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eBay



One of the postings inquired about selling on eBay.   I personally
began selling materials on eBay in 1999, after (1) my wife and I
realized we needed t downsize and eliminate some of these
paper materials we'd accumulated over the years; (2) a realiza-
tion that my parents had more stuff than I had and guess who
would get it eventually; and (3) I had accumulated much materials
over the years through attendance at auctions and others where
I've have to buy boxes of paper ephemera simply to get that one
book or item that was really destined for the University collections.

The key advantage of ebay, I believe, lies in the ability to get
materials into the hands of people who find them far more interesting
than you do.   For example, TV Guide came out one time with four
editions featuring Star Trek covers; I had one and had saved it, but
not all four.  I don't need it, but someone with the other three does!

The cost of listing is based on the "opening" bid that you set or the
"reserve."    For the most part, listing costs thirty cents.   You should
include enough in postage/handling to cover your mailing costs.
eBay will also charge a small percentage of the final auction price.
I have found eBay a convenient way of cleaning out my closet and
along the way have met some interesting folks.

At first I was concerned about the ethics of an archivist utilizing
eBay to sell primarily paper ephemera, books, and similar
materials.   However, these are materials totally different subject-
wise and topical from the collections that I administer in my
real job.   They are also materials that I personally own.

I have utilized ebay to purchase items on behalf of the University
either paying personally and getting reimbursed or utilizing the
University's new "credit card" program.   The key is to decide
how badly or how reasonable you need or want the item.

On the question of whether we should use ebay to sell
deaccessioned items, while we have not done this, I would
not be adverse to doing so.   On campus we regularly solicit
bids for surplus property, have auctions for unclaimed property
turned into the police lost-and-found, etc.   I think if we carefully
kept records, the advantage of making the materials available
to the wider audience would be viewed as appropriate.   Funds
received would have to include sales tax and paid into the
Foundation.

Dean
Dean DeBolt
University Librarian
Special Collections and West Florida Archives
John C. Pace Library
University of West Florida
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL  32514-5750
Tele:  850-474-2213;   Fax:  850-474-3338

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