Your Fresnel Lens Strategy

What should you do about the new Fresnel 5th Order Lens?

If you like it, you should reserve one. If you don't, don't. (That will leave more for other collectors who do like it.)

With only 4,000 to be made, these are on allocation to Harbour Lights dealers. Dealers on autoship (who receive at least one of everything Harbour Lights makes) will receive their autoships. That accounts for about 2,200 pieces, leaving 1,800 to be distributed among a total of around 2,000 Harbour Lights dealers. Some dealers will get more beyond their autoships, some will not get any.

Should you buy more than one? No.

What? Why not? Won't this be a good 'investment'?

That depends on how many collectors buy 'extras' to hold and sell or trade. Let's face it: buying extras when the supply is already so short is akin to profiteering.

The regular readers of these forums could probably account for all 4,000 at 1 each. Those collectors who are not on line (the majority of them) don't yet know how scarce 4,000 is.

If you buy up 4, at least three more serious collectors (there are about 6,000, I think) won't get one.

If 2,000 collectors hold 4,000 Fresnel Lens pieces, the market value of these items will not significantly increase until MOST of these extras are sold off. On the other hand, if 3,996 hold the 4,000, then yes, the 2 extras will be worth a LOT more than list. But that isn't what happens in this kind of situation.

Sure some HARD soul [edited] will undoubtedly be offering one soon at 2-3 times the list and someone [edited] will undoubtedly pay the price. But one sale does not a market make. Once one sells for $225 or so, the other 1,999 with extras will say, "OK, I'll put mine on the market and get $199 and more than double my investment." That will drive prices down. Too many sellers with extras.

It matters not to the retail dealers. Most will make their profit on their one or two items. They won't be able to make all their regular customers happy with each getting one.

So, get ONE. Don't put your name on 8 lists and expect you'll take the first one or two that come in, leaving 6-7 dealers hanging.

Find a dealer who knows how many they will receive, and who knows how many they have already committed to collectors and offer a deposit for one of their remaining ones.

Enjoy it when it comes in. Instead of profiteering off a fellow collector who was initially left out, feel good about yourself that you allowed another collectors to find one at retail.

You want to make a profit on it? Sell it out of your collection in 5-6 years.

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Per Terry's post a few down, I've added some constraint and edited out two semi-personal references.

[This message has been edited by JChidester (edited 06-27-2000).]

I second that emotion.

Dennis

Well said!

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Ken T

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terrybarfield

GOOD POINT JOHN

John... I'm confused with this particular comment...

"Find a dealer who knows how many they will receive, and who knows how many they have already committed to collectors and offer a deposit for one of their remaining ones.

I contacted among others, Lighthouse Gallery and Lighthouse Depot. I was told by them that they do not know how many Fresnel pieces they will receive. According to Cindy at Lighthouse Gallery, "We have been told many different things by the staff at HL. One minute we are told that no autoships will take place, then they will, then we may not receive all of our autoship." Considering these are two of the largest HL distributors that I know, are there any others out there who do know what they will receive?

Tim - Adding to the confusion...

I certainly agree with what you say John, however, with all due respect, you've conveyed this theme before. I think most of us collectors here are reasonable people and not greedy (and if any reader were greedy...do you really think this post would dissuade them?). Repeated lectures about this are unnecessary.

Doc John

PS A wonderful display of a Fresnel lens is on display at Ponce De Leon lighthouse museum. For more info about the group associated with it: http://www.ponceinlet.org/assoc.htm

[This message has been edited by DocJ44 (edited 06-28-2000).]

[This message has been edited by DocJ44 (edited 06-28-2000).]

Doc John,

I agree with you. St. John is preaching to the choir.

Moby

I talked with 3 dealers this past weekend (in N.C.)....two of them said that they would receive one each and the other has no idea what's going on....she didn't even know they were coming out with the lens. Interesting.

I didn't refer to 'Specific Secondary Dealers' did I?

A retailer is only as good as his or her rep. The rep in my area seems to be from Mars and has no clue as to what is going on with HL's. Usually I inform the local retailers of upcoming events and news and I'm told, "gee the rep was just here this week and didn't say anything, thanks for keeping me informed". So, when I ask how many pieces of a specific issue will be received, the retailer generally does not know and then it usually takes four to five weeks to get an answer from the rep. So, I must admit I do have my name on two lists only to secure one. The retailer who has my second request is aware that I already have my name listed elsewhere and she said it's not a problem since she will have others who will want it if I don't take it.

Joanne

Even though some of us are in the choir, I feel that this message bears repeating for all the newbies and lurkers who read the forums but do not post here. This information can help with the understanding of the the "Point Arena" problem.
Jim
Johnson

Besides all of the choir members don't always sing on key!
SaintWackoPaul '

Posted By: Webmaster

Re: Your Fresnel Lens Strategy - 06/28/00 11:06 PM

I misunderstood your first comment, Sean. When you said 'Specific Secondary Dealers' I thought you meant I had used that term. Yes, my original post named someone who seems to sell things on ebay for more than retail when the item(s) are clearly available for retail - such as Cape Hatteras On The Move.


My apologies for the mis-understanding.