Where do you sell your programmes?

[Rafehod]

Just curious about what others do to either sell professionally or just to get rid of spares or unwanted stuff.

I personally have sold on and off for years on Ebay, tried my own website for a while but that felt like pissing in the wind so dumped that. Finally I send better stuff to specialist auctions.

Have been experimenting on Facebook with varying success and although I have sold a few on there seems like you have to swim through hoards of prats wanting things for peanuts before getting to genuine collectors.

Ebay still seems reasonably solid although not as potent as in the past.

Never tried fairs, are they any good? What are your experiences?

[Auchinleckian]

Very similar to your own experience. Still use sportingold, and got £577 for our programme hut at Auchinleck by selling some of our better collectables there last time out. Still sell some of my own stuff on ebay, but as I run a Scottish non league programme website (that now has 500 members) a lot of the stuff I sell for the club goes straight on there. Have a number of folk who we sell to privately for certain items.

Agree with your description of Facebook sites. Majority of them are full of shysters wanting your very best stuff and not willing to pay. You see the off Facebook programme dealer and they make me want to curl up and cry. It's a very strange world we live in nowadays, but in terms of collecting it's so much better than when the prices were controlled by a small cartel of long established dealers.

[Five and In]

Similar for me too.

I do ok on Ebay, but it can be a bit of a slog and I try to vary how I list items. Some single or some in bundles.
I agree completely about the facebook groups where there are twenty morons for every decent collector.

I have several collectors from various clubs who buy directly from me fairly regularly as well and those are the nice deals as we have a bit of banter in the process.
At some point, I will finally get a website up and running, but that's still a way off.

The one thing that I don't like are timewasters who ask questions about condition etc and then don't have the courtesy to respond once I have taken the time to check for them and then replied to them.
Unfortunately, I have had this on this site with one member who asked me directly about a dozen or so programmes from my clearance list in the last couple of weeks who I know has picked up two messages from me, but cannot be bothered to reply. I can't understand such poor manners.

[New Forest]

Isn't in a similar situation to what is happening in the High Street. Everything is changing, some for the good, some not so good. I used to go to programme fairs but my collection is at that point where there is going to be nothing in the 'general Non league', that I need. What I want is either 'under the counter' or in folders.

eBay was fine in the old days when they charged for each insert. I forget the structure but if 99p or less, one rate, under five quid and then above. Nowadays with that all long gone we have the same rubbish being trundled out as BIN. I see the same old programmes being shown each week at the same price. These 'so-called' dealers do not have the gumption that if it won't sell at that price, then try bringing the cost down. If I have said this once, I have said it a thousand times. There are copies of the FA Amateur Cup Final between Leyton & Walthamstow Avenue, played in 1952 in front of 98,000. This must make it the easiest Amateur Cup Final programme to obtain. Yet you will find it on for £19.99, £9.99 and £4.99. Do the dealers ever look to see what the going rate is?


eBay nowadays is for the beginners and for filling in those gaps. Anything of any value should go to auction. Sportingold is as good as any and trustworthy. Sotheby's or Christies etc would not touch anything below £200.

You have to keep an eye on ebay as there will always be that new seller, selling on behalf of a deceased uncle who used to play for Thames FC. And I know that to be true.

[Flaming Pie]

Sportingold seem to have a very good reputation on this forum. When l get round to selling my bits and pieces they will be the place for me.

[New Forest]

Just as you sent this the Royal Mail just delivered the next Sportingold catalogue.

Also does anyone remember when the guy from, I think, Reading used to bring along a collection of old programmes to fairs - not for sale but as an exhibition. Having not been to a fair for many years does that still happen?

[se20blue]

I think the guy was Bryan Horsnell.

[backtobackchamps]

Five and In wrote:

Similar for me too. I do ok on Ebay, but it can be a bit of a slog and I try to vary how I list items. Some single or some in bundles. I agree completely about the facebook groups where there are twenty morons for every decent collector. I have several collectors from various clubs who buy directly from me fairly regularly as well and those are the nice deals as we have a bit of banter in the process. At some point, I will finally get a website up and running, but that's still a way off. The one thing that I don't like are timewasters who ask questions about condition etc and then don't have the courtesy to respond once I have taken the time to check for them and then replied to them. Unfortunately, I have had this on this site with one member who asked me directly about a dozen or so programmes from my clearance list in the last couple of weeks who I know has picked up two messages from me, but cannot be bothered to reply. I can't understand such poor manners.

Can you add me to your list for Halifax items and anyone else with items to sell.Thanks.

[Five and In]

backtobackchamps wrote:

I have several collectors from various clubs who buy directly from me Can you add me to your list for Halifax items and anyone else with items to sell.Thanks.

