Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Online Auctions, eBay Craigslist Petroliana WHERE'S ALL THE GOOD STUFF ?

I search ebay every day for Texaco. For the last few years (4-5) it's been getting worse and worse finding anything that's collectable. It's either a map, an ad, diecast, toys, matches, fantasy or reproduction pieces or your common pump plates. What's happened to that nice flange sign, pump plate, or hard to come by sign. Is everyone taking these pieces to gas shows ?

Thanks

That is what is happening with everything gas and oil. It either goes to auctions, person to person, and sometimes shows, but just delivered there.

Ebay has run off most of its sellers.

Well said Craig!

Has anyone noticed how many AUCTION companies exists these days than say 10 years ago? And more being established every day ...

I believe widows + children of super collectors find it easy to dispose of collection via auctioners. I know this from TOY experience!

I have had several auction companies contact me when they see me post a sign on CL for sale and can see another in the background they even tell me they will barter on the fee if I will just bring 4 or 5 good items. They need a good draw photo to place on auction zip. I don't sell at auctions and could be wrong but I put a price on something and go with it to make myself happy with the deal.

More collectors = less stuff to go around. Due to this demand versus supply shortage you are seeing a great influx of reproduction junk.

Also much of the Gas & Oil memorabilia we all grew up with is being sent across our borders & overseas,in all directions.
Foreign countries have been obtaining & holding onto our vintage Americana more & more.
They've been doing it for awhile with our antique automobiles too.
..I suppose we all have a price,but unfortunately we'll never see it again.

Dang, the jig is up!! You guys finally figured us out. I guess we can drop the Mr. Nice-guy, mild mannered Canadian with the fat wallet approach. I knew it was too good to last. Well you are not getting the stuff back. Unless of course you try invading us again. lol. Cheers, Don.
ps. Oh yeah, we may have to do more searches on you when you vacation up here and are about to leave.

I am afraid that the reproduction junk will ruin the hobby. I have seen the inexperienced, uneducated and naive buyers on ebay paying $300 to $600 for signs that are clearly reproductions. When these burned buyers realize they will say never again. I know it is the buyer's responsibility to make an educated purchase but it seems to me that ebay has a responsibility when so many listings are clearly fakes and are ending for such high prices.

I have to disagree. Ebay is not the one who makes you hit the bid button. Same if you were at a flea market or garage sale. You have to make the call if its real. If you are not sure then dont buy it plain and simple

Richard, repops have been around since the 1920s... Repops haven't killed the Hobby, as of yet...

Repop/Fantasy items, just means that the New Hobbyist as well as the Experienced, have to keep up with what is being sold in the Marketplace... I for one, enjoy seeing the evolution of repops and fantasy items... It keeps me "on my toes"... It becomes a "game" between myself and those who sell the "trash"...

"Will I win or will those who want to cheat me, win?"...

Without repops, very few pumps would be completed... And how many, Game Rooms and Restaurants would have nothing on the walls?... LOL

For quite a few/most of us, repops aren't the problem... Unmarked repops and fantasy items are the problem....

Yes, I agree that it is the unmarked and accelerated aged fakes sold as the real thing that I see as a not insignificant problem. I review the sold items on ebay and see all the slick phrases and stories- "this item found in an estate sale barn", "old style" sign and even some sellers who do not know they are selling a fake. As you know, there is some really significant monies changing hands.
I hope you are right that any negative impact on the hobby and the value of real items will not be significant.

IMO, I would compare this market to the real estate market! People paid way to much for junk land,And paid dearly for good land! Five years later,A lot people left holding the bag! So only buy what you can afford,Do a lot of research ,And only buy what you like! Blake,

I've put a couple rare things on here for sale and everyone wanted me to give it to them. Someone posted a 6' Flying A diesel sign on CL in Tx and people were going nuts, condition wasn't anywhere as nice as mine and I asking $3000.00 less,it's gone now. Don't sell ebay just couple shows and maybe fellow collectors who know me and want to buy something.

Well I still have a few things to sell of mine, so maybe I'll hit a few gas & oil shows this summer. I'm really not looking to buy, but I'll probably always continue to search. Texaco is in my blood and always will be. I just can't believe what has happened on ebay. I will bet 80-90% of the listings are maps, ads, diecast toys, Texaco toys, matches, pencils a few F/C and S/C pump plates, and the rest is mostly fantasy or reproduction pieces. Real sad what has happened out there.

Thanks Doug