New Product Source for June

Auctionblip Puts Real-Life Auctions on Collectors'
Radar Screens
By Jan Perry

There's nothing more exciting than winning an
auction that adds that perfect piece to your
collection. And there's nothing more frustrating
than discovering you missed the opportunity because
you didn't know the item you were looking for was
up for sale. Perhaps you learned about an auction
too late to place a bid or were simply unaware of
all the places that might be auctioning items in
your chosen field.

Such aggravations can now be a thing of the past
thanks to Auctionblip.com.

Online since last autumn, Auctionblip calls its
service "The collector's greatest tool." Its
international network is currently comprised of
approximately 70 auction houses including both
general sales and specific niche galleries. While
an excellent resource for individuals with a single
common collecting interest, the site can be a true
godsend for those whose collections are eclectic
or fall into a less-than-popular category.

Site creator David Epstein, a lifelong hardcore
collector himself, realized the impossibility of
successfully researching stacks of auction catalogs
on a continuing basis. According to Epstein, "With
so many auctions taking place each week, there is
no way for one person to search every catalogue for
a particular item. Auctionblip allows users to enter
specific items they are looking for and then sit
back while we take care of the rest."

Like most successful dotcoms, Epstein describes
his brainchild as, "A simple idea that came out of
need." The man who describes his boyhood bedroom as
"a museum," found himself spending hours looking for
auction houses around the world and scanning stacks
of catalogs to complete his own lengthy wish list
for items including Swiss Army knives, Matchbook
cars, baseball cards, Civil War items, coins and
one of his particular favorites - CrackerJack prizes.

"I knew I had something going," he said," when I
called the auction houses and people said, "What
a simple idea. Why hasn't anyone done this?""

For a monthly fee of $5.99, subscribers are allowed
to list keywords for up to 10 items of interest.
(Members are allowed to rephrase "wish list"
information or change items completely as often as
they like.) The Blip staff researches catalogs for
upcoming sales on a daily basis. When a listing is
found that fits a subscriber's criteria, notification
is sent (via email) with the name of the auction
house, the auction date, pictures and a detailed
description of the specific item as well as bidding
information and a link to the auction site.

Common wish-list items can bring collectors an
immediate response, while rarer or more obscure
items may require months on the list before a "hit"
is announced. In addition to general offerings, the
network covers specialty sales in antiques and the
fine arts as well as toys, wine, print materials,
jewelry, movie memorabilia and even vintage cars.
With partners around the world, and a list of
participants that is constantly growing,
Auctionblip provides subscribers with information
about auctions they might never have heard about on
their own.

As for the site's name, Epstein explains that for
most collectors, finding a specific item without
help is like shooting in the dark. But Auctionblip
puts thousands of items "on the radar" so its
members can easily find them.

www.auctionblip.com