In 6 eBay Newsletters Worth Reading I mentioned a few newsletters in which the publishers regularly provided pictures of , information about, and links to auctions of some of the things they sell.
While some newsletters are valuable resources for the seller interested in learning about new things in the antiques/collectibles market on eBay, in some ways specialized collector blogs can be even more productive.
Some of these blogs are very tightly focused and are published by collectors or dealers who have a passion for what they write about. Since they’re at the heart of the niche they collect, the information they provide is just about always useful when researching new ideas for items to sell. In addition, since they love what they collect, they often spend a great deal of time in research saving us a great deal of time.
While there are hundreds of this type blog around, here are six that you may find useful.
Forrest Flanders’ Old Catalogs Blog - While the Old Catalogs blog’s ‘About This Site’ page states the blog is about all kinds of vintage catalogs, it’s only a couple months old yet, and most of the posts are about the kind of catalogs Forrest himself collects - magic and novelty catalogs.
That’s okay, because the kind of novelty catalogs he talks about often show up in antique shops and flea markets very reasonably priced. Read Forrest’s blog and, when they do, you will be able to take advantage of what you’ve learned.
BookRide Blog- I’ve mentioned the BookRide blog once or twice before. It deserves mention again because I believe one of the keys to succeeding on eBay with antiques/collectibles is knowing a little more about a lot of things than the person you are buying them from does. In the book niche, I think BookRide does a better job of providing that information than any other blog.
Not published as frequently as in the past, each new post focuses on one title (many published withing the last 30 years) and provides a range of current prices, information on why people are paying those prices, and some thoughts on whether future values will rise or fall.
Coleen’s Freshvintage blog - Nowhere nearly as tightly focused as the two previous blogs, Freshvintage chronicles the Coleen’s thoughts, adventures, and purchases as she travels the yard sales, auctions, and thrift shops around the suburbs of Philadelphia area. While some of her purchases end up on eBay, many are sold in a mall booth she and her sisters maintain.
Coleen’s purchases, well documented with photographs, provide an insight into the kind of things that are currently being bought by women in antique malls and markets around the country. These same women frequent eBay and, while some of the things you see here may not be suitable for eBay because of their size, Freshvintage provides a window into what people are currently buying to decorate their homes as well as what may just be becoming collectible.
Couture Allure Vintage Fashion blog - If you are interested in selling vintage fashions on eBay this blog may provide some ideas about what you should be looking for.
More importantly though, Couture Allure Vintage Fashion is an excellent example of someone using a blog as a tool to attract potential buyers to their eBay auctions.
Mangablog - If you aren’t aware of what Mange, Dragonball Z, or Anime are Mangablog can serve as a starting point to learn. Manga has become hugely popular over the last few years among both young and old. Some of it is starting to show up at garage sales and thrift shops around the country. If you know what to look for, some of it can be very profitable when listed on eBay.
Linda & Bryan’s Pyrex Love blog - A good source for information related to identifying, buying, and selling Pyrex. While the blog is filled with helpful information, particularly useful is the Pattern Reference Page.
Photograph by josholalia.
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