Anyone else noticed this???

[doug hodder]

I don't cruise E-bay very regularly for gas pressure stuff, but was surprised at the number of lanterns and stoves when I checked today. There are almost 2x as many items in both categories as there were a year or so ago. Seems like there are a lot of new items, and the items that would be a decent "collectable" are way stupid on prices and lots of bidding action. The really old stoves aren't worth messing with on E-bay in my opinion, and there used to regularly be a number of nickel lanterns you could get for under 25$....not anymore. I'm thinking, garage sales are the way to go anymore. Doug

[Rock]

News travels and I guess we're part to blame. Less than a year ago there was a lot of cool stuff on C-List for very fair prices. Now there's more ads for "Old Coleman wanted" then there are ads for Coleman for sale. So we have competition everywhere scouring garage sales and the like for stuff to put on Ebay and now C-List.

I don't begrudge anybody wanting to make a buck but it takes a lot of fun out of the treasure hunting part of it. I just look when I can and score once in a while. Just got a very nice 242B with original green letter Pyrex globe the other day for $27. The proprietor said it just came in the day before. Not a steal but probably a $60 lantern on the Bay.

Just look at what one small group of people did to the price of waffle irons and waffle doggers

Eric

[Ratkity]

I noticed it too. I am lucky I got my Xmas tree and Sears big hat when I did. There's no way those would go for less than $65 each or more (not including shipping). I figured I'd wait a bit and the climate on the bayz will change.

Hugs,
Ratkity

[Assassin]

thanks why i buy only at yard sales or flea markets..............never bought off ebay, buy a few off Clist.........i like the dollar lantens and the 2 dollar 3 burner stoves.

[doug hodder]

What I've found is....you find a lantern or a stove at garage sale and it's less than 10$...buy it, unless it's just an absolute beater. If there is a globe in it and you need one...you are ahead of the game, the sum of the parts could easily outdo the price of the item. You may not "need" another lantern, who does?...but that vent or globe is worth it. Of course this stuff only pertains to someone that is building lanterns/ stoves or collecting.

If you don't want to do the work on it, just get the nicest operating one you can, there are lots of them from the 70's in great condition for little dough. If the seller thinks they are sitting on a gold mine (with few exceptions) on a 70's stove or lantern, just keep looking. A new 424 stove will run nearly 90$ + at Wally world...no idea on a new lantern, last new one I bought was in 76...still have it, it was 35$ I think. Don't get wound up on "I gotta have this stove/lantern" if you are just looking for a user. Another will appear down the road soon.

I'm with you on the shipping...saw a single fuel tank gasket on e-bay today. 2.99 shipping...I'd bet it would show up taped to a 3x5 index card and a single stamp on it. Shipping is a big deterrent on some of the items. Doug

PS...If you buy one at garage sale...just for grins, ask if they have any of the old fuel that they don't want and want to get rid of it with the lantern. Rich and Penny picked up 24$ in fuel with a cheap stove.

[happy_camper]

With the Coleman Collector's Forum membership rolls just shy of 1,100, the International Coleman Collectors Club membership at nearly 300, more than 3,200 members of the spiritburner.com forum, this forum's very active group and of course, the Japanese collectors --- all are contributing to the new, higher "free market values" being established on eBay IMHO.

As far as high shipping prices on eBay are concerned, the sure way to avoid them is to not patronize sellers who charge more than a buyer thinks is fair and equitable. eBay has specific policies regarding excessive shipping and handling fees. YMMV.

[Wolffarmer]

Also have you noticed how the shippers are making it easier for the outrages shipping charges on Ebay now that the price for shipping is rarely on the package? use to be it was always there. I did get a package about 2 months ago that had it but it is uncommon now days.



Randy

[cuyeda]

Perhaps it's just the economy. More people looking through the dusty corners of their garage to sell stuff on Ebay to make an extra buck to pay the mortgage.

[doug hodder]

You might be right Cliff! I saw a new reality "fix it up" show the other day...American Restorers I think, it's the guy that does the resto's for the guys on Pawn Stars, can't remember now, but they did an Eco tire pump from an old gas station. I've got one on a pedestal sitting on the front porch...went on e-bay today to see if there were any for sale, didn't find any, newer than what they had on the show though, I also have a 35 gal. unused Richfield oil drum from the 50's. I"d bet that the more of the reality shows with people dragging out old stuff from their house and peddling them will cause people to dig in and see what they have. I'm thinking.... Doug

[cuyeda]

I bet this guy could find a few gasoline station memorabilia to sell.

You may have already seen these photos...

[cuyeda]

You might be right Cliff! I saw a new reality "fix it up" show the other day...American Restorers

...snip... I"d bet that the more of the reality shows with people dragging out old stuff from their house and peddling them will cause people to dig in and see what they have. I'm thinking.... Doug

quote cliff: Perhaps it's just the economy. More people looking through the dusty corners of their garage to sell stuff on Ebay to make an extra buck to pay the mortgage.

I have to amend my statement:
Perhaps it's just the economy. More people looking through the dusty corners of their garage to sell stuff on Ebay to make an extra buck to pay the cable bill!

I wish I could see the American Restorer (seen it once at a friend's). Then I know what to ask for my stuff.

