http://articles.collectiblegiftsplus.com/rss.xml A blog about collectiblegiftsplus.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.collectiblegiftsplus.com/?a=35973 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>When it comes to art, you never know what they're going to call the next Mona Lisa. Art encompasses such a variety of forms of expression that you can't really say what is art and what isn't. Moving away from the past, we no longer equate art with fame or school taught skill. During earlier times, art was considered to be the product of those who presented attractive pieces from the knowledge and skills gathered from well established institutions. The artist would have to be well recognized by a high amount of people and the artwork had to highlight some sort of beauty. <br /><br />This former way of thinking was a sad affair for painters and other creators of art because fame and recognition usually did not come until after they had died. Old perceptions of art also ignored pieces that may not necessary look the best or display outward beauty, but made you think and draw from its meaning. Today, art is whatever you believe it to be, from a splatter of paint to a graffiti riddled boxcar to a crystal or glassware creation. Many of these artworks become collectibles because they are something that you enjoy looking at, as well as possessing. <br /><br />For those interested in collecting glassware, there are a few requirements that the rest of the world takes heed to in this respect. For a glassware piece to be considered a collectible, an artist that is well known most likely created it. When an ordinary piece of glasswork is hard to find because there were a limited amount of originals produced, this enhances its appeal to the public. This is what collectors from across the globe thrives on: finding that unique, sought after glassware creation. As with many collectibles, the less available the item is, the more valuable. <br /><br />Once you have acquired a collectible piece of glassware, you will want to secure it in a place where it can stay in one piece. Often, a collector will invest in a decorative glass cabinet to keep their treasures. What is kept inside cannot fall to the ground or be touched by others. A piece of glassware placed on a bookshelf is just asking to be broken. When it comes time to clean your glassware, keep in mind the delicacy of this task. Regular detergents cannot come in contact to a piece of glassware that possesses painted details. Most often, a regular dusting is all the maintenance it will require. <br /><br />For avid collectors, you most likely have a few favorite artists or designers in mind when you seek out a new purchase. These are the people you look out for in gallery showings and when new pieces become available. When you do not know where to look for your next collectible, the Internet is the perfect place to start. This is a great way to compare artists, as well as prices.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as collectible gifts at <a href="http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com/">http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com</a></p> 2006-10-01T16:22-04:00 http://articles.collectiblegiftsplus.com/?a=35955 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>You would be surprised at the items that have been collecting dust in some of the garages and attics of many worldwide households. When it's time to do a little spring cleaning, eBay fills with some of the unwanted possessions from a wide range of characters. You never know when that collectible you've been wanting forever will appear as a listing. Every day, people take advantage of the chance to grab onto things they would never think they would see again. <br /><br />Make sure you are prepared the next time you are looking for an item to add to your collection. <br />Most eBay users find what they are looking for situated all in one category. A helpful way to keep an eye out for potential purchases is to find a category that fits your needs best. Once you have established a suitable category, you should add it to the Favorites section in your browser. This makes checking in on new items much easier. <br /><br />If you've been collecting for a while, chances are that you are already quite knowledgeable on the pieces you wish to purchase. This is your time to shine because often times, a seller doesn't even know what a great find they have in their possession. They may post a rare item up for less and are unaware of its monetary potential. Sometimes, important details are not included on a product description, which deters other collectors, but from your expertise, you are able to decipher a diamond in the rough. <br /><br />Sometimes, emailing a seller to ask questions is a good way to confirm your suspicions. If you can bear to part with it once you've acquired it, you may want to resale the item to make a larger profit. <br /><br />If a seller lists that they are selling an item that is &quot;rare&quot;, keep in mind that this is not always true. Sellers are regular people like you and me, who have been known to stretch the truth a bit in order to attract potential buyers. Some sellers will just put the word into their descriptions because they think it makes the item sound better, not knowing the complications. Don't fall into the trap of bidding on something you aren't familiar with. <br /><br />Some people will aggressively bid on an item like it is the last auction in the world. Consider all of the thousands, something millions of items that newly appear on eBay and remember that usually, what comes around goes around. You'll have your chance to find something just like it, if not the same. It is OK to walk away from a negotiation when the stakes get too steep. When you don't turn the other cheek, you will wind up paying too much for the item. Bidding wars can become quite expensive. <br /><br />Even though you win an item at a reasonably low price, you must factor in the cost to ship it to you when the final bill rolls around. It doesn't make sense paying $20 in shipping costs for an item you won for $2, does it? A nice way to get around some costs is to buy a few items from the same seller, who will then often offer discounted postage.