By Patty Mintz
Who hasn’t dreamed of coming across a long-lost valuable item in their attic or basement? Imagine what a thrill to find a Monet painting, a rare vase, or maybe even an old Chatty Cathy doll.
Cheryl Bambrick, owner of Easy Sell Consignment, which specializes in selling items for others on eBay, says Chatty Cathy dolls, made in the 1950s, can fetch large sums of money, even when they’re in rough condition.
“We had a customer who brought one in and said, ‘I don’t know if I should chuck this in the garbage or try to sell it.’ She had been cleaning out her closet,” says Bambrick. “The clothes were tattered and torn, it had no shoes or socks, no box and the chord for the voice box was broken so it wouldn’t talk.” Nevertheless, Bambrick placed it on eBay where it sold for more than $500.
This particular doll isn’t the only one in very used condition to fetch a surprising price. Another of its kind was missing its eyelashes and was covered in pen marks. It sold on eBay for $300.
If one were fortunate enough to have kept a Chatty Cathy in pristine condition and in its original box, the value escalates to at least $800.
Who but an avid doll collector would pay that kind of money for a doll that has clearly been the object of a child’s love, or vengeance, in some cases.
“Doll collectors are passionate,” says Bambrick, and evidently willing to overlook a toy’s foibles.
Bambrick says G.I. Joe dolls, Barbie dolls from the 1960s, some Barbie doll friends, traditional film cameras and related photography equipment, guitars and banjos, war medals and items from the World War One, old fountain pens, and black portable electric Singer sewing machines manufactured about 50 years ago are just a few of the objects in particular demand.
“Those (sewing machines) are hot and selling between $200 and $1,000,” says Dave Hines, Bambrick’s spouse and business partner. “A lot of people just chuck them in the dump, but the belt drive is sturdy so people buy them to use them.”
The couple has found their new line of work to be a great source of exhilaration and intrigue.
It’s not unusual for people to bring in boxes full of old miscellaneous items for the couple to research and assess. When the items are 25 years or older, says Hines, “It’s likely everything in the box is worth something to somebody; even an old fountain pen, even items that are broken.”
Antique and vintage items may be of particular interest or value, but newer items such as gold jewelry, iPods, digital cameras, binoculars, gold jewelry (due to rising gold prices) are also in demand. The general consensus is that for every item placed for sale on eBay there is someone, somewhere eager to buy it.
If perchance an item doesn’t sell and the client doesn’t want it back, Easy Sell will donate it to one of four different local non-profit organizations.
K: Research takes time
The couple ran a photography studio for 20 years before they became eBay entrepreneurs from their home in New Minas, across from Ken-Wo Golf and Country Club.
Bambrick sold a few of her husband’s items on eBay and thought it was fun. “At the time we were looking for a new business to start then the light bulb went on to do this.”
In preparation, the two dove into market research and evaluated various business opportunities, “and we decided this was a suitable area, based on the demographics…and nobody else in the area was doing this so there was a need.”
Bambrick says there’s a learning curve. “You need to learn the intricacies of selling on eBay; when to sell, how to sell, how to list, how to categorize things,” and there is wrapping and shipping involved, not to mention a strict code of ethics to which buyers and sellers must adhere.
“There’s a feedback system where your buyers rate you. It’s critical to have a positive feedback rating. I wouldn’t buy from anyone who has less than a 90 per cent rating,” says Bambrick. “You have to have a good reputation to earn the trust of the buyers.”
Hines says the Valley is a good place for eBay entrepreneurs because of its large population of 50-plus. “Empty nesters with no more kids. That age group has parents in the 80s who might need to downsize from house to apartment,” so there is even more unwanted stuff.” And unwanted stuff is exactly what eBay thrives on.
“If you have something you don’t want, we take it – we’ll pick it up…we do a lot of pick-up service, or people bring it in,” says Hines.
Researching the value of goods and photographing each item is Dave’s job and it’s time-consuming. The commission the couple charges varies. “For most of the items – we take items that sell for $75 or more -- our commission rate is 30 per cent. On items over $3,000 it’s 25 per cent. Over $6,000 it’s even cheaper.”
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K: Maud Lewis is hot
There was a time when a Maud Lewis painting sold for less than today’s price of a gallon of milk. Now, it’s not uncommon for one of the deceased artist’s paintings to sell for between $10,000-$14,000, says Bambrick.
Naturally, she’s delighted when a painting by the Nova Scotia folk art icon makes its way into their shop. That happened recently when a man whose wife was a Maud Lewis fan passed away and the husband decided to downsize the collection.
Bambrick is putting one of the paintings -- a classic Maud Lewis winter scene with oxen -- on eBay for 10 days beginning April 24. From now until then, the public has a head-start; people can phone, fax or e-mail a bid. Contact information and a photo of the painting are on the website:
www.easysellconsignment.com.
Readers can learn more about Easy Sell’s eBay auction business by visiting their booth at the Kentville Home Show, April 18-20.
