Whiskey Jack's Trading Post

A Sad Day Indeed

2009-07-06T08:54:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already heard, Gary Hendrickson - The Auction Rebel, passed away on June 23rd. Mr. Hendrickson was such an inspiration not only to myself, but to many many people, and he will be very deeply missed. His unending generosity in sharing his vast knowledge with the online sales community was a great benefit to all of us, and the world was made a better place because of him. I know that I learned so much from him by listening to interviews with him, listening to his podcasts, and visiting his web site. Things that I might never have learned. His wisdom and his sense of humor were priceless. My thoughts, prayers and deep sympathies go out to his family and friends, and I would encourage everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers as well.

Good bye Gary. There will never be another like you, and we all miss you very much.

Howdy, Remember Me?

2009-04-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

WOW! Has it really been a month since I've posted a new blog entry? I'm gonna have to watch that! But I have been busy. As many of you know, I retired from my regular job after 23 years in the profession, in order to try my hand at selling online full time. It has had its ups and downs, good weeks and not so good weeks, but I haven't thrown in the towel yet, and have no plans to. In addition to my eBay store and auctions, I have two booths on Bonanzle.com. There's Whiskey Jack's Trading Post, and Whiskey Jack's Book Nook.

I've been out and about hunting down treasures to put in my store, auctions, and booths, and although I love sales and auctions, it is time consuming. Among the treasures I found this past week were:
A beautiful art nouveau double candle holder featuring two birds of paradise and two tulips. I really like the way the drip glaze blends. I spoke with one fella who said that he thought it dated to around1915 - 1920. He didn't know for sure because the glaze was so thick on the bottom, that it obscured the makers mark and the pattern number.
Also found was this nice heavy glass amberina table ashtray. I don't know that date or maker, and I haven't been able to find a similar one in any of my reference materials (any thoughts from any of my readers though would be very much appreciated!).

This Russel Wright 2 quart covered casserole was a nice thrift store find. I did manage to find
this piece listed in my copy of Kovel's 2009 guide. They list it as valued at $70 - $200. Not a bad find!

These lamp shades feature caramel slag glass panels and the metal looks like brass with a very nice patina. You can still see some of the brass color (but not much) under the patina. I love the art deco pattern. It reminds me of a Frank Lloyd Wright design.

I did find many other little treasures, but I haven't had time to photograph them yet, and I'll try to get soem pictures of them up as soon as I can. Some of these pieces include some primitive pottery pieces, a 1950's ear cowboy plate and bowl, pottery barn candlesticks, an old Corning Blue Cornflower covered casserole with its metal stand, and a lot more. I think I filled the van twice over!

Before I go for today, I'd like to thank my readers, and my loyal followers: Lynn-Marie Hodges, Poppy0927, jammatun, Dede, JudyBug, treasurechest39, Action Healthy Life, Coach Gary, What Baby Boomers Pursue, Phaedra, Mitzi, and Auction Wally who has, and still is, inspiring me to continue through his great podcasts. Thanks guys for your loyal support by following my blog, adding your comments and suggestions, and not giving up on me. Sounds like an Oscar speech, doesn't it? I'm not trying to be maudlin, but I just can't tell you all how much I appreciate you. Until next time (hopefully soon!),
Adios my Friends,
May your trail be smooth and the wind at your back.
Whiskey Jack

Today's Word of Wisdom: "The man who wears his chin on his instep never sees the horizon."

Is eBay in Trouble?

2009-03-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Howdy Folks,
I just finished reading one of the online newsletters that I receive, and I have to say, that I am not all that surprised at what I read. In fact, the article seemed to validate something that I have been saying for quite some time. That eBay has changed their primary focus to the larger online retailers, and has been catering to their needs and whims, all while largely ignoring those of us who are smaller retailers. In effect, eBay is abandoning it's core group of sellers. Those how made eBay what it is. In the words of Stephen King's "Gunslinger", Roland, eBay has "forgotten the face of their father."

I would encourage all of my readers to read the article I am talking about. (Click here to read it). And be sure to click on the links in the article for some further insight and comments about the article. Since most of us still use (or are used by) eBay, I think that by keeping tabs on eBay's new direction, will help us to keep a leg up on what's going on, and help us to adapt and hopefully maintain our sales. After all, that's what its all about isn't it?

Until next time, thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to leave your comments and ratings for these articles. They are always welcome and appreciated.

Adios Amigos y Amigas,
Whiskey Jack

Today's Word of Wisdom: "When ya think yore up ahead of the herd, it's always a good idea to take a look behind you and see if they are still followin'."

Collectics

2009-03-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Today I visited Collectics.com, and that is the subject of today’s article. Actually I have visited this wonderful web site many times, and I just keep going back. Why? Because it is one of the best antiques and collectibles web sites around today! Now, Collectics is not a new site, and mine is definitely not the first review of this site. World Antiques Weekly said about Collectics:

"Antiques, collectibles, antique and vintage jewelry, and home furnishings in a large, eclectic antique shop and mall, collector bookstore, collecting information, prices and values, antique shops and jewelry stores directory, antique collector quiz, and Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Tiffany online museums. Quality, selection, and discount prices make Collectics our top antiques and collectibles web site. It's just plain fun!"

And Collectibles Guide 2009 had this to say:

"Best online shopping for antiques and collectibles, featuring antique, vintage, and retro jewelry, bakelite and lucite, clothing, dinnerware, kitchenware, ceramics, glass, art, memorabilia, and home decor -- with prices 30% less than your local antique shop or thrift store plus free shipping."

So as you can see, I am not the only one enamored with this site! Rather than repeat what the web site’s “about” page says, I think they say it best when describing their site:

“Founded in 1998 by Karen Lee, Collectics is one of the Internet's largest and most diverse online shopping and resource destinations for finer antiques and collectibles. Collectics brings you an eclectic array of collecting and home decorating ideas from the finer estates of the eastern seabord as well as select consignments from around the world. Those of us who work with Karen don't always understand some of the things that catch Karen's eye, but our many long time repeat customers long since convinced us that you can sell L. C. Tiffany Favrile glass and $15 salt & pepper shakers on the same site. In fact, Karen personally vets all the inventory on the site, an important aspect of our business often mentioned in letters from our clients who have been deceived through misrepresentations and reproductions elsewhere.

Our main Antique & Vintage Shop and Mall offers thousands of finer antiques and collectibles in over 30 categories, at prices 30% or more below typical antique mall prices- all with free shipping within the continental United States. The Antiques & Collectibles Bookstore sells only the best reference books and price guides on antiques and collectibles, compiled by top dealers and auction houses. Don't miss our exclusive Collector Book Reviews on all the top dealer reference books! You can learn about major artists, manufacturers, and design periods on our Antiques Information & Education pages, while Collector Books Topic Search and our unique Antique Price Guides Slideshow help you find the best reference books by manufacturer or type of collecting. The Art Deco & Art Nouveau Museum 1890-1935 displays the best design of the Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Arts & Crafts periods and features Tiffany, Handel, and Pairpoint lamps. Learn the life history of Louis Comfort Tiffany and see an exhibit of famous Tiffany Studios lamps and Favrile glass in our Tiffany Lamps & Glass Museum. If you're planning a trip or just out for adventure in your own area, use our Museum & Historic Site Directory to locate museums, national parks, historic homes, and other attractions by state and city across the U. S.

The Collectics Group has won numerous industry awards for top online shopping sites, plus technical awards for web site design and operation. We're glad you're visiting us and look forward to serving you, and your satisfaction is always guaranteed. Collectics Gift Certificates are a great way to let your gift recipient select something they really want from our diverse inventory, and enjoy playing the Collectics Quiz each month to win a free $100 Collectics Gift Certificate.

Thanks for visiting and shopping at Collectics!”

Believe me when I say that every word of this is true! In fact, I think they have understated it a bit.

One of the main areas of the site that I visit most is their “Antiques Information & Education” area

Included in this area are 96 different topic pages ranging from Amberina Glass to Bakelite to Depression Glass to Limoges. Collectics “Antiques Information and Education area of the best sources of information on Antiques and Collectibles on the web today, and well worth the repeat visit.

In addition to the information and education area, also take some time to visit the online museums and directories area. In this area you will find an online museum of Art Deco and Art Nouveau pieces, an online museum of Tiffany Lamps and Glass, a Museum and Historic site, by state, directory, and a collecting and designing directory featuring a directoryof the best in Antiques – Collectibles – and Thrift malls, fairs, shops, stores and markets. An invaluable resource for both the collector and the dealer.

From the antiques and collectibles bookstore to the collector books topic search, and the collector book reviews, it is possible to find just about any reference book on antiques and collectibles you might possibly need or want. And, when checking the book reviews, it is possible to simply scroll your mouse icon over the photo of the book in question and get a quick summary of its availability and price from Amazon.

The primary reason most folks visit Collectics, however, is their Antiques & Collectibles Mall. The mall is fun to browse around and see what’s what. Like window shopping in a huge antiques mall, right from the comfort of your home computer. I did find some of the prices a bit high, but I assume that is to offset the free shipping offered by the site. On the other hand, however, I did find a few good bargains.

All in all, I found Collectics.com to be a fun and enjoyable site to visit, and spend some time at, and I definitely plan to visit often!

Collectible Shaving Mugs

2009-03-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to talk a little bit about shaving mugs.

As many of you know from reading this blog, I have recently become “retired” from my job of 18 years (22 years total in the field). As a recently retired fella, I have really begun to look at where I can save a couple of bucks. One of those areas is shaving. Currently I have one of those fancy Mach 3 razors. You know the ones I’m talking about. These are the ones that you have to pay $10 - $15 just to buy replacement blades. Well, not anymore! I picked up a vintage safety razor, a pack of 10 new blades, a shaving mug, and some (here is were I splurged) custom made Bay Rum shaving soap. All of this cost only $10. Less than a pack of 5 replacement blades for my Mach 3.

Not only am I saving money, but I’m getting a better shave. If you’re wondering where all this is leading, it’s this – shaving used to be an art. One of the “Manley Arts.” A gentlemen’s art if you will. And something that has somehow been lost over the ages. Each morning as I lay out my shaving equipment I look at my vintage shaving mug, and I think about what a work of art these little mugs are, and that’s what I want to talk about today. Shaving mugs. Specifically, vintage shaving mugs. It’s amazing the prices that these things can command these days. I got lucky. Real lucky. I found one at a local Goodwill that the workers apparently thought was just an oversized coffee mug, and they had a .49 cent price tag on it. Needless to say I snatched that up right quick! (It just goes to show that there are still treasures to be had at Thrift Stores!).

Shaving mugs have a long history throughout the world, and even in this country. From the late 19^th century through the early 20^th century, almost every man owned a shaving mug. Either at home, or at his local barbershop. And some of these little beauties can fetch a pretty penny. Today, collectible shaving mugs can bring anywhere between $1.00 - $9,000, depending upon the age, condition, rarity, and style of shaving mug.

Essentially there are five styles of shaving mugs that are collected today. These are Decorated Mugs, Occupational Mugs, Fraternal Mugs, Scuttle Mugs, and Advertising Mugs. There are others, of course, such as metal mugs (tin, graniteware, and silver), but the market for these types seems to be more limited, although the right one could bring a substantial reward. Remember to always do your research before investing in a collectible whether for yourself or to resell.

