A New Way to Buy, (Shameless Commercial Plug)

[Ted Tenold]

Hi All,

 

I have a new venture (or adventure :D ) in selling that I'd like to make everyone aware of; Ted's Bid Board.

 

The inspiration for this is my experiences in numismatics when I was a kid. My father used to take me to a coin shop on Saturday afternoons where J.R., the owner, had a simple bid board in the shop. He would take your name, address, and phone number, and put it in a ledger and assign you a bidder number. To this day I can still remember mine, #1153 . Coins were attached to a simple index card and hung on a pegboard on the wall. A minimum starting bid was listed by him, and then bidders would write their number and bid price on the lines of the bid card. The bidding closed on Friday nights and the board was cleared on Saturday morning. New items were put up on Monday and the cycle repeated week after week. He would call the winning bidders and then they would settle up with him. If a bidder didn't pay, they lost their bid board privelidges.

 

It was a lot of fun and so incredibly simple that I felt like trying something much like it. The simplest way to augment it was a phpBB type format. I really don't like dealing with the hassles of selling on ebay (though I do occasionally still buy there) and didn't want another "auction" atmosphere. . I wanted a very casual place that was basically just my own, with no extra fees, hassles, or red tape. I'm the only one who can list on it, so all items are gauranteed as listed. No one else can post items to it unless I post them for them (for a nominal fee) subject to my comfort level and rules, and then by virtue I would gaurantee what I describe on the piece.

 

So, there are a few items up for review already, but bidding hasn't started yet. I'd like to get at least a few dozen folks registered before beginning the bidding. All the information regarding rules, bidding, minimum starts, etc., are on the site, or will be in the individual description.

 

Registering is indeed a process just because over the last couple of months I've been playing with it, the bots have been trying to access it. Since registration requires my personal authorization, they have not been able to gain access. The downside it that registration is a little more involved and takes a little more time due to the confirmation process I must do with every real participant. When registering, it would be best for you to register with an ID that doesn't look suspicious, because those get deleted by me without response. I suggest that you put your name or use the same ID that you do here, because I recognize most of those. I will require confirmation of mailing address, name, email address, and the ID you want to use during the confirmation process. Payment info is not required until a bidder wins an item. If you do register and do not receive a confirming email response from me, please email me directly. Your ID choice might have the flavor of bot and I may have deleted it accordingly.

 

Have a look at it and if you feel like you'd like to take part in it, then please send a registration to me.

 

http://www.legacyswords.com/phpBB3/index.php

 

I want to stress that this is a bit of an experiment for me, and somewhat uncharted territory, so please be patient and understanding of this. It is still a bit of a work in progress, so no whiners! :lol: I also want to mention that it's not restricted to Nihonto items. I have lots of tchatchkies, bits and bobs, and whozeewhatzits laying about just waiting for new owners. It might even be fun to see what I come up with. :lol:

 

Thanks!

[jason_mazzy]

Ted, i registered, but where do i send the email with all my information on it? I did not see it listed in the rules section.

[Ted Tenold]

Hi Jason,

 

After registering, I will send you a confirming email. You'll answer that one from me and I'll activate your registration.

 

Thanks,

[jason_mazzy]

Thank you for the reply, and the email is sent.

[ububob]

I am shocked, absolutely shocked that scandalous self-promotion is going on here!

[Brian]

  ububob said:

I am shocked, absolutely shocked that scandalous self-promotion is going on here!

I see the smileys, so I know there must be some kiddding going on here, but I must admit I am missing it.

I know Ted, and he is a stand-up guy, and I fully support anything he is doing. He has full permission from the NMB to promote his this or any other ventures here in case there is any confusion.

Just for the record..

 

Brian

[Curgan]

  Brian said:

I see the smileys, so I know there must be some kiddding going on here, but I must admit I am missing it.

 

I believe it has something to do with mr Tenold's sarcastic remark at the title of this topic. :D

 

It is a very nice initiative and I am curious how will it go.

[Ted Tenold]

  Curgan said:

It is a very nice initiative and I am curious how will it go.

