Featured Covid-19 impact on antiques business

I always wonder whether posts that are multiple of 20, i.e. last post before a new page, are ever noticed, especially when a post on a new page occurs immediately after that doesn't refer to the previous post? Anyway, I thought this was an interesting link so I'll repeat it in case anyone didn't see it already:

Ran across an article in the Irish Examiner that may be of interest. Mostly focused on the big auction houses. "The future of art and antiques markets amid Covid-19 pandemic": https://www.irishexaminer.com/break...es-markets-amid-covid-19-pandemic-996098.html

"The auction houses of Ireland and everywhere else are in uncharted waters. Social distancing is not possible at busy viewings as we knew them, nor in crowded auctions rooms. New ways to keep the business afloat must be found."

 

I read a new post in the Guardian newspaper about France selling off some of their antique furniture in September in order to help pay for Hospital costs associated with Covid. Hopefully the auction will go well.

It does make one wonder whether there will be future liquidations of collections, similar to the sale of antiques at depressed prices that happened during the Great Depression of the 1930's? If I lived in France I would check this sale out: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ations-antique-furniture-to-support-hospitals

"France is to sell off some of the nation’s antique furniture to support the country’s hard-pressed hospitals.

The Mobilier National, the national furniture collection, is drawing up a list of objects in storage that will be auctioned off in September.

It is not yet known exactly what will be sold and officials did not respond to requests for details, but French media reported that about 100 objects dating from the 19th century, particularly from the reign of Louis-Philippe I between 1830 and 1848, will be selected.

The auction, organised to “contribute to the national effort to support hospitals”, will take place on the Journées du Patrimoine (heritage days) on the weekend of 20-21 September. Proceeds will go to the Foundation for Paris Hospitals and French Hospitals, whose president is the first lady, Brigitte Macron.""

 

That's bound to be some kinda sale.

 

Really nice things are still selling on Ebay for good money. Which is encouraging.

 

A friend of mine hit the worst possible timing to open a new vintage/antique shop. After years of managing a successful vintage/antique business for a group of partners, my friend was ready to go out on her own. She rented a nice space in a Boston suburb to start her own business. She signed a three year lease (which made me nervous but she wanted to lock in her rent). She paid for major renovations to prepare the space. She has lots of industry contacts, and a close friend who handles high end estates who can keep her stocked with a ready supply of nice things to sell. She has abundant people skills and ability to stage vintage furniture and smalls in a retail space. I worried whether she would have enough traffic, but she knows the area better than I so all of us hoped for the best.

Her opening date was going to be April 1; work was done and she was moving in and decorating for the opening. I didn't see but another friend who did said it looked great. Then the covid shutdown happened in MA on March 15. BAM, dead in the water. And she still hasn't been able to open - MA is still seeing high death rates so nothing has changed, and even if the state does start to open on May 18th we don't know which businesses or how they need to be configured.

So what is happening in your state - some of them are opening up to some extent - has anyone seen any traffic at antique/vintage/thrifts?

 

I have a small store in a rural area, an hour from the big towns.
I opened twice in April for appointment sales.
A lot of our local stores have been selling on Facebook Marketplace for pick up. Something your friend might want to look into.

Tuesday, I was downtown to take pictures for a newspaper insert. Opened the store and did quite well. There were a few other stores like the kitchen store, shoe store, the pawn shop, and another antique store also open.

I was open Fri, Sat and today for about 3 hours each day. In 3 days I did what I did on Tues.
People are out. On Tuesday, all were locals. The last 3 days only one couple was local. The rest were from out of town. People just wanted to get out.

Not sure whether I'm ready to open for the out of towners. I ran an ad in our local paper this past Friday - Open by Appointment. Will see how that works out.

 

We're also selling some of our larger hardware items - a couple of safes - on craigslist. Leave it outside the shop door and people pick up and either call in a credit card or leave a check in the box. We aren't handling any cash at this point.

 

I am seeing this with my ebay items. Initially there was a surge as folks were staying home and cruising the internet from boredom. But now, 0% action for weeks. I think sales will pick up a bit by winter, but unemployment recovery and the stock market plunge have greatly reduced the pool of buyers able to afford non-essentials.

 

Send your address?

 

The goofier stuff is still selling. I just shipped out a souvenir bank from a bank today from Davenport Iowa, and it went back to Davenport. It was the only thing worth buying at one of the last estate sales before lockdown. New in box no less.

 

I had a frustrating experience with someone I think must be a person board and stuck at home. I have some things up on eBoo, he messaged me for my best price on some glass.

Then he asked about a second item if he bought both.

Then he asked about what I could do for shipping.

He told me he would be paid Tuesday (this was on a Saturday) and could I wait until then. I said yes, ended both listings and set up a listing just for him with the agreed upon price and shipping.

Then he asked about a third item.

Then Tuesday came and he asked me if he could think about buying them for a little longer. I replied:

Since you first contacted me on 4/25 you have sent 41 messages, asked a lot of questions, told me you wanted them. I researched shipping, gave you reduced prices and agreed to wait until today for payment.

You have until 5:00 EST today to decide. If you do not buy the listing by then I will consider our negotiations ended.

At 5:07 I ended his special listing, put the individual pieces back up for sale and blocked him. I was just as happy, he was a low feedback buyer. After 41 messages, some of them questions he had already asked me, I was afraid it would end badly, that he would change his mind and want to return the items.

The next day another buyer bought one of the items

 

Wow! I think someone could produce a long-running reality show just with the anecdotes about eBay buyers from Hell.

 

Yep! Thank goodness for the blocked bids/buyers list!!!

 

So I guess you're saying the crazies aren't out - the crazies are in - and bidding on your auctions??

I did something new yesterday. I was on Cralislist to sell some exercise equipment and while I was there checked on furniture and saw an estate sale. Estate sale with everything still closed down here in MA?? No preview, pics only, it was being run online auction only - using auctionninja. Credit card payment, then next week drive up to the estate location and they'll put it in your car. I actually bought something so I'll see how it goes next week.

 

@Marie Forjan
Hope you don't mind, I copied your post and pasted it on this thread for a newbie.
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/places-to-sell-suggestions-requested.49725/#post-2137669

 

The crazies may be bidding but if you read my post, the crazy didn't bid. He took me for a serious dance, posted 41 messages over 4 days asking for discounts, special pricing and special shipping, made a commitment to buy and when time was set to pony up he left me hanging.

Cluttered, if copying my post helps a seller deal with the crazies I am happy to help

 

Thank you.

 

My goodness! You have way more patience than I do. The crazies are out on Etsy too. I have been getting messages from buyers asking for huge discounts and when I answer and say "Thanks, but I am not offering any discounts right now", they are getting really angry at me and sending me nasty grams back.

I just got a message today about a $250 antique I was selling and a buyer said "Hello, my psychological price is $150". Does anyone know what a psychological price is? Lol .

 

it's where he'd be HAPPY.......psychologically !!
Tell him that for anything less than $225....you'd fall into a clinical depression !!

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