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as collectible gifts at <a href="http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com/">http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com</a></p> 2006-10-01T13:47-04:00 http://articles.collectiblegiftsplus.com/?a=35087 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Yes, collectibles! Collectibles are where eBay started, and they're still one of its biggest areas - however much they might want you to believe they're not. eBay's most hardcore and long-time users are almost all collectors of something or other - it is quite common to post what you think is a mundane item, only to have collectors suddenly go to war over it because it is somehow linked to something they collect.<br /><br />Collectors are the people on eBay who really do pay top-dollar for things that seem like junk to you and I - not to mention to the people you'll be getting your stock from! That's why you can make so much profit on collectibles. Here are a few tips.<br /><br />Go to people's homes. People's homes are full of things that someone out there collects - they are the best and cheapest source of collectibles out there. Sure, you might find something if you hang around at enough garage sales, but you'd have competition. Getting invited to people's homes to look around should be a dream for you, and one you're doing your best to make a reality.<br /><br />Buy on other auction sites. You'll be surprised how much money you can make if you buy the collectibles that people sell on smaller auction sites like Yahoo Auctions, and then list it on eBay. These sellers will often be perfectly knowledgeable about their item, but simply getting a lower price because they serve a smaller marketplace. Sometimes you can almost double your money.<br /><br />List in non-collectible categories. If your collectible doesn't have a category of its own under 'collectibles', you might prefer to list it in a category that has something to do with the item but nothing to do with collecting. What you will often find is that people browsing a category for their favourite thing will pay more for your collectible than actual collectors would.<br /><br />Do lots of research. Never list something you think might be valuable without searching and searching to dig up every piece of information you can on it. Everything you find out is likely to be useful when you come to list it.<br /><br />List every tiny, tiny detail. Remember that collectors really care about the most seemingly insignificant things. An item from one year can be worth thousands while the one from the year before is near-worthless, or an item that is one shade of a colour can be worth far more than one of a subtly different shade. It's not worth puzzling over and it's not worth trying to pass your items off as something they're not - just make sure you put absolutely everything you know in the description.<br /><br />When you are listing items that require close research and description down to the tiniest detail, however, don't be tempted to steal someone else's work! Whatever you do, don't take another seller's description and try to pass it off as your own, as this could have all sorts of consequences for you. Our next email gives you a guide to eBay's policy on 'description theft'.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For a great selection of fine <a href="http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com/">collectible gifts</a> go to http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com</p> 2006-07-16T17:43-04:00 http://articles.collectiblegiftsplus.com/?a=31158 <div style="width: 586px; text-align: left" class="col_border"> <h1><em>by Gregg Hall</em></h1><br /> <p>Yes, collectibles! Collectibles are where eBay started, and they're still one of its biggest areas - however much they might want you to believe they're not. eBay's most hardcore and long-time users are almost all collectors of something or other - it is quite common to post what you think is a mundane item, only to have collectors suddenly go to war over it because it is somehow linked to something they collect. </p><p>Collectors are the people on eBay who really do pay top-dollar for things that seem like junk to you and I - not to mention to the people you'll be getting your stock from! That's why you can make so much profit on collectibles. Here are a few tips. </p><p>Go to people's homes. People's homes are full of things that someone out there collects - they are the best and cheapest source of collectibles out there. Sure, you might find something if you hang around at enough garage sales, but you'd have competition. Getting invited to people's homes to look around should be a dream for you, and one you're doing your best to make a reality. </p><p>Buy on other auction sites. You'll be surprised how much money you can make if you buy the collectibles that people sell on smaller auction sites like Yahoo Auctions, and then list it on eBay. These sellers will often be perfectly knowledgeable about their item, but simply getting a lower price because they serve a smaller marketplace. Sometimes you can almost double your money. </p><p>List in non-collectible categories. If your collectible doesn't have a category of its own under 'collectibles', you might prefer to list it in a category that has something to do with the item but nothing to do with collecting. What you will often find is that people browsing a category for their favourite thing will pay more for your collectible than actual collectors would. </p><p>Do lots of research. Never list something you think might be valuable without searching and searching to dig up every piece of information you can on it. Everything you find out is likely to be useful when you come to list it. </p><p>List every tiny, tiny detail. Remember that collectors really care about the most seemingly insignificant things. An item from one year can be worth thousands while the one from the year before is near-worthless, or an item that is one shade of a colour can be worth far more than one of a subtly different shade. It's not worth puzzling over and it's not worth trying to pass your items off as something they're not - just make sure you put absolutely everything you know in the description. </p><p>When you are listing items that require close research and description down to the tiniest detail, however, don't be tempted to steal someone else's work! Whatever you do, don't take another seller's description and try to pass it off as your own, as this could have all sorts of consequences for you. Our next email gives you a guide to eBay's policy on 'description theft'.<br /> </p><h1>About the Author</h1> <p>Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For a great selection of fine <a href="http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com/">collectible gifts</a> go to <a href="http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com/">http://www.collectiblegiftsplus.com</a></p></div> <br /> 2006-02-27T11:39-05:00