4 comments about Kovels' Bid, Buy, and Sell Online: Basic Auction Information and Tricks of the Trade.

1. This books is too old to be relevant anymore. The information is out of date, and nearly all the Web sites referenced are no longer around. There are plenty of other great auction books to read.



2. The subtitle of this slender volume is a bit misleading: There's plenty of good, basic information for the auction novice, but there are very few "tricks of the trade." I'm also not sure why any book published these days that has anything whatever to do with the Internet still feels it necessary to explain what a browser is, and how to click on the PRINT button in order to print something, and all that. (A book on writing style isn't going to teach you how to type first.) That nitpick aside, the Kovels walk you through the basics of the online auction world, especially Yahoo, Amazon, and (naturally) eBay. Most of their examples have to do with egg plates and Limoges and other Kovels specialties, but their recommendations on writing lot descriptions and headlines are excellent marketing. They also strongly recommend the use of escrow services as protection against "buyer's remorse" and credit card fraud, which I have to agree with -- at least when the amount of money involved becomes substantial. The "Buyer's Diary" and "Seller's Diary" sections will be familiar to anyone who bought and sold on eBay more than a few times, too! On the other hand, nobody I know uses a Polaroid these days instead of a digital camera, so some parts of this book are quickly sliding out of date. As long as you note the word "basic" in the title, this is a reasonably useful and well-written book, though only one among many.



3. I thought this book was very helpful in dealing with online auctions. We have been selling online for awhile, when I decided to borrow this book from another seller who reccommended it. It pointed out somethings that we hadn't thought of. While it doesn't necessarily cover everything, you do get the idea. Somethings you have to learn on your own, as each situation needs to be dealt with differently.



4. While the Kovels might be the best-informed experts on the antique trade in the business, they don't really want to share their secrets with you. _Kovels' Bid, Buy, and Sell Online_ is at its best when the Kovels give it to the reader "straight", but when it comes to dealing with situations and problems unique to the online-auction world, they hedge their bets.

   _Bid, Buy_ does succeed in familiarizing with the online auction process its target audience, those who wish to enter the world of online auctions but are intimidated or just plain unfamiliar with the computer skills and auction know-how needed to get around the bidding and selling processes. Its practical advice on what types of items not to sell and why (high-end gemstones, for example, are a magnet for both dishonest sellers AND buyers who swap paste copies for the real jewels once the items arrive and then demand fraud conpensation from the escrow company or auction service) can save a newcomer a lot of grief. The technical information is also very good - easy-to-understand explanations of common HTML terms and walkthroughs for basic HTML processes are provided, as are helpful tips on how to write clear, attractive auction descriptions and concise, attention-getting titles. Also included in the back is a nice glossary of auction terms.

   Unfortunately, being quite a well-established, well-heeled corporate entity themselves, the Kovels are a bit too closely associated with the systems they purportedly teach the reader how to work, and there thus is the definite sense that they are looking out for eBay's interests over the consumer's. As an eBay seller for going on three years, I was especially disappointed in the lack of information for a new seller; in particular, there is scant info on what to do in the inevitable (and, when first encountered, panic-inducing) situation of a deadbeat bidder refusing to pay - the book's suggested plan of action, to just flat-out plead with the bidder for over a month and to not press the matter unless the buyer's behavior constitutes a prosecutable offense - is impractical and does not take into account (indeed, never mentions) that there is a time limit (usually 30-45 days) on filing for the refund of one's Final Value Fee. (While no uniform method for dealing with deadbeats exists, the one most popular in my auction circles is to allow two weeks for payment to arrive, contact the buyer again via e-mail if nothing comes, and if no reply to _that_ message arrives in your Inbox after a couple days, leave negative feedback, follow the steps detailed in the auction site's Non-Paying Bidder policy to recoup some of your selling fees, and offer the item to the auction's second-highest bidder or relist.) The book also fails to instruct the reader on vital subjects such as what kind of payments to accept and in what circumstances, the in and outs (and pros and cons) of online payment systems like PayPal and Yahoo PayDirect, and (since a great number of eBay sellers are private ctizens, not experienced shop owners) how to pack both effectively and economically. Furthermore, no "inside" knowledge or strategies, such as checking closed auctions for similar items to discover the "going price" for yours or taking advantage of the free packing boxes provided at the post office for Priority Mail items, are offered - and one is entitled to expect at least a _little_ inside info from the antique world's ultimate insiders. The lack of information leaves a new seller stranded. (_Bid, Buy, and Sell Online_ is not exactly fair to buyers, either; a payment which arrives less than a week after the auction's close is deemed "late" - an assertion with which anyone who has ever wrestled with the USPS will take issue - and, most incredulously, the book instructs the buyer that a few flaws are to be expected in online-auction merchandise and to chalk up any minor condition problems unreported in the item's description to "miscommunication" and the cost of doing business - a flat-out inexcusable attempt to "cover" for a selling practice that, offline or online, is just plain dishonest and unacceptable.)

