Barber Pole Auction: Old Barber Poles Sell Well On Auctions

A barber pole auction is a lucrative selling field on eBay. The famous red, white and blue poles sell for extravagant prices on the auction sites. As an example, take a look at the beauty below. The listing stated:

"an Original Seven Foot Koken Free Standing Barber Pole in complete working condition. Nice enough to leave in 'as is condition', or perfect piece to restore because this Barber Pole is all complete with no chips, cracks, or missing chuncks (sic) in the cast iron."

"Height of pole from floor to top of glass globe is 84". this pole is from the late 1920's -1930's era. Last used at Uncle John Sonka's Barber Shop corner of Broadview and Sprague Roads in Broadview Heights until the late 1960's."

The auction price rose to $1,825, but the seller was not satisfied with this offer, so the pole didn't sell. Too bad.

* A cracked! wall mounted pole sold for $851

* Check out the wear on this barber pole - yet it sold for $946.66

* Some of the others sold for such prices as: $602.51, $499, $455.06, $445, $331.50, $310.50 $306.00 and $265.25. Even models sold for $70 and up.

* A barber shop that was 45" tall and 10" in diameter, was listed for $200 with no reserve, yet sold on eBay for a generous $856.A reserve is a minimum price set by the buyer. If that price is not reached, the buyer does not have to sell the listed item. Of course, there is no way that either a buyer or eBay can FORCE a seller to deliver merchandise at the end of the auction. However, failure to do sell will result in bad feedback and reprimands from eBay, up to an including suspension. This is a sure fire recipe for ending your auction business in a hurry.

However, this auction does illustrate one of the few "almost-always-true-rules" on eBay.

1. If your choice is between listing an item with a reserve, or without one, you are better off without a reserve since it can frustrate buyers and drive them elsewhere.

2. However ... if your choice is a low starting point with a reserve - or beginning your auction at a much higher price - go with the reserve. Those poles that didn't sell began with a pretty high price, while those with lower opening prices sold exceedingly well.

Barber pole auctions are clearly a high demand, low competition arena on eBay. So, if you have access to older barber poles you can feel a high degree of certainty of a market on eBay.

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