Someone once said, "Nothing appreciates like a GLOW."
[This message has been edited by Art (edited 06-04-2000).]

This is getting scary.

HotM for $250? Already?

Holy Cow!!! Well Art, it looks like my signed HOTM is looking better and better every day (that is, all three days I have had it). Hmmm... maybe I better purchase another one for $65.00, and have Bill sign it at the Regional in NC this fall just for the investment. No offense to any one, but do you think someone would actually spend that kind of money (at this point in time) for this wonderful piece? Only time will tell, eh?

Tim - Keeping the flame lit...

I find it hard to believe that any intelligent well informed Harbour Lights Collecter would pay that much for something that is still going to be available at numerous events for about 6 months. Bill may be limiting his signings, but that has little or no effect on a persons ability to obtain one for it's list price. I am still amazed at the lack of smarts by some people on ebay and elsewhere.

I guess it's another example of the way something is worded. Unless it is signed with the actual date of the unvieling there would be no way to show that it is one of those signed that day and every item I have signed by Mr Younger has only the year not the full date

I've got one signed on that day, but I purchased mine by phone for the regular amount.

Dennis

[This message has been edited by wheland (edited 06-04-2000).]

Keep in mind that the high bidder on the HOTM is the same person that was a source of discussion here before concerning his/her overpriced bids:

Previous Forum discussion

[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 06-04-2000).]

Maybe a 'market maker'? (tic)

Wow! Should I put mine on the market and then go out and buy 4 more? It's a beautiful piece, but maybe we should mint a wacko button just for this guy.
-Joe

Regarding the Hatteras GLOW, just goes to prove that you should either know what you're bidding on, or do research. On the other item, that bidder is often a very high bidder, often paying much more than secondary market prices.

Joanne

How about this one on ebay for an Assateague that went for $227.50



I thought this was a little high for a mold 2 until I looked at the picture.
The picture shows a mold 1 http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=342828269


Daniel

On the Assateague posted above the picture is of mold I but the number listed in the description I think would be of mold II ??
So I wonder which one the high bidder will get ??

And then ending tonight was ebay auction # 344255298 a definite Assateague mold II that ended at $255.00 + $12.00 shipping for total of $267.00 well within mold I price range.

And the Ebay goes on and on and on .........

That "high bidder" obviously doesn't have any money left over for internet access or we could en"light"en him!

I bought 3 HOTM's at the signing in Buxton. I gave one as a gift to the friend whose vacation home I used in Kitty Hawk that week-end. I think I'll call him and see if I can buy it back!

I guess I'll take the extra one that I have to my safe deposit box. I had no idea how valuable it is!

Jim Thomas

I agree with Sean. I had to hold a fussy baby while wauting in line for a HOTM. The value is unrealistic. The piece will be available albeit in certain locales for a while yet. It doesn't make sense.

Tim H

Doesn't someone else also have to be bidding rediculous prices in order to have the winning bid so high? If you put in a maximum bid, it only goes one bid over the next lowest bidder. So, there are at least two uninformed bidders each time you see a rediculous winning bid. Right???

Larry

Sean, Tim or Jim

For standing in line did you you get any thing special on your HOTM.
Like a special sticker or something special written on it that it was signed at HATTERAS.

Daniel

>>Someone once said, "Nothing appreciates like a GLOW."<<

With zero bids on the model in your first link - a #401 Glow Hatteras for $150 - apparently they're right. That its for sale by an individual offers more proof that some people will buy anything. ;->

It was once believed that if you give a million monkeys a million typewriters they eventually would turn out the complete works of Shakespere. Now, with the Internet, we know that's not true. :-)

Glows? Sure. We'll make more,
__
/im

Daniel,I don`t know if all the CHotM are going to be signed that way but BY did put something different with his name.In fact he also put the same thing on my HL cap I asked for him to sign for me at the BBQ later that day.I don`t want to say what it is in case some sellers some where will try to add it and then ask more for a piece signed at Hatteras.


TerryBarfield

Daniel,

Bill did ask if I wanted the pieces dedicated to someone. I had him dedicate one to my wife and myself and another to the couple to whom I was giving it to as a gift. He did write Cape Hatteras and the full date along with his signature on those two pieces. He did add one other "extra" which I will not disclose because as Terry said it would make it easy for someone to try to sell a piece as one signed at Hatteras.

I told him that the third piece was not to be dedicated. He just signed it and dated it "00" but he did also add the "extra" which I hope will designate that it was signed at Hatteras.


Jim Thomas

Yes. He signed my HOTM (CHOTM), actually with a very nice dedication. One piece was for a friend & the other was for my wife.

A very nice event.

