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The Collectors Newsletter #858 -- July 2011

The Collectors Newsletter #858 -- July 2011

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1. Work from home selling antiques & collectibles
2. This Week's Survey
3. Stories From our readers
4. This Week's Antique News
5. Your Classifieds
6. Newly listed items
7. Funny Old Stuff
8. Wanted ads. Can you help?
9. A Vintage Recipe
10. A Vintage Recipe Request from a Reader
11. New On line Merchants
12. Helpful Resources For Collectors
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HAPPY 4th of JULY!
Send a FREE vintage 4th of July card to your friends and family. See:
http://www.tias.com/cards/Fourth_Of_July.html
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1. Work from home selling antiques & collectibles.
In your spare time you can sell antiques and collectibles from home.
Since 1995 TIAS.com has been helping dealers and collectors just like you to sell their antiques and collectibles online. It costs you nothing to kick the tires and see if an online store is right for you. Give TIAS a try today at: http://www.MakeAShop.com
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2. This Week's Survey
Every week we post a new survey question and the results from the previous week's survey. Survey questions are about anything related to antiques & collectibles. If you have a suggestion for a survey question, email it to me at phil@tias.com and we might use it in the next newsletter.
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Come and visit us on Facebook where you can post comments and photos - see us at http://bit.ly/cguVAo
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This weeks survey question is ....

"You inherited a pocket watch from your Grandfather. It has a chime that seems to go off at very odd times and on several occasions the watch seems to have moved around the house without anyone actually moving it. Would owning a 'haunted watch' like this bother you?"

It takes just a few seconds to give us your answer to this questions at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MYFF6GP
We'll tabulate the results and comments and publish them in next week's newsletter.
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The Last Survey Question Was....

"A few years ago, one of our readers decided to sell some of his antiques. His four sisters and some of his nieces found out about it and wanted to buy some of them. The items he was selling were not family items, just antiques he had bought over the years. His wife advised against selling to family. He did sell to them, but he wasn’t sure how much of a discount he should give family members if any. How should he have handled this?"

5.6% - said "Do not sell to family members"
37% - said "Sell to them at prices that he would expect from anyone"
24.1% - said "Sell to them at a minor discount (10%)"
9.3% - said "Sell to them at a moderate discount (30%)"
0% - said "Sell to them at a major discount (50% e.g. what he paid for the items years ago)
24.1% - said "I have another answer" See below...

Here are some written replies that were included with the results from our last survey
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a) Depends on the relationship. If close, I usually sell to family what I paid for the item, I'm glad to do it as it is a perk for being a dealer, or if they want it for someone else, a very modest mark up.

b) This must happen often, because this exact situation happened to me. My wife also recommended against it. I also had four sisters and two nieces who wanted to buy items. As I think back on it now, I should have selected certain items from which they could buy at the price that I bought them for. For some items, I should have explained that I want to make money on them and said they are not for sale to my family. I did sell things to my family at or near what I paid for the items. I don't know how they or their husbands feel about it. The one regret that I have is that I should have encouraged them to buy only quality pieces and discouraged them from buying the more common antique pieces. They would have ended up with a much better investment and it might have benefited them by educating them on identifying quality antiques.

c) Selling to relatives is a dangerous thing. If one buys and the value falls it will be your fault if one boys and the price go up the others will hold it against you. Sell to relatives at the price you would expect to get anywhere else. How do I know this"I been there and done that" enough said. Take no pity on relatives. Michael Swayzee NC

d) He may well offer "anyone" a discount...so when selling to his family just tell them that's the discounted price. It may not have a discount but would they really know??

e) Everyone needs to be present at the same time so there isn't any bickering about 'she got a better price than I did' or 'I wanted that piece'... and if they can't be there are the specified day, they can attend the auction/sale.

f) A family member who asks for a lower price is actually taking from your pocket, which I consider to be a questionable habit. We've been in the antique and collectibles business since 1994. This is an issue that has been a difficult one for us to deal with. Our families are quite different. One says: This is your living, I will pay full price. The other side thinks they should have a discount due to WHO they are. So-- We finally decided to let the first pay full price as they wished, and will give the other a 10% standard discount if they ask, but only if they ask.

g) Immediate family should get an affordable discount. Very close family should too. Not so close and distant relation should get no discount to a 10% discount depending on need.

h) As long as they weren't family items he should get their true value. It is hard to deal with family on sales, they think there be a discount and it usually causes problems within the family. Treat them like any other customer

i) If these were things he bought and not family related I would not discount them to family members. If they wanted them, they would buy from someone else just as easily as they would from him and not get a discount. He has already done the bulk of the work just by finding them and buying them, that is worth alot all by itself.

j) He should expect to profit from his investment at fair market value, just good business.