Absolutely. I've sent you a pm

[Footyfan]

The one thing that I don't like are timewasters who ask questions about condition etc and then don't have the courtesy to respond once I have taken the time to check for them and then replied to them.
Unfortunately, I have had this on this site with one member who asked me directly about a dozen or so programmes from my clearance list in the last couple of weeks who I know has picked up two messages from me, but cannot be bothered to reply. I can't understand such poor manners.[/quote]

Thanks for the 'dig'.

Unfortunately; your listings are far from accurate in terms of condition but this only becomes apparent by having to make an enquiry.

So when you go shopping and ask about prices etc you always go back and inform the seller that you are not buying?

[Footyfan]

I have my own freebie website through Wix but traffic is quite slow but that does not bother me as I maintain it as a hobby not a business.

I have had enquiries that have not resulted in sales but again that is normal as people shop around. If the person making the enquiry does not respond then that clearly indicates they do not wish to proceed. I certainly woy=uld not class them as timewasters.

I have made offers to fulltime dealers and do not expect nor get a respnse if my Bids are unsuccessful.

[bluejames]

New Forest wrote:

Just as you sent this the Royal Mail just delivered the next Sportingold catalogue. Also does anyone remember when the guy from, I think, Reading used to bring along a collection of old programmes to fairs - not for sale but as an exhibition. Having not been to a fair for many years does that still happen?

I haven't seen anybody bringing items along for an exhibition at the few London fairs i have attended.To be honest it would probably be inspiring.Most of the items on offer at fairs that i have attended have been 90%+ tat, of the kind of items that don't sell on ebay at any price, and 10% of harder,but overpriced items that you can get much cheaper on ebay as well if you have a bit of patience.
I don't know what the past programme fairs were about, but every one i have attended in the last 18 months have been a waste of time.Lots of folk digging through boxes making crumpled programmes even more crumpled.It must be a labour of love for dealers as clearly it is financial suicide taking into account rent,petrol,travel and time.Some drive for 5 or 6 hours round trips to take £40 or £50.

[Auchinleckian]

You must have some poor fairs down your way!

The trouble with some fairs, as you say, is seeing longstanding dealers who have very good stock and bring all the stuff they can't sell with them instead. I hope that's not the norm.

We've been running our own small fair at Auchinleck - November will be out fifth successive fair - and it's very successful. We get the same punters coming back annually, and they travel distances to get there. Some come from the Tayside area (roughly 100 miles away) and the majority come from the central belt of Glasgow and Edinburgh. When folk travel that distance regularly, and spend decent money regularly, you know you're doing something right.

Our stalls are very competitively priced at just £15, so it's designed to attract stallholders rather than put them off. We've had the same stallholders since we started, with just one variation this coming fair - so they're obviously happy. It's what I call sustainable fairs, and there's not a single full time dealer there. They said it would never work, but now they have fairs in Glasgow as well, having seen the attendances we got at Auchinleck.

Am running a new venture up at Inverness Caley Thistle in October, and it's the first one in the Highlands for over 10 years - so we hope that goes well too. It's run on exactly the same lines, which encourages the stallholders to dip their toes and see what it's like. If it doesn't work, they don't lose anything. If it does, we'll be back next year.

I helped start the Accrington Stanley Fair with Nick a few years back and they're now a regular feature on the fairs calendar because they're run on the same lines. They can work for everybody if the will's there in the first instance.

[Rafehod]

[quoteI see the same old programmes being shown each week at the same price. These 'so-called' dealers do not have the gumption that if it won't sell at that price, then try bringing the cost down. If I have said this once, I have said it a thousand times..[/quote]


At the end of the day, it is a dealers choice to price their items how they see fit and not really yours. If you dont like the price then do not purchase it, but you see plenty of examples of dealers who sell at a higher price like footballprogrammewarehouse for example and they sell a programme for £9.99 when the more standard price is £3.99 or lower.

After all you don't go in to Curry's on the high street and see them Knock £100 off an item every week just because you don't buy it.

That is their price so respect it, they will probably feel that if it is on there long enough it will sell...........it probably wont but it is more effort removing it than leaving it where it is.

Also if they keep reducing the price just to try to force a sale then eventually they will sell for less than they paid, and that would be as stupid as your comment.

[Five and In]

Thanks for the 'dig'.

Unfortunately; your listings are far from accurate in terms of condition but this only becomes apparent by having to make an enquiry.

So when you go shopping and ask about prices etc you always go back and inform the seller that you are not buying?[/quote]

Firstly, out of respect, I did not name you in the thread, so you have chosen to react and make it personal, so that's your problem not mine.

Secondly, the 11 items that you enquired about were from my clearance list and at the top of that list, I clearly state that most of the programmes are perfect, but any that are of interest I would clarify condition first. Several people have dealt with me on here and would vouch that I answer accurately and NONE on the list would be classed as poor. Those go in the bin.
Of the ones you enquired about, 5 were good, 3 had tokens clipped, 1 holes punched and one was already sold, so I'm not sure where the "far from accurate" comment comes from.