[happy_camper]

But yes, shipping and freight latley has got me a little gun shy on ebay.

but I do look for this to change on ebay the more people run out of unemploymen this year and the more people have to live with no income at all. the more things like gas goes up and the food goes up. the less people are going to be inclined to buy on ebay.

that will tone the competion down some and if they don't sale good on ebay the salers will start to get reasnable again.

thats my take on it. it happens the same way on the agriculture online farm autions sites like Big iron. com.

My thoughts on right now rip off shipping ebay. SLowcowboy. oh yea, they stuck it to me on the party ball plates and cups set up bob henery mentioned. I got mine for like 5 to 8 bucks as I was the only one bidding on ebay on it. I got then stuck for like nearly 15 dollars on shipping and the total thing the sellar got was close to 35 dollars!!! give me a break man!!

Don't find any basis in fact that eBay's fortunes are related to online farm auctions, i.e., a B-R-O-A-D base of appeal for millions of sellers and buyers to meet and do business versus broke farmers selling to other broke farmers (I guess, based on what you say. I've never been to bigiron.com but have been trading on eBay for 13 years).

It is also important to differentiate WHO sets the shipping rates on items purchased on eBay. It is NOT eBay! As Doug points out, why pay a SELLER $2.99 shipping on a items that costs only 20% of that to mail? It might be more prudent for cash-strapped buyers to completely understand the TOTAL price of getting an eBay item into their hands, not just a bid amount. As already pointed out, eBay has a specific policy on excessive shipping and handling fees. Have you challenged a seller's shipping charges, BEFORE an auction ends, that you find excessive? Avoiding sellers that charge what you believe are excessive shipping and handling fees is certainly another way to speak with your wallet.

In all the years I've bought and sold on eBay, I've never paid (or charged) what I considered excessive shipping and handling fees. I HAVE had to sit on my hands NOT to bid on an item that I really wanted, but couldn't or wouldn't pay the shipping and handling on after the auction was over. Really pretty simple.

Back on point, especially in relation to gas pressure stuff on eBay. Yes Doug, I think the number of items has ticked up for ALL the reasons already discussed. Sadly, I don't think this particular trend is going to end soon as more buyers and sellers enter the market. Look at CI prices too, OUCH! Somebody pass me a waffle dog, I can't afford a steak at current beef prices.

[Woodbutcher]

I have been a part time antique dealer for over 25 years. Things seem to cycle around. Years ago we would run across all kinds of treadle sewing machines. NO ONE wanted them. So we would sell them for parts. The base was made into a small side table, The drawers were turned into coffee tables.The sewing machine was put in the dumpster. Now many years later my wife started buying old Singer sewing machines. Starting with the little Featherweight machines. Quilters and Teddy Bear makers love these small near bullet proof machines. Well this moved her into the older machines. Our house is now full. The prices on these things has really gone up. Treadle machines for sale at estate sales and Craigslist have gone way up. We met a guy at a sale and that is all he dealt in. Just old Singers.
Cast iron cookware is another one. We used to not even bring it to the shows because it was heavy and did not bring much money. If you want to know what will be hot next watch TV. Ten years ago any old crap we found at a farm auction was sold right away at great prices. Why , because all the shows were decorating related. Trading spaces, Martha Stewart etc. Then in came the cooking shows, up goes cast iron prices. I wish I had some of the pieces we tossed out or sold cheap because no one wanted them.
As for Ebay, I sell some there as well. I always list a set shipping price. I try to figure what the shipping is to the farthest part of the country. Since I am near the middle of the country that seems to work. I also figure a few bucks for shipping/packing materials as well. It costs money to pack and drive a package to the shipper.
So when I am a buyer on Ebay I always factor shipping in before I place my bid. There are also sellers that put a low "buy it now" price with a larger shipping cost. This is so they don't have to pay as much commission. I love Ebay, even though it changed the way we sell now.

[teardrop_focus]

doug hodder

...and there used to regularly be a number of nickel lanterns you could get for under 25$....not anymore. I'm thinking, garage sales are the way to go anymore.

What I've found is....you find a lantern or a stove at garage sale and it's less than 10$...buy it, unless it's just an absolute beater. If there is a globe in it and you need one...you are ahead of the game, the sum of the parts could easily outdo the price of the item. You may not "need" another lantern, who does?...but that vent or globe is worth it. Of course this stuff only pertains to someone that is building lanterns/ stoves or collecting.

True that! How much are new, replacement globes these days? and they're not quite as nice as some of the orginal glass. 'specially the ambers.

I may be flattering myself here, but I too am one that has contributed in some small way to the upswing in Coleman values..

I've been buying some very clean lanterns; ones that are low-time/low-use originals... and, yes! there are very few nickel-fount lanterns to be seen anymore on the Bay. Doug, your self-professed Scots soul woiuld cringe at what I paid for two of those.

Now that I'm up to speed w/ my small collection, I'm ready to ease up on the Bay and begin as I started my collection: finding lanterns "in the wild".

[WarPony]

Some of the increase in prices of our hobbies, in my opinion, has somewhat to do with the TV shows that abound on our cable networks. Antiques Roadshow, American Pickers, Pawn Stars........ yadda, yadda. People see these shows and think they'll get alot more money for some POS than it's really worth. If they can get it, good for them. I won't pay a King's ransom for something just because you saw it go for big money on TV.

I saw a couple of 200's on C-List today with no price. The seller said, in effect, "Go price these on Ebay and then shoot me what you'll pay for them."

What a douche!!!!!!

Jeff