Before you begin to dabble in memorabilia sales, however, keep a few things in mind:
- Fakes and counterfeits can get you into trouble. It's one thing to have a selection of Olympic goods and pins for sale. It's another thing if these items are not licensed goods from the games in question. The same goes for many kinds of desirable goods-always take care to ensure that you are not infringing on intellectual property, engaging in counterfeiting, or breaking export or other types of laws in your area before selling. If in doubt, consult your local government body overseeing commerce or trade.
- Include clear, well-illuminated, simple photos. For the most part, memorabilia buyers aren't buying on specs, they're buying on emotion. They want to buy what they like and they want to like what they buy. To help them make this decision, show them the item they're bidding on and do it well. Let them ogle it until they can't resist bidding or buying, rather than squinting at it in uncertainty.
- Be honest about size, condition, and shipping time. Your buyer has found your listing because they're interested in what you're selling, but they're not going to be satisfied (much less return for repeat purchases) if you let them down. Be honest and extremely clear and in-depth about the size and condition of the item(s) you're selling, as well as about any caveats like long shipping times or possible customs issues.
- High prices require authentication. If you're selling goods that are more expensive than much of the rest of the marketplace you're targeting, or if the bulk of the value of your goods is based on claims about their history, rareness, or relation to historical figures or events, do yourself a favor and have the item(s) authenticated in some way. This can take the form of anything from expert certification to photographic evidence of the item's life or previous lives before you owned it.