   To add to the problems, much of the book's information is dispensed in buyer's and seller's "diaries", which are penned in an overly-chatty style and which agonize over a plethora of trivial (and mostly groundless) anxieties, making both auction processes seem unnecessarily complex and daunting. (The irritating "hand-written" font used throughout the sections, which is hard to read and even harder to scan for reference, does not help matters.) Also, the book does not warn against three common trip-ups raised in the examples given - a) setting too low a starting bid, b) underestimating shipping costs and ending up with a nasty, profit-eating surprise at the post office (or, for that matter, overestimating shipping and driving prospective bidders away by what would be perceived as padded charges), and c) hastily selling off a personal possession you later discover you'd really rather have kept yourself. There's also a fairly useless real-life vignettes & "amazing facts" section tacked on at the end, the space expended on which could have better spent on the aforementioned omitted practical information.

   In short, you could do worse than _Bid, Buy, and Sell Online_, but if you pick it up, be sure to supplement it - join a mailing list (Yahoo Groups, say, is a good place to search) dedicated to the specific area you're thinking of exploring and ask right out for auction advice.

1 comments about Scott 2004 Classic Specialized Catalogue: Stamps and Covers of the World Including U.S. 1840-1940, (British Commonwealth to 1952) (Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue).

1. A good looking well illustrated catalogue covering the issues of the golden age of philately from 1840 to 1940. Useful and informative sometimes including prices for sets both mounted and unmounted mint and in a number of cases also values on cover. Also notes those issues which have been especially subject to forgery. A good workaday catalogue. Does not have the enormous level of specialized information that say the Michel Specialized Germany will have on German stamps but that is not the intention of this work nor does it inclued numbers issued. Prices quoted are generally on the low side sometimes too low but perhaps reflect the price you may expect to pay for these issues and may also counterbalance the inflated figures listed in other publications. The introductory notes cover the question of pricing. Overall, a useful working reference.

3 comments about The Collector's Guide to Hull Pottery: The Dinnerware Lines : Identification & Values.

1. Excellent book, everything we could have wanted. Great use of color photos and very detailed in price and description. Wish all books about this topic could resemble this one.



2. I have been collecting the dinnerware since 1990. My mother had it back in the 60's and 70's. This book is excellent and very helpful. My daughter wrote the publisher and the publisher gave my number to the author and also sent pictures of my collection to Barbara and Barbara called my daughter. What a surprise that was to her. They spoke of the pieces we have and the pieces she would like to have. Since then we have almost doubled my collection. She inspired us and we went to Crooksville, Ohio and toured the Museum in 1997 and shopped in the town north of Crooksville where we bought several pieces of the dinnerware that I did not have. I now have over 700 pieces of the Mirrored Brown House and Garden Dinnerware. I am real proud of my collection and this book is a great way to see the pieces that are out there somewhere. Good Luck in finding the pieces you need too! They are getting harder and harder to find. If you would like to talk to me about my collection you may e-mail me. I will welcome your questions. Thank you Barbara for the terriffic book. Diana Best - Columbus, Ga.



3. My book is a must for collectors of Hull Pottery dinnerware; as well as the antique dealers who need to keep up-to-date on antique values. I attempted to provide a comprehensive overview of the dinnerware lines known as 'House n' Garden'. All the various colors and molds are shown in color photos along with the dates of manufacture. Some inside information: My photograph of choice for the cover of the book was rejected by the publisher as too much like the 'House n' Garden's' magazine covers...but if you look on inside next to 'About the Author' the lovely picture of my favorite piece, the duck casserole, is displayed in a dinnerware setting on a red-checkered tablecloth! The photo was taken in my kitchen! This dinnerware was as common as American Apple Pie until the mid 1980's. Now it has become very difficult to find and more expensive than even I would have imagined a few years ago! I'm not entirely happy with the layout at the end of the book and would have done it differently had I the op

No comments about The Official Price Guide to Pottery and Porcelain, 9th Edition (Official Price Guide to Pottery and Porcelain).

5 comments about Bleuette: The Doll and Her Wardrobe.

1. Being a doll collector and reproduction doll artist for over 30 years I have a very extensive doll library as well as doll collection. This book is an excellent reference source for anyone like myself who wants to learn about the history of Bleuette, how to paint her features authentically as well as study her extensive wardrobe. There are many wonderful color photographs, especially helpful for close-ups of Bleuette's facial features and patterns to make her a very lovely authentic wardrobe.
   This book is even wonderful as a gift for people who love dolls who may just love beautiful books to decorate their home with, a coffee tablebook.
   I love this book and thank the author for sharing her knowledge with fellow collectors and Bleuette fans around the world.



