1. Harbour Lights HL821 Point Retreat Lighthouse (AK) 2011 Rare Edition 20 Years -$682.00 , 19 bids +$28.00 shipping

I was overwhelmed with this price. Obliviously this was a bidding war. I put this one in the $150 to $250 range by just going by past Reunion piece. But after reviewing the production amount at 360 and realizing that it may have been over a year since the HL821 has been on eBay I can understand a high price. Alaska Pieces are usually not that popular but Reunion pieces are and with a small production amount like the Alaska reunion Lighthouses it make them a hot item. Two other HL821 was just on eBay and went for $149.99 and$152.49 supporting the low end of my original price range. .


2. Harbour Lights # 330 Staten Island Range (NY) Limited Edition Lighthouse 2006 -$410.00 , 40 bids .+$13.50 shipping

This one is totally too high. With a production of 4,500 and just went for $100 for two other Bids this month, I put its value at $80 to $120


3. HARBOUR LIGHTS COLLECTORS SOCIETY "FRESNEL LENS" 4TH ORDER #658 -$330.00, 46 bids, +$10.00 shipping

This again is too high. With 5,500 made it is not that rare. In the past two months four of these sold from$122 to $260. I put the value from $125 to $260. But because of Christmas just around the bend and Fresnel Len’s being extremely popular, I would not be surprised to see more high prices till the end of December.


4. 2006 HARBOUR LIGHTS LIGHTHOUSE #693 EL MORRO, PUERTO RICO, SIGNED -$283.53 4 bids +$8.70 shipping

This one is a little high. I would put it in the $125 to $175 range.
Another one just went for $160 on EBay today.



5. 2004 Harbour Lights 4th Order Fresnel Lens #673 Pre-Owned -$250.00 Buy It Now +$25.20 shipping

On the high side of going price. A Production 0f 4000 and original selling price of $150 this
Is the highest price Fresnel lens that HL made. Value $200 to $250



6. HARBOUR LIGHTS "FRESNEL LENS" 5TH ORDER #631 - $260.00 , 33 bids

On the high side. Value $150



7. Lightship Nantucket (MA) Light Vessel AB 115 Anchor Bay Harbour Lights 2003 ,Pre-Owned, -$205.50 , 21 bids , +$28.00 shipping

A little high but if someone was looking for this for a Christmas present buying this was probably the right thing to-do. Don’t see a lot of Nantucket’s on eBay.
With a production of 4,000, and the fact it is a lightship I put its value between $100 to $200. Light ships are somewhat popular. The earlier ones like the columbia, Huron and Chesapeake are relatively easy to find while the Nantucket is harder to find.


8. Harbour Lights HL379 Lighthouse Point San Luis Obispo 2009 - Excellent Pre-Owned- $156.89 12 bids

About the going price . value $150



9. Harbour Lights Lighthouse Navesink New Jersey Twin Lights with COA & Box Brand New - $146.25 +$31.46 shipping

A little high. There are a lot of these around. They take up a lot of room and probably one of the first harbor lights to go when a collector is trying to find room in the curio cabinet.
Value around $33 to $125
Four of these just when on EBay for between $33 and $50, but once in a while you will see one go for around a hundred or more.



10. Harbour Lights #389, Key Largo, FL Brand New - $154.50 7 bids

This is a steal. Extremely popular and hard to find. On the secondary Market this is going for $500 but eBay isn’t reflecting this.

So what happened?

I will have to give you, one of those “Back in my Day” stories to explain this.

Back in the hay day of Harbour Light collecting 1997 to 2002, I could tell you what any lighthouse would go for within a $10 margin on eBay (or back in1997 to 1998 it was the AOL Lighthouse board). Today this is no longer true. The reason is that back then, All the Harbour lights had established values and if any lighthouse would fall below the values it would be bought up by a secondary marketer or another collector that would snatch it up for trading. Also there were always many eyes on the lighthouses if one person missed a bargain it would be caught by another and usually run the price back up to its going price.

Today’s eBay market is totally different. There no secondary marketer that are following the eBay market that I know of. And apparently there aren’t collectors that will buy up a bargain and if there are they are only willing to go so far. Even though the Key Largo went for $154.50 I still put its value at $350 to $500.

Another outstanding report for the ones that don't follow EBay. Keep them coming!!!

Some interesting thoughts. It is great that you do include your thoughts and thought process as you discuss the sales. New, and even experienced, collectors who read this will benefit from your experience. Thanks for sharing your work and thoughts.

That was my Key Largo that sold for a low bid. I knew it was worth more then list but did not know its true value until I looked at Daniel's report by then it was to late to do anything about it. I now have a Crooked River on Ebay with a starting price closer to its value. It did not sell the first go round and I have listed it one more time. If it does not sell this time I will be keeping it. In the future I an thinking of listing Alligator Reef but it will also be closer to the value found in this report.

Wait until you get the Dec 1st Volume Update and look in Volume 6A at the last section. Roland has been kind enough to list the HOT SELLING pieces and their current secondary market selling prices.

SDudley

Sometimes eBay can be cruel. But don't feel too bad, at least you didn't loose money.

The Cape Hatteras that I bought for $750 in 1998 just went for $15.50 and The St. Augustine I paid $450 went for $25 on EBay.

Daniel,

I will have the same problem if and when I sell the two items you mention as I paid about the same as you for them.

Thanks all for the information.

Daniel,
As a true secondary market retailer, (and probably the only one left), I do try to keep an eye on EBAY to see what pieces are selling for. I do agree with you that many times one cannot base the secondary market value solely on what is happening on EBAY. Too many others who have no idea of what they are selling or buying. Many of today's sellers were not the actual lighthouse collectors. Either they inherited them from a relative or purchased them at an estate sale, or something similar, and are just trying to exploit EBAY and make a quick buck.
As for your assessments...
#1 DITTO
#2 DITTO
#3 Sold for too much, but I think your low end of your range is too low. I would place that at $175 on the low end. This has been consistently a popular lens this year and sells quickly.
#4 Selling price about right. I would value this around $175
#5 $225-$250 about right
#6 DITTO
#7 DITTO
#8 $150 may be just a tad high but nothing crazy. Still an OK buy at that price.
#9 DITTO
#10 No doubt a steal. I would have paid more for this piece myself in order to sell it. $400-$500 secondary value.

Roland

concerning #3. 4TH ORDER #658:

Trying to get a value from eBay is sometimes like trying to hit a target with a shoot gun. You need to pick the ones in the dense area. Then you have to review the ones that are not in the cluster and see if there is a reason for it. I went back and reviewed the three that previously sold below $ 175. I see that two of the low bids were a "buy it now" one at $130 and one at $150. These low end bids were not created by the market but buy the seller possibly wanting fast cash or sold it for what he thought it was worth. That is not the real reflection of the market. I agree with your assessment that my low end value for the 4TH ORDER #658 was too low and should be $175 per your review.