AuctionBytes-Update Number 11 - April 9, 2000 - ISSN 1528-6703

ABOUT AUCTIONBYTES-UPDATE
AuctionBytes-Update is a free newsletter for online auction buyers and sellers. AuctionBytes-Update will show you how to make money and is useful to anyone who uses online auctions -- business people, collectors and hobbyists. AuctionBytes-Update is published by email twice a month. (Print it out for easier reading.)

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IN THIS ISSUE:
1) From the Editor
2) ARTICLE: Auction Baiting - A Case for 10-Day Auctions
3) ARTICLE: Bound for Brimfield - Preparing for New England's Largest Outdoor Antiques Show
4) COLLECTOR'S CORNER: Star Trek and Advertising Memorabilia
5) FOUND IN THE ATTIC - Charlie's Angels
6) LETTER TO THE EDITOR - Taxes
7) AUCTIONBYTES.COM READER QUESTION - SNIPING ELIMINATION?
8) Pitney Bowes Allows Internet Downloading of Postage

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1) FROM THE EDITOR

Well, I knew taxes would be a touchy subject, and sure enough, we got email about last issue's story on declaring online auction revenue. Read feedback under "Letter to the Editor." If you have an opinion, weigh in on the message board. (Less than one week til April 15th,...)

Yahoo - eBay merger? The media has been reporting on the possibility of a merger between Yahoo and eBay. We have had some very interesting discussion in the message forum (http://www.auctionbytes.com/bin/generalbbs/config.pl) on the pros and cons (mostly cons, it would seem) of the proposed merger. Check it out, and add your own 2 cents to the discussion!

And please tell your friends about AuctionBytes-Update!

-Ina Steiner, Editor
ina@auctionbytes.com

PS: We post all past issues of AuctionBytes-Update on the Web site. You can read them at http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/email_newsletter.html (or just go to the home page, http://www.auctionbytes.com, and click on "Email Newsletter").

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2) ARTICLE: Auction Baiting - A Case for 10-Day Auctions
by David Steiner

In a previous AuctionBytes-Update article (Issue #4, Dec.99), I wrote about the most effective day and time to end your auction. I cited a December AuctionBytes.com poll in which Sunday was chosen the best day to end an auction, with 41% of the votes. Saturday came in a distant second with 18%. In a more recent poll taken on our Web site, 7-day auctions were far and away the most popular length of auction.

At the time, I thought that made a lot of sense. I mean, if you had a dud auction, I didn't think 7, 10 or even 100 days would make much difference to its success. Even an auction site spokesperson stated that there were "diminishing returns" extending a 7-day auction to 10 days.

So why would I suddenly start campaigning for a 10-day auction?

Well, follow my logic for a moment. 10-day auctions are the longest duration offered by both eBay and Yahoo! If the weekend attracts the most users to online auction sites, and you started a 7-day auction on Sunday evening at 9pm EST, it would end the following Sunday at the same time, so you are getting one weekend of heavy traffic to your auction. Therefore, your hope is that there will be sufficient traffic throughout the week, so that by the time your auction is ending, there is a frenzy of activity around it.

But any good fisherman will tell you that you have better luck when the fish are running. (Not that I'm equating buyers to fish,...but make sure you have good bait!)

My point is: If one weekend is good...aren't two BETTER?

Suppose I start my auction on Thursday evening and run it for 10 days. My auction will be ending on Sunday evening when the highest number of fish, I mean, potential bidders, are clicking through. Not only do I get the benefit of having my auction end on a great night, I get the previous weekend's high volume of traffic as a "warm up" period to draw interested parties in.

I've noticed since started 10-day auctions that I generally get a bid or two on the first weekend, possibly attract a few more bidders during the week. By the time my auction is ending, I'm sitting in front of my monitor refreshing the screen repeatedly, watching the high bid climb.

My theory is that a 10-day auction not only gives you the benefit of getting more eyeballs to your item, but also, the people who have bid early on your item are "invested" in your auction. I certainly would feel
a little more territorial if I had spent the last 10 days watching an item, and someone came along and trying to outbid me.

OK, I have no quantifiable proof that I'm right. But my own auctions have been much more successful at 10 days, going through 2 weekends, than they were at 7 days. Sure, it takes a little more patience on my part - I like getting quick results. But I'm starting to enjoy waiting a little longer and watching the bites, I mean bids. Heck, someday I might even take up fishing!

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3) ARTICLE: Bound for Brimfield - Preparing for New England's Largest Outdoor Antiques Show
By Wayne Tuiskula

"The Brimfield Outdoor Antiques Shows are renowned throughout the world as a unique gathering of over 5,000 dealers from all corners of North America. With over 20 independently operated shows along a one mile stretch of Rte. 20 in central Mass., we offer an incredible variety of treasures from the past during each of the six day events every May, July and September."