2. If you can only afford one book on that very collectible fashion doll "Bleuette", this is a wonderful choice. A large hardcover, the pictures and history are wonderful and cover it all. There are also original Gautier-Languereau patterns included, so you can sew for Bleuette yourself.
   The overall quality of the book itself is well worth the price. I'm very happy I purchased Bleuette: The Doll and Her Wardrobe by Barbara Hilliker.



3. 
   I agree with the previous commentator that this book is basically a coffee table book about Bleuette ,her history, and her family.
   
   So, if you need a book about Bleuette's clothing patterns, then this book is probably not for you.
   There are other books out there that are specific to Bleuette clothing patterns....but not this one.
   
   The photos in this book are absolutely amazing though...that is for sure!
   
   Please note that this book is not just a picture book. This book does indeed contain lots of information about the history of Bleuette. Also, the photos are mesmerizing (most photos being very large and in full color).
   
   I believe that if you are a Bleuette collector, then it's good to have a nice book about the doll's history. If so, then this book will serve that purpose nicely.



4. I purchased the combination of this book and another, thinking I was going to receive an extensive collection of Bleuette patterns. Instead, I got coffee table books with only a few patterns drafted by the author, rather than the original patterns. I found the advertising text misleading, and would not have ordered them had I known I was not going to get real Bleuette patterns.



5. I love this book and if you love Bleuette, you will read this book cover to cover. Barbara Hilliker is one of the experts we collectors rely on to tell us more about the lovely French doll produced from 1905-1960. The doll was produced as a give-away to sell a weekly periodical to young French girls. Each issue of the paper contained patterns to dress the doll. These patterns are what make the doll so popular. There were over 1300 patterns published, and this author has been influential in getting some of these patterns to the public.

No comments about Parker Guns, Shooting Flying and the American Experience.

5 comments about Vintage Toys: Robots and Space Toys.

1. I agree with Wil Overton's review (see above). This is a nicely done book for the tin-litho robot collector I suppose, but if you are looking for a real breadth of coverage on vintage space toys, in my opinion you will probably be disappointed. I am a big fan of rockets and spaceman/alien figures (Space Patrol/Tom Corbett/Rocky Jones, etc.)and found very little in this volume of interest to me. In fact, I bought it second-hand at half the publisher's price and felt it had not been a good purchase; but, then again . . . I was looking for much more than robots.



2. Granted, this is just a pretty slide show, but its done well, and I love looking at these old toys, some of which I had as a kid. The book is really well made, but lacks SUBSTANCE, know that you are buying a picture book and you will be happy with it.



3. ... yes, it has lovely production values with super clear pictures but it also has its faults.

   1) With so may space toys the book could have covered (and remember, this book does not claim to exclusively be a tin toy robot book) there are far too many of the same sort of toy. Many are just duplicates with a different paint job and could have been ditched in favour of a bit more variety, or at least shown in the context of the original toy they were based on. Where are Ideal's Zeroids? How about Major Matt Mason? Surely important space toys? Instead we get Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots twice!

   2) The toys are shown in alphabetical order within their respective decades which means that it's hard to see how trends developed within any ten year span. Sometimes toys are described as copies or alternative versions of existing toys but the original is only found further on in the book because its name is later in the alphabet. So much for their clear, easy layout which is hyped within an inch of its life.

   3) Information is sketchy at best with many discriptions being almost identical and relying only on visual observations of the toy, something which anyone could do. Surely someone can supply reliable information about Japanese tin robot manafacturers? Some information is also incorrect. The UK Smash robot came from an advertising campagin for instant mashed potato not a comedy show whilst toys described as being influenced by real-life rockets are in fact copies of Thunderbird 1 from the Gerry Anderson 60's TV show.

   All in all this is a nice coffee table book with nice photography but as a resource for space toys from the 50's to the 90's it sure lacks a lot. The authors would have been better off doing better research and thinking more about their choice of toys than to constantly congratulate themselves about a page layout that isn't very special at all.




4. Vintage Toys: Robots And Space Toys is an outstanding compendium of 300 space and science fiction toys from yesteryear. Jim Bunte, Dave Hallman, and Heinz Mueller collaborate in offering the history of the companies that made these popular toys and the present day market valuations of each toy cited. Profusely illustrated throughout in full color, specifically designed for ease of use as a reference, authoritative and exhaustive, Vintage Toys: Robots And Space Toys is nostalgic, practical, and an invaluable reference for avid collectors and antiquarian dealers alike.



