After having my account hacked I didn’t think I could possibly make any more huge mistakes.  How wrong I was!  Do call me naïve by all means, but this one is a mistake I know people still make.

I soon started exploring the possibilities of using eBay to acquire items for my antiques businesses.  I decided that a grand piano would look superb as people walked in the door.  I started scouring the listings for one and soon found a lovely boudoir grand piano with a walnut case, located in Pershore, Worcestershire.  It had recently been fully restored, including re-stringing, so was a sound buy.

I was still very new to eBay and had no real idea about ‘reserve’ prices.  I put in a bid on the piano.  No-one else had bid yet.  After a while I decided I needed to bid again as the listing said I hadn’t reached the reserve.  I kept bidding.  No-one else was bidding, but I kept going, by this time curious about the reserve price.  I bid right up to the reserve of £1,000 and it said I had secured the item.  Gosh, £1,000.  Way more than I wanted to pay, but that’s okay, someone else would out bid me, surely. 

There were no further bids and I realised that I had stupidly bought a very expensive piano!  On top of this I started to phone for quotes for transportation to Norfolk.  If you have ever tried to get a grand piano moved you will know just how much it costs! 

Luckily for me (again!) the Gods were looking after me.  I finally found a carrier who specialised in piano moving and had a regular trip from Norfolk to Worcester, but brought back an empty lorry.  They moved the piano for just £180, at least one-third the cost of anyone else.  In addition to this I had a piano specialist look the item over and he said it was a smashing piece and he thought it was worth around £2,000.  So I made a really good profit 8 months later when I sold it.

I still make sure I have a grand piano in the Centre as they certainly are a great draw.  I have cornered a ‘niche’ market – but I am much more discerning in my bidding if I see one on eBay now! 

Another mistake of mine you should learn from – don’t bid up to the reserve if no-one else is bidding!

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