Types of Mugs:

Decorated mugs

Originally, decorated shaving mugs came from England, France, Germany and Austria. Although they were rarely used before the late 19^th century, after they became popular, these ceramic mugs were manufactured in Europe and then imported, undecorated, into the United States. Once here, they were decorated with the owner’s name and often with a hand painted over-glazed enamel decoration of some sort. Usually these decorations included floral, scenic, animal, or comic designs. My research has shown that current prices for decorated shaving mugs range from $1.00 - $100.00+

Occupational mugs

Occupational shaving mugs are among the most sought after and popular shaving mugs collected today. They are almost always ceramic / porcelain, and will feature as a decoration the name of a particular profession or occupation, as well as a scene related to that occupation. The majority of occupational shaving mugs represent middle-class professions. A few upper and lower class professions were also made, but these are a rarity. My research has shown that current prices for occupational shaving mugs range from $50.00 - $9000.00+

Fraternal mugs

Fraternal shaving mugs were owned by members of fraternal organizations such as the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the B.P.O.E. (Elks Lodge), and others. Fraternal mugs were decorated with the organizational logo, and often the owners name. These decorations were usually hand painted. My research has shown that current prices for fraternal shaving mugs range from $10.00 - $200.00+

Scuttle mugs

An unusually shaped shaving mug, scuttle mugs are actually quite unique. Scuttle mugs can be plain or decorated. As for shape, these mugs feature what looks like a second mug attached to the main mug. The mug features a shallow dish area in the top, with holes in the bottom of the dish area. This is where the soap goes, and the holes are designed to help drain off water and excess soap. After shaving, the water and excess soap is poured out through the “secondary” mug area, and the brush is then stored in this area. My research has shown that current prices for scuttle shaving mugs range from $5.00 - $1000.00+

Advertising Mugs

Often used as sales promotions for shaving soap manufacturers , Advertising Shaving Mugs were given away to customers. These were generally inexpensive ceramic mugs that the manufacturers hoped would convince their customers to continue purchasing their product. My research has shown that current prices for scuttle shaving mugs range from $1.00 - $200.00+

For more information on collecting shaving mugs, visit the National Shaving Mug Collector’s Association. They have a pretty cool site, and I personally found my visit to this site to be quite enjoyable.

Or, you may want to invest in a couple of good books on shaving mugs. Some of these include:

Occupational Shaving Mugs by W. Porter Ware

Antique Shaving Mugs of the United States by Robert Blake Powell

Occupational and Fraternal Shaving Mugs by Robert Blake Powell

Barber Shop History and Antiques by Chris Jones

The Best of Shaving Mugs (Schiffer Book for Collectors) by Keith Estep

The Shaving Mug and Barber Bottle Book by Keith Estep

Some Collectible Shaving Mugs that recently sold on eBay:

Machinist Occupational Shaving Mug & Personal After Shave Bottle

16 Bids, Sold for $1,287.99

OCCUPATIONAL SHAVING MUG LIMOGES EISENBAUCH BARBER SPLY

21 Bids, Sold for $910.00

OCCUPATIONAL SHAVING MUG U.S. MAIL DELIVERY DRIVER

12 Bids, Sold for $586.90

Well, that's about it for now, so until next time Pards,
Adios,
Whiskey Jack

Today's Word of Wisdom: "It's always best to keeps skunks, lawyers and bankers at a distance."

Whiskey Jack's Trading Post Update

2009-02-22T21:27:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,
Just a quick update to let you all know that I've posted some new items up in my eBay store. I made a trip to town to do a little shopping, and I found some pretty nice little treasures, including a pair of Pfaltzgraff Latte Mugs in the Heritage White pattern. A little research showed that this pattern was first introduced in 1963. I don't think these mugs are from 1963, as i don't think there was much call for lattes back then, but they are nice none the less. The treasures I like the best, though, are four pieces of Lefton China in their Fruit Fantasia pattern. I found a covered sugar bowl, matching creamer, napkin holder and spoon rest. I was unable to find out much about this particular pattern, other than that is fairly rare, and there aren't too many pieces of it for sale. When I checked with Replacements.com (I telephoned them), I was told that even though they knew of the pattern, they had never been able to find any to have in stock.

At any rate, there are some more treasures up that I thought my great customers may like to take a look at. And if you have any questions about any of them, please feel free to ask. Until next time, this is ol' Whiskey Jack sayin' Adios!

A Word of Encouragement

2009-02-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

I was going to write an article today about collecting shaving mugs, but as I thought about it more and more, I began to realize that as much as I wanted to write that article, there was something more pressing on my mind. Perhaps it was the radio which was broadcasting the latest unemployment rates and yo-yo effect on the Dow, or perhaps it was my own situation. At any rate, I thought that what I needed, as well as many others out there, was a word of encouragement. So here goes.

For the past several months, the economy, not just of the our country, but globally as well, has been heading straight into a hole. It astounds me how many people have lost their jobs, and how many more are losing their jobs each day! Not to mention those who are losing their homes! And this is something I do happen to know a little about. After 22 years in the same job, I have suddenly found myself unemployed as well. And in case you're wondering, the answer is no. I did not receive a severance package or a severance check. I did get a nice plaque, however. No, I will be cashing in my retirement in order to have something to live on and support my wife and grandkids. Not that this is a bad thing in light of the fact that the private company that is managing not only my retirement but that of many other public employees, is going under at an alarming rate. So, the sooner I can get my retirement money out of there, the better! And this is something that is affecting millions of people everywhere!

The way I see it though, is those of us who find ourselves in this predicament have two choices. The first is the easiest, and that is to whine, cry, and bemoan what is happening to us. Let's face it, this is the easiest way to handle this kind of situation, but in the long run it doesn't really get us anywhere. The second method of handling this situation is to create our own economic stimulus package, and by that I mean get back to work as soon as possible. Yes, I know that jobs are becoming increasingly harder to find, but we can always do something. In times like these it is important to remember the words of Dan Reeves, former Head Coach of the Denver Broncos football team: "Tough Times Don't Last, But Tough People Do!" And also, the words of Joseph P. Kennedy, "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going!"

In other words, don't just sit around, get up and do something about your situation! There are jobs out there. Believe me. All you have to do is find them. You may have to take a cut in pay, but a cut in pay is better than no pay at all. And, in keeping with the spirit of this blog, there is always online sales. Whether eBay, or Bonanzle, or any of the other eCommerce sites. But it does take some work. Hard work, and also long hours, dedication and education. Not the kind of education that comes from a public school, but self education. Go to the library and check out some books on eCommerce. Read some of the many many blogs and forums regarding eCommerce. There is a wealth of information and help out there, and it is all free for the asking. All you have to do is get up and go get it.

Then take that knowledge and apply it to your situation. Sales may be slow, and may be nonexistant for a while. One thing you have to remember is that internet sales will not make you rich. I don't care what those late night infomercials claim, you are not going to make $5,000 a week selling info-products online! But you can make a living selling online. However, as I said, it does take a lot of work and a lot of time and a lot of dedication.

So don't despair. You can do it. You can make it. You can survive. Things will get better, they always do, so don't give up. Just get busy and hang in there! Okay!

Until next time, this is Ol' Whiskey Jack sayin'
Adios!

Today's Word of Wisdom: "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start now and make a brand new ending." ---Carl Bard

Collector’s Quest Web Site Review

2009-02-10T19:50:00.000-08:00

Collector’s Quest – Where Hunter’s Gather!

Howdy Folks,

Today’s article is a review of the Collector’s Quest web site, a site where they claim that hunter’s gather! The Collector’s Quest site is not necessarily a site for specific antiques or specific collectibles, but rather a site for collectors and collectibles, as defined in the broadest sense of the term that a collectible is simply nothing more than something that people collect. Using this definition, virtually anything can be a collectible, from bottle caps to pez dispensers, as there are folks who collect these things as well as a plethora of other things.

On this site you can find articles and blogs, videos and notes on just about everything that people collect, whether Pez dispensers or Cookie Jars, Action Figures or Dinosaur toys, matchbox cars, guitars, Tea Pots, Elvis Presley, Snow Globes, Corkscrews, or, well, you get the idea.

When I visited the site, and began perusing the various pages within it, I found that it is an enjoyable site to visit. The videos section contains different videos relating to collectibles and collecting. When I visited, I found there were three groups of videos available for viewing. There were videos of their coverage of the New York Comic Con, the NE Pez Convention, and the Scarsdale Concours (covering collector cars). All in all I found the videos to be fairly informative, and very entertaining.

The Community section of the web site is really nothing more than a place for web site members to upload photos of their personal collections, with a space to leave your comments about the collections. Almost like a photo blog. Interesting and a nice addition for this community. I felt is really added to the web sites appeal by allowing its members to share their collections, which is something every collector loves to do – show off his or her collection. Watch out if you come to visit me, I’ll be dragging out my autograph collection and my John Wayne collection. Collectors I have found, are just as bad as those neighbors who continually bring out their vacation slides!

The Marketplace section, which the site claims is a new section, was not very impressive. Although the purpose behind it is good – that being one of giving members their own place to sell collectibles – I found this section to be somewhat limited, and most of the items offered were from one person. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I can’t really see myself paying $3300.00 for a piece of “art” that consisted of a giant credit card made from the arms and legs of Barbie dolls. Perhaps this section will grow as more and more of the sites members begin to take advantage of it. I also found that in order to purchase any of the items, you must first be a member of the website. I would think that the sites members would find this a bit to restricting. I have to wonder why the site owners have not opened up this particular section to non-members as well, and thus providing their members with a larger group of potential buyers.

Perhaps the most interesting section I found on the web site was the Blogs section. In it I found a collection of very nice, well written, enjoyable and informative articles covering a variety of different collectibles and even some antiques. The blog section is categorized in six different groups – Reviews, Decorating, Interviews, Flea Market Finds, Collecting FYI, and Events. I personally found the interviews, the flea market finds and the collecting FYI articles the most interesting.

Another nice, and very helpful feature of this web site is the Calendar section. The calendar features a calendar format listing of various antique and collectible related events occurring around the country. The calendar also gives you the option of looking only at specific categories such as auctions, conventions, shows & fairs, trade meets, and more. Or, you can also see only the latest additions to the calendar, or search the calendar. You can even promote events by submitting them to the site for inclusion in the calendar.

And then there is the obligatory Links section. The links page features categories that are shown by title and icon. Each with an rss feed button so you can subscribe to the various sites and blogs within each category. Clicking on the icon will take the viewer to a page of links that are related specifically to that category. Very nice, very helpful, and much nicer than a lot of sites where one is forced to go wading through a long list of links that are not in any categorical order and often do not work. I found the rss feeds for each link category to be helpful as well, allowing you to subscribe only to the category you are interested in, rather than all of them.

All in all, the Collector’s Quest web site is an enjoyable and informative site. True, there are a few things that the site owners could improve on, but these are overshadowed by the benefits of visiting this site. Check it out, and sign up for their free eNewsletter. I think you’ll find it worth your while.

Thanks again for stopping by the Trading Post blog. As always, please leave you comments and suggestions – they are always encouraged and welcome. If you enjoy these articles and find them helpful and informative, why not subscribe to this blog and sign on as a follower. Well, until next time, thanks for readin’, and I’ll see y’all later.

Adios,
Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: “A smile from a good woman is worth more'n a dozen handed out by a bartender.”