Tim

How about this one. St. Simons for $660.00??? http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=345996411

---

digitalman

Thanks Terry, Jim & Tim

I am glad you got something different to represent that you were at the first signing. I wanted to go but didn’t want to fight the crowd. I thought that Bill should have put special stickers on the HOTM like he did at the Sapelo Island restoration event and handed out buttons with that lighthouse on it like he did with the point Fermin get together.

Daniel

digitalman

It looks like Monalisa is trying to corner the Harbour Light market.

How about this one: HARBOUR LIGHTS #101 ADMIRALTY HEAD WA
Starting Bid at $75 with $2.50 bid increments. With only one Bid it is up to $188.00. How could that be with only one bid? With no one else biding against him or her, he or she increased the one bid $113
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=351221350


Daniel

Daniel,
It appears that the reserve price was set at $188. If someone places a bid equal to or higher than the reserve, it will automatically jump to the reserve price. I wouldn't doubt if his/her first bid was $300 or $400, knowing what they bid on other lights. Will never know unless someone bids higher.
[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 06-07-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 06-07-2000).]

Thanks Rod
I was wondering how that worked.

I heard on the news this morning that e-bay was going to be under investigation.
Apparently, people have been running up each other’s bids to drive the prices up.

Daniel

It seems that it's not eBay under investigation, it's a seller using eBay. EBay is cooperating with the FBI.

Here's a hyperlink to the eBay story and other related to it: http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1007-200-2031448.html?tag=st.cn.1.lthdne

The story interests me because the seller managed to create the idea that the painting was created by a specific famous(?) artist without materially representing it as such. Subsequently, the seller is quoted as saying he won't let the sale 'go through' if it isn't authenticated as being by that famous artist. If the seller's words don't look like misrepresentation then I don't know what misrepresentation really is.

As has been posted in these fora many times, let the buyer beware. Do your homework first!

[This message has been edited by LamarB (edited 06-07-2000).]

Of course another way to protect yourself is to know what something is worth and not bid anymore than that. Don't get caught up in a bidding frenzy. Sometimes I have to wait a couple of months to find the deal I want on certain items but the patience pays off. The only exceptions would be one of a kind items.

I also think it would be a positive thing that there are some absurd prices on ebay. It should make the value of your collection go up. Prices were languishing in the basement there for a while, even going down. I like seeing them going up.

Holy Fresnel Lens Batman! The bidder we are all marveling at is up to $414 on a Boston Harbor #117 at this time!



------------------
Ken T

I can see right now that I'm going to have to relist that ocean front Indiana property ASAP.

....you'd probably have some "takers", Digger. BTW....how much are ya ask'in fer it?

Is this the person who bids on snow?!

About the Hatteras event it was tight inside the hotel what with the service man moving through the line every 5 minutes and all, but I found the piece, Bill, and the event did not dissappoint me whatsoever. About Lighthouse Gallery. Yes. That was along hall so my thanks for all their hard work.

Tim H

I meant haul as in trip-wise. The hotel was narrow--halls are longer.

Hey Lamar, ..Thanks for the link to the news story about alleged fraudulent bidding on eBay.

I frequent the Lionel Train category on eBay. I bid on a lot of items utilizing the Greenberg's Pocket Price Guide as a basic "rule of thumb" to give me a rough idea how much something should be worth. It seems I get outbid everytime. I find it hard to believe that train collectors would always be willing to pay a premium price for a piece.

This makes me wonder if there is a possible conspiracy amongst collectors to drive a price up for a friend. What do they have to lose? Maybe the 25 cent posting fee and a small eBay commission if they are unsuccessful and are forced to swallow a sale once in awhile.

I've been an eBay member for quite sometime now and have dealt with many nice people. I've never got stuck and I hope to keep it that way. I refuse to enter a bidding frenzy above and beyond what an item is worth. My advice is to always be patient and never bid more than an item is worth. Sooner or later a deal will come along.

Bob

When I was an ebay newbie, I had a suspicion that a seller had deliberately raised the price on an item I had bid on. I was the only bidder and one hour before the close, a bidder with zero bids upped the auction. I did not rebid because I had put in my price which was the reserve. Well one half hour after the close of the auction, I received a note from the seller asking me if I wanted to purchase the piece at my original bid price. I declined. Can't be certain, but at the time, it made me wonder.

Regarding Monalisa, I am really anxious to contact her and find out if she is a true collector of HL. Do you think I should contact her and let her know of the forum? Is anyone else curious about this person with very deep pockets?

Joanne

One thing MonaLisa did do was bring about a dozen Southern Belles LEs out of the closet and onto ebay.

It looks like MonaLisa got out of the HOTM bid.
The bid is back down to $122.50
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=348268694

Daniel

Joanne - If Monalisa is a true HL collector, and bidding on E-Bay, I would be surprised if she didn't know about the Forums. Considering an avid collector probably visits HL's website, and the shortcut to the Collector Forums is listed there. But then, we are dealing with a lot of assumptions on my part. In any case, I say go for it... contact her and let her know we are here. I think she will find (that is if she already doesn't know) that many here keep up with the market, and are fully aware of what is a good buy, and what is not. IMHO of course.