Yes, Brimfield is almost here. Even though you can find almost anything you want on the online auction sites, there are a lot of items sold at Brimfield and other antique shows that never make it to an online auction. I always run into at least one person at every Brimfield show who has made a great find. You can actually see and touch items and maybe haggle a little on the price with the dealer. It's a good excuse to get away from the keyboard and get a little fresh air.

In this article, I offer tips on how to prepare for the largest outdoor antique show in New England. The May show runs from the 9th through the 14th. The show schedule is on the Web at http://www.brimfield.com/html/show_times.html, along with a map ( http://www.quaboag.com/html/maps_of_shows.html).

A Place to Stay
If you are booking a hotel room when you travel to Brimfield, it's wise to book early. It's recommended that you book 9 to 12 months in advance. With over 5,000 dealers setting up at shows and thousands of dealers and collectors shopping the fields, hotel rooms are at a premium. Brimfield itself has only a couple of motels. Sturbridge is the next town East on Route 20. Sturbridge has many hotels, but you may need to expand your search to the Worcester or Chicopee/Springfield areas if you are booking late.

If You Don't Like the Weather in New England, Wait a Minute,...New England weather changes frequently. The temperature at night and early morning during the Spring and Fall shows can dip well below freezing. During the day, it can be in the 90's. Rain is always a possibility. So, pack for all seasons. Don't forget raingear and sunscreen. You'll have to walk a lot, so wear comfortable shoes. There are food and drink concessions, but you can always bring your own if you prefer.

Rise with the Birds
Being early is also important when you are driving to the shows. There are often traffic backups when the shows start, and you should factor in extra time when driving from your hotel or home. Brimfield starts on Tuesday morning, and the fields open early. Even if you get there at 5am, you'll have a lot of company. Before dawn, buyers with flashlights will be walking as dealers open up their tents. If you go early, you should also bring a flashlight.

Most people like to get to a field when it opens and view items as they are being unpacked. The field openings are staggered. So, you can make your plans to be at a few fields when they open but there's so much ground to cover you won't be able to make it to all of them. Two fields at the West End of Route 20 open later, though, and always draw good crowds for their openings. Dealer's Choice opens at 11 and Brimfield Acres North opens at 1. You can find information on field openings, etc., at the Web site (http://www.brimfield.com/html/show_times.html).

Most of the early buyers specialize in one area of collecting and target their search for those items. Some people wear shirts advertising their search for certain items. When a field first opens, you will find people
asking each dealer if they have political items, gambling-related items, cast iron cookware, etc.

The Necessities of Life
When you need a break, there is an area near New England Motel that is full of food vendors and tables. Food is offered on the fields as well. Port-a-potty's are located all throughout the fields as well.

Escape Route
If you are leaving late in the afternoon and travelling East, the traffic can be very heavy where the road narrows in Sturbridge. It may be better to go West on Route 20 to Palmer and go East on the Turnpike from there.

There are 3 shows each year: May, July and September. The first show this season starts May 9th. Happy hunting!

Wayne Tuiskula has a long-time interest in sports collectibles. He and his wife Amy run estate sales in addition to their other careers. Email Wayne at tuiskula@tiac.net.

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4) COLLECTOR'S CORNER: Star Trek and Advertising Memorabilia

Visit the Collector's Corner section of the Web site for current and past articles along with reference sources and links!

COLLECTOR'S CORNER: Star Trek Collectibles Info-ONLINE, Part I
by Michele Alice, Contributing Editor

Even though I usually buy only the Star Trek items that I like, I'm always curious as to their potential value. Since one component of value is scarcity, I'd like to know just how much "stuff" is out there. With that
in mind, I recently contacted customer service at Playmates Toys (http://www.playmatestoys.com) and asked for information regarding production numbers of their licensed Star Trek merchandise. (I did not
know at the time that Playmates Toys no longer holds a license to produce Star Trek merchandise, but more about that later.)

I soon received a very friendly response stating that customer service could not supply the answers to my questions, but that they were providing me with a list of Web sites that might prove useful. And, oh boy, were they ever! So I'm passing them on to you.

The first site I tried was New Force Comics & Collectibles ( http://newforcecomics.com). This site was GREAT! Besides offering all kinds of merchandise for sale, they have a Collector Reference area that
provides release dates and productions figures for many Star Trek items. Ex: By clicking on the Playmates icon, then on the "Exclusives" box, and then on "Premiums", I discovered that the Tri-Fold Borg in special
packaging (which was pictured) was released in 1996 and had a limited production run of just 500!