Self Promotion: How To Get Noticed For Less

2009-02-06T20:19:00.000-08:00

Self Promotion: How To Get Noticed For Less

Unless you are financially well off and can afford to hire an advertising agency to market your ecommerce site for you, you will have to tackle this important aspect of online sales yourself. It can be a bit overwhelming, but with a little planning, some prioritizing and scheduling, it can be done with minimal frustration and hair pulling.

There are several things you can do as a small eCommerce entrepreneur, to promote your web site and products, and that is the purpose of this article. I’ve tried to break it down into easy to read sections, so you can absorb each aspect of self promotion (at least as far as this limited article goes), and implement them as best suits you.

Branding

How many of you know who Vickie Hogan, John Carter, Jenny Anastassakis or Thomas Mapother are? Probably not too many of you. That’s because these are the real names of some very famous celebrities who used “stage” names to build their stage or film identities. In other words, they branded themselves. They created an identity that their fans would be able to easily recognize. That’s what branding is all about. Creating a unique identity that your fans – your customers – will be able to recognize. By the way, these “stage” names are the real names of Anna Nicole Smith, Charlton Heston, Jennifer Aniston, and Tom Cruise.

An important aspect of your brand is your avatar. It could be as simple as a photo of yourself. Or, you could find or design one that best fits your personality, either online, off, or both. And add a little personality to your screen identity and avatar / logo. Not something that is completely foreign to your own personality, but something that complements it or enhances it.

When I started in online sales, I chose the name Whiskey Jack, because I was finding things to sell all over the place. Yard sale, thrift stores, auctions, everywhere. I would gather these treasures up, take them home, and put them up online for sale. The reason I chose the name Whiskey Jack was that it is the name of a bird that does essentially the same thing. This bird is also known as a Camp Robber, or Gray Jay. Initially I used a photo of a Whiskey Jack as my avatar, but after I found one that actually looked like a caricature of myself, I decided to use it. I’ve been using it, and the name, ever since. It is my online avatar, my business logo, and my business name. Everything I do that is related to my online business, it tied in to the name and logo of Whiskey Jack. All three of my eCommerce sites use both the name and logo, every invoice I send out, my business cards, my email address, even this blog, are distinctively Whiskey Jack. There’s no mistaking it.

The reason for this is simple. I want people to know who I am, and to recognize the name and logo, and identify them as being synonymous with honesty, trust, and respect. I go the extra mile in every customer service situation. In my book the customer is the most important things in my business that there is. It should be in your book as well. So put some thought into your online identity and avatar/logo. Make sure you’re comfortable with it, and when you get it figured out, stick with it. It’s how folks will find you and recognize you.

Blogging

Although blogging isn’t for everyone, if you are comfortable with it, then do it. But be careful with it. You don’t want your blog to be nothing more than an online infomercial for your eCommerce site or your products. Plan to write blogs that are informative and enjoyable. The goal here is not to simply promote your business, but to provide a service to your readers that will draw them in and keep them coming back. You want to develop a following with your blog. Your eCommerce business should be a side light to your blog. You can add widgets to your blog side bar that highlight your web site and/or products. Widget Box is an excellent source for creating great widgets. Of course I’m a little biased because that’s where my Bonanzle widgets came from. The ones on the right hand side bar of this blog. But what really convinced me to use widget box is not only the great looking widgets you can create there, but how easy they are to create and the very important fact that signing up for and using widget box is free!

Not only should you keep you blog entries informative, enjoyable and relevant, but you should do the same when leaving comments on other blogs. Try to make it a point to visit other blogs that are relevant to your eCommerce business and leave a comment or two that is intelligent, respectful, and relevant to the blog you are commenting on. At the end of your comment, you can then put in very brief plug for your own web site or online selling platform. Something along the lines of “…. Your comments …. Thanks, (Your screen identity name), try something new at www. your eCommerce site . com! Well, you get the idea.

Merchant Directories

Merchant directories are also a great place for some free promotion and exposure. Two of the best that I have found are Every Place I Sell, and Explorz. Both of these sites are free to use, and I highly recommend them both. Listing your eCommerce venues with online merchant directories is sort of like advertising your store in the yellow pages. Consumers go to these sites to use the sites search engines and shopping / online store categories to do more specialized online shopping. People get a little tired of just going to Yahoo or other internet search engines and typing in what they are looking for, and then being served up a couple hundred thousand web sites that may or may not have what they are looking for. Online merchant directories make it much easier for people to shop online. If at all possible, get listed with some. Of course, there are many such merchant directory sites. Click here to see a list of some great self promotion sites, including some great merchant directory sites.

Search Engines

Although I just said that people really don’t like to utilize internet search engines to do their online shopping, especially due to the overwhelming number of web sites those search engines will present them with. That being said, however, there are still a lot of people who will always use internet search engines, and you want to be there at the top of the results page when they use them. Probably one of the best ways you can utilize internet search engines to get your eCommerce site noticed is to make your website search engine friendly. You want these search engines to find you, not someone else. There are several web sites that are dedicated to helping you do this. For a fee, that is. But since I’m all about free and low cost, that is what I will talk about here. There are at least two options that fall into this category. The first is Google Base, and the second is Self Promotion.com.

Google Base is set up so that those who are signed up to use it (and its very easy, all you need is a gmail address and a little time). Once you’re signed up and signed in, simply follow the online instructions, and before you know it, Google will have your products in their search queue, and when someone goes searching for a product you have, you could very easily end up at the top of the heap. Of course this isn’t guaranteed, and I don’t want to build up false hopes in anyone. However, I can say that after I signed up with Google Base and after I had the data feeds for my Bonanzle booths set up with Google Base, most of my products did show up at the top of a Google search page, in the “shopping” results section.

The other site I mentioned, Self Promotion.com, provides a service wherein they will submit your site to several of the many search engines, and they will do it for you. Best of all they do it for free. Mostly anyway. They do ask for a donation if you are satisfied with their work. They suggest a donation of $10.00. Personally, I think this is remarkable for all that they do for those who register with them. And they don’t force you to donate. All in all, I think that a $10 donation is money well spent, and you should really consider donating more, if possible, simply because they will do so much for you. And in case you’re wondering, the answer is no. I have no affiliation with Self Promotion.com. In fact, I’m not even registered with them. I’m basing my opinion of them on the word of others that have used their service. Although, there may come a time when I do sign up with them. When I think I can donate a fair amount to them. Just my personal convictions, that’s all. But give their site a look and judge for yourself.

Forums

Engage with a community to tell others about your online store or booth. Sites such as Bonanzle, and eBay, have forum boards where members can leave their comments and comment on entries made by other members. The Selling Lounge is an online web site that provides a forum for those who sell online, and is an excellent place to learn about other online selling venues, and also to do a little self promotion of your own. As I mentioned above, however, when posting to these forums or leaving comments for the postings of others, remember to be respectful, and leave intelligent and relevant comments. Don’t just jump out there and use the comments to promote your booth. That will just turn people off. Leave your comment and add a very brief note at the end of the comment and after your name, to point people to you online store or booth.

Business Cards & Flyers

Next to your eCommerce identity (your brand – logo, avatar, etc), business cards and flyers are going to be your main source of self promotion. Every customer and potential customer should receive one or both. Make sure that you include not only your store or booth name and URL (web address), but also your avatar/logo and a tag line or motto if you have one. Also contact information such as your business or contact email address.

These can either be designed and printed up by you on your home computer (sheets of business cards can be printed up on card stock and then cut into individual cards), or there are several web sites that offer free or low cost business cards and flyers (as well as shipping labels, return labels, calendars, refrigerator magnets, and more – all great for self promotion). Four of these sites are Vista Print , Free Printable Business Cards, Prints Made Easy and Giggle Print. Each of these sites offer a limited number of free business cards (although they may ask you to pay shipping and handling charges), and can be good source for the small eCommerce business owner.

Well, I think that’s enough to chew on for awhile. There are other aspects of self promotion that I haven’t gone into, such as Email marketing and internet coupons, but I think I’ll save those for another time. This article is long enough already! I apologize for being so long winded, but there is just so much information that I’d like to put for my readers this could easily become a “blog book”! So I reckon I’ll say goodnight for now, and I hope to see y’all again here at Whiskey Jack’s blog. If you found this article informative and (hopefully) enjoyable, please feel free to leave a comment or any suggestions. They’re always welcome. If you haven’t subscribed to signed on as a follower to this blog, why not do so now? We’d love to have ya! Until next time, take care.

Adios,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: “Reciting poetry is like a haircut. If it's good, ya feel like a million bucks. If it's bad, ya hide yer head under yer hat.”

Back in the Saddle Again!

2009-02-06T08:37:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,
Well, I think I've got the glitch figured out. This old computer picked up a nasty bug somewhere along the line, so I sprayed a whole can of Raid on the hard drive and it seems to have killed the little bugger! Not really, but I can say that it does pay to have some good anti virus and anti spyware programs!

In other news, I have decided to cut back on the blog a bit. I will no longer do web site reviews and online selling tips. The reason for this is two fold. First, in looking at my google analytics, it appears that not too many folks are reading these entries anyway, and I don't want to waste my followers time by writing articles that they may not be interested in. Please let me know if I'm wrong. Secondly is the time factor. It takes a lot of time to do the research and then write the articles. Especially when I do a web site review, which can take up to a week to really examine a web site. That being said, however, I will continue to do the antiques and collectibles articles. Not only do I love doign them, but they seem to be the main reason that folks read this blog - at least according to Google Analytics. Not to mention that as I do the antiques and collectibles articles, it is an education for me, which goes a long way to furthering my knowledge of antiques and collectibles which I am trying to make the main focus of my online sales venues. I still have a couple of web site reviews and online sales tips articles "in the queue" so to speak, so I will out them up. The antiques and collectibles articles may not be limited to once a week, as I will continue to do them as often as I can. There's a lot to write about!

Plus I will be, occassionally, writing about my experiences with my online sales, but hopefully not so much as to bore you all. Well, there you have it. That's what I've been up to lately. Squashing bugs and trying to fine tune this blog. Until next time, a big thanks to all who follow and read this blog. As always, please feel free to leave your comments and ratings. They are always welcome. Take care and I hope to hear from some of you!
Adios,
Whiskey Jack

Glitch, Glitch, Glitch

2009-02-02T15:51:00.000-08:00

I don't know if anyone can see this or not, but here goes. My computer is glitching up on me, so I'm going to have some down time off and on this week. Hopefully not for long. The Bonanzle booths will remain open, and hopefully I can still handle sales this week. Plus I'll have the articles back up as well. Don't give up on me! I'll be working overtime to fix this problem! I'll let you know here when everything is all fixed up, and we're back in the saddle again. Thanks for your patience - Whiskey Jack.

Big Little Books - Adventures in Reading

2009-01-25T12:38:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks, and welcome to Ol’ Whiskey Jack’s weekly blog article on antiques and collectibles. This week I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for the goof old days. Maybe it had a little to do with the Gene Autry film I watched the other day. At any rate, over the past few days my mind has been wandering back over the years to a time when I received my first ticket to big adventure – my first Big Little Book. Being a fan of westerns as I grew up during the golden years of television watching Wyatt Earp, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, and the Saturday Morning Cliffhangers. So naturally I gravitated toward the western Big Little Books, although I did have several others that were non western.

Big Little Books were just what they sounded like. They were small in the sense that they only measured a little over 4 inches tall and about 3 ½ inches wide, but they were thick, about 1 ½ inches thick, and packed with anywhere from 200 pages to over 400 pages. Full of illustrations and great stories, they were the joy of many kids just like myself.

