Why is there such a difference between what a collectible item's listed value in a price guide is and what you can actually hope to sell it for? For example, a pink Depression glass cake plate in the Cherry Blossom pattern can be anywhere from $25 to $45, depending on which guide is consulted. However, the most anyone would offer, being at a garage sale or antique dealer is $3.
I rarely pick up a price guides anymore. Especially since Ebay came on to the scene along with shows such as Antique Roadshow. People will pay the most for an item if they are collecting it and plan to keep it. If someone is planning to purchase the item for resale, they will want to pay as little as possible. Also, I think that the market changes so frequently that most price guides are outdated soon after being published. You might consider using them only to help identify or date a newly discovered treasure.
Originally posted by WanderlustnPixiedust: I rarely pick up a price guide anymore. Especially since Ebay came on to the scene along with shows such as Antique Roadshow. People will pay the most for an item if they are collecting it and plan to keep it. If someone is planning to purchase the item for resale, they will want to pay as little as possible. Also, I think that the market changes so frequently that most price guides are outdated soon after being published. You might consider using them only to help identify or date a newly discovered treasure.
