Do you remember as a child when you played “King of the Hill?” How much fun was it to beat everyone else to the top. I can still feel the excitement as I pulled myself up that hill ahead of everyone .

But, once you were the King, and everyone else was trying to pull you down, it wasn’t nearly as much fun. I think that is where eBay is at the present time. They are in a position of having to defend themselves from newcomers.

I have been using eBay almost since its inception, and their changes have been in the process of capturing more and more of the market each year. This has been accomplished through acquisitions of their competitors and by an increase in their fee structure.

This has proven to be very successful for the company, but now, they are seeing new competition on the horizon. Companies like “OnlineAuction.com” have introduced the no listing fee format, and it is catching on. Why should this matter?

I believe it matters, because in my humble opinion, the number of unfinished listings, meaning sold listings, will be eBay’s undoing, unless they change their policy. The sellers will soon realize that they are losing so much money on uncompleted sales in listing fees, that it can’t be made up by the profits on their completed sales. eBay has tried to combat this by encouraging the sellers to list their items without reserves, so that most of the sales will be completed. This, however, puts the seller at a disadvantage, because they can’t protect their items from selling at a price that isn’t acceptable to them. The way eBay has encouraged this is by making the reserve price too expensive to use.

So, I’ve been thinking about this, and have some thoughts of my own. Call them my predictions, if you want, or just one man’s opinion. But, I believe eBay offered the month of September with no listing fees to see if the increase in final value fees would offset their losses in listing fees. I think eBay will soon eliminate all listing fees. Why? For months now, they have been inching up all of their other fees, the ones outside of the listing fee itself. Things like gallery photos and listing style fees just to name a couple. Their other service fees, such as PayPal, Pro Stores and eBay Stores, have also increased. If they can maintain their profit margins, without charging a listing fee and increase the number of listings, I think this will give them what they’re looking for.

This would be a huge blow to other companies trying to compete. I am not sure that other companies that have chosen this route could survive. And, eBay can’t continue to increase their profits each month, if competition offers the seller and buyer a better deal. So the only solution for them is to make it unprofitable for their competitors, because of their dominance in the market place.

My next thought is about why eBay has a “sign in” for the completed sales section. You see, I believe, and I’m going to make another prediction here, is that they are considering charging for their archives service like Ask Art, ArtPrice, ArtNet and Priceminer.

I stated in one of my early blogs that the market will always find a way to correct itself, and the companies that are in control will either change or be replaced by others. We’ll see if this play out in the coming months.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

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Can you believe that another month has come and gone? The 31 Club is approaching its three month anniversary and the excitement within the club is amazing. It is hard to get on the internet today and not come across something about our club and the new vision for the Antique and Collectible industry that it is presenting to the world.

Our members are making money and learning at the same time. Their input is so important to our future, that we ask every day if they know of ways that we can improve the club on behalf of its members. Your staff of Cindy, Chris and Clarke are tireless workers that will stop at nothing to provide the members with the best.

This weekend you will be represented at the Chicago Antique Market by Cindy, Joshua and myself, and we will be getting the message out about the 31 Club to all that attend. We will be sharing the new vision with as many people that will listen, and there will be a table where people can sign up. Come and visit with us either Saturday or Sunday.

There will be qualified buyers present if you have something to sell. Also, I will be appraising items that guests bring to me. This will be a wonderful time spent shopping, looking, eating, or listening to fabulous music.

A new feature this month will be the exclusive area where only the finest will be shown , on stage. This will be conducted by Boris Yovanovich. His twenty plus years in this business will provide a wealth of information for all that enter his space. There will be some of the best Art that has been presented at the market ever, and many other quality items. Boris specializes in one-of-a-kind items that are unique and desirable.

There will be a full mix of dealers with an unlimited array of choices for those with discriminating taste. This will range from high quality art to fabulous jewelry and vintage clothing. Also, you will find the best Art Pottery and Art Glass that can be found anywhere. Not to leave out high quality Posters, Oriental Rugs, Lighting, Prints and so. So many other things that you will find desirable in the many booths.