The Whitman Publishing Company first began publishing Big Little Books in 1932. They were usually based on popular comic strips and radio programs such as Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Buck Rogers, the Lone Ranger, and many, many more. Once these great books began to catch on, other publishing companies jumped on the band wagon and began publishing their own Big Little Books. Publishers such as Saalfield, Goldsmith, World Syndicate Publishing, and others, as well as Whitman, published Big Little Books clear up into the 1960’s. Prices for Big Little Books ranged from 10¢ in the early years, and up to 25¢ - 50¢ in the later years.

Sadly, as with good things from our youth, Big Little Books faded away. Fortunately, however, there are still many of these big little gems still in existence, and collectors abound. Renowned actor, Walter Koenig (Chekov from the original Star Trek TV series, Mr. Bester on Babylon5, and scores of other great roles) is a collector of Big Little Books, and has an extensive collection (he also collects Star Trek figures and Pin Back Buttons).

Big Little Books can be found all over the internet, not only for sale, but also available to read. If you would like to take a look at a couple of these great books, visit the Antique Books Digital Library, where they have two Big Little Books available to read online for free. Tim McCoy on the Tomahawk Trail, and Bronc Peeler, the Lone Cowboy. Take a look, I think you’ll enjoy them.

For further research on Big Little Books, check out The Big Big Little Book Book: An Overstreet Photo-Journal Guide by Arnold T. Blumberg. The Broward County Florida Library has an online exhibit of Big Little Books, and Les Adams of The Old Corral of B Westerns website has a great article on his remembrances of Big Little Books. You may also want to visit two of the best web sites about Big Little Books, Biglittlebooks.com and Biglittlebooks.net. I think you’ll enjoy these as well.

Well, Thanks for stopping by the Trading Post blog. I hope you’ve found this article both enjoyable and informative. If you would like to leave your comments, please do, they are always welcome. You can also subscribe to this blog and sign up as a follower – I hope you do, and I hope to see you around some more. Remember, you’re always welcome! Until next time my friends,

Adios,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: “If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there with ya.”

Tips For Buying & Selling At Flea Markets and Swap Meets – Part Two

2009-01-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

Tips For Buying & Selling At Flea Markets and Swap Meets – Part Two

Howdy Folks,

Welcome to part two of a two part article on buying and selling at Flea Markets and Swap Meets. Where part one dealt with buying at these venues, part two covers selling at them. Hopefully you will find these articles both informative and enjoyable. Are you ready to sell? Well then let’s get into some essential tips that should help you in your flea market selling adventure.

Part Two – Need to Know Tips for Selling at Flea Markets & Swap Meets

PREPARATION:

I started the part one article with the old adage, “Failing to Prepare, is Preparing to Fail.” The same is true here. As with buying at flea markets, you must do some preparation before you head to the flea market to sell.

1. Do Some Research. Again, this is almost a recap from the previous article, but it is important. Read those antiques and collectibles trade papers. Many of them will list upcoming specialty flea markets that deal in specific antiques and collectibles. There are glass and pottery markets, toy markets, etc. Know where you want to sell. If you are selling primarily or exclusively antiques and /or collectibles, then make sure you are selling at an antiques and collectibles flea market. Stay away from the generic “any and everything” sold markets. You will find more buyers looking specifically for antiques and collectibles at a specialty flea market, than you will at a generic market. This translates into more exposure, more sales and more money for you. A good flea market selling maxim to remember is: Variety = Exposure, Exposure = Sales. Do different markets each week, and also do different markets around your county, your state and around the country. There are some very large national markets that you may want to consider selling at, such as the Brimfield show with hundreds of dealers and thousands of buyers. You can check them out at Brimfield Antique and Flea Market Shows.

You may also want to check out some of the resources that I mentioned in part one of this article, such as the U.S. Flea Market Directory: A Guide to the Best Flea Markets in all 50 States by Albert LaFarge; the Keys Flea Market web site and the Great Flea Market web site.

2. Plan For the Rush. If at all possible, reserve a booth as close to the entrance as you can. This will ensure that buyers entering and leaving the flea market will see your booth first, and then again as they prepare to leave. And plan for the big rush that almost always happens as soon as the market is open. Some buyers are in a frenzy to grab the best deals before they are all gone, so be ready to do a lot of standing, moving around your booth, greeting buyers and answering questions, and also making deals during the first 30 minutes to an hour of your selling day. This as well as the end of the day is the time to make deals and make your most money.

3. Plan An Adequate Supply of Inventory and Money. It is always a good idea to have an inventory worth at least $1,000 - $2000 on hand. You may not need to have all of it out at one time, but it is a good idea to be able to keep you booth stocked throughout the day. An empty booth and sparse tables will turn potential buyers away. Another thing that will turn buyers away is not having enough money on hand to make change. Don’t fall into the trap that many do by thinking you can sell items and use the money you receive from those sales to make change. Trust me it never works out well when you do that. It’s a good idea to have at least $400 - $500 in twenties, tens, fives and one dollar bills, as well as perhaps $10 dollars in change – pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. This way you are always ready to make change for any sale. This will help make sales smoother and faster. This is essential during the big rush at the beginning of the day.

4. Tag and Inspect All Items. Before packing your vehicle for the trip to the flea market. Taking time to tag them after you set up is distracting to both you and potential buyers. Plus buyers will tend to shy away from untagged items, thinking the price is too high for them. Like the old saying, “if you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it.” And make sure all your items are tagged with clean, bright, new tags. Remove the old tags and replace them with new tags. Old tags, dirty tags will generally indicate to experienced buyers that the item is old, well handled by previous buyers, and generally unsellable. Items tagged with dirty and worn tags will generally be passed up by experienced buyers. Also ensure that prices are clearly written and reasonable. It is important to mark your items up properly.

Also make sure you have inspected your items prior to packing them for the trip to the flea market. Make sure your items are clean and not broken. Not only do dirty and marred items not sell well, cleaning them while unpacking is too much of a distraction for both you and potential buyers. Don’t go too far with cleaning, however, when it comes to metal items such as brass, copper, silver, silver plate, or antique toys. You don’t want to remove any of the patina as this can devalue the item.

5. Tables, Chairs, and Shelter. It is a good idea to invest in a pop up shelter, as well as some good folding tables and folding chairs. Make sure you have some anchors (such as 2 ½ gallon buckets full of sandbags or cement) that you can use to hold your shelter down if the wind picks up. Tables should be clean, or have some table cloths (preferably white or soft earth tones) to cover them with. Fitted sheets purchased at a thrift store work well for this. Presentation is very important to buyers and will help increase sales. Nobody wants to buy an item that is presented on a grease or oil stained table.

SETTING UP:

1. Choosing your spot. Try to pick a spot with the heaviest foot traffic. This is just good common sense. Try to avoid remote spots, even if they provide shade. Remote spots are generally utilized by novice sellers, and they receive the least amount of foot traffic, and thus the least amount of sales.

2. Showcases. People like to handle the items they are considering purchasing, so use showcases sparingly. It takes time to unlock and open them to retrieve items for buyer inspection. Try to use them only for small and expensive items. Buyers will understand this.

4. Setting up tables and chairs. When setting up your tables, always leave enough room for three people to walk side by side between your rows of tables. This will encourage browsing as people do not want to be crowded while they are browsing. Having enough room between your table rows is an invitation to potential buyers to browse. If you bring some folding chairs to sit on (and if you don’t. you’ll wish you had!) set up one or two near the front of your booth as an invitation for tired or elderly buyers to have a seat and rest. This type of customer service will go a long way toward encouraging sales. Set up your chair or chairs near the back of your booth, at least 4-5 feet behind the back end of your tables. You may also want to invest in a small folding camping table (about 18 inches square by 18 inches tall) to set next to your chair. This can be used to place a cup of coffee or glass of water, tea or soda on while you are helping customers.

5. Special Items and Unsold Items. When you have special items, especially those that you are certain will be good sellers, don’t bury them in a crowd of lower selling items. Place them where they will be seen by potential buyers looking for that something special. When you have items that aren’t moving as well as you would like, move them around every hour or so. This will give your booth and tables a “new look” that may encourage browsing, even by folks who have already been to your booth.

6. A Special “Attractor”. A special attractor is usually a large item, often too large to be placed on a table, usually showy, that is placed out in front of the booth. Although it is there to be sold, it is also there to attract people. It is designed to catch their eye and draw them into your booth. Even if you don’t have a large cigar store Indian, or floor standing Victrola, you can put some larger unique items on tables near the front of your booth. The idea with the special attractor is to advertise your booth, so make your special attractor a good one.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:

1. Attitude. One of the most important aspects of customer service is attitude. Always keep a pleasant attitude not only when dealing with customers, but even when you’re not. You never know who is watching or within listening range. Always greet each customer with smile and a hello. Be courteous and friendly. Be willing to talk and know when not to. You don’t want to be too pushy and drive your customers away.

2. Encourage. Be willing and ready to encourage and accept offers whenever possible. Never have rack hard firm prices. Always offer a discount, and don’t be afraid to take an occasional loss. By encouraging sellers to “wheel and deal,” you are building a customer base, and good customer relations. Word of mouth among buyers travels fast, whether good words or bad, so always be cognizant of this aspect of your customer service.

3. Know your items. Be ready, willing and able to answer any questions your customers may have. If you know the history or provenance of an item, or any known facts about an item, being willing to share this information will go a long way to closing a deal on that item. And be honest about the item. Resist the temptation to embellish an items history.

4. Be helpful. Always offer to pack the buyers item for them and have boxes – bags – and packing material readily available to do this. Never use newspaper as it can stain some items. Use plain unused newsprint (available at some packing stores or newspaper offices) or clean white butcher paper. Always give your customers your business card, and always put one in the box or bag with the item. You may also want to include a flyer as well which will list not only your online selling venues, but which flea markets, swap meets, or antique and collectible shows you will be selling at in the near and or distant future. Keep your customers coming back. A little self promotion can go a long way.

CLOSING NOTES:

Plan for the future. Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your next flea market sales opportunity. Plan ahead. Also, if you have a helper with you, take a break during a lull in the selling, and look around the flea market. Take a look at what others are selling, what their prices are, what is actually selling as opposed to what is not. Ask questions and take notes (just don’t be obvious about it), and use the tactics of successful sellers to improve your selling methods. If you are planning to attend an unknown market, ask around and get the advice of some of the seasoned dealers who may have attended the unknown market. Most dealers are willing to help, and as you get to know them, especially after meeting them at several different markets and shows, you will become part of the dealers social network. A benefit that can go a long way to a successful selling career.

Well, that’s the end of part two of this two part article series, with 15 more need-to-know tips for successful buying and selling at flea markets and swap meets. As always, I appreciate you stopping by and reading my blog articles. I hope you find them informative and enjoyable, and I hope you’ll please consider signing up to follow this blog, and subscribing to it for more great articles. And don’t hesitate to leave your comments. They are always welcome. Until next time my friends,

Adios,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: “Don’t be easily discouraged. Every path has some puddles.”

Ebay vs Bonanzle: Smack Down!

2009-01-21T22:56:00.000-08:00

Ebay vs Bonanzle: Smack Down!

