Hugh --
We have been purchasing items for the collection on eBay for about six
months now.  Mostly rare books and historic postcards, a couple of baskets
and a few miscellaneous items.  We are a tribal museum in the planning
stages for a new facility.  We are building our collection for library,
archives and research, as well as for use in specific areas of the planned
permanent exhibition.  EBay has been a great source.
The eBay vendors have been great.  When we are successful, I always let them
know that an item has been purchased for the museum.  Some of the vendors
have even thrown in a bonus postcard as a donation.  A couple of local eBay
vendors have delivered the items directly to the museum to save us the
shipping costs.
On only two occasions have we have received merchandise that had some
damages that had not been described in the auction comments.  Those vendors
have been apologetic and willing to take the items back.
Overall we have had great success.
Good luck on your purchasing.
--Kathy

Kathy Clewell
Registrar
Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
219 S. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA  92262
phone: 760/778-1079
fax: 760/322-7724
email: [log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Hugh H. Genoways
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 2:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Use of e-bay


Does anyone have experience with buying items on e-bay for your museum's
collections?  Has it been successful?  Did you encounter any problems?
What were they?  Any recommendations for other museums looking to fill
specific needs for the collection in this manner?  We are particularly
interested in any attempts to purchase Civil War related artifacts in this
manner.

Thanks for your insights.

Sincerely,
Hugh

Hugh H. Genoways
University of Nebraska State Museum
W436 Nebraska Hall
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE 68588-0514

Telephone: 402-472-2012
FAX: 402-472-8949

E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>

Professor
University of Nebraska State Museum
School of Natural Resource Sciences
Museum Studies Program

Chair
Museum Studies Program
Visit our website at <http://www.unl.edu/museumstudies>

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