing rapidly in recent weeks. Ebay has suffered a well publicized decline in market share in the last year - something like 14% - in its auction business and has not seen it's Marketplace feature do as well as investors would have like to have seen in the face of Amazon and Google's growing share. This all culminated last week when it was announced that Meg Whitman, the CEO who guided eBay to glory in the late 1990s, was resigning to "spend more time with her family." That last bit was mine... I just put it in for dramatic effect... Whitman's resignation, and her successors pledge to amp up the Marketplace and "Buy It Now" features while de-emphasizing the auction business, along with a reduction in listing fees and a tweak to the feedback system - which many sellers fear will lead to shady buyers not being weeded out - have given eBay more press than its had in a few years. Whether it's positive remains to be seen. Here's what Trader wants to know this week: With a leadership change, lower listing fees and a shift in selling focus, can eBay remain a relevant force in the marketplace? Post your answer to the new Antique Trader Blog at www.antiquetraderblog.com/atblog, or send your response to noah.fleisher@fwpubs.com.
| Antiques | Antiques, blog, question of the week | eBay
Thursday, January 31, 2008 3:05:52 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Antique Trader 2-13, coming your way
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Here's a sneak preview at this week's cover... Actually the 2-13 cover, but we all know it breaks about 10 days early.  Click on the image to go to Trader's main site.
Antiques
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 7:37:26 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Trouble at The Magazine Antiques?
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
It was reported yesterday in The Bee (Antiques and the Arts Weekly) that Sandra J. Brant is selling her stake in The Magazine Antiques, the nation's oldest, most venerable and certainly highest-end antiques magazine. It's no secret that TMA has been having issues of late - all segments of print are - but this is pretty big news. Two weeks ago the editor of the publication - Alison Ledes - lost her battle with cancer. She was only the fourth editor in the 80+ years of the mag, and quite a nice lady, too. I had the chance to speak with her on several occasions before she got too sick to continue, and always found her to be polite, professional and sharp as a tack. She is indeed missed in the business, if such things matter to you. With Ms. Brant selling her stake in TMA (and Interview Mag and Art in America) to her ex-husband, one has to wonder about the future of the publication, not to mention its massive and invaluable archive - it is a virtual catalogue of the last century of material culture in America. TMA's audience and Trader's audience don't really cross much, so we have no stake in its future, but on a personal level, as an editor and lover of antiques and their history, I have pull for it to survive. Click on the link above to read The Bee's coverage.
Antiques
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 6:01:01 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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English Art Scammer gets suspended sentence
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
It's being widely reported across international media today that the English family who passed of sophisticated forgeries as real - and fooled some of the best in the world in the process - is getting off relatively lightly. The link above is to the Yahoo News coverage. Here's the begining of the AP story: LONDON – An elderly art scammer who fooled museums, auction houses and galleries on both sides of the Atlantic avoided jail Monday after a judge in the north England city of Bolton handed him a two-year suspended sentence.
Police say George Greenhalgh, 84, his 83-year-old wife, Olive, and his 46-year-old son Shaun spent the better part of two decades cranking out statues, paintings and other objects and passing the sophisticated fakes off as priceless pieces of art.
All three pleaded guilty in 2002 to charges of laundering money from the sale of forged artworks. Shaun, who created the fakes, was sentenced to more than four years in jail in November. His mother received a 12-month sentence.
The family manufactured a wide range of objects, including sculptures attributed to Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, paintings purportedly by American artist Thomas Moran, and gold and silver items dated to Roman and Anglo-Saxon times. The family's assets are being split up between those they duped. Part of me is intrigued at their skill - they were boviously quite good. The other part of me is a little taken aback at how easy they got off. Seems to me that plenty of people have done much more, and much harder, time for much less.
| Antiques | Antique scams
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 4:59:12 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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I don't know whether to laugh or cry...
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
Um... The world's largest pencil. 22,000 pounds, a a 450 pound eraser, a 4,000 pound lead, and it works. Tell me, though, who's going to sharpen it? Be afraid. Be very afraid. Good for St. Louis... I guess...They have the arch and the bowling museum... Now this... 
antique | Antique news odd | Antiques | pop art
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 4:50:30 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
What do you think of this new site - www.antiquesacrosstheus.com
Posted by Antique Trader Staff
This is a good idea, but there are many good ideas out there... It's a new site called www.antiquesacrosstheus.com, and it needs the help of dealers and buyers to get the word out and get sites linked. The lady who started it sent me this press release: AntiquesAcrossTheUS.com was born out of frustration. In the summer of 2005, my family decided to embark on an antiquing extravaganza. We rented a trailer and spent three days filling it up with our treasures from the “World’s Longest Yard Sale.” Well, we got some great bargains at the yard sale which filled two-thirds of the trailer. Great, we could hit the antique malls on the way home to California!
We planned ahead by locating a couple websites listing the stores we intended to visit. The databases did not seem to match, but no worry, we printed both to be safe. Boy, were we surprised when we arrived at town after town and could not find the stores. The listings we had so diligently printed were about ninety percent inaccurate. The websites apparently had not been updated in ages. That was the summer the idea for antiquesacrossamerica.net was born.
The idea was to develop an up-to-date website of the antique stores/malls across the United States. The site will be constantly updated through contact with subscribing stores and malls and fine-tuned by visitors to these establishments.
You will have noticed two web addresses by now. There are currently five, for the user’s convenience. They are as follows: AntiquesAcrossTheUS.com, AntiquesAcrossAmerica.net, AntiquesAcrossTheUS.net, AntiquesAcrossAmerica.biz and AntiquesAcrossTheUS.biz. This website was designed by antiquers for antiquers. Since we are located in California, we began entering data for those antique malls and worked our way east across the nation. At present, an asterisk next to the state’s name on the home page identifies the completed states.
Minimum information of the antique malls listed will be the store name, address, and phone numbers, while the hours of operation, square footage of the store, number of dealers, a list of specialties and a link to the store’s website will be included for paid subscribers. This website, unlike many others, will be constantly updated. The antiquing public will be invited to email me with any information or changes they think would be useful. I will then enter the information with the “visited” date nearby. Also, the pages are designed to print easily in landscape format on a standard piece of paper. No more long lists to print that go on forever. We have chosen to enter as many stores on the website that we can locate through good detective work. Most diligent antiquers will agree that it can be rather difficult to find some great, hidden antique malls.
It is our hope that you will now spend many more hours hunting for your treasures and much less searching for the store!There have been a few who have tried this type of site for antiques and it never quite takes off. Maybe this one will have the charm. Check it out...
Antiques
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 5:19:21 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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