Well, not really a smack down, but it sounds cool doesn't it? For today’s web site review article, I have decided to try and tackle the issue of Bonanzle versus eBay. Many Bonanzle sellers have openly expressed hostility toward eBay in many venues across the internet. Are their claims true, or are they simply a bit over zealous in their passion for Bonanzle? Hopefully, this article will address these issues. Now I admit that I am somewhat biased toward Bonanzle, as I do sell there, and in fact I have two booths on Bonanzle. However, I also sell on eBay, both in auctions and I have an eBay store as well, so hopefully, I can remain at least somewhat unbiased in this comparison. First lets take a look at the pros and cons of Bonanzle.

1. Listing / Buying / Selling

One of the first things I liked about Bonanzle was the simplicity of listing. Granted, eBay as well would be much easier if I kept my listings simple and used their TurboLister thusly. However, with the ability to use extensive HTML in my eBay listings, I alone have made listing on eBay, for me, much more difficult than it has to be. Bonanzle also has the ability to accept some basic HTML in the listing process, and I have to admit that although it is limited in its scope, I do like the Bonanzle listing process better than eBay’s. Plus with Bonanzle, you have the ability to customize your item categories within your booth, and you are not limited to only certain categories as you are with eBay.

Another benefit of listing on Bonanzle is the importing of listings from both eBay and CraigsList. You can also import your eBay feedback, and by doing so, if you have good feedback on eBay it gives you a certain trust factor with Bonanzle buyers right from the get go.

Both eBay and Bonanzle offer a local pick up option to buyers. However, Bonanzle takes it a step further by giving its sellers the opportunity to arrange for a pick up time and date.

Unlike eBay, Bonanzle offers the ability to run sales (known as “Bonanza’s”), offer customized discounts, and free items as well, all making for a more user friendly environment for both buying and selling.

I would have to say that as far as basic listing, buying and selling, Bonanza is far better then eBay.

2. Fees

There are no listing fees. This is a big plus for me. Ebay’s fee structure can be so complicated with various percentages in listing fees, final value fees, fees for extras, and so on. With Bonanzle the final value fees are very simple. If your item(s) sell for $10 or less, the final value fee is only .50 cents. If the item(s) sell for $10 - $50, the final value fee is only $1. Item(s) selling for between $50 - $99, the final value fee is $3. Items selling for between $100 - $1000 have a final value fee of $5, and those selling for over $1000 have a final value fee of only $10. With eBay, fees could reach into the hundreds of dollars. Plus, with Bonanzle, their fees are guaranteed not to increase through 2010.

As far as fees go, Bonanzle is the winner hands down.

3. Payments

Ebay currently only allows payments to be made through PayPal, which is an eBay company. One of the main drawbacks to me, at least on principle, is that this ensures that eBay gets more of your profits than it would if they allowed its sellers to accept checks, money orders, or other non-PayPal payment methods. Ebay, through PayPal, also has now instituted a new rule, which they claim helps bolster buyer confidence, is to withhold payment for certain randomly picked items for a specified of time up to 21 days. Not really a good thing for sellers who are depending on those payments to pay their own bills. I addressed this particular issue in an earlier blog article.

In the area of payments, Bonanzle has a far better, user friendly policy than does eBay.

4. Shipping

Ebay, on the plus side, does have a handle on shipping options. Ebay sellers have the ability to choose any form of USPS shipping, UPS, or FedEx. Bonanzle does not. Both venues give the seller the option to use calculated shipping, but with Bonanzle this is a limited feature that can be cumbersome. Plus sellers cannot add handling fees. With Bonanzle, these fees must be added to the item price, which gives the outward appearance of higher prices. Although this is not an issue for sellers who do not charge handling fees, it can be an issue for those who do. This does create a little more work for the Bonanzle seller. I have found that when I list on Bonanzle, I always use the “Fixed Shipping” option. I then set the shipping price based on shipping calculations that I have already figured out in advance. Unfortunately, this does always give me 100% accurate shipping price. Sometimes it is right on, sometimes I have to take a hit on shipping, and sometimes I overcharge by a few dollars. I suppose it all works out in the end, but I would like to see Bonanzle offer a better range of shipping options, so as to ensure more accurate shipping prices.

There is also the question of international shipping. With Bonanzle there is no differentiation between the two. If you charge $5.00 for fixed shipping, then you are charging that amount for both domestic and international shipping. If you use the calculated shipping, then you are limiting yourself as to the method of shipping as no real options are given. It makes for some seller difficulties that I hope Bonanzle can overcome.

As for now, however, eBay has the better shipping options.

5. Communication with Buyers

Actually, there is no comparison is this category. With eBay, there is only limited communication between the buy and the seller, and that only through eBay monitored messages. With Bonanzle, not only can buyers send messages to the buyers, but Bonanzle has a unique feature that eBay cannot compare with. The live booth chat. With this wonderful feature, Bonanzle sellers and buyers can literally communicate with each other in real time, and the possibilities are fantastic. With this feature, Bonanzle sellers can actually hold real time auctions right in their booth. They can deal with buyers, socialize with booth visitors, promote their items, and more, all in real time.

There is no question that in so far as communication with buyers, Bonanzle has cornered the market with the live chat feature.

6. Customer / Seller Support

With both Ebay and Bonanzle, there is the “community” that one can turn to for help for just about any issue or problem, and good solid advice is sure to follow any request for help that is given. But it is here that the similarities end. When communicating with eBay itself, users are sure to experience a level of frustration that can barely be coped with. I know because I have experienced it myself (as mentioned in a previous blog article). In a word, eBay is inaccessible. Unless you are a Power Seller (who due to their high volume selling and the resulting more money that they make for eBay), you are sure to be relegated to either an automated computer program that will attempt to answer your questions with canned answers that are rarely sufficient, or you will be forced to communicate via email with uncaring and non-understanding customer service agents.

Not so with Bonanzle. On Bonanzle, users not only have their questions and concerns answered by actual people, but even the owners will answer your questions. The owners also put out a monthly newsletter and a regular blog, all designed to keep users updated on upcoming changes and new features. They are also interested in user opinions and they are open to user suggestions for improving the site.

Without a doubt, Bonanzle received the highest of marks in this category.

7. Dispute Resolution

Although eBay does have a dispute resolution section, it does not always find in favor of the person who is in the right. Ebay has a tendency to find in favor of the buyer, presumably in an effort to protect its buyer base, and thus ensure future income. With Bonanzle, the simply transparency found in the booth setups tends to create a refreshing open faced honesty among the sellers, and thus reducing even the possibility of disputes. Although this may change as Bonanzle grows, it is very much within the realm of possibility that Bonanzle will meet any potential problems that may arise.

I have to give Bonanzle the highest marks in this category as well.

8. Promotion

With eBay, item or store promotion is going to cost you extra, above and beyond (sometimes well beyond) your initial selling fees. Ebay offers subtitles, bold print, borders, highlighting, “Featured Plus” packages, “Pro Pack” and “Value Pack” listing upgrades, and designer upgrades. None of these have ever really been shown to improve sales, but eBay does promote their use, and each of them does cost the seller more money.

Bonanzle does things a bit different. Not only does Bonanzle give sellers the option to sign up with Google Base (which allows sellers to have their items come up in Google searches), but Bonanzle also encourages, and offers tips on, self promotion. A tactic that is far better and user oriented than eBay’s method. On Bonanzle sellers also have the ability to hold sales known as Bonanza’s, which are 1-3 hour discount sales. These Bonanza’s are extremely popular among Bonanzle users.

Bonanzle also allows its users to offer free items. This is an excellent promotional tool that almost all Bonanzle users have taken advantage of. Let’s face it, everyone loves to get something for nothing.

Once again, a plus for Bonanzle over eBay.

9. Other Things to Consider

There are some other things that must be considered when comparing Bonanzle with eBay. Even though Bonanzle has been receiving accolades across the internet and throughout the ecommerce world, and although Bonanzle has clearly won this little contest, eBay still has some advantages over Bonanzle that only time can overcome. Among them, is the simple fact that eBay is still the biggest ecommerce site on the web today, and it is where the buyers are. It has the name recognition and familiarity with the general public that is needed to generate the high degree of sales that it has.

In plain terms, everyone knows about or has heard of eBay. It has become a household word much like Jell-O or Kleenex. Even computer spell check programs recognize the name, and parody singer “Weird” Al Yankovic has recorded a song, “I Sold It On Ebay!” The same cannot be said about Bonanzle. At least so far. With the exuberant and zealous Bonanzle community, this could conceivably change in the not too distant future. Again, only time will tell.

Because of this, many sellers are reluctant to leave eBay altogether. Myself included. I still have my eBay store, and I still run auctions on eBay, simply because I make money there. More than I do on Bonanzle. However, I am optimistic that Bonanzle can and will eventually eclipse eBay as the premiere ecommerce site, as long as Bonanzle continues to hold to its core values and goals, and as long as eBay continues to alienate the smaller volume sellers as it is currently doing.

Although I am a big fan of Bonanzle, and although I have no intention of ever leaving Bonanzle, this little “One-on-One” contest should encourage other online sellers to examine which of the two sites best addresses their needs as sellers. Perhaps it will be one or the other, or both. Sellers should examine which of these sites offers the best in customer service and the best in solutions to technical problems, and which is the most user friendly.

If I were to offer a prediction, I believe that eBay will continue to alienate its smaller volume sellers and increasingly cater to the larger volume sellers (i.e. Power Sellers), or those who ultimately make more money for them. I see Bonanzle as growing to be as large, if not larger then eBay, especially in providing a place for those smaller, lower volume sellers that are becoming increasingly disenfranchised with eBay. I believe that a clear line will be drawn as Bonanzle continues to be an ever increasing home for small business operators, and eBay continues to be an ever increasing home to larger retail businesses.

In closing, I would encourage everyone reading this article to give Bonanzle a try, I think you’ll be pleased. I hope you’ve found this article to be helpful, and I hope unbiased. If you enjoy these articles, I hope you’ll consider subscribing to and following this blog, and please don’t hesitate to leave your comments, they are always welcome and encouraged. Thanks for stopping by, and until next time,

Adios,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s word of wisdom: “Don't go sellin’ your mule to buy a plough.”

Collecting Salt and Pepper Shakers

2009-01-20T21:06:00.000-08:00

Salt has long been a staple of mankind’s diet, and from the earliest days, people have looked for various ways to store and serve salt. Initially, salt came in rock form and had to be scraped or grated in order to flavor food. The grated salt was served in salt dips (also know as salt cellars, open salts) which were small glass (such as Vaseline, carnival, EAPG, depression ear, etc.) or ceramic bowls approximately 1-2 inches in diameter. Some of the nicer salts were made of silver with glass inserts, or crystal. Often they came with small spoons which were used to scoop the salt from the individual dips and then sprinkle the salt on the user’s food.

Quite often individual salt dips were accompanied by a master salt. The individual salts were filled from the master salt, and placed around the table by or between the different seats. Many of the salt dips that are found in today’s collections are pressed or pattern glass (EAPG), depression glass, carnival glass, Vaseline glass, Czech crystal, or some other early form of glass, usually dating from the 1700’s to the early 20^th century.

With the advent of the salt mill, a device which contained a grinding mechanism that broke up the salt rocks into fine granules. Salt and pepper mills are still found today in many homes and restaurants. Eventually, when methods were found to mass produce salt as fine crystals, salt mills fell into disuse, and the salt shaker was born.

With the birth of mass produced ceramics during the 1940’s, salt and pepper shaker production hit an all time high, and shakers of all shapes and sizes could easily be found. The market for advertising and novelty shakers grew due to the affordability and availability of shakers.