5. Gorgeous 192 page, up-to-date book featuring more than 400 superb full color very large, sharp photos of more than 300 robots, spaceships and ray guns. This 1999 book uses a great format, with 2 toys per page, complete with a load of information on each item ! One of the best formats I've seen. It covers the years from the 40's through the 70's. A full color photo of the box is even provided with most toys. Topics range from Acrobat Robot, Astroman, Buck Rogers and Cape Canaveral, to Roby Robot, Smoking Spaceman, Space Trooper and Yonezawa items. You can't miss with this reference book.

No comments about Identifying Fountain Pens: The New Compact Study Guide and Identifier (Identifying Guide Series).

5 comments about Modern Collectible Dolls: Identification & Value Guide, Vol. 4.

1. As a bookseller on Amazon, I want to clarify the info that the Editorial review's "Product description" stated for this item: it is NOT pertaining to this book.
   But first.. my review/comments were not accepted unless I submitted a rating so I chose something midway. I do not collect dolls nor sell them, and though I think this is a good book, please don't decide purchasing or not, based on my rating. Read other comments and then decide for yourself. Now the real reason I wrote..
   This is NOT Moyer's 3rd Edition as stated but rather her first volume of her series "Modern Collectible Dolls" (not to be confused with Smith's "Modern Collector's Dolls" series.) Also, using the word "edition," as in "third edition," is misleading because each volume is not a newer edition of the same book. Each has different dolls, not repeating dolls from another volume and just updating info or prices on them. Thanks.. and if you buy this book.. please enjoy.



2. 
   
   I own all of the Patsy Moyer Doll Identification & Value books, and I am never disappointed. The photos are always so wonderful, and the information very helpful ...(especially when Patsy identifies the more obscure collectible dolls).
   
   Also,the all the Moyer books are printed on quality paper, etc...
   
   As any Moyer fan will tell you, once you buy one volume of Patsy's books, you will want to go back and buy ALL of her other volumes!
   
   There are so many dolls out there, that truly, an author would need to compile all the information in many (many) volumes,-- which is exactly that Patsy has done, throughout her career.
   
   By the way, Patricia R. Smith was the original author to have started the trend in compiling doll information into many encyclopedic hardback "Volumes" (except that Patricia called her books "SERIES" rather than "VOLUMES"). Infact, I believe that Patricia Smith started her doll encyclopedias way back in the 1970's!
   
   Patricia Smith's very first "Series" are now hard to find , since they've been out-of-print for so long. (I was able to find all of Patricia Smith's early doll Series at a second-hand bookstore, many years ago).
   
   Anyhow, after Patricia Smith retired, that's when Patsy Moyer took over the legacy (ie: to place all the doll information into encyclopedic volumes).
   
   I believe that Patsy Moyer has done an outstanding job, since Patricia Smith has since left us, and I'm sure it was hard to fill Patricia Smith's shoes.



3. This beautiful hard-cover makes a very nice coffee table book, but I don't recommend it for someone looking to do any in-depth doll research. The pictures are lovely, but details are scant. In most cases, the doll's height measurements, characteristics, year of production, etc., are not even listed. She also throws in quite a few new artist dolls and 70's fashion dolls which don't seem to fit in with the rest of the book and are of little interest to vintage doll collectors.



4. This 303 page hard cover 3rd edition identification and value guide contains nearly 800 large full color photos of every type of modern collectible doll from advertising dolls, Alexander, Barbie, to cloth, comic, Effanbee, hard plastic, Hasbro, Mattel, Storybook, etc., etc. 45 chapters of dolls in all. Each chapter provides an overview of the dolls and what to look for in that type of doll. Estimated values are shown. The pictures are superb- almost like seeing the dolls themselves. With its heavy lifetime laminated cover, the book weighs 3 pounds !! It's a keeper.



5. This 303 page hard cover 3rd edition identification and value guide contains nearly 800 large full color photos of every type of modern collectible doll from advertising dolls, Alexander, Barbie, to cloth, comic, Effanbee, hard plastic, Hasbro, Mattel, Storybook, etc., etc. 45 chapters of dolls in all. Each chapter provides an overview of the dolls and what to look for in that type of doll. Estimated values are shown. The pictures are superb- almost like seeing the dolls themselves. With its heavy lifetime laminated cover, the book weighs 3 pounds !! It's a keeper.

3 comments about 2007 U.S. Coin Digest: The Complete Guide to Current Market Values (Us Coin Digest).

1. Got this to update my husbands old coin book as he buys and sells. He says it's great



2. This is an excellent guide however not as well organized as R.S. Yeoman's the official Red Book a guide book of United States coins, otherwise the pictures, illustrations and description are superb.



3. It was everything that I was looking for and received it in a few days. I am very happy with the whole process.