Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Footballs...bad investment

Things can change quick on ebay...something can be selling like crazy. Then, boom, its dead in the water. I was in the Pittsburgh area around Thanksgiving and picked up some footballs for $7.99 each because they were bringing $29.99 on ebay. They were the collectible footballs from their Super Bowl victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

Since that time the Steelers have been on a downward spiral...probably not even going to the playoffs. Selling them off @ $9.99 just to get rid of them. Hardly, worth the hassle!

Point being that not everything you buy will bring big profits on ebay...don't give up!

Check Out this Mother of Pearl wardrobe I listed on EBAY!

Go to www.stores.ebay.com/Brooke-Michaels-Family-Store and check out this beautiful Mother of Pearl piece I have listed on Ebay!

Vintage Bell Moto Star Motorcycle - RARE FIND

I learn so much on Ebay...yesterday I listed my first vintage Bell Moto Star helmet. Apparently, these are very rare. Its one of those items you list and people start wanting to buy it now, hoping to get it for a steal.

Like I said I learn so much by selling on ebay. I just about didn't buy this helmet just because it was old. Now, I am glad I did because it could bring well over $500 on auction.

These helmets were made in Bell, CA and are some of the first helmets to incorporate safety regulations promoted by a foundation that took the life of a famous racer in the 50's.

Go to ebay and watch this baby sell...just go to Brooke Michael's Ebay Store.

Local Auctions Appear to Be Picking Up!

For a while I noticed the prices were way down at local auctions, but over the last couple weeks things have started to change. Over the past few months I have found that many items were down approximately 60% in price. Sometimes it was worse than that. I actually put an antique stage coach trunk on the table, and sold it for $10...they used to bring close to $100.

The economy had people sitting on their wallets, but I am beginning to see change in the right direction. For the past year antiques have nearly bottomed out. Ocassionally, a seller would do well with a load of antiques. Thankfully, it looks like people are getting back to more collectable items. That's good for me because I prefer to sell older items, and I don't particularly care to sell wholesale type merchandise.

If you get a chance visit one of many local live auctions...here is a list of places to consider:

• Box Car Auction - Dothan, Every Teusday 6:30
• J&R Auction - Malvern, Every Friday 7:00
• J&J Auction - Ino, Every Saturday 7:00

Antique Auction BAR TEN Saturday Sept. 12th

There will be an antique auction @ Bar Ten Auction Co. in Enterprise, AL. This will be a reserve auction with lots of great items to choose from. Items of interest will be butter churn, Fenton glass, McCoy Pottery, Vaseline Glass, Carnival Glass, Primitive Farm Equipment and more.

There will be plenty of collectibles on hand as well. There will be pieces of a vintage fishing lure collection, such as Mann, Heddon, Mirrolure, Cotton Cordell and more. There will be fine jewelray with some sterling pieces.

The auction begins @ 10am and they will run as late as they need too. Tom and Jesse Neese will invite the entire community to their annual antique auction. There will be plenty of food on hand, so bring your friends and family and enjoy a day at the auction.

The auctioneer will be Rodney Outlaw (Al licensen 1673).

BAR TEN AUCTION CO.

4941 Highway 27 S.

Enterprise, AL 36330

Weekly auctions Saturday and Tuesday at 7pm. Buyers & Sellers Welcome! 10% Buyers Premium!

CURBING: Creative Money Making

What is curbing you may ask? Well you have heard it said that one mans junk is another mans treasure. This is when one mans trash becomes one mans sellable merchandise.

Curbing defined is legally (because nobody likes a thief) taking items that people have placed to the curb for local garbage removal and selling those items.

My buddy Buck and I coined this term...well really he did...I was just there when the inspiration came. On occasion he will call and say that he saw an item of interest on the curb in his neighborhood and he or I will pick it up. Sometimes on the night before garbage run I drive the nice subdivisions. You would not believe what people throw away. If you can get over the embarassment of going through someones trash...there is sometimes big money to be made on the night before trash run.

This past weekend I received permission to remove the garbage pile that had been made near a home in my subdivision. They were moving so they were just throwing things away. I picked enough out of the trash to sell for three nights at the auction. Let me tell you some items of interest:

• Complete set of pool table balls, sticks and racks
• Complete ping pong set
• NASCAR merchandise...some of it autographed!
• Lawn Mower
• Entire carton of baseball cards.
• and lots more!

I will sell this at local auctions...they had just graduated college and threw their text books away...they are bringing $60 each on ebay.

In an economy like this...making money with no real financial investment is awesome. So, the next time you have an evening free. Check out your neighbors trash you never know what you might find when you go CURBING!

Hot Spot to Shop...Ohio Valley!

Been in the Ohio Valley doing some junkin' this week. I recommend that if you auction, collect, ebay or whatever take time during the year to take a road trip to the Ohio Valley.

The yard sales in the OH, WV, and PA (tristate) area always yield a crop of great antique porcelain and pottery...it was all made here so its not as big of a deal to them. But, to those of us in the south this is almost heaven.

This week I have picked up Occupied Japan, Blenko?, vintage zippo's, fisher price sets, and more! Cheap!!! Just the way I like it!

If you cann't hit a yard sale...pick up some unbelievable deals at Gabriel's and sell them at local auctions or flea markets.

If worse comes to worse hit the Homer Laughlin outlet...take it home...and make some money!

There is a world of wealth waiting for you in the Tri-state area so bring a pocket full of small bills ...hook up the truck and trailor and prepare for some fun!

Old Fishing Lures to Auction on Ebay

I just purchased my second huge lot of an estate collection of old fishing lures. This time I picked up some fishing poles and other accessories as well. I have a Heddon Magnum Torpedo (as seen in picture) on auction right now...has interest from all over the world. Hope it goes well.

I am listing some individually and others will be listed in lots. I have Heddon, Creek Chub, Bill Norman, Mann's, Smithwick and more. I have over 350 lures in this lot alone.

I will be auctioning some of the equipment at Bar Ten auction. Some will be on sale at Just Stuff in Opp, AL. If you go to Just Stuff ask for booth #37. The majority will be listed on Ebay ... just look in my Brooke Michael's store.

Huge NASCAR Estate Collection For Sale

I have come acrossed a rather large NASCAR estate collection. If you are in the Enterprise, AL area you can contact me for a privat viewing. Many will be listed on ebay and some will be taken to local auction. Once I find a good lock for my collection case they will be for sale in my antique booth at Just Stuff in Opp, AL. I have rare Earnhardt's, Jeff Gordon, Matco Tools, NHRA, Rare funny cars, awesome dragsters and many more. Most are 1:24 size. You can find my ebay store by doing a store search on ebay.com and entering Brooke Michael's.

Post a comment if you would like to come and look at these diecasts!

Why An Auction Blog?

Over the years I have had tons of people come to me and ask how I got started in the auction business. I will share that in one of my first posts. As people follow this blog I will share the do's and dont's of ebay and other auctioning outlets that I and others have learned.

The goal of this auction is to share success stories with other auction addicts. That's right ... ADDICTS. Auctions and auctioning can be addicting.

With so many local auctions popping up all over the world I thought this would be a great way for people to connect.

You can share that big find you sold on ebay. Let people know where and what you will be selling if you auction locally.

This blog is also dedicated to building relationships between people who auction professionally and not so professionally. We hope to build and stregnthen the ever growing auction community.