Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Look what just a little "pocket change" can do!


Over about a 3 month period, I collected 23 picture books with one thing in common. They all had won a Caldecott award. I paid a dime here, and a quarter there, and sometimes $1. The final total for all 23 Caldecotts’ was $7.15.

When I couldn’t fit anymore in the little shelf space I had claimed for this lot, I decided to list them all together in one auction on Ebay. Who would the lucky winner be? A teacher? A parent? A collector?

I don’t know who won this bid, but I do know they paid $63.09! Not bad for just keeping my eye out for that silver or gold seal on the front cover. These types of books are the easiest to spot because of that seal. I could flip through a few boxes at a garage sale quickly just keeping my eye out for that shiny circle. Even my youngest son Nathan, who can’t read yet, could help me find these books by just looking for that seal.

I used this same “seal technique” for Newbery books. So, check back next week, and I’ll tell you how well that lot did.

Until next week….

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Looking for answers. Can you help me?




I don’t know about you, but when new technology makes a big splash it seems to me the old technology becomes worthless. Take, for instance, digital cameras. It’s no secret that sales for 35mm cameras are down, and digital cameras are up.

So, after my wonderful husband bought me a new digital camera, I figured my 35mm would probably need to be either thrown in the trash or packed away to become an antique that my grand children will laugh at one day.

Well, not so fast…

Since I’ve become such an Ebay “nut”, I figured I should check out Ebay and see if there was any demand for my camera. I was surprised to see many 35 mm cameras being bought for $20, $30 and even $80! Could my camera really get that much? This is too strange? Who would want it? Isn’t everyone wanting digital?


So, I took a chance. Sure enough my camera sold for $46! Wow!

Why??

Do you know why someone would buy a 5 year old camera? My guess is they bought it for the lens. I would have kept the camera if the lens had fit my new camera, but that wasn’t the case.

However, I’m keeping my eye out for old 35 mm cameras that have been cared for well because I’m sure someone will dump their's off at a garage sale thinking the same thing. “This camera is a money pit! Who wants to develop pictures BEFORE previewing!”

Do you know? I would love to hear your theory.