Coronavirus and fairs

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Moonraker
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Coronavirus and fairs

Post by Moonraker »

I'm surprised that no-one has raised this yet, but presumably fair organisers are now considering whether to go ahead?

Apart from the general consideration of lots of people in a confined space, many collectors and dealers are of a certain age deemed to be at higher risk. And there's considerable handling of plastic sleeves, and a quick Google suggests that the virus can linger for some time on plastic.

(Last month, a stamp dealer made me a modest offer for a specialist stamp collection, with our agreeing a deadline for me to decide of mid-May, shortly after which he was due to visit a fair in the Netherlands where he thought some of my material would sell. His trip now seems less likely to be made ...)

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by eastlondonpostcard »

I believe they are cancelling events in the Netherlands as we speak, but the UK Fairs lined up for tomorrow are still going ahead...

If you feel vulnerable, then it is best to stay away.

UK NHS/Government advice on how to protect yourself can be found here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by eastlondonpostcard »

Sad to report that the Festival of Cards at Shepton Mallet due 27th and 28th March has been cancelled due to the current outbreak.
:cry:

Wishing Barrie and daughter Katie all the best for the future as this was to be their last event there.
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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by eastlondonpostcard »

Another cancellation: The Redruth Postcard Fair at the Jubilee Hall on Saturday 21st March :cry:
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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by Moonraker »

It looks as if fairs are unlikely to resume for some time yet (unless they're held outdoors!), perhaps not until well into next year.

I wonder how dealers are coping? I've not noticed any increase in listings on eBay for my subject area, indeed there might be fewer than a year ago.*

I've been lucky selling off some of the better items from my cycling stamp collection - which included a few postcards - on eBay or directly to other collectors, and the nett proceeds have exceeded by 50% what the dealer offer me. (See my opening post.)

* But there's certainly an increase in the number of copies of old cards that are being listed; some precise searches are yielding more copies than originals. :roll:

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by Moonraker »

Just bumping this, as it seems probable that fairs won't be resuming this year and probably not until a proven vaccine is available.

How are dealers coping without a main source of income? I see even less activity on eBay, spotting a card I would like to buy only once a month or so.

How are collectors adding to their collections?

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by eastlondonpostcard »

Moonraker wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:53 pm Just bumping this, as it seems probable that fairs won't be resuming this year and probably not until a proven vaccine is available.

How are dealers coping without a main source of income? I see even less activity on eBay, spotting a card I would like to buy only once a month or so.

How are collectors adding to their collections?
With the latest Government guidelines outlined yesterday, large gatherings will still be a no-no for sometime... easing of lockdown will not work if we start up again...

In my opinion eBay is not the be all and end all alternative option - I know that eBid has a lot of new sellers/customers...

Check out what dealers are up to here: https://postcard.co.uk/online-postcards.php

:D
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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by samtom »

Moonraker wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2020 2:53 pm
How are dealers coping without a main source of income? I see even less activity on eBay, spotting a card I would like to buy only once a month or so.

How are collectors adding to their collections?
Good questions Moonraker.

I think for those dealers who do not rely on selling for their living, then the simple answer is they aren't selling because (a) they have no need to (b) if they sell they can't replace as they can't get stock and (c) they have no route to market other than ebay + paypal who's fees are a killer.

Like many of us I trawl ebay for cards and since lockdown ( and probably before but was less atuned to it) I see the same overpriced dross going round and round on a list until sold basis. It might say that my search has 5000 hits but in reality lucky if there's 2 cards amongst that which are of interest.

Other sales platforms like ebid and delcampe exist but in reality do not have the depth of listings.

How am I adding to my collection ? ......in short am not at the moment.

Might not always have got a card at a fair but enjoyed the social aspect and banter. Now robbed of that at the moment...

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by Moonraker »

Every time ELP recommends eBid I check it out with my two regular search terms, with very disappointing results:

"Salisbury Plain" - collectables: eBid - 18 hits; eBay - 644
"military Wiltshire" - collectables: eBid - 6 hits; eBay 684.

And all the eBid listings are of dross, nearly all of which also appear on eBay.

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by oldpostcarder »

Moonraker wrote: Sat Aug 01, 2020 3:36 pm Every time ELP recommends eBid I check it out with my two regular search terms, with very disappointing results:

"Salisbury Plain" - collectables: eBid - 18 hits; eBay - 644
"military Wiltshire" - collectables: eBid - 6 hits; eBay 684.

And all the eBid listings are of dross, nearly all of which also appear on eBay.
You are too narrow in your collecting interests and I suspect that ebay is clogged up with all your doubles!

I find eBid a good source and the prices are so much cheaper than ebay - I don't understand why buyers (and sellers) pay so much more on ebay!

If there are so many on ebay, ask yourself why are they not selling?

I only miss the fairs for the banter and education... otherwise I am finding stuff on ebid alright and cheaper too as I stated already!

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by Moonraker »

Ouch! :) With my "narrow" interests I still have 2,500 cards, with storage, security and legacy considerations. But you're correct about "clogging" on eBay, notably from multiple listings of certain cards, not least the Daily Mail card "The Wiltshires cheering during the Great Advance"!

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by Moonraker »

These antique and collectors' fairs are still going ahead. Probably a bit different to postcard events, where collectors are prone to spending ten minutes or more standing at a table leafing through boxes.

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Re: Coronavirus and fairs

Post by oldpostcarder »

Some Post Card events have taken place already - the smaller events :-)

Things might change again this week of course... :cry:

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