One of the dealers happens to be a friend of mine for over fifteen years. Can you imagine my surprise when I ran into them at the Market. Doris and Mike have the most wonderful array of items that you can find anywhere. Unbelievable Bakelite jewelry, Rookwood and Roseville pottery, and Native American items can found adorning their fabulous booth.

One of my favorite people at the Chicago Antique market is Maria Tirabassi. She is an artist that I think will rise to the top of the heap in the future. Her paintings are light and airy with an almost childish quality. I was passing her booth when her paintings caught my eye, and I stopped in my tracks to admire them. Asking the lady there if she was the painter, the answer was no, but she told me her sister was. I found out she would be in her booth later. I returned and found Maria to be a delightful person and definitely the one that had created all of these wonderful pieces of art. If you go to our website, you will find several of her canvases there.

I am so excited to be invited back to the market by Sally, and I can tell you that her enthusiasm is contagious, and I am infected.

Hope to see you at the market, and keep those letters coming!

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

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I have been promising you a great story, and here it goes.

Remember the small book that I told you about in one of my blogs, R. H. Conwells, “Acres of Diamonds”? This is its sequel.

Sally Schwartz, our host and the owner of The Chicago Antique Market, shared this story with me. Her love of people and of the finer things brought her to the place in life that she wanted to create that special place where people could come together for a exciting and adventurious experience. So, Presto! The Chicago Antique Market was created.

“The next few years have been like a blur”, she said. “The response has been overwhelming, and the public has definitly bought into the vision of something special for downtown Chicago. The Market has been in transition to make that experience even more exciting over these years.” As this vision was unfolding, Sally realized that additional capital might be required, but the question was, from where? Now, the story begins to get very interesting.

As I have been expanding my friendship with Sally over these few months, our conversation often leads us to discuss paintings and how their value has increased the last couple of years. There are record sales being establish almost every day in the art world.

Unbeknownst to me, Sally had inherited a painting from her grandparents, and it had been hanging on her wall for many years. Her grandparents had purchased it from the Art Institute of Chicago, years ago. As a child she had spent many hours mesmerized by this wonderful painting of two little girls.

Asking a longtime friend in the art profession about the painting, and getting a suggestion to show the piece to another dealer, that is exactly what she did. The dealer offered to help her in the sale of the painting.

Are you sitting down? That painting brought $120,000.00, and Sally no longer has to worry about financing the vision that she had created for the Chicago Antique Market. Acres of Diamonds had been on her wall all along.

Sally has been one of our earliest 31 Club Members, as well as one of our biggest fans, inviting us each month to participate at the Chicago Antique Market.

A more complete account of Sally’s story, written by our own, Cindy Stackler Nieder, can be found here.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

Ps: If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don’t have to sign in to leave your message.

In the Antique and Collectible Market, you will find items of many sizes. Surprisingly, the most value will usually come from the large or very small pieces. The medium size items are the most common of all, and therefore, bring less money as a rule.

First, a large vase by Rookwood is usually sold by so much per inch, everything else being the same. An eighteen inch vase by a top artist from Rookwood is going to bring a lot more money than an eight inch one by the same artist. This difference compounds as the item increases in size. The eight inch vase may bring $1,000 while the eighteen inch one might bring $30,000 or more. You should always keep this in mind as you are shopping.

The reason that larger pieces have more value happens to be true, because fewer of them will have been made. If a artist wants to make a very large piece, he knows that it is extremely hard to keep the consistency of the image that he is decorating the same throughout the piece. Also, just handling a larger piece is more labor intensive.

As for the smaller pieces, they acquire their value because it is very difficult to handle items under two inches, so few are made. We call these pieces mini, and often they are models for those pieces that will incorporate their design into larger ones later. A one inch Daum Nancy “Fall Scene” vase might bring as much as $3,500.00 or more. Can you imagine that? I just bought three mini Lotton vases, and the last one I saw sell brought over $500. Don’t overlook something because it’s small. If others can’t see its value, you will find a Treasure.