Today, most homes have at least two or three shaker sets for different uses. Whether everyday use, holidays and special occasions, or even picnics and outdoor barbecues, shakers are usually in abundance in most homes. There are some, however, that just can’t resist the charm that many shakers possess, and they collect shakers by the score. Glass, ceramic, wood, metal, and plastic shakers line shelf after shelf, and the adoring owner can usually tell you a story about each and every one. And no wonder, it is an enjoyable hobby, as well as in many cases a good investment.

If you’re just beginning to get in to the hobby, there are a few things that you may want to consider. Do you want to specialize in a particular style of shaker such as nodders, condiments, hangers, figural, stackers, huggers or minis? Perhaps you are interested in a particular material such as glass, wood, ceramic, plastic, or metal; or maybe a specific maker or era? All are important questions to ask yourself as the more general your collection, the larger it may become, perhaps to your own dismay as they take over your home!

Another thing to consider is condition and storage. When purchasing additions to your collection, pay close attention to detail and possible repairs. If possible, use a black light to check for repairs which will often fluoresce under the black light. (Remember, a small portable handheld black light should be a part of your buyer kit!). When examining salt and pepper shakers look to see if they have their original stoppers or have they been replaced? And while checking stoppers, check to see if the shakers still contain salt or pepper. Although these spices do wonders for many foods (especially those I cook), they can cause some damage to the shakers if stored in the shakers for long periods of time. Never store salt or pepper in your collectible shakers.

Also consider half sets or single shakers. Not only do they often display nicely on their own, but you may want to have a spare to that favorite set or two that reside in your collection in the event of a possible mishap.

As I mentioned above, many folks specialize in a particular style of shaker. Here is a list of some of the more popular styles.

Turn-Abouts:

These unique shakers, usually figures of people, will feature double sides that are opposite of each other. For example, on one side, you may find a happily married young couple, but on the reverse side of the same shakers you will see a pair of grumpy old folks.

Nodders:

Nodders are shakers that sit balanced on a base, and will wobble or “nod” when gently touched.

Carriers / Carts:

The base for shakers in these sets is usually a small animal or animal drawn cart. The shakers will hang from the animals saddle or sit in the cart.

Huggers:

Again, huggers do what their name implies. The two shakers in a set stand together in a hug. Some of the most well know of the huggers are made by Van Tellingen.

Hangers:

Hangers are a set of shakers that hag from the third piece in the set, which is the base.

Stackers:

A stacker set of shakers is a set where one of the shakers sits upon its mate.

Minis:

Minis are just what they sound like, miniature shakers. They usually measure between ½ inch to 2 inches in height.

Bench Sitters:

As you may have guessed, bench sitters are designed to sit on a bench. The bench was sold with the figural shaker set, usually people, and the bench was their base.

Condiments:

A condiment set consists of two shakers on either side of a base which contains a small covered center tray or bowl which is used for mustard, relish, sugar or other condiment.

Long Boys & Tall Boys:

These are shakers, usually animals or people, with unusually long elongated bodies or necks that measure 6 inches or more.

These are only a few of the many types of shaker sets that are collected and available today. Below is a list of related books and web sites to help you in your research of salt and pepper shakers.

Web Sites:

The Novelty Salt and Pepper Shakers Club

Kim's Salt and Pepper Shaker Page

Cathy's Open Salts Page

Books:

Collector's Encyclopedia of Salt and Pepper Shakers: Second Series (Figural and Novelty 2nd Series) by Melva Davern

Florence's Big Book of Salt & Pepper Shakers: Identification & Value Guide by Gene Florence

The Complete Salt and Pepper Shaker Book by Mike Schneider

Some Shakers Found on eBay:

Sterling Bird Form Salt Pepper Shakers MARTIN BROTHERS

Sold As Best Offer for $700.00

Vintage Gas Pump Salt & and Pepper Shakers Hancock Gas

31 Bids, Sold for $560.00

RARE Mt. Washington Opaque Peachblow Pear Salt Shaker

2 Bids, Sold for $495.00

Mckee Depression Glass Salt and Pepper Shaker

10 Bids, Sold for $380.00

Today's Word of Wisdom: "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. It comes to us at midnight, very clean, perfect when it arrives, and puts itself in our hands and hopes we learned something from yesterday."

Tips For Buying & Selling At Flea Markets and Swap Meets – Part One

2009-01-15T20:24:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,

When you’re selling online, just like with a brick and mortar store, the number one issue you have is finding inventory. Let’s face it, without inventory sales are kinda slow. One of the primary places we online sellers, especially those dealing in antiques and collectibles, find our inventory is at flea markets and swap meets. We also do a lot of sales at these venues during the summer months. I thought today I would start a two-part article on buying and selling tips at flea markets and swap meets.

Part One – Need to Know Tips for Buying at Flea Markets & Swap Meets

PREPARATION:

As with everything in life, preparation is important, and the old adage, “Failing to Prepare, is Preparing to Fail,” holds very true. When preparing to hit the flea market trail, there are a few points to remember.

1. Research and plan out your route. Read every antiques and collectibles trade paper you can find. Many of them will list upcoming specialty flea markets that deal in specific antiques and collectibles. There are glass and pottery markets, toy markets, etc. Know where you want to go, and how you’re going to get there. Note that new markets and small town markets can often provide some great buying opportunities. They are usually off the beaten track, and the lack of “high power, big money” buyers can often keep prices reasonable. You may also want to purchase the U.S. Flea Market Directory: A Guide to the Best Flea Markets in all 50 States by Albert LaFarge. Now in it’s 3^rd edition, this great paperback book not only lists the best flea markets in all 50 states, it also gives days and hours of operation, admission costs, amenities available, types of merchandise and range of selection, and also contact information. Or, you can check online sites that give some of the same information found in LaFarge’s book. A couple of good sites are:

- KeysFleaMarket.com offers some pretty good flea market links

- GreatFleaMarket.com offers links to flea market websites

2. Have your field guides ready. Unless you have the supernatural (and very enviable) ability to know absolutely everything about everything, you’re probably going to need a couple of field guides to take with you to help in identification of items you find. If you have a basic plan to look only for specific items, you can probably depend on field guides that deal with that item. Warman’s Field Guides are great for this. Whether its depression glass, action figures, antiques jewelry, Pez dispensers, Matchbox cars, or what have you, Warman’s usually has a field guide for it. If you are looking for many different items, you may want to check out the Flea Market Trader paperback book. This book lists thousands of items, many with black and white photos. Although not as extensive as the Warman’s Field Guides, the Flea Market Trader is a great book to carry with you in your backpack or back pocket. Please note, however, that these books usually have price lists and what they call “current values.” Don’t rely on these prices and values. They are usually out of date by the time the book itself is printed, and remember that prices and values vary from one part of the country to another, and from one market to another.

3. Prepare your buyer kit. A good buyer kit is essential! Always have it ready to go, and never forget it. A good buyers kit will contain:

- A small high-intensity flashlight for shining on the inside of vases, cups and other containers to check for cracks; see relief and incised maker marks, and other uses.

- A small but powerful magnifying glass and or jewelers loup for closely examining glass, pottery, art, and other items.

- A small handheld black light for checking Vaseline glass, green depression glass, and also for checking for pottery repairs which will often show up under black light.

- A pair of white cotton gloves for handling vintage photos, tin types, and other ephemera. Many dealers will not allow you to touch these items with your bare hands, as oils from your fingers will damage these items.

- A small set of jewelers screwdrivers for opening the backs of vintage battery operated items, and other items to check for corrosion and broken connections and other loose parts.

- Personal Items such as Business Cards, Aspirin, Band Aids, a couple of energy bars, any necessary medications that may be needed during the day.

These items will generally fit in a standard sized fanny pack or a small backpack. I cannot over-stress the importance of bringing your buyers kit along with you, so if you don’t have one put together yet, its time to start.

ARRIVING:

1. Arrive Early. The best time to arrive at a flea market is early. I mean real early. If at all possible, try and be there when the dealers are unpacking. Although this sometimes means you may have to pay an early buyers fee, if you can afford it, pay it. This is the best time to make some good deals. Although you may not save much money, you will often get first choice on a dealers items. At the very least, you will have the opportunity to check out items early that you can always go back and check on later.

2. Check out Remote Tables and Booths. You may also want to check out the back spots and remote spots at the market as soon as possible. These spots usually don’t attract much traffic, and are often the last to be filled. Usually they are filled with new dealers who may either be unknowledgeable about what they have or the worth of their items, and they may be willing to make you some pretty good deals.

DEALIN’ and HAGGLIN’:

1. Be Ready to Make Deals. When arriving at the dealers tables and booths, you need to be in “Hagglin’ Mode.” Be ready to start making deals. When you find an item that you may be interested in, hold it an don’t put it down. If another buyer sees that you might be interested in it, they will grab it up if you put it down. Always ask the dealer if the price marked is their best price and if they can offer a better price. When they do (and the usually will), then you can offer a lower price. If they take it, great. If they offer another price, try and compromise by splitting the difference between the dealer’s price and what you are willing to pay. This is haggling 101. Sometimes the dealer will not come down in price. That’s okay. You can always go back at the end of the day, and if the item is still there, the dealer may be willing to deal at that point. Remember the “Haggler’s Golden Rule: Whoever names a price first – loses.” Another point to remember is to not irritate the dealer. Be friendly and courteous, even if you think the dealer is handing you a line of sheep dip when describing the item. Your knowledge of the item, its actual value and resale value, will help you out in the end. And, never make an offer unless you’re ready to back it up.

2. Closely Examine the Dealers Items. Take a good look around the dealer’s table or booth. Look for items that seem out of place. For example, if you find a tackle box full of old lures on a table or booth full of depression glass, there is a good chance that the dealer really doesn’t know what he or she has and you may be able to make a good deal. Check out the condition of the price tags and price stickers. If they are old and or dirty, then chances are that the item is old stock that the dealer has had around for a long time. Dealers are often willing to make some good deals on these items just to be rid of them. You should also check out any boxes that are left under the dealers tables. Sometimes these boxes will contain items that the dealers just didn’t have room for on his or her tables. If you see something you like, ask about it. You should also ask the dealer if they have any other items that they have not yet put out. You never know where that hidden treasure is that you’re looking for.

FINAL NOTES:

In closing, I’d like to offer these tips that will help you as you visit the flea markets and swap meets in your area and across the country.

1. Take advantage of the end of day pack up time. At the end of the day, many dealers just want to pack up and go home. And the less they have to pack up, the better. Remember that wonderful item you saw at the beginning of the day that the dealer would not come down on? At the end of the day, that dealer may be more willing to make a deal with you.

2. Cash Talks – Nonsense Walks. Never was this old adage more true than at a flea market. In fact, although some dealers will take checks or credit cards, many won’t. Believe me when I say that if you start counting out some green backs, a dealer, especially a new dealer, will be ready and willing to deal.

3. Buying Out A Dealer. Quite often a dealer will be more willing to deal when you are ready to make a large or lot purchase. Not only does the dealer stand to make a good profit for the day when you “buy big,” but you too will make some good deals.