The next site I visited was Federation Supply Base ( http://www.fsbase.com) where they, like New Force Comics & Collectibles, carry hundreds of Star Trek collectibles, old and new, for sale. It was when I clicked onto Toy News at this site that I first discovered that, as of 31 December 1999, Playmates was out of the Star Trek toy business! Federation Supply doesn't provide production figures, but what REALLY commends this site is its stupendous list of Web links! There are individual links to manufacturers of toys and action figures, such as Galoob (http://www.galoob.com); movie and television sites like the Internet Movie Database ( http://us.imdb.com); and convention sites like Creation Entertainment (http://www.creationent.com). You can visit Creation Entertainment's Celebrity Autograph Room and order autographed pictures of Trek stars, past and present, such as Jeri Ryan, Michael Dorn, and Celeste Yarnall. (Remember Yeoman Martha Landon in "The Apple"? Well, Celeste Yarnall now holds a Ph.D. in nutrition!)

By the way, here are a few of Federation Supply's links, which have little or nothing to do with Star Trek collectibles, but that you might find FASCINATING anyway. I know I did.

The Roswell Investigation (~http://www.slip.net/~mindcore/roswell.html ) CUFOS-The J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (http://www.cufos.org) NASA/JPL (http://www.jpl.nasa.gov) Hubble Telescope Images (http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/)

Next time: MORE Star Trek and Sci-fi links!

Michele Alice is AuctionBytes.com Contributing Editor. She is a freelance writer in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Michele collects books of all kinds, science fiction memorabilia, and more!

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COLLECTOR'S CORNER: Cleaning and Repairing Advertising Memorabilia - Part I
by Marlene Earle, Editor

Collector's Corner: In Part I of this column, I'm going to answer some questions about cleaning and repairing advertising collectibles, with a focus on soda-pop memorabilia, my specialty. In the next issue, I'll share some "success" and "heartbreaker" stories.

QUESTION: Do dings and wear-and-tear make an item look "vintage," or do you want a piece that looks brand new?

In collectibles, including vintage signs, the collector will pay the highest premium for the very best of condition. NEVER, EVER touch up a sign! The value is decreased by 50 - 90% most times. I personally would not consider purchasing a collectible and/or vintage sign that has restoration or the slightest touch-up. That's the beauty of having the very best piece. Often, if you have a N.O.S. (new old stock) sign, you can
double and sometimes even go off the charts with the value. It all depends on the piece and the rarity, of course.

Here's a good example. I recently acquired a 1960 rare version of a 36" die cut, 6-pack sign. The value was about $1,300. It was perfect and NOS. The buyers were hot on the trail for this minty one and at the end of the auction it brought $4,100.

QUESTION: What are some tips for cleaning up and storing advertising memorabilia?

Don't touch it with paint! Porcelain or enamel signs are pretty easy to clean up if you have minor scratches, dirt, or dullness. This can all easily be removed by using a good polishing compound and then a nice car
wax. If it's a painted metal sign, use soap and water and then automotive wax.

If it is a cardboard lithograph and there are heavy amounts of built-up dirt and dust on the surface, here is a great trick I use. Good old American white bread! Yes, I said BREAD. I like Wonderbread. You take a
couple of fresh slices and use it like a sponge. Rub it all over and watch the dirt adhere to the bread. It's the safest and oldest trick in the book! If you do it outside, the birds will love you too!

QUESTION: What about soda vending machines?

If you have a great looking original soda machine, that's a different story. The pre-50s soda machine may have only a scratch or ding or two and a beautiful shine and of course be a # 8 or better (1 being very bad and 10 being absolutely the best). If that's the case, then by all means fix those scratches. But, if it looks like you wouldn't even put it in the garage, then restore it.

This is the only time that a restoration is in order, and restoring a soda machine is exactly like buying that hot little 1968 convertible you saw at the car show. It increases the value because of the work on the body,
mechanics and wiring, etc.

QUESTION: If a metal item such as a vending machine or a cooler has a dent, can you take a plunger to it to try to remove the dent?

You can try, it depends on where the machine is dented. There is a particular model Coke VMC 27. This machine was one of the only machines made that had an aluminum front. This was not the best choice they could have used. Most times you will find these dented on the top because the bottle shoot was right there, if the Coke bottle got stuck, everyone would bang on the front, and the rest is history.

QUESTION: If you find yourself with a vending machine and it needs repair, should you try to repair it yourself? If not, how do you find someone to repair it?