k) I would discount the amount that had been added to the price for profit. It is alright to charge family, but I do not think one should make a profit at their expense---at least if the seller would like to remain a part of the family.

l) If he intends to put them at auction, he should suggest the family members attend the auction. If he is going to well to a dealer at set prices, he should invite the family members to come to his home and select what they want at the moderate discount of 30%. This is probably more family friendly than telling them to attend the auction. I would be more generous, perhaps even giving them some pieces as gifts if I were selling family pieces.

m) If someone has a desire for a particular item, I would ask them what they felt like it might be worth, under no circumstance taking more than 90 % of my estimation of its value. If their idea of its value was significantly under what it was worth I'd decline the sale with some excuse or another. That being said, I hate to deal with family and friends because petty and strange things can ruin relationships.

n) Really depends on the demeanor of the family. If he normally gives 10% to dealers, then a 10-20% discount should be sufficient. If the family members 'expect' a larger discount, offer them the same 10-20% and hope they go away. He didn't need them anyway.

o) As stamp dealers we often deal with estates where there is a stamp collection which some of the heirs are interested in continuing and/or other heirs are convinced is worth more than the house. We suggest a written "estate appraisal", done on our letterhead and paid for by the estate, which gives the probable value of the collection at public auction. (We are also auctioneers ,as Sparks Auctions of Ottawa ,Canada, so we have a good eye for auction value). The written appraisal allows the family to decide how to portion out the goods of the estate (John gets the silver, Mary gets the stamps, Fred gets the Doulton figurines...) fairly based on commercial value. It also stops the fantasy of huge value hidden in a very ordinary childhood collection, and occasionally will surprise a widow or niece with a high value for material they would have tossed out as trash. So my suggestion would be a third party appraisal, and sale at auction value, which is usually lower than the B&M price the reader would be charging his non-family customers. Elizabeth

p) He should have the prices marked on them and tell the family since they asked to be included in the sale they should pay those prices. If they were family antiques they should be discounted to the family members.

q) We were antique dealers for over ten years and we had several family members who were constantly trying to take advantage of us, wanting us to look for something for them at a bargain price then not taking the item. So we had to eat the cost until we could find a buyer for it, sometimes if we were lucky it would only take 6 months to find a buyer, but it was almost always longer. We had a beautiful hall tree that my husband's brother said his daughter would like and we gave her a good price that was just what we paid for it and we waited for over two months for her to get in touch to say if she wanted it or not. Finally after not hearing from, her even to tell us she was not interested, we took it into our booth at the antique mall and after three more months it sold two days before Christmas. That was when we decided to end favors for relatives it just seemed to be unappreciated and it was not worth the trouble. Let them go to the auction or estate sale or the antique mall and pay the same as everyone else does. Save yourself the pain and heartache and the insult of people trying to use you.

r) If he sold the objects to an antiques shop; the shop would generally sell them for twice what they paid him for the antiques. Therefore, he should get a verified price from a dealer and sell the antiques to his relatives for what the dealer would have paid him for the items. This would be fair because it would save him the trouble of trying to sell them himself, and he would also have the added pleasure of seeing the antiques in his relatives' homes.

s) Since they are not family items, they should be sold for the same price he would expect from anyone. If he us very close to his family members that wanted to buy some of them, he could come to a reasonable compromise about price with them.

t) if they had to go buy them in a shop they would pay full price
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3. Stories from our readers
We collect interesting stories about collecting. Things like your best find, unusual collections, bizarre collectibles even things that bug you. Anything and everything that is interesting that has to do with antiques & collectibles. We may publish it here. Send your story to Phil@tias.com
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Our current question is...
What was the best thing you ever found at the curb? We received the following...

I had an interesting thing happen the other night. Usually, I'm out looking for nice pieces of furniture and decorative items by the side of the street. But, the other night - something very unusual happened as my son was leaving our home after a visit. It had just gotten dark and I walked him out to his car. I happened to catch a glimpse of something on the sidewalk that was not normally there. I said to my son "what is that?" He said, "well, it looks like a bench or something like that. So, we walked down to the end of the driveway and there, laying right in the middle of the sidewalk was a painted oak bench - not by the street, but in the very middle of the sidewalk. It seats three people and has a beautiful design to it; and it is in great condition. All I need to do is clean it a bit and buy cushions for it. I am still totally confused as to why it was left just sitting on the sidewalk in front of my house. I couldn't figure out if someone was carrying it; got tired and just set it down (it is a bit heavy). But, no one came back to claim it so it's now on my back porch waiting for a fresh coat of paint. I am still in shock and wonder as to how it came to be in the middle of MY sidewalk in front of MY house. But, I've accepted it as one of life's little blessings and will love and enjoy it for years to come. ps. my own favorite "side of the road" found item is an antique hall tree - all original hardware with storage seat. It was in amazing condition and didn't even need refinishing! My mother-in-law found it across the street from her and called to see IF I was interested in it. I couldn't get over there fast enough!!! God Bless, Judy Jax. Fla