4. Questionable Items. If you find an item that you are not sure of its legitimacy (as far as age or condition), you may consider paying for that item with a check rather than with cash. That way, if the item turns out to be bogus, after the dealer has “promised” you that it is legitimate, you can always cancel payment on the check. You may lose some money, but if it was a high cost item, at least you won’t lose it all. If you do this, however, make sure you return the item to the dealer as soon as possible. This is a “last resort” tactic, that you need to consider carefully before engaging in. Always ask the dealer about his or her return policy. After all, the dealer may have simply been mistaken in his or her claims about the item, and canceling payment on a check, especially without returning the item, will undoubtedly cause some hard feelings, and may get you banned from that flea market, or at the very least, word will get out among the close knit community of dealers and you could be blackballed from many other dealers tables and booths.

5. Hand out your business card. One of the best things about buying at flea markets and swap meets is the contacts you will make. Once you have developed a rapport with the dealers, many of them will be willing to not only put items aside that they know you are interested in, but they will also be on the lookout during their inventory buying trips to find items for you. So always leave a card with these dealers that contains your telephone number, your mailing address, and if possible an email address.

Well, there you have it folks, 12 essential need-to-know tips for successful buying at flea markets and swap meets. Next Thursday will be part two of this article, “Tips for Successful Selling at Flea Markets and Swap Meets.” I hope you have found this article informative and enjoyable. Please consider signing up to follow this blog, and subscribing to it for more great articles. And don’t hesitate to leave your comments. They are all welcome. Until next time my friends,

Adios,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: “It's better to be a has-been than a never-was.”

Glass Museum On Line

2009-01-14T17:38:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,

For today’s Web Site Review Article, I have chosen a site that I have visited many times, and always found the information both useful, and timely. The site is from New Zealand, and is called the Glass Museum On Line. It was created, designed and is maintained by Angela M. Bowey.

As I said, the Glass Museum On Line is packed with relevant information important to glass collectors, and glass sellers alike. Browsing around this great site, one of the first things I was drawn to was the long list of informative articles listed on the sites main page, many written by Ms. Bowey herself. Her extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of glass is clearly shown in her well written articles. Exploring the articles listed on her site has been an enjoyable and informative experience for me many times.

Also included on the sites main page is a brief listing of collectible glass found on eBay, as well a revolving carousel of glass reference books, which you can click on to read more about each book. Handy for those searching for some good glass reference books.

The Glass Encyclopedia which is included on this site, and without a doubt the main attraction for me, is just exactly as it is advertised, it is the “Ultimate Reference Source on Glass.” With (at last count) 172 different glass articles in the encyclopedia (which is updated and added to on a semi regular basis), you can find articles on Advertising Glass, Akro Agate, Art Nouveau, Blenko, Depression Glass, EAPG, and a host of others. All great for researching glass.

Another great and invaluable feature of this site is the Glass Club Message Board. Like many other forums, this message board features a variety of sub forums full of interesting topics covering many different types of glass and glass related subjects. The message board also has an archive section, a “garage sale” and marketplace section, as well as a section on glass related events and announcements.

A Glass Links section and the offer of a free subscription to the Glass Museum Newsletter are also offered.

All in all this is a well rounded site, that is easily navigated, with easy to read informative articles that are sure to please any “glassie” out there. Believe me, once you’ve visited the site, you will be back, and often.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Glass Museum On Line, and found it helpful. If so, check out some of the other articles on this blog, and please consider leaving your comments, subscribing to this blog, and signing yourself up as a follower. It’s easy, and best of all it’s free. Thanks for stopping by, and until next time,

Adios,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: The easiest way to eat crow is while it's still warm. The colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller.

Cookie Jars - The Keepers of Delicious Treats

2009-01-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,
Well I guess you knew all along that I couldn’t stay away from talking about pottery and glass for very long! Today is Tuesday, so in keeping with the article schedule, today’s article is on Antiques and Collectibles, and the collectible I’ll be writing about is Cookie Jars, those wonderful ceramic goodie holders that as kids we always had our hands in.

Learning About Cookie Jars

If you are just beginning to collect cookie jars, or if you’re beginning to sell them, the first thing to do is learn about them. Aside from the internet, the best place to learn about cookie jars is though reference books and collector’s clubs. Some of the many cookie jar collector clubs with some very informative web sites are:

1. American Cookie Jar Association

2. The Cookie Jar Collector

3. Craig’s Cookie Jar Collection

Some good reference books are:

1. The Complete Cookie Jar Book by Mike Schneider (my favorite)

2. Warman's Cookie Jars: Identification & Price Guide by Mark Moran

3. The Ultimate Collector's Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars - Fred Roerig & Joyce Roerig

4. The Wonderful World of Cookie Jars: Pictorial Reference & Price Guide by Mark & Ellen Supnick

I cannot over-stress how important it is to learn as much as you can about cookie jars, before you go out and start buying them. This applies both to collectors and to sellers. And don’t limit yourself to just one reference book. It’s better to have a well rounded knowledge of cookie jars, and relying on only one reference book is simply nothing more than limiting yourself. One important thing to remember about these reference books is that is exactly what they are. Reference books. Although many of them, if not most of them contain price guides and price lists, the prices they mention are rarely accurate. They are usually calculated from a select, and sometimes small, area of sales, and are usually outdated by the time the book is published. Unfortunately, too many sellers, especially in the smaller antique shops, and at thrift stores and flea markets, price their cookie jars (and other items) based on these “price guides.” A better and more accurate method of pricing cookie jars, whether for buying for your collection or selling them) is to check eBay’s completed listings. This will give you a more accurate (although not 100%) idea of what some cookie jars are selling for.

What Kind of Jars to Buy?

Now that that is out of the way, let’s look at why folks buy cookie jars. Usually they buy them because they like them. And who doesn’t. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. I know of some who have collected cookie jars for years and have enormous collections. Others have collected for years and have small collections. People collect them for different reasons, but the main reason is that they simply like them, and it is their personal tastes that dictate what they are going to buy. I think that is the best gauge of which cookie jar to buy. If you like it, and it is within your budget, then go ahead and buy it. But don’t get caught in the trap that you have to buy every cookie jar you see just to have some. It is better to wait and save your money until you can afford the jar or jars that you really want. Don’t settle for just any jar, be a bit more particular and you’ll be much happier with your collection. Trust me.

If you are selling cookie jars, whether to reduce your own collection, or as a business catering to cookie jar collectors, it is imperative to determine if the jars you are considering selling have any real resale value. This is where the reference books and completed sales reports mentioned above come into play for the seller. Having a house full of common massed produced cookie jars will not make you much, if any, money. Again, be discriminating in your cookie jar purchases.

Certain Cookie jars are more desirable than others, both for the collector and the reseller. Antique cookie jars and biscuit jars, movie related jars, and jars by certain manufacturers are big sellers. A set of eleven Wizard of Oz cookie jars recently sold for a whopping $2,950.00! These were not antique jars, however. In fact they were not even that old. They were made by Treasure Craft for the Star Jars company in the 1990’s. But their high quality, coupled with the limited number actually made, has made them a very hot item.

The noted and eccentric artist Andy Warhol collected cookie jars, and at an auction after death, his collection of more than 125 jars sold for $250,000! Other jars that also have a great appeal among collectors are Roseville cookie jars, special advertising edition jars, cartoon character jars, Disney jars, and super hero jars.

Buying Cookie Jars

The most obvious place to buy cookie jars is, of course, at the store. However, most cookie jars found in department stores are mass produced and have very little aesthetic or resale value. Better venues for finding those “lost” gems that are becoming increasingly harder to find are Flea Markets, Garage Sales, Estate Sales, Auctions, and of course, at online sites such as Bonanzle, eBay, Tias, Ruby Lane, and others.

Once again, I cannot over-stress the importance of learning all you can about cookie jars before you start buying. Not only will you have a better idea of what you are looking for as far as design and manufacturer, but you will be better prepared to face the inevitable slew of fakes and reproductions that you find yourself faced with. For instance, there are sellers out there who will try to sell you an authentic Brush McCoy cookie jar. Although the McCoy Pottery company made cookie jars, and the Brush pottery company made cookie jars, they never made any during the short period of time that the two companies were merged together. Therefore, anyone who tells you they have a rare Brush-McCoy cookie jar is pulling your leg. There ain’t no such critter as a Brush-McCoy cookie jar! So take the time to do your research and learn. If nothing else, take along a knowledgeable collector who can point out the good jars from the bad ones, and the better ones from the good.

If you choose to purchase your jars from an online source, you not only need to do your cookie jar homework, but you need to learn as much as you can about the seller. Is the seller a reputable seller? Do they have a good feedback score, or have they had numerous complaints lodged against them? Are their item photos clear and their item descriptions complete? Grainy or blurry photos, as well as brief incomplete descriptions are often used to hide the reality of inferior items. These are valid questions to ask yourself, and don’t be shy about asking the seller for more information or better photos. It’s your hard earned money that you’re about to spend. Honest sellers will be more than happy to provide you with any information you need, including more photos of the item. Dishonest sellers won’t be as accommodating. Remember, buying online is not like going to a flea market or sale and being able to actually handle the cookie jar you want, so be completely sure in your mind before buying online.

Well I hope you enjoyed this article on cookie jars. If you enjoyed this article, or any of the others in this blog, please consider following the blog, leaving your comments, or subscribing. Thanks for stopping by!

Instead of Today’s Word Wisdom, I thought I’d include one of my favorite cookie recipes, so you can start filling up your new cookie jar!

Chocolate Chunkies

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

1/2 * cup butter

1/2 *cup shortening

1 *cup granulated sugar

1/2 *cup brown sugar, packed

2 *large eggs

2 *teaspoons vanilla

2 *cups all-purpose flour

1 *teaspoon baking soda

1/2 *teaspoon salt

2 *cups chocolate chip chunks

1 *cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and shortening; gradually mix in sugars, creaming thoroughly.

2. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

3. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.

4. Chill for a few minutes or let stand at cool room temperature for 30 minutes.

5. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.

6. Flatten slightly and smooth edges to make 1/2-inch thick cookie.

7. Bake in a 350*F oven for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown around the edges and still slightly *under-baked in the center.

8. Let stand on baking sheet for 5 minutes; remove to racks to let cool completely.

Some cookie jars which recently sold on eBay:

Glenn Appleman Rolls Royce Sculpture Cookie Jar

Sold $840.00

RARE GLEN APPLEMAN COOKIE JAR ~ MERCEDES BENZ ~ SIGNED!

Sold $620.00

GLENN APPLEMAN "1979 " SIGNED BLACK PACKARD COOKIE JAR

Sold $600.00

Fitz & Floyd Limited Edition Noah's Ark Cookie Jar

Buy It Now $530.00

Fred Flintstone in Sitting Position Cookie Jar

Sold As Best Offer $500.00

1930's ~Mickey & Minnie ~ Turnabout ~Cookie Jar

Sold As Best Offer $475.00

Frustration Upon Frustration!

2009-01-11T17:39:00.000-08:00

I don’t know what the heck eBay is doing over there, but sometimes I wonder if they are trying to run off their sellers, or at least the small guys like me. Recently I fired up TurboLister so as to put some things up on eBay, and I received a little warning on one of the items. The warning, in essence said, that PayPal will be withholding payments on certain items, chosen at random by PayPal, until one of the following conditions are met:

1. The buyer leaves positive feedback

2. 3 days after confirmed item delivery*

3. 21 days without a dispute, claim, chargeback or reversal filed on that transaction.