I remember as a small child, I always wanted to be larger so that basketball and football would be easier for me. Later, when I developed a love of horses, I wanted to be smaller, so I could be a jockey. I didn’t know it at this early age, but the principle of large and small had already been placed in my mind.

I would love to share with the club any articles that you would like to write and pass on to us.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

Ps: If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don’t have to sign in to leave your message.

Yahoo! The 31 Gang has broken out of the gate in the $1,000,000 Race.

Our enamel on copper painting, that was purchased for $35.00, just finished on eBay for $313.00. The Doulton figurine that was purchased for $65.00 finished at $80.79 and the music box didn’t sell. Our $125.00 invested returned a net of $335.63 after fees, definitely more than double and completing our first step in the race. Plus, we still have the music box to sell later!

We will be listing the two Meissen figurines that we purchased for $340 on eBay, and hopefully, we will be making one or more steps on them. Patience and consistency will get us across the finish line, and I hope that there are a lot of you there with us.

Yesterday, I was able to purchase three miniature Lotton vases. But before I let the person off the phone, I asked if she had anything else that I might be interested in buying. Her response was, “I have several other Lotton pieces, and I would be glad to sell them to you whenever I can find them.”

The lesson here is to never leave a person after a purchase without asking if they have other things to sell. They may have other pieces. If they do, you can buy them at a price that is acceptable to you. How do you know this? Because you were able to purchase the items from them already, at a prices that you could accept.

As you can see, The 31 Gang isn’t making just one purchase to meet its goals, but multiple ones. In our first purchase, only one piece out of the three reached our goal, but the combination of their sales prices got us over the top. It is fine to put all your money in one item, but it isn’t always necessary to do so for you to take the next step.

Now that the weather is changing, there may not be as many house sales and garage sales for you to attend, but there are still more places to search than you will ever be able to visit. Auctions, Consignment shops, antiue shops, shows, just to name a few. There will be newspaper ads to answer, ads in the for sale section of the Antique Trader, AntiqueWeek, Maine Antique Digest, and The Bee will provide happy hunting grounds for you all winter.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your concern and support as we work our way through the death of our friend.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

Ps: If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don’t have to sign in to leave your message.

My wife and I lost one of our best friends yesterday. Her name was Andi Welsh and she was always an inspiration to us.

When I needed a pick me up, she was always there. I will miss her, but I am assured that I will see her again. Her spirital strength served her well, and she was a mentor to many. She only talked to you for a very short period of time until you would have her sharing her faith with you.

Her death again brings me to a place were I realize that if we aren’t enjoying what we’re doing, what’s the need? I hope that by forming the 31 Club, we will all find a sense of pleasure in the relationships that we are gaining through the club and will be able to enjoy the moment. I found out yesterday, we aren’t insured of more than what we have before us now, so we should cherish every moment. My heart isn’t in writing a blog about Antiques and Collectibles today and I hope that you will give me a pass today.

It has given me a new purpose in life, trying to share with as many of you as I can, about finding pleasure in what God has given us. I prayed that if this adventure wasn’t of him that it would fail, but if it was of him it would succeed. I am here to tell you that the positive response has been over whelming.

Please keep us in your prays.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

A technique that I often use in buying is to say, “I will take it all.” At estate and garage sales, you will find multiple items boxed together, and in that box you will find one item that gets your attention. Knowing that this piece will bring you a great return, it is only human nature to pull it out of the box and ask what the seller would take for just the one piece.

The way I handle this is to replace the piece I want back in the box and ask what the seller will take for the whole box of things. Often, I am able to buy the box for even less than I would have offered for just the one item. Surprisingly, often I find that the piece I wanted doesn’t end up being the greatest treasure in the box after they are all sold.

This method of buying will also work in stores. As you travel through a store, make a list of the items that you wish to purchase. Then find a clerk and ask what they would take for that group. I have found, that because the total dollars increase with the number of items you wish to purchase, the asking price may be reduced as mush as fifty percent per item if they are purchased together.

