EBay, Collectors, Flea Market & Antiques

before eBay. eBay changed everything. Over the coarse of 10 years dealers were selling all of their best finds on eBay and antique stores, and collecting will never be the same again. Now collectors can find most things in their area of interest by watching eBay. I like eBay, for the most part. Without eBay, certain aspects of my collecting interests would have taken a lifetime and thousands of miles of travel to assemble what I have in 18 years.

eBay also changed values. Collectables tend to be regional. For example, one of my interests is Keen Kutter tools and cutlery, in the pre-eBay years a Keen Kutter cigar box would bring $400 in good condition. It turns out they were produced and distributed in Pennsylvania and not rare as previously believed, instead scarce, now they bring $75-$125 on eBay. There are many things like this..it has been an interesting turn of events over the last 20 years.