 

Me too! Hopefully it will be a good experience for everyone. Thanks!

 

@ Brian; Thanks very much Brian. I appreciated it. I placed the announcement in what I felt the most appropriate spot. Believe it or not I had this board and it's members in mind when considering it way back when, and elluded to it when I stepped down as moderator. For so long, we've lamented the obvious problems with other venues. I know another member here has started a Nihonto specific auction site. It looks great and I wish him luck. I plan to participate there too. Of course listing items here is great too, but bidding scenarios don't work as you well know.

 

There's been a good registration response, and bidding for items will begin very soon. Thanks All!

[ububob]

Hey, Ted I thought you would recognize a variation on the Claude Raines quote from Casablanca sort of a play on your Blazing Saddlestag under your signature. That's one of the problems with a venue like this, no way to communicate tone.

Brian, relax Ted is friend.

[sanjuro]

Ted

 

Just an observation and strictly from my own point of view. The problem and potential for most dissatisfaction with any site that offers items for sale (NMB excepted) seems to be in the area of the quality and veracity of the descriptions of the items themselves. In this instance you seem to have a degree of control that is otherwise lacking on other sites. I see that as a very positive factor in your favour with this enterprise. The sheer simplicity of the system is also a big plus. I wish you well with it and will watch its rise to prominence with great interest. Who knows.. you may also get your hands of some of my hard earned dollars as well.

[Jean]

Ted,

 

Please don't grab all quality items and put some on sale :D

[Ted Tenold]

@ Jean; Who knows what will come up? I have this weird US postage stamp with a plane flying but it's printed upside down... can't be worth much as a misprint. :lol:

 

@ Keith; Yes, the problem with general auctions is that essentially anyone can put anything up. Places like Ebay can't possibley police and vet every single item listed. Let's face it, that's like one guy trying to authenticate every item at a swapmeet or flea-market before the sales happen. I just wanted a place that I could dictate what gets put up, for what price, and stand behind everything I sell there. It's a bit more labor intensive, but has the merits you described. We'll see what happens. I have so many more little odds and ends around that I'd rather sell them on my bid board than try to deal with all the hassle, jerks, and fees of a commercial site, even if I might not get as much for them as I might in a wider exposure of a commercial market. Like I mentioned before, I can use it to list thing for other folks too, but they'll be described and gauranteed as listed according to my comfort level or "screening" if you will.

 

@ Bob; Your reference went right over my head.

 

Thanks everyone for the vote of confidence! The response has been very re-assuring.

 

Edit: Also forgot to mention; there will also be a section for "Reverse Auctions". This is a method we see on forums occasionally, though not really the intended method by the seller, it's just a different way of finding a buyer. The way it will work is that the item will be listed at a starting price. If it does not sell for that price, the item will drop in price increments periodically until the absolute base is reached (which may or may not be announced) or the item sells. It could be fun based on how the price might make for some itchy trigger fingers!

[Ted Tenold]

Hi All,

 

Just FYI, I opened bidding to listed items this morning.

[Henry Stewart]

Hi Ted;

 

Tried but your site refuses to accept user name of "hsrorm".Any ideas;

Your administrator uses 'Outlook' which regretablly I cannot for technical reasons;

 

Henry.

[Ted Tenold]

Hi Henry,

 

I'll send you a PM.

 

Thanks,

[ububob]

Although I am not computer iliterate I could not post a bid. Perhaps a message from the gods to continue saving for that juyo.

[Ted Tenold]

Hi Bob,

 

I sent you an email.

[ububob]

...and I responded in kind. It appears there is a cybergremlin doing some mischief.

[ububob]

Thank you, sir, the gremlins are appeased.

[cisco-san]

Hallo,

 

the initial registration was successfully. But I got no confirmation email?!

[Ted Tenold]

Hi Klaus,

 

Please send me an email directly and tell me the user name you registered and I will be happy to look into it.

 

Also for everyone, if you have problems or concerns in the future, please email me directly, or PM me rather than address it here on the thread. In respect to NMB, I don't want this thread to dominate over other threads.

 

Thanks!