I spent the night in a persons driveway once just to be first in line for their house sale. A friend was conducting the sale and said if I might be interested in the Beswick horse collection that was being offered. Entering the house, I said in a loud voice, “All the horses are sold.” There was about twenty-five pieces, and the total for all of them came to about $1,000. Then, the strangest thing happened. The clerk marked all the horses sold, however there must have been another person that had come to the sale for just the Beswick horses also. Even though they were marked sold, he started picking them up to examine them, and he did this with several pieces. Surprise, surprise, he dropped one, and it happened to be a piece that I had estimated to have a value of $500.00. I confronted him, but what could I say? The clerk just took one horse off my bill, but inside I was sick. The rest of the pieces sold for about $8,550 with the highest bringing almost $1,500. Not bad for a few small horse figurines.

Box lots, as they are known at auctions, can also be bargains. There is a story circulating about the lady buying a box lot for about $100 and finding this Indian Knife Sheath in it. I was told that this piece, at auction, may have brought over $8,000. There can be Treasures in those little boxes, so be sure to check them.

I am giving you notice that there is a great story that I am going to be sharing in a couple of days, and you will be starting your search in earnest after you hear it. Let me hear your stories or questions in the meantime.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

When buying good leaded crystal glass, you should have handled a lot of pieces before you invest in this field. You want to be able to recognize the weight and designs on the better pieces you encounter, because it is easy to get fooled today. Also, being acquainted with their marks will come from familiarity. I don’t know of a book that shows the marks, so if anyone does, write and let us know. Often, all clear glass looks alike, but it isn’t. In your search, these differences will become apparent. There has also been an influx of what I call copycat pieces that are coming into the market today.

It would seem easy to say, all that is necessary to recognize this glass is to look at the bottom of each piece, right? Wrong. I often have taken a piece from one room to another trying to get just the right light on it so that I could pick up that faintest piece of a mark, such as Lalique, Steuben, Baccarat, and even cut glass. Did you know that some of the best cut glass that was ever produced is marked? Most people don’t. These companies usually marked their pieces by acid etching the mark or by signing them with an electric marking process. Often these marks are almost invisible to the naked eye with out proper lighting or magnification.

Once, as I was attending an estate sale, and running very late I must add, there, on one of the card tables, was a huge frosted glass frog. I picked it up like probably 100’s of other people during the day, but put it back down when I couldn’t find a mark on its bottom. After spending several minutes searching the rest of the sale and finding nothing, my mind wouldn’t let me forget that frog. I re-entered the room where it was located, picked the piece up again and examined it from top to bottom, but came to the same conclusion: Nothing special.

Going to the car and being ready to get out of there, I stopped in my tracks, re-entered the house, picked that darn frog up and said, I am going to find that mark or it’s going to kill me. Believe it or not, there it was, as clear as day, and marked Lalique. I pick it up and went to the counter and asked the price. The answer almost made me start laughing right there. They told me $25.00. Paying very quickly and running out the door, I discovered in researching the piece that it was quite valuable. Putting that darn frog on eBay and waiting for the seven days was difficult but worth it, $650.00. Yahoo!

You will find most of this glass will be over-priced, and this is where the discipline comes in. Don’t ever over pay, even if you can make a small profit. We are waiting to make our money work for us, and that means at least doubling the price we pay for each item, if not more. However, there are a lot of people that don’t know the rare pieces made by these companies from the common ones. when you do, it will give you a tremendous advantage over them.

Stay with the best names in the clear glass, because the copycats, as I have called them, have very little value in the secondary markets.

If it sparkles, look at it carefully, because you just might find that special frog yourself.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

Upbeat attitudes, positive statements, a flood of record prices. Who breathed new life into this market? Where did this CPR come from? If more of us get on the right side of the ship, I think we will be afloat again.

I spoke with Elizabeth, the owner of The Shops at Malleries [http://www.malleries.com ], last night for well over a hour, and you know what? There wasn’t one negative word about this industry uttered between us. What a pleasure to hear someone tell me that the best for us is in the future. Her efforts are centered on bringing like-minded dealers on to one site where they can exhibit fine Antiques and Collectibles. Good luck to her because she is on the right track.