Thirdly, if I had asked about condition and what token numbers were on the programmes, you can be damn sure that after receiving a comprehensive reply, I would reply out of courtesy, even if it was to say "no thanks", especially to a fellow member on this forum. I don't expect replies from people that enquire on Ebay or Facebook, but this group has got more class than that.

[Tynie Topics]

Rafehod wrote:

At the end of the day, it is a dealers choice to price their items how they see fit and not really yours. If you dont like the price then do not purchase it, but you see plenty of examples of dealers who sell at a higher price like footballprogrammewarehouse for example and they sell a programme for £9.99 when the more standard price is £3.99 or lower. After all you don't go in to Curry's on the high street and see them Knock £100 off an item every week just because you don't buy it. That is their price so respect it, they will probably feel that if it is on there long enough it will sell...........it probably wont but it is more effort removing it than leaving it where it is. Also if they keep reducing the price just to try to force a sale then eventually they will sell for less than they paid, and that would be as stupid as your comment.

I think it's a fair point being made, so no real need to call his comment stupid.

You do see the same vastly overpriced programmes being listed week after week for sometimes years. It tells you that the seller knows it's way overpriced but they hope to pull in a gullible punter to pay it one day.

The Currys analogy doesn't work because what they sell has an RRP, so the consumer knows the recommended price and can then judge and shop around for the best deal. Currys would eventually reduce to compete if they were overpriced and selling nothing.
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[whosbrianwilson]

Five and In wrote:

Similar for me too. I have several collectors from various clubs who buy directly from me fairly regularly as well and those are the nice deals as we have a bit of banter in the process. At some point, I will finally get a website up and running, but that's still a way off. .

May I ask that you add me to your list for any Crewe items please.
I'm only looking for pre 1960 stuff.

[Five and In]

whosbrianwilson wrote:

Five and In wrote: Similar for me too. I have several collectors from various clubs who buy directly from me fairly regularly as well and those are the nice deals as we have a bit of banter in the process. At some point, I will finally get a website up and running, but that's still a way off. . May I ask that you add me to your list for any Crewe items please. I'm only looking for pre 1960 stuff.

Absolutely. I've sent you a pm.

[Rafehod]

I think it's a fair point being made, so no real need to call his comment stupid.

You do see the same vastly overpriced programmes being listed week after week for sometimes years. It tells you that the seller knows it's way overpriced but they hope to pull in a gullible punter to pay it one day.

The Currys analogy doesn't work because what they sell has an RRP, so the consumer knows the recommended price and can then judge and shop around for the best deal. Currys would eventually reduce to compete if they were overpriced and selling nothing.[/quote]

I agree, you do see them time and time again but assuming these dealers do not have the 'gumption' to reduce their prices is a stupid comment. As I said reducing the price is not always the answer, and removing listings can be more hassle than its worth. Most of these dealers who do this have anchor shops so they get the listings autorelisted anyway and wont change it as they are more than likely happy with their overall turnover.

When you are dealing with thousands of individual items you list it and forget about it and if it sells then so be it.

The overpriced brigade are trying it on of course, but look at the sales, people do buy them so why should they stop. Not the way I like to do it but thats just the way it is.

At the end of the day its a marketplace, its there to be explored and shop around for the best deals to suit your own personal preferences.

All in all it takes all sorts

[Tynie Topics]

Rafehod wrote:

I agree, you do see them time and time again but assuming these dealers do not have the 'gumption' to reduce their prices is a stupid comment. As I said reducing the price is not always the answer, and removing listings can be more hassle than its worth. Most of these dealers who do this have anchor shops so they get the listings autorelisted anyway and wont change it as they are more than likely happy with their overall turnover. When you are dealing with thousands of individual items you list it and forget about it and if it sells then so be it. The overpriced brigade are trying it on of course, but look at the sales, people do buy them so why should they stop. Not the way I like to do it but thats just the way it is. At the end of the day its a marketplace, its there to be explored and shop around for the best deals to suit your own personal preferences. All in all it takes all sorts

The examples I have seen are high ticket programmes that sit there week after week for years, whilst other copies come and go selling for much less.

Those must be at the higher end of what the seller is offering so aren't slipping under their radar amongst thousands of items, so either they dont have the "gumption" to reduce the price to the market rate and sell it, or know fine well what they're doing and hoping a less experienced buyer comes along and takes it at that price.

I don't consider either scenario stupid, and of course it's upto the seller to do as they please, but I can't fathom why they'd rather have an item go unsold for a very long time rather than reduce the price by £100 or so and bring it in line with the going rate, sell it, and use the proceeds to invest in more stock, grow the business, whatever.

Afterall, as the old saying goes, something is only ever worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.
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