I have been watching eBay for the last few weeks with great curiosity. It seems that the prices realized seem to be getting lower. Today there are 559 HL's (including LLOM) up for auction. There are nearly 40 HL's (not including LLOM's) that will be ending today and only about 10-12 have bids. Even some of the oldies and rare ones seem to be going for naught. Anyone else see this trend. All one has to do to get a bargain is to wait a week or two and you can buy even the new ones at a greatly reduced price. Doesn't make sense! I'm not giving up my dealer to wait for the bargains, but it does make one think!

This is a touchy subject. I've noticed this trend for quite some time now and have been buying like crazy. As a matter of fact, between eBay and private sales, I've purchased 15 lights this week alone.

Unfortunately, all collectibles aren't doing that well right now, not just HL's. Dealers need to move inventory to keep their business alive. If something doesn't sell then reduce the price until it does. They've got a supply but there's not enough demand.

Ebay is an avenue to cut your losses and move on. Some sellers break even, some lose money, and on a rare occasion a dealer might turn a smallprofit. The bottom line is getting cash in and product out. Some dealers do percentage discounts while others have dumped stock as a buy one get one free. There are plenty of gimmicks to lure buyers.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

15/week!

I felt my jaw drop a little, too. 15....

It's only money!

Now, Bob is just using the time honored financial practice of "averaging down".

If you got it, spend it. Bob is probably very smart to spend the money now that the prices are down and will more then likly turn a huge profit when the prices go back up. Anybody that wants to fill in the holes in their collection, now is the time to be doing that instead of a year or two from now when the prices will be back up(I hope). Only time will tell whether Bob is doing the right thing.

Sue,

I think I know someone with a boat by that name!

It's only money

Well, just to appease myself, I'm going to go buy a HL or two right now. Maybe Pt Reyes (since I'll be there next Thursday). I don't have Stratford Point yet either. Hmmm, decisions, decisions....

I bought three last week.

I'm finished for the year.

The last purchases were Stratford Point and the ornaments.

Now of course, people are free to make purchases as Christmas gifts to me! I'd love to have the Chesapeake and Portsmouth Lightships...hint, hint!

Judy

I bought 5 at the Nancy event last week and 1 from Ebay. The dog house is really crowded with all those lights and me. LOL

Chuck

Just an obsrvance on my part but...most of the forum members buy these lighthouse because they love them and not how much money they can make on them. :rolleyes: I have no plans to sell any of mine any time soon.
Ruthie

I agree completely. IMHO if you're buying these to make money in the future, you've got the wrong hobby - it ain't gonna happen. Wall Street would be something you might want to look into. I don't see the value on many post 1995 pieces increasing anytime soon. That can be attributed to one entity: Ebay. I value my collection, but it's not a monetary value. It's the joy I get in visiting and photographing and experiencing these GREAT structures. Knowing what they symbolize, and learning the history behind them. Plus, they look good in my living room. I'll climb off my miniature soapbox now.

If you thought buying 15 HL's this week was bad, make that number 24 and it might be 26 or 27 by the end of the week! 14 of these lights are from the original 5500 series. I still believe that the prices will someday go up. Maybe not a lot but at the prices I'm paying, I should at least be able to make a small profit. I may even offer some of my doubles and triples at the New Marketplace in time for shoppers who might be looking for an older 5500 series piece as a gift.

I'm an HL believer. I believe there will always be HL collectors even if Harbour Lights decided to no longer make limited edition lighthouses (highly unlikely in my lifetime).

If you visit this forum more than a couple of times a week, you will probably always be a Harbour Lights collector. People will stumble upon us here at the forum and their curiosity might lead them to try to discover why we come together over a collectible. Some will get the bug and advance through the stages of HL collecting. Others might buy a few here and there, now and then, and be happy to have them.

The time, and prices, has never been better than now to buy those pieces you need to fill those empty slots in your collection. Don't sell, buy as many as you can! Harbour Lights listens to their collectors and they just may reduce the number of LE's produced each year. They may focus on their Skybound line and LLOM to be the money producers while still providing superior quality limited editions to the faithful collectors that have supported them all these years.

Trust me folks, the end is not near! A new era of HL collectors may just be begining.

Bob

Today is Friday, and I bought three more HL's, one from eBay and two from a dealer. I may reach 30 HL's this week yet!

Yes, once I take the time to inventory my stock, you may see a great sale of several older pieces in time for Christmas! I just need to know where I stand with doubles and triples.

Bob

30 Harbour Lights in a week. I'm definitely envious of you Bob. Don't suppose you've got a New Pt Loma in your upcoming Christmas sale?

Jared

Maybe Bob is doing his Christmas shopping for his forum friends?????

No such luck on New Point Loma, Jared. I only have one of those in my collection and I won't part with it.

If you are really interested in a New Point Loma, post it at the New Marketplace Thread here at the CF. I'd be willing to bet there is someone out there that has an extra one they would sell.

Good luck!

Bob