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On the Net: September/October 2003
After returning from another fun-filled week in Zanesville for pottery lovers, I can’t help but reflect on the overall state of the art pottery market and more specifically, the Internet side of the market. Throughout my time in Zanesville this year, I had many conversations with both collectors and dealers reflecting on the history of the Internet art pottery market and predictions of what the future might hold for online buying and selling. Several of us spent time reminiscing about the good old days of eBay in its infancy. Sellers would recall how in eBay’s early days you could go into a mall or shop, pay a fair price for a vase, put it up for auction and in many cases watch it soar to prices beyond reason. Then we would watch as multiple, identical or very similar pieces would come up for sale with each one bringing a little less than the one before. As a result, definitions of rarity quickly evolved. Others discussed the fun it used to be to sit by the computer and watch their eBay items in the last couple of minutes in the auction as multiple bids would often times come in the very last seconds to make for a fun filled evening for both buyers and sellers. These last second sniper bids became a frustration to some, particularly to new buyers, and a source of excitement for sellers who would see an item reach or exceed their expected price. The next phase of the market discussed was the 1999-2000 period, when it seemed buyers and sellers flocked to the Internet to buy and sell pottery. It seemed many shows, shops, and malls complained that the Internet was significantly affecting their businesses. So, in response, many joined the progression to the Internet. Initially, there was a large selection of quality pots for buyers and an ample number of sellers to continue to replenish the inventory. But eventually for various reasons including fraud, misrepresentation, economic conditions, and saturation of the market, many pottery buyers slowly began to move away from eBay. As a logical result, many sellers also shifted their activities away from Ebay. This year in Zanesville, several dealers expressed with great satisfaction that now they consistently realize significantly better prices for their pots through shows and malls than what they were getting from their online sales. In my own personal observation, there seems to be validity to that position as show and mall prices appear to be holding strong. While the live auction market may be down somewhat for lower quality items; it does not appear to have slowed anywhere near the rate seen for online prices. I have recently heard stories from dealers who are now purchasing online for resale at live auctions. So it appears the current phase for eBay is more and more of a wholesale market for dealers to replenish their inventory for resale through other channels. So where does the market go from here and what does all this mean for the future of online buying and selling? I have been told our Journal readers will not participate in discussions such as these. I encourage you to drop me an email at gregmy@justartpottery.com with your comments on the state of online buying and selling and what the future may hold. I would love to hear your thoughts and if I get any responses we will publish them in the next issue. Prices realized from recent pottery sales on eBay. Items are in mint condition unless noted otherwise. If you have suggestions or comments for upcoming issues please email me at gregmy@justartpottery.com.
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