I started Collecting Harbour Lights Lighthouses, maybe you started with under 10, then under 25, then over 50, then over 100, and then; they are now considered family and THEY have their own room, in your or is it THEIR home! Let just say, OUR HOME!
With today flexible market! Then, today's flexible pricing on eBay; just, what does a buyer or seller do!
I paid $$$, then eBay gets $$$, then the Blue Book says $$$ and then the Green Book says $$$. Honestly, I am confused, so very confused!
They are PRICELESS to me, but, still I am so confused!
Karen :-)

Karen
You can't put a dollar value on things that you like and enjoy. So don't worry about what you paid $$$, or what eBay gets $$$, or what the Blue Book says $$$ or what the Green Book says $$$. If when you look at them, they bring a smile to your face, just enjoy them.


"TheLightkeeper"

But, Lightkeeper!
I do love them and enjoy them! But, sometimes I guess, you need to hear; that, you haven't gone over board or just lost it!
Thanks!
Karen :-)


[This message has been edited by Karen Smith (edited 11-07-99).]

Karen ,

The Lightkeeper is correct. In a way like good music or wine . If you like them they will come ........ and take over the living space, storage space , outer space ........
on and on .

Lonnie

Karen,

You're beginning to enter the HARBOUR ZONE! While your laying in bed, do you hear a fog horn in the distance? When a car's headlights shine through your window, do you wonder if it's Thomas Point or Sharp's (I'm in MD). If you answer "yes" to both these questions, you've entered the HARBOUR ZONE! I sorry Karen, I would go on, but it's time for my medication, adios!

Karen -
Lonnie and The Lightkeeper said it well! Just relax and ENJOY!

Seattle Sailors

Thanks for the info, Sean. It would be a wise thing to do, especially with a large collection. Did you use the Greenbook Inventory Software for Harbour Lights?

Bob

My homeowner's insurance company wanted $120 for a $12,000 rider to my policy. Through the forum I found CIA, The Collectibles Insurance Co. I was able to get the insurance through them for about $35.00. It is also at replacement cost. I calculated each piece at retail plus 30%. Each year I will recalculate the insured amount to consider additions or changes in the market.

As far as prices go, I have a few theories of my own, whether or not they are accurate, I'm not sure.

1. I think people bought three or four extra pieces thinking they could be sold at a huge mark up. Well, it can take up to four years or longer to retire a piece. Is it really a good investment if it takes five years to get 20 or 30 percent back? I think this is what has happened with Hillsboro. I was unable to get on a waitlist for it and then they started showing up on Ebay. They're not even selling at the retail price so it will take a while before it hits a secondary price. I was able to buy one last month (the first time I was able to see one)in a store and bought it for under 20% udner retail. So, if a piece sells out fast, is it because of the multiple orders by individuals with anticipation of selling later? Are these buyers actually temporarily and falsely inflating the prices with their multiple orders? I hope this will not happen with Panama.

2. Ebay has made it easier to find pieces. The price of the middle man has been omitted. I have seen websites for secondary sellers who have purchased whole collections and the prices are astronomical even for pieces that aren't retired yet. It is a shame that someone who has had to sell a collection received maybe half of what the secondary seller gets. Now, people can sell directly, and not take such a loss. If that reduced the prices, then it's great for me because I am buying most pieces under retail. If I must sell them for some reason, I might make more money selling them myself than through a secondary dealer.

Maybe people who bought three or four Hillsboro's because of the 6500 edition number,reconsider where to invest their money. I feel I came out the winner this time. I was offered Hillsboro's at more than retail and wouldn't spend the money. I decided I would not be able to include it in my collection. SO I am a winner since I have it at less than retail. Speculation is a great thing, but it can easily be disappointing instead of lucatrative.

If you buy in order to enjoy each piece for it's beauty and detail, instead of investment value, you will never be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's terrific and great if they do appreciate. I would like them to appreciate, but if they do it slowly, that's fine with me.

Joanne



[This message has been edited by Joanne (edited 11-07-99).]

Insuring collectibles IS a wise move. And
HL's are "collectibles", not Fine Art,
per se; though insurance companies use
that category when defining which kind of
policy applies. Getting a Fine Arts
floater policy attached to your main home
owners policy can be a good move;
sometimes resulting in better rates.
KNOW the insurance company you decide to
deal with. Cheaper rates aren't always
the best choice, if the company doesn't
pay off if there is a loss. You hear of
this all the time in car and home losses.
Replacement value is the only way to go
with today's fast-changing economic
values, be it home insurance or
collectibles. There is a need to update
that type of policy as replacement values
rise. Some home policies do this
automatically; but I don't think it works
for HL's. I would use a replacement value
based on a secondary dealer, as they
would be more apt to be able to get the
pieces you need in case of any loss; as
SOME day I am sure this whole e-bay low
prices and below retail price syndrome
will disappear, as newer collectors
snatch up these good buys and the well
runs dry.

Nobody here has talked of photographing
the HL collection. This is an absolute
must. Do it either with video or a still
camera. Switch on the button that will
imprint the date on your images. Use a
light blue background, so that the
lighthouse shows up clearly. Use a camera
that has close-up ability so you can fill
the frame with the lighthouse. Put the
tent card in front of it for
identification purposes. Try to use even
lighting: some lights from both sides if
doing it indoors; (you can get small
clamp-on light relectors at a hardware
store); or bright cloudy conditions if
doing it outdoors (to eliminate harsh
shadows in sunlight; or use flash on
camera to help fill in the shadows).

Be sure to get at least double prints
made; and keep one complete set in your
safety deposit box along with the
receipts. On the back of each print, you
could even write the purchase price,
date, and a code number and key it to
your original receipt. Keep another set
in the safety deposit box to give to your
insurance agent, if any loss should
occur. And keep one set at home for your
own reference and the fun of looking at
what you own.

If you are using video instead, most of
the same tips apply, especially using
either an accessory light for the camera
or good natural light. Have your video
copied and put two copies in your safety
deposit box. You can do this yourself, if
you have two vcr's. Use gold-tipped RCA
jacks/cords for better copying
transmission between vcr's (go see Radio
Shack for advice on this).

Be sure to update your photo inventory
periodically when you have enough to
warrant hauling out all the equipment to
do it. Go to the HL website and look at
their professional photos and the work of
Paul Brady, to see examples of good
lighting to show off your pieces for best
results and identification for insurance.
Most insurance companies are now asking
for photos and/or videos of collections,
and even all household contents, for
replacement insurance. It is a smart
thing to do regardless of what you own.

There are insurance companies out there which specialize in collectible collections. I think Dept. 56 lists one; and the National Model Railroad Association lists one.

Ladylightkeeper

I wanted to bring this one back for any Newbies out there who may not have thought about insuring their collection or didn't know where to get information.

Joanne

Thanks Joanne, I believe that photographing your collection for insurance purposes is very important. You can see most of my collection by going to HarbourLights.com and the Catalog pages. I was shooting pictures of my collection for a visual inventory and John needed images for his Lighthousekeepers website, so I was able to do both at the same time. The old two for one!

Plus I figure if something would happen with my collection, 'knocking on wood real hard', I can just send the insurance company the catalog web page address and they will be looking at my inventory.

SaintWackoPaul '
Keep the Flame