Every day I hear from people that are excited. Sally Schwartz, one of the owners of The Chicago Antique Market [ http://www.chicagoantiquemarket.com ] called and couldn’t believe the turn-around in her business. (And by the way, Joshua, Cindy and I will be at their show next weekend.)

And then, Bob Green, of Auction Productions in Arizona, told us that over 500 people are attending his auctions, and business is great. [ http://www.auctionproductions.com ]

And we’re growing here at 31 Inc., too. Maybe our message is being heard, after all.

Micheal Hudson, of Antique, Collectibles and Auction News [ http://www.antiques-collectibles-auction-news.com ] called, asking if we would like to post positive articles on his new website. Of course we do! So, if you go to his site, you will see Cindy’s article. I’m on a roll.

Bruce Rogers, of Discover Mid America [ www.discoverpub.com ] wants to do a question and answer piece in his publication about us.

Last, but absolutely not least, Phil Davies, of News-Antique, the source of our website News Feed, has been the greatest cheerleader and supporter of our message right from the start. You can find him at http://www.news-antiques.com. Phil was posting things on his feed about us when no one knew who we were. How things have changed! Thanks Phil.

We are so thankful for all the support that is being received, and the results speak for themselves. Yes, Cindy, we are a new voice, and it is beginning to being heard. I remember hearing that wonderful entry to a radio show when I was a child, “Up, Up and Away,” and now I am hearing it again as a adult from all of you. Let’s start the party and invite all our friends.

By the way, we went “international” yesterday, when Kevin Stone of Antiques.TV liked what he heard and saw of us and picked up this blog in the News & Views section of his innovative website. Thanks, Kevin. http://www.antiques.tv.

Come with us. Hear a fresh new voice in this industry, if you haven’t already joined us at the 31 Club. Let’s learn together and begin, now, to build vast personal wealth with antiques, collectibles and fine art, for ourselves and our families. Do you dare to transform your life? Come and join us on this exciting journey. http://www.31corp.com

Don’t be bashful I want to hear your thoughts, because sometimes I get lonely in here just writing by myself. I know you’re out there.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert

Would you think that a vintage string of Christmas light could sell for several thousand dollars? What about a single light from the string selling for hundreds of dollars? Unthinkable, right? But it happens to be true. Remember the old bubble lights that we would watch for hours? If you can find the older ones today they will fetch a pretty penny. SHOCKING!

Those old glass ornaments, that were stored so carefully in years past, might have done much better than other investments you have made over the years. A bicycle- built-for-two ornament, made in Germany, might fetch $10,000 today, and considering that its cost was probably less than a quarter, I would say that the return was quite adequate. Animal ornaments seem to bring huge money, and I think that it is because so few were made. Reindeer, camels, birds seem to have been appropriate at the time. Even the more common one can bring $40 or more and if they are purchased for one or two dollars each. If you buy serveral, then the reward could be quite handsome.

The next thing that you may watch for is paper mache candy containers. Some of the Santa ones have been know to bring over $5,000. Not bad for pressed paper. Other pieces from the Christmas story are also in demand. These pieces were originally priced at only pennies and given as gifts for the children’s pleasure. Can you imagine if you told someone back then that these candy containers would sell for thousands of dollars later? You would’ve been sent off to the institution, never to have been heard from again. We aren’t even to the best part, yet.

Toys for Christmas have always been a hit, and never has it been more true than now. The true toy collector would go crazy over any toy about Saint Nick from the 1800’s. I would say that the sky is the limit for some of the first Christmas toys. These wonderful treasures can come in cast iron, wood, paper mache or even early plastic. There are some real treasures out there just waiting for our members to find them. What are you waiting for? Hook up the sleigh and away we go, Ho Ho.

I can’t wait for the first Christmass story and I know it will be coming soon.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!”The Guy in the Red Tie” — Daryle Lambert