Who Buys The E-Bay Lanterns

[campmaster-k]

The Coleman Lanterns on e-bay fascinate me. The prices people are paying plus shipping seem crazy. Its a great place to learn about the models and accessories but I have seen no good deals. There must be ALOT of coleman collectors out there?

[Alfred]

The Coleman Lanterns on e-bay fascinate me. The prices people are paying plus shipping seem crazy. Its a great place to learn about the models and accessories but I have seen no good deals. There must be ALOT of coleman collectors out there?

I think that years ago, when Ebay was new and the word wasn't out yet, one had a better chance of getting a great deal. I think most of the people selling Coleman gear on Ebay are probably aware they are selling a collectible. I have purchased 2 lanterns off Ebay, I think I got a good deal on one of them, and paid about 'retail' for the other. I think of Ebay when there is a particular item I want, and I want to buy it now, without waiting to stumble across it locally. I am careful to check what the shipping charge is, before bidding (some sellers inflate shipping so they can price the item lower). I decide what I am willing to pay for the item and don't get caught up in auction-fever, once it passes my limit, I move on and know that another one is likely to be listed soon. Every once in awhile, one can score a great deal on Ebay, but I think it is rarer than before.

AL

[Ratkity]

I stumbled across 2 amazing deals on eBay almost 2 years ago. That's where I got my 1951 Xmas tree and Sears big hat for a steal with little shipping. Shortly after that, the prices got NUTS! I noticed many were going overseas with a great interest in Japanese purchasers. This was before the earthquake, so not sure why they got so popular.

Many of the estate resellers have ok prices if you find that one bday lantern in pristine condition, but I doubt I'll ever find another decent deal on fleabay for a lantern.

I'm soooooooo jealous of the people who can find them at garage sales in the wild. The garage sales around the DC burbs are devoid of any camping equipment *sobs quietly*.

One day, I'll find that December 1962 200a.. one day!!!

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Wolffarmer]

Agree Alfred, Ebay is a seller's market these days. When I am interested in something on Ebay I look at the shipping. If it is to high I pass on it. Several times I have seen the same item, from towns about 100 miles apart and shipping/handling on one will be over twice the other, that is one I will pass on.

Though once I bought a part for my Shopsmith and the seller sent a $10 check, said the shipping listed was to high. Now there is an honest person.

And if you ever go shopping for a used digital camera on Ebay have you ever noticed how many have no accessories? No charger, no manual. I wonder just how the seller got that camera.



Randy

[campmaster-k]

You are right Al if you want it there is going to be some king of shipping cost be is gas or what ever.

[Cliffmeister2000]

I have a story about eBay that will amaze, but I don't want to hijack the thread. Where should I post it?

[campmaster-k]

Go man Hijack!

[jerry101jlh]

EBay is no longer the bargain basement it used to be, but comes down to more if I want it and willing to pay the price if I purchase. The true value or good buy usually doesn't enter into it as I buy what I want, not to resell or any other purpose. in saying that I rarely buy off EBay as can usually find "new" stuff they have cheaper elsewhere and sometimes even get free shipping.

I did recently buy a new turn signal cover for our TV off EBay. The seller said he'd include free shipping when possible and in fact didn't charge for shipping. That sounds like honesty to me and if I need other parts will be inclined to revisit that seller.

[Cliffmeister2000]

----HIJACK ALERT!----

Okay, here's the story...

My Father in Law showed me a brass or bronze dog he had. He said he took it to the church rummage sale, and a guy there told him it was too valuable for a rummage sale. Dad asked me to sell it for him on eBay. He said he would give me $50 for my effort.

Well, I didn't have the heart to tell him it probably wouldn't bring $50, but I agreed to sell it for him. I took a bunch of photos, and posted it with a starting price of $1 and no reserve, shipping at actual cost, seven day auction. Oh, there was a name on the dog, and I researched it online, and found a link to a website that described the artist and put the link in my ad.

At 5 days, the price on the dog reached $126 and I was amazed! I had two folks, a guy and a lady, who had emailed me and asked questions, and asked for photos of the underside to see how the dog was mounted to the base.

Suddenly, my auction disappeared, and I got an email from eBay saying that by linking the website without permission I had violated their "Terms of Use", and if I ever did it again, I would be kicked off the site.

I got an email from the guy, saying, "where's my dog?". He offered to buy it, but he was out of town for a few days, and would I hold it for him? I told him no, that I was going to re-list it. Then, I got an email from the lady, offering me $700 for the dog! Well, it was my dad in law's dog, so I called him, and he said to take the $700. I told the lady, and she told me how it was to be shipped and insured.

Before I shipped it, I got an email from the guy, who offered me $1,300 for the dog! I apologized to him and told him I had already accepted the lady's offer, and I couldn't just cancel that transaction.

I shipped the dog, packaged extremely carefully, to the lady as soon as her money hit my PayPal account. Oh, and I had o get a "commercial" PayPal account to accept that much money. That "Commercial" account has cost me ever since!

Anyway, the next email I got was from the guy, telling me that the website I had linked to belonged to the lady, and she was the one that got me kicked off eBay!

The world is full of folks who will do anything to get their way. I gave the $700 to Dad, who promptly handed me my $50 commission and wrote a check for $650 to the church, where the dog was originally promised.

The final kicker was, the dog was badly damaged in transit by UPS. The lady didn't want her money back, she wanted to take the dog to a foundry and get it repaired. As the shipper, I had to handle that part for her.

That was the hardest $50 I ever earned, but I've told the story enough times to have gotten more than my money's worth in the telling.

----END HIJACK!----

[eamarquardt]

----HIJACK ALERT!----

You don't have to be smart to be a crook, just crooked.

Re the original question as to who pays EBay prices for Coleman lanterns? Fools, people with too much money, and folks w/o enough time to scrounge around for them (which IMHO is the fun part). I rarely pay more than a few dollars and have gotten about a dozen like new lanters of all flavors.

Cheers,

Gus

[campmaster-k]

That was a good story not a HIJACK thanks for telling it.

By the way I just lost a auction on ebay. It was the closest I have been to being a (winner). It would have been worth the price just for the thrill I got from almost winning. By losing I got the thrill for free so I guess I am the winner, right?

[campmaster-k]

The few times I have bid on ebay I get beat down in the last 5 sec. Is that how every sale goes. Is there always someone lurking to beat you by $.25?

[campmaster-k]

Watching lanterns on ebay is like a campfire to me. It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to see all the lanterns in one place. I dont even have to buy them.

[Ratkity]

The few times I have bid on ebay I get beat down in the last 5 sec. Is that how every sale goes. Is there always someone lurking to beat you by $.25?

It's called "sniping" and there are programs that you can put your max price you'll pay and it'll automatically keep checking every sec or faster to see if the price has gone higher and will re-bid automatically for you.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[3822sean]

i do alot on ebay buy and sell, and collectibles are hard anything that males between 25 and say 55 collect are going to get bids, ie trains,fishing,vintage stuff the prices can get out of control to get a deal you might have to bid on 10 of them before you get one i do my searches by closest to me then see if can pick it up to avoid some high shipping, their are deals but sometimes you have to get lucky or take your time