--Another Story--

About the ugly piece of jewelry - As the giver, I have given pieces of jewelry that I did not like because they were worth a lot of money. If the receiver wants to sell it, great and I hope she gets a good price. Usually people who trade in old stuff have pretty level heads, and they know others also buy, sell and trade--
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WE NEED YOUR STORY ABOUT COLLECTING. DO YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY TO TELL? SEND IT TO PHIL@TIAS.COM
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4. This week's Antique News
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If you want to tell the world about your antiques & collectibles business, auction, club or upcoming event related to the antiques and collectibles trade, you can post it for free at http://www.News-Antique.com the #1 listing on Google for "Antique News" Your news release will get published online and will also appear in this newsletter so that 16,000 people can read it. To post a release, go to http://www.News-Antique.com
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1. Toys, Dolls, Banks and Trains in Stephenson's July 15 Mid-Summer Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=799006

2. Morphy Auctions’ team of experts is on the show circuit in July
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=799005

3. Early Amer. toys, trains & firefighting vehicles raced past estimates at Noel Barrett's May 21 sale
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=799004

4. Summer Fever Toy Show
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=799000

5. John Moran Auctioneers Announces Summer Decorative and Fine Arts Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798998

6. Henry Koerner’s Under the Overpass realizes $252,000 at John Moran Auctioneers’ June 14th American A
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798996

7. Asselmeier & May "Brady" Antique Estate Auction (7/09/2011)
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798975

8. The 'stamp auction of a lifetime' continues at Spink
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798973

9. Eric Clapton Taking It To The Limit This Week At LiveAuctionTalk.com
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798956

10. Word Record prices set in ‘greatest stamp auction of its generation’
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798953

11. Winner of Stanley Gibbons Congress Cup Announced
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798945

12. Vintage wedding bands- Bringing a period of difference especially for you
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798927

13. Rare 1944 Martin Guitar Leads Cowan's July 23 Summer Fine and Decorative Art Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798909

14. Landmark Auction for Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798905

15. AMAZING 1932 "FRANKENSTEIN" Autographed Photo by Boris Karloff
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798894

16. Paul Fraser Collectibles' Top Five Henry VIII artefacts
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798889

17. Skinner Auction of European Furniture and Decorative Art to Feature Fine Ceramics
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798886

18. Indian Errors Excite Interest at Stanley Gibbons Auction
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798883

19. Xcntric Chicago Estate Sale Liquidators West Chicago Estate Sale
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798864

20. WorthPoint Releases Results from Community Polls
Click here: http://news-antique.com/?id=798862
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Check the latest news headlines about antiques and collectibles at http://www.News-Antique.com
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MANY more stories are added several times a day. You can read the latest news about antiques & collectibles now at:
http://www.news-antique.com
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5, Your Classifieds...
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Time Was Antiques English Royalty Items Specialists
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1410506/PictPage/3923882981.html

Do you have antiques or collectibles you are just itching to sell? A simple classified ad in this newsletter might just be your answer. Over 15,000 readers subscribe to this newsletter. One of them just might be able to help you out. Place your ad today at: http://tinyurl.com/39eulu

Want to know what our advertisers think? Check out the testimonials at: http://tinyurl.com/8xqyw
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6. Newly listed items for your online shopping pleasure for Monday July 04, 2011 Stop by and check out today's fresh inventory at:
TIAS.com - http://www.tias.com/showcase
CollectorOnline - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=7
AntiqueArts - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=3
Earthling - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=6
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7, Funny Old Stuff
This is our humor section. These are humorous family stories and comments that are sent in by readers. If you have a submission you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may run it in the next issue.
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For years, my now 80 year old mother has told her grandchildren and great-grandchildren (whenever they happened to admire an object in her home) that they could have it "When I go to be with Jesus."

Recently, I was sitting with my 7 year old niece in Sunday church services. She looked at the necklace I was wearing, and said "That is a pretty necklace." After I thanked her for the compliment, she then said, "I really, really like that necklace." Again, I thanked her. Finally, she looked at me very seriously and asked, "When you go to be with Jesus, can I have that necklace?" After I stopped laughing, I told her yes. Now, however, I am left to wonder - how soon does she want that necklace, and what is she willing to do to get it? (lol) Connie
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Do you have a funny family story you would like to share? Make someone feel good by sharing it with us. Send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here.
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8. Wanted ads. Can you help?
Here are the latest wanted ads from the TIAS Exchange. Can you help someone out?
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WANTED: Vintage Medical and dental Items. Especially quackery.
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1355837/PictPage/3923851803.html
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GET YOUR WANTED AD HERE! Just $10 and we'll send it out to 15,000 people who get this newsletter. Go to http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/submitClassified.cgi
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Looking for something? Place a "Wanted" ad in this newsletter. Over 16,000 subscribers will see it. It's easy, go to: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/submitClassified.cgi
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9. A Vintage Recipe
Be sure to check out our vintage recipe archive online at: http://www.tias.com/newsletter/topics/A%20Vintage%20Recipe.html Over 1200 wonderful vintage recipes are listed.