The only saving grace that I can see in all this is condition #2, so the sooner you ship your item, the faster you will get paid for it. However, this still puts you at the mercy of the Post Office, or FedEx, or UPS, or whomever you use to ship your items. Condition #1 is, in my opinion, absolutely ridiculous. This condition leaves you totally at the mercy of your customer. No payment will be released until THEY decide to leave you feedback. Some buyers don’t leave feedback for months if at all. Also, if the buyer wants to keep their payment to you in limbo until they have extra funds (in case they bought something that exceeded their budget), all they have to do is withhold feedback. Fortunately (I guess) condition #3 only allows the buyer to keep that payment in limbo for 21 days. I hope no one using eBay/PayPal really needs their money in this depressed economy.

I wrote to ebay and outlined to them my suggestions regarding this new policy. I told them, “It would be my suggestion that this policy be enacted for sellers who maintain a 95% or lower feedback score, or who receive more than say 5 negative feedbacks in a one to three month period, and then rescind the policy on those who can raise their feedback score back up to above 95% and/or receive no negative feedbacks for a period of between 6 to 12 months. This would not only create a sense of protection among buyers, but would also give those sellers with poor sales behaviors some incentive to become better sellers with better customer service. I am afraid that to impose this policy on all sellers, especially those with 100% positive feedback and no negative feedback, may encourage these "good" sellers to go elsewhere to sell their items.”

Their response was typical eBay. “Thank you for writing eBay in regard to your concern about new policy of holding payments on PayPal. I do appreciate your comments and contention in this matter and will provide some insight into this matter. Robert, please be informed that, eBay and PayPal are working together to help increase buyer satisfaction which, in turn, can mean more sales for you. We have found that after 21 days the chance of a buyer dispute or claim significantly decreases. In a small percentage of cases where it has been determined the risk of dissatisfied buyers is higher, PayPal may delay release of the payment funds to the seller until the buyer has left a positive feedback or 21 days have passed without a dispute, claim, chargeback or reversal filed on that transaction.”

It is too bad that although has implemented new feedback rules and the DSR to help prospective buyers determine if a seller is trustworthy, eBay itself doesn’t seem to trust those eBay sellers who maintain good ratings.

In addition to this, I had listed a lot of 3 airsoft pistols and a holster on eBay on Saturday the 10^th. Ebay pulled the listing and gave me a “failed” rating in “Policy Compliance.” My earth shattering violation consisted of one of the pistols in the listing was an HK brand airsoft pistol. Apparently the H&K company (Heckler & Koch) reported the listing as a violation of their “intellectual property rights,” because not only did I truthfully describe the item as an HK brand pistol, but I (hold your breath), actually put a photo of the pistol in the listing!

Apparently, Heckler & Koch has decided that not only can you NOT mention their name, initials, or any identifying words in a sale listing of one of their items, you also cannot show a photo or picture of it. They go on to say that my selling of the pistol on eBay is “The unauthorized or unlicensed sale of merchandise bearing H&K's marks, or marks confusingly similar to,” which they say is illegal. I wonder if they monitor garage sales as well.

Personally, I don’t feel that I violated any trademark laws at all. In fact, according to the email I received from eBay included a “form” email from H&K which stated, “Guideline: If the product you are listing bears the brand or logo of a company, but it wasn't made or authorized by that company, don't sell it on eBay. Using a trademark without the trademark owner's permission infringes trademark law. For this reason, eBay prohibits members listing items which bear another's trademark but are not authorized by that trademark owner.” I did none of these things. I did not use another company’s trademark, and never stated or implied that the pistol was not manufactured by H&K. The pistol was and is a product of the H&K company. It was and is not a replica. In fact, I followed this guideline to the letter. Ebay’s response was again, typical. They thanked me for asking a question (which I did not ask. I simply told them that I had remedied the problem), and they gave me several FAQ links to “help” me find an answer to my unasked “question.”

Sigh. Just another example of the “Big Guy” trying to push out the “Little Guy.” If you would like to see how I remedied the listing, click here: Lot of 3 Air Soft Airsoft Pistols plus Holster.

A New Look and New Widgets!

2009-01-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I think I've about got this ol' blog set up the way it needs to be set up, and I have to tell ya I'm as happy as I can be about it. This durn ol' thing has kept me hoppin' like a Saturday night in Dodge City! Now I can start spending more time doing what I wanted to do with this blog and start putting out some articles about antiques,collectibles and online sales. I'm going to (try) and set up a regular schedule for these articles, posting them at night, as follows:

Tuesday - Antiques and Collectibles
These articles will deal with collecting, identifying, storing, cleaning, and other aspects of the wonderful world of antiques and collectibles.

Wednesday - Web Site Reviews
These articles will be reviews of those web sites that I visit that deal with antiques and collectibles, and online sales.

Thursday - Online Sales
These articles will cover various aspects of buying and selling online, as well as buying and selling your antiques and collectibles off line (such as at flea markets, antiques and collectibles shows and malls, etc.).

Mondays & Fridays - Soapbox Days
On Mondays and Fridays, I will generally leave open to put up posts relating to my own online sales in my Bonanzle Booths, and on eBay, as well as other thoughts that cross my mind (don't worry, not all of them, just the ones that relate to the subjects of this blog!).

Saturdays & Sundays I probably won't be posting anything on these days, unless there's something so important that it can't wait for Monday or Friday. This way I can have at least some free time to spend with my beautiful wife. You just can't ignore your family or your sweetheart. They're the most valuable gift that the Lord can give you on this ol' planet!

So then, that's the plan, and hopefully I'll be able to stick with it. I figure if I'm gonna do this thing, then I need to have a planned schedule that folks can sort of depend on. Until next time, hang in there, things are never as bad as they seem as first glance. Don't forget to leave your comments and ratings, and why not sign on to follow this ol' cowboys musings! Thanks!
Whiskey Jack

p.s.: By the way, in case you were wonderin' that's me up there on the upper right, the "Real Whiskey Jack" standin' in front of an old hoss trailer out at the Steppin' Stone Ranch. The ranch is gone now, it was my brother's place, but I have to say that I have some good memories of it!

New Techie Stuff and an Update

2009-01-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

Howdy All,
Well as you can see, there is a new "widget" thingy on the bottom left of this blog. I signed up for widgetbox.com, and made myself a "blidget" that will (I think) go up on their site, that will link back to this blog. Although that's not really why I went there, I do think it's kind of cool. I visited the site so I could try and make some widgets for this blog that would link to my Bonanzle booths. So far I haven't figured out how to do that. Hopefully I will. Hopefully soon. In the mean time, the Book Nook is still coming along, and I am adding things to it. Ebay sales are going okay this week, and although I still haven't sold anything on Bonanzle, I still remain optimistic.

In other news, I have taken the "plunge" and "retired" from my real world job in order to persue online sales full time. After 18 years of working for the state, I have to admit I feel a little adrift, but I am sure that will pass. I am really looking forward to devoting more time to my Boanazle booths and ebay store, especially heading out on the hunt for more treasures to put in them. I guess we'll see how this all goes. Life is an adventure, isn't it.

I still haven't forgotten about the series of articles that are the primary focus of this blog, and after the dust settles from all the changes around here, they will begin to appear again on a more regular basis. Currently I am working on an article about vintage and collectible cookie jars. I think you'll enjoy it.

Well, that's enough jawin' for tonight, so until next time, thanks for readin' this ol' blog, and be sure to check back from time to time!
Adios,
Whiskey Jack

The Mechanical Bank Collector’s of America

2009-01-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

Well Howdy Folks,

I thought I’d veer away a bit from glass and pottery, and take a look at another type of collectible web site, so this time I chose mechanical banks and the Mechanical Bank Collector’s of America web site.

From looking at their site, I learned that the MBCA is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1958, and consists of members from around the world. They publish a journal, “The Mechanical Banker” which is available only to registered members, as are several portions of the web site. However, there are portions of the site that offer free public availability, and that is where I spent an enjoyable afternoon.

The most enjoyable for me was the time I spent perusing their “Scrapbook” where I found hundreds of articles and photos, all relating to mechanical banks, from the 1930’s through the 1980’s. I also found several pages of information about the creation of these great banks, including an area titled “The Foundry” which contained information on molding processes, patterns, cleaning, and much more. Although I do not collect mechanical banks, I still find them wonderful to look at, and I do enjoy them, so I even found the “foundry” area of the site very interesting. I was a little disappointed in that the “slide shows” that are in the Scrapbook area did not seem to work, however, there is an “Animated Mechanical Bank” section which is very nice, and shows some of the banks in action.

I also found the “Mechanical Banks at Auction” section to be very informative. The listing of banks sold at auction, and the realized sale prices was quite an eye opener. Although I did know that some of these banks can fetch a premium price at auction, I really had no idea of how high some of those prices could be, nor the wide range of prices. I think this section, along with some of the sites in the “Links” section, could be a good place to spend some time and do some comparative research on mechanical banks.

Although I probably won’t be joining the MBCA, especially since I don’t collect mechanical banks, I would encourage any serious mechanical bank collectors to really consider joining this outfit. From what I can see the member benefits are great (including an annual convention, check list and price guide, special reports, and more), and the club members seem to be very knowledgeable in this specialized field of antiques and collectibles. About the only drawback that I could see was that the club seemed to be a bit on the exclusive side, in that in order to join, you do have to be recommended by an existing member. I would tend to think that this would exclude a large percentage of mechanical bank aficionados. I could be wrong, however, and if I wanted to join the MBCA, I wouldn’t hesitate to contact them.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this review, and perhaps you’ll spend a little time perusing the MBCA website as I did. I am sure you’ll find it an educational and enjoyable experience. While you’re out there on the web, why not take a second and visit my eBay store or my Bonanzle Booth. Links to both are at the top left of this page, or you can simply click on these links. Until next time, have a great day, and I hope you’ll consider leaving your comments and following my antiques and collectibles blog.

Adios for now,

Whiskey Jack

Today’s Word of Wisdom: “Ask no more and give no less than honesty, courage, loyalty, generosity, and fairness.”

The Book Nook is Up and Running - Sort of!

2009-01-06T13:52:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,
Well, the Book Nook is up and running - sort of! And I have to say that I am kind of excited about it.I will be offering used books from all sorts of different genres, such as Horror, Westerns, Mysteries, Suspense and Thrillers, Medical related (for physical health, mental health, alternative healing, spiritual health, etc.), Christian and Spiritual books, Animal Care, Hobbies, Self-Help and Do-it-Yourself books, Humor and many others. The Book Nook only has a little over 50 books in it now, and I still have a couple of hundred to get listed there, and I am offering Free Books as well. The link to the Book Nook is here: Whiskey Jack's Book Nook. So if you have a few minutes, come check us out! And be sure to check back often as I'll be putting more books up on a daily basis.

Also, once I get the Book Nook set up completely (although I am selling there now, I still need to get it plugged into Google Analytics and Google Date Feed, etc.), I'll be able to devote more time to this blog, and get back to putting up the articles that I so very much enjoy, those about antiques and collectibles and selling online. So, until next time,
Adios,
Whiskey Jack

Slight glitch & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2008-12-31T23:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't know what happened, but sorry folks, the photos didn't show up in the ephemera article. I reckon I'll have to look into that. At any rate, I also want to wish all of you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. Until next time,
Adios,
Whiskey Jack

Update: Well, talk about a head scratcher! Now the photos have shown up, but now I have all this HTML code showing up as well. And it doesn't show up anywhere except on the blog itself! I reckon I got me a gremlin in the system somewhere. Oh well, such is life!

An Introduction to Ephemera

2008-12-31T22:57:00.000-08:00