If you are handy you can do it. This is a time-consuming job. You not only have to know about the paint and body parts, but you now have refrigeration and electrical work to do too! You can subcontract these out and you will end up with your very own pride and joy.

You should call a few auto body shops and ask them what they think - often these guys are as inquisitive as you and will leap at the chance to help you out. Or call an antique shop - they have trade papers that often list a few names of vintage machine restorers and parts places.

My favorite parts place is a place called Fun TRONICS in Maryland. I have known Steve Ebner many years. He has been remanufacturing many parts for vintage soda machines - decals, gaskets, keys just to list a few. His address is FunTronics, PO BOX 3145, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; tel.# 301-371-5246. He has written several price guides on sodas machines that you may find interesting.

Marlene Earle (ebay: CCMOOR@aol.com) has an extensive collection of antiques and all types of advertising memorabilia. She recently sold her antiques shop to focus on online auction selling. Email her at
vintagesigns@aol.com.

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5) FOUND IN THE ATTIC - Charlie's Angels
by David Steiner

You'll be pleased to know that you can soon look forward to yet another feature-length remake of a classic 70's TV Show: Charlie's Angels! This follows in the footsteps of the *cough* inspired movie remakes of such classic 70's TV shows as The Mod Squad and The Brady Bunch. You KNOW they're getting off on the right foot by casting Drew Barrymore as one of the leads. But how do the ORIGINAL Angels stack up in the world of online auctions? Take a look! Searches were done on 4/5/00.

Farrah Fawcett
Number of Items: 614
High: $119.50
Low: $1.00
Average: $22.53
Sell-through Rate: 57%

Kate Jackson
Number of Items: 110
High: $61.00
Low: $3.00
Average: $16.64
Sell-through Rate: 70%

Jaclyn Smith
Number of Items: 263
High: $146.00
Low: $1.00
Average: $17.34
Sell-through Rate: 50%

Cheryl Ladd
Number of Items: 213
High: $128.51
Low: $1.25
Average: $16.94
Sell-through Rate: 62%

Shelly Hack
Number of Items: 4
High: $46.03
Low: $10.50
Average: $28.27
Sell-through Rate: 50%

Tanya Roberts
Number of Items: 113
High: $76.00
Low: $1.75
Average: $15.51
Sell-through Rate: 79%

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Email askbillthepostman@auctionbytes.com.
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6) LETTER TO THE EDITOR - Taxes

Note: This letter refers back to last issue's article, "Beware the Ides of April: Getting Down to Brass Tax," AuctionBytes-Update #10, March 26, 2000. (The article is available at http://www.auctionbytes.com/Email_Newsletter/10/10.html.)

Dear Editor:

Having just read this article on your site, I was wondering where you came up with all the FALSE information on paying taxes on e-commerce, Since there are no laws on the books with statutes to back them up stating that e-commerce is taxable I feel that you as well as many others are telling poor unsuspecting dummies that will believe anything in print or on their monitor to shell out more money to the IRS than they already do. Back up your statement with facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rick

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Editor's note: After writing to Rick asking for more information, he wrote the following explanation:
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When our illustrious law makers make laws there has to be a statute to back it or for lack of a better word (Make it a true law) and unless a bill or a law does not have a statute to back it up, it's not a true enforceable law. It's just like a rule or regulation rather than a law,...

Kind of like the IRS code, it has never been inactide into law in all 50 states. If you would like to see the IRS code you can buy a set at any book store for $35.00. Did you ever wonder why your state government doesn't persue tax collection like the IRS does? That's because they know that it's not a true law, grin.

Now, on the other hand, if you sign a signature card at the bank and it's not blank, you enter into a contract with the IRS, (check yours)!!!!!  Also, did you know that the IRS IS NOT part of the US Govt.!!!! It's an
independent Corporation that was formed and incorporated in the state of Maryland in 1933, check it out, it's public record.

One more tidbit, for ya. Taxes stopped being mandatory after WWII after the Victory tax was abolished in 1945.

Don't get me wrong, I believe that we all have to pay taxes, I pay mine too, just not what the IRS tells me to pay, I served my country, I lived, I died, I bled and I have paid my fair share, I'm just not going to have
the IRS tell me to pay more!!!!!!! I sued them twice, I beat them twice and now they know who I am and not to mess with me, there's to many out there that don't know what the real deal is. Remember, (statutes) is the key word. I'll get off my soapbox now and thanks for the response.

Rick

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I was curious to know what Mr. Batsimm, a tax practitioner whom David quoted in last issue's article on taxes, would say about the statute point that Rick brought up, so I sent him Rick's first email message. Mr.
Batsimm cited an applicable statute and IRS clarification, and he then went on to explain in his own words what it might mean to online auction sellers.