Tim - Keeping the flame lit...

I was just looking over the e-bay listings and was able to find pieces monalisa was bidding on just by looking at the prices

$511 Ponce LE

2nd Ponce LE $455

$400 old Mac

Ocracoke, $430 all though not out of line yet

Hilton Head $540

And these are only current bids,

Has anyone seen the movie Brewsters millions ?

I think Monalisa must have hit the lottery or maybe his/her rich uncle died and left her a bundle.

It looks like he/she will elavate the HL secondary market to new highs singlehandedly!

Jim Thomas

Joanne, I wrote Monalisa a few days ago and told them about the Harbour Lights Web Site, R@R and this Forum and the help that would be received locating retired lighthouses. Of course some of the lighthouses that were bid on will not be found at retail and the secondary market is going to be the only way. Pieces like HOTM should not draw bids of over retail price at this time. Only the misinformed will fall prey. I would not assume all collectors are aware of these sites.

imho,

Sean

[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 06-09-2000).]

Sean,
Glad you wrote monalisa, and let her/him know about forums. Hopefully we will see monalisa show up here. Can't imagine what drives someone to pay such prices over what they could find elsewhere.

Glad you all were talking about the HotM on ebay. If finally did go for $255 unbelievable dollars! I have mine on the way, and for a minute I wanted to go buy a few more. But more than likely this will settle down for a while..

Reminds me of when the Panama set first went out. There was an ebay bid for them of over a $100, and then after that hardly any of them went for retail..

Anyway, thanks, to all who have discussed the HotM.. I thought I was going to explode, with a "You Gotta Me Kidding", when I found this...

Rusty

As a current seller on eBay, I marveled when I saw the prices that monalisa was paying for lights. Some didn't even have the original box! If you do a little research, you will find that she is owner of a straw business in Florida. It appears that she is legit and has had nothing but positive feedback on eBay.

More power to her if she is a devoted HL collector and has the $$$ to support it, and congrats to those who sell to her, as the light certainly shined on them to have her as the high bidder!!



------------------
Keep Shining!

Kathryn

I wrote to Monalisa first day it was posted here explaining how available CHOTM was at $65.

However, I've not received any response - has anyone else? Makes one suspicious, no?

Perhaps 'enigmatic' would be a more appropriate word for 'Monalisa'.

I did not receive any response. I did receive a return receipt when the message was viewed. It does make you think that something is not quite right. Thank you is so easy to write. Neither John or I have heard a thing. I never gave it a second thought until now. Have they been outbid on all the auctions?

Sean

[This message has been edited by SThompson (edited 06-11-2000).]

What some people will do to spend a quarter!

I've been involved in somewhere around 200 eBay buyer/seller deals. Everyone of them was successful with no scams. It seems strange to me, but doesn't surprise me, that people play games at this auction site.

Bob

I heard on our news service provider that the Feds are now getting involved and initiating an investigation of EBay. There has been some allegations that some people using two different screen names are bidding against the same product, trying to raise it's price. Only time will tell.

Tim - Keeping the flame lit...

Another odd bit to this story is that Monalisa is also buying more than one of some of these pieces, in addition to the pieces I listed above I see they have another bid in on a second Hilton head, and a second Ponce (both on my other list)
Maybe they are trying to corner the market on retired Harbour Lights

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=377830625
Visual: I`m scratching my head.?

I know, ... I just saw that one as well minutes ago. I thought I was missing something there, but then I saw that the first 2 bidders when it was at around $24 seemed seasoned, and then apparent novices(?)(No previous auction history) took over the bidding & drove it sky high. (IMHO)

How about the set of 4 thumbnails from the 97 reunion that sold for $500? It was item number 378310151 on e-bay and closed on 7-16 (I don't know how to do the fancy stuff like provide a link). I can't believe how these things happen since it takes at least two bidders to run the price up.

Larry

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=378310151+

A link to the $500 Auction. Wow!!!!

Sean

One thing I've noticed in many cases of overbidding, the bidder is new to auctions. If you notice one has 0 feedback, one has 12. I know that when I first started using ebay, my bids were much higher than I bid now because I was going by secondary store prices. One local store had a Pensacola selling for $150 so when I saw one on ebay for $100,I thought it was a bargain. Luckily, I didn't get it and then I found the forum and R@R. So, for some, the lessons are hard learned.

Joanne

We've moved:
http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum28/HTML/000061.html

Per tradition, I'm closing up shop here after we've achieved the magic 50 postings. The unbelievable stuff continues in the thread linked above.

------------------
-Art