In the last issue Debra requested some recipes for "soft pretzels". We received the following...
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Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups warm (110 to 115 degrees F) water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 package active dry yeast
22 ounces all-purpose flour, approximately 4 1/2 cups
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted
Vegetable oil, for pan
10 cups water
2/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Pretzel salt

Directions:
Combine the water, sugar and kosher salt in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow to sit for 5 minutes or until the mixture begins to foam. Add the flour and butter and, using the dough hook attachment, mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with vegetable oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line 2 half-sheet pans with parchment paper and lightly brush with the vegetable oil. Set aside.

Bring the 10 cups of water and the baking soda to a rolling boil in an 8-quart saucepan or roasting pan.

In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 24-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined half sheet pan.

Place the pretzels into the boiling water, 1 by 1, for 30 seconds. Remove them from the water using a large flat spatula. Return to the half sheet pan, brush the top of each pretzel with the beaten egg yolk and water mixture and sprinkle with the pretzel salt. Bake until dark golden brown in color, approximately 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.
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If you enjoy these vintage recipes, you should buy a vintage cookbook from us. They make great gifts too. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cookbooks
Buy a Vintage Kitchen collectible from us. We've got lots of them here: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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10. A vintage recipe request from a reader
As with collectibles, people also have very strong feelings about foods from their past. Sometimes these special recipes get lost. This section is to help people who are looking for lost recipes from their past. If you submit a request, please include the geographical region where you had this recipe.
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Last year I planted a blackberry plant in our backyard. This year we've got a nice crop of berries coming in and I'd like to ask your readers what they would do with them? Vince
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If you can help this reader with this recipe, please forward it to recipes@tias.com . If you have a vintage recipe request send it to recipes@tias.com and we might just publish it here.
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Be sure to check out our vintage kitchen collectibles section online at: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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11. New Online Merchants
Be sure to check out all of the fresh inventory offered by these new merchants at TIAS.
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Precious Peddler
http://tias.com/stores/preciousstore
Welcome to Precious Peddler! We feature vintage china and glass pieces, as well as many collectible items. New treasures are added daily, so be sure to check our store often. No sale is ever "final" - we guarantee your satisfaction.

Pieces of the Past
http://tias.com/stores/piecespast
Quality collectibles & antiques at fair prices! We pledge customer satisfaction and service for every item that you purchase from our store.

Max's Treasures
http://tias.com/stores/maxtreasures
Welcome to Max's Treasures of Antiques and Collectibles. Your American and European China, Dinnerware, Porcelain and Pottery Web Store. Thank you for your business and come again!

Court Square Antiques & Collectibles
http://tias.com/stores/ctsqmemp
Our specialty is Pottery, Glassware and Porcelain but we offer a full line of quality items and guarantee your satisfaction. You will find a fine array of items that will likely include what you are searching for.

Old Hollywood
http://tias.com/stores/oldhollywood
Glitz and Glamour of Old Hollywood, estate jewelry,vintage wax busts, mannequins, French Finery, Textiles, rhinestones, compacts, furniture, art, deco statues, gold gilt furniture, vanity items, religious items, celluloid boxes, sterling are some of the amazing items you will find.

Miss Daisys Place
http://tias.com/stores/missdaisy
My items are all vintage or antique unless specified. I do not sell reproductions. I do my very best to accurately describe each item. Please feel free to send any questions.

Elegant Elements
http://tias.com/stores/elegantelements
The place to find rare, unusual, unique collectibles and gift items. A fun place to shop. If I don't have it, I'll find it for you. Take a trip through time with me. Let's get started, Krash
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12. Helpful Resources:
1. Find an antiques or collectibles club. Nearly 2000 different clubs listed. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi
2. What's it worth? Try Kovels' free online price guide to over 600,000 antiques and collectibles. It can be found online at http://www.kovels.com
3. Make money with your Web site. Join the TIAS.com affiliate program today. Go to http://www.tias.com/affiliates/
4. Get an online appraisal. For just $9.95 from "What's It Worth To You?" http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com/tias.htm (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)
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Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this to a friend. To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://www.tias.com/subscribe Please note that stories and recipes from readers are not checked for accuracy. They may be edited prior to publication. For questions or comments, you can reach us at newsletter@TIAS.com ©1995-2011 TIAS.com Inc.

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