Internal Revenue Code
(IRC) Section 61 - "For federal income tax purposes, 'gross income' means all income from whatever source, except for those items specifically excluded by the Code."

"Fifteen of the more common types of 'gross income' are enumerated by Code Sec. 61. They are: 1) compensation for services, including fees, commissions, fringe benefits, and similar items; 2) gross income from business; 3) gains from dealings in property; 4) interest; 5) rents; 6) royalties; 7) dividends; 8) alimony and separate maintenance payments; 9) annuities; 10) income from life insurance and endowment contracts; 11) pensions; 12) income from discharge of debt; 13) partner's share of partnership income; 14) income in respect of a decedent; and 15) income from an interest in an estate or trust."

I would guess that most of all e-commerce falls into category 2, and some in 3 and 6, and maybe some in 1.

No, there's no specific statute saying that e-commerce is taxable. And no, there's no specific statute saying that Amway money is taxable, or any other source! But the income section of the Code was written to include all unless specifically exempted. Congress was smart enough to draft this particular section in such a way that people would not try to come up with endless exceptions ("Well, it doesn't SAY it's taxable!"), instead they said, unless we tell you it's NOT taxable, it IS.

The message is that Congress is interested in the TYPE of transaction, and not in the manner in which it is conducted. E-commerce is merely a new means of conducting a business; instead of going to a store, or calling up an 800 number, you can go on-line. But it doesn't change the core business - just the promotion and distribution sides of it.

Mike Batsimm

>From the editor: Remember, AuctionBytes-Update is not claiming to be a tax expert. You should consult your own tax advisor. Have an opinion? That's what the message board is for!

Thanks very much to Rick and Mr. Batsimm for weighing in on this issue.

And now, for the LIGHTER side of taxes:

Just in time for last-minute tax preparers, the Queen of Crabbiness, Maxine, from Hallmark.com offers the following surefire techniques for getting the dreaded audit envelope from the IRS:

1. Pay your taxes with pennies (deliver them by sling shot).
2. Deduct calls made to the Psychic Network in an attempt to get winning PowerBall numbers.
3. Claim your cat as a dependent.
4. Claim charitable deductions that equal more than your income.
5. On the line that asks what you made this year, answer "Trouble."
6. Deduct adoption costs associated with adopting a new personality.
7. Claim a home office deduction based on all the in-home counseling you give to friends and family.
8. Wait till the last minute and copy the numbers from the guy standing next to you in line at the post office.
9. Fill out your forms in yellow crayon.
10. Detail 11,215 Internet stock trades -- and claim you came out exactly even.

Hallmark.com has four "tax day" cards you can send to friends -- or to your favorite tax preparer -- to let them know that you "feel their pain"! (Did I mention April 15th is less than one week away?)

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7) AUCTIONBYTES.COM READER QUESTION - SNIPING ELIMINATION?

CURRENT QUESTION: Some sellers include a statement in their auctions that their auctions will be closed a random number of hours or minutes before the stated end time to prevent sniping. How do you feel about this practice?

We've hit a nerve with this one - there's plenty of people who have an opinion (or are confused as to why a seller would object to sniping)! See the verbal "action" in the General Message Forum!

VOTE NOW!! http://www.auctionbytes.com

Visit the General Message Board and tell us what you think (and read what others have to say): http://www.auctionbytes.com/bin/generalbbs/config.pl

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8) Pitney Bowes Allows Internet Downloading of Postage

Pitney Bowes Inc. has adapted its phone-based postage system to the Internet in a move that allows customers to download postage and reset their meters online.

On the new Web site (http://www.postagebyphone.com), customers can make withdrawals from a pre-paid account or can apply for an extended line of credit and eliminate the need for prepaid postage.

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AuctionBytes-Update ISSN 1528-6703
AUCTIONBYTES.COM CONTACT INFORMATION
Editorial: ina@auctionbytes.com
Advertising: advert@auctionbytes.com or 508-655-5697
Letters, Comments, Suggestions: feedback@auctionbytes.com
Want to Write for AuctionBytes-Update? Go to http://www.auctionbytes.com
and click on "write for us" to view author guidelines. If you are interested, send email to ina@bibliodata.com.

Ina Steiner, Editor, Publisher and Co-founder: ina@auctionbytes.com
David Steiner, Webmaster, Technical Editor, President and Co-founder:
dsteiner@auctionbytes.com
Michele Alice, Contributing Editor
AuctionBytes.com
c/o Steiner Associates
PO Box 668
Natick, MA 01760
508-655-5697
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