This article will guide you through the art of collecting, how we evolved and what to look for when you spot your prey.
Seems kind of strange to consider anyone living in the 21st Century as primitive…but in fact we are primitive beings seeking in a high tech market.
The collectibles market
although forever changing has been compared to the stock market
for its ups and downs.
Today's market is so explosive that sometimes collectors forget
to educate themselves before giving in to their compulsive spending
habits.
The Internet has opened
up a whole New World to collectors and allows them to travel further
than their hometown surroundings.
It has changed the way we collect by giving us Four Corners of
the world 24 hours a day to stalk our prey before setting our
traps to snare them.
Search engines have not
only been beneficial in stalking…when used correctly they
can narrow down your search in record setting time.
Example - I want to search for dolls…I pull up Alta Vista,
Hot Bot, Netscape or Yahoo, I type in doll, which will result
in hundreds of thousands of returns. To simplify my search I choice
to type in the kind of doll I am searching for.
Example - "Musical Doll" or "Porcelain Doll"…by
being specific my search is narrowed and my time is saved. "You
know what they say, time is money?" Don't waste it online.
Learn how to use the Internet to the fullest, it provides collectors with unparalleled opportunities to educate themselves about every collectible imaginable. Don't sell your collection short, spend your time wisely and invest it on meeting others on line and trading information, which could be very valuable.
Conduct research on how to network with other collectors, enter safe chat rooms and type until your fingers quit. Check out message boards, buying and selling boards, newsgroups and even consider joining mailing lists. The more information you arm yourself with…the better you will be prepared to capture your prey.
Online auctions…uh, uh, uh, don't assume anything. Once again this is an area that you must be educated in to protect yourself. Unlike cavemen who used clubs to capture their prey…collectors of the 21st have fallen into the high tech traps of buyers and sellers.
Unfortunately many collectors have ventured into auctions, which have proved to be misleading, fraudulent and down right confusing. Without education you can easily be plagued by malicious misgivings by both and should become familiar with the following terms and consider asking the following questions.
1. Be the observer - Visit
your favorite auction site and pretend to bid on an item. Write
down your opening bid and monitor it for several days. If you
decide to increase your bid keep records of everything you have
changed from your original bid. Write down your thoughts as the
auction progresses and after the auction has closed.
After doing this several times it should allow you to feel comfortable
about entering a real auction in the future.
2. How to determine what
your bid price limit will be?
Pricing guides although not very reliable will give you a ballpark
price or estimate to start off with. Keep in mind that there are
a lot of variables, which determine the worth of an item and education
is the key to breaking those codes.
A visit to your local library may be in order; there you will
find collectible books loaded with valuable information to help
you determine your final bid.
3. In order to be a participant in online auctions you must understand the vocabulary and terminology. Words such as opening bid, reserve, and minimum bid and closing bid can be confusing and deadly if not known. Once again your local library can assist you with becoming familiar with these terms. Some auction sites display these terms along with definitions for your viewing. Take advantage of it and learn them!
4. Always feel free to question and verify in writing the description of the item you are bidding on. For safety purposes you may want to print out e-mails as proof in case of any misgivings.
5. Do not always assume
posted photographs are authentic!
Technology has spread to online actions. Unlike cavemen who drew
on walls, today's technology has allowed sellers to doctor or
alter photos with the simplest programs.
Also don't assume the photo being displayed is of the item you
are bidding on. The seller may have several items and chose to
display the best-photographed piece.
The golden rule on online
selling and buying is to do unto others as they would do unto
you. Online sellers thrive upon positive feedback and normally
will try to ensure a successful competition to all auctions.
Buyers should never feel threatened into buying anything…do
your homework and be prepared. Know your item as not to waste
the time of the seller and possibly ruin someone else's changes
on bidding.
Buyers please keep in mind that a bid is your word or obligation
to buy, don't bid if you have no intentions on paying.
Evolution has come full
circle and our advancement in technology has far surpassed the
primitive times.
The Internet has opened up a whole New World…one that can
be very exciting but risky at times. Use this technology wisely
and enjoy collecting in the 21st Century.