It's getting embarrassing, but lightning has struck on eBay again

15 years ago

PLEASE don't hate me because I found another huge bargain!

I think my luck comes from having eBay as a 'hobby', and spending more time on it than i probably should, but I have reaped so many $$ benefits and learned so much. Another thing is stumbling on great items with bad titles, which was the case for this lamp.

I almost hesitate to post this, because I haven't even admitted to my great cyber buddy 'chijim' that I bought another lamp....But I was the ONLY bidder on this lamp Sunday, and I think it was because of the title of the auction, which was "Elegant Solid Brass Base dual bulb Table Lamp w/ Shade".

If the seller had mentioned the style of it - Bouillotte or candlestick - in the title, it would have attracted far more bidders. I was the ONLY one and got it at the opening bid price of $34. :-) I thought it looked like one I had seen in the past, and I have just discovered the other one...

Drum roll, please. All pics are from the eBay auctions.

This is my $34.00 lamp, which is in the mail to me from Las Vegas. Note the 'swans' holding up the three candlesticks.

This is the one on eBay now at a Buy It Now price of $240.00. The seller has already sold one for the same price as he did have a pair of them. Look familiar? They are the exact same style. This one below can be had for just over 7 times what I paid for mine. The link to it on eBay is below.

I'll end with a cute story from my 84 year old mother! I always call her when I find that I have gotten a big bargain, and lately, there have been some good ones. I just told her about this lamp, and joked that she may want to 'kiss my ring' for luck the next time we get together. She said, 'I thought you were going to say 'Kiss your A$$!'

Here is a link that might be useful: eBay $240 one

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Comments (18)

terri_ks
15 years ago
Maybe you need to offer your services and become a personal shopper Hee hee. I can never find such bargains
cooperbailey
15 years ago
Yes my queen,you are the queen you are the queen! I am bowing and scraping! I am so glad for you! You obviously have honed your skills and know what you like and what will go with your style. Plus you must have a bit of good karma stored away to make such a killing on ebay! You go girl. Your Mom sounds like fun! I sure miss mine. am waiting for pics of your new scores.
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loribee
15 years ago
Are you kidding me?!?!
It's gorgeous, good for you!
Lori
abundantblessings
15 years ago
Fabulous find! You do have wonderful karma and superb taste! Good for you!
budge1
15 years ago
Repeat after me "my name is my3dogs, and I have a problem". Certainly one of the more fun addictions. Don't ya just love when the fedex truck pulls up and you know he 's got something for you.
patricianat
15 years ago
congratulations. see if you can get the name of the wallpaper :-) and a good price on it.
tetrazzini
15 years ago
OMG, that is AMAZING!! Are the lamps exactly the same? You really have a talent there! We don't hate you, keep showing us your finds!
compumom
15 years ago
I wonder if that's a Chapman lamp. They do/did? very good castings and beautiful quality pieces. They're classics, I have two from about 25+ years ago. Good shopping!!
nhb22
15 years ago
You dog,dog,dog,you!!! lol

I noticed the other lamp has free shipping. What was your shipping?

If the expensive lamp doesn't sell, you might want to send the seller a note and offer them what you paid. Show them the eBay listing.

You did DOG GONE GREAT!!!
User
15 years ago
Was the $34 for shipping too? That's awesome! Ah you have too many lamps. You should box it up and sent it to me. Address is... haha
My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
compumom, Wouldn't that be wonderful if it was a Chapman lamp? I have two also, and one is the Bouillotte style and must weigh 20 lbs, but is incredible. I think if this one was, that these sellers would have at least noted that - then there would have been a REAL rush to buy it. Chapman does still make VERY pricey lamps.

NHB, since these lamps are so heavy, the shipping brought it up to almost $60, but that's still 4 times less than the price of the other, so I'm still very pleased with my deal.

Shipping fees to me are a necessary evil. I look at the time that I would have spent trying to find a lamp like this at a price like that, (it wouldn't be possible locally) and the convenience of having it delivered to my door, and it's SO worth it. My time is too precious, and believe it or not, I hate shopping! I'd also never be exposed to the variety and quality of items I can find online, so I grin and bear it.
greenthumbfish
15 years ago
Mercy, but you wear that crown well, my dear! Great find and bargain as usual.

I'm not an ebay-er, but I've found the titles on CL to be similar - ya never know what yer gonna git ;-)

"Shipping fees to me are a necessary evil. I look at the time that I would have spent trying to find a lamp like this at a price like that, (it wouldn't be possible locally) and the convenience of having it delivered to my door, and it's SO worth it. My time is too precious, and believe it or not, I hate shopping! I'd also never be exposed to the variety and quality of items I can find online, so I grin and bear it."

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner! Think of all the gas (not to mention shopping frustration) we're saving by buying online!
nhb22
15 years ago
I have a feeling that the buyer didn't know what they had. Didn't do their homework. Their loss is your gain.

Yes, $60 dollars is a real bargain... so happy for you!
lynninnewmexico
15 years ago
It's a wonderful lamp, and that price . . . OMG, did you get a deal, Lady! I'm really happy for you. OK, now don't forget to show us pics when all your "loot" arrives!
Lynn
User
15 years ago
The lamp is really nice, and I think $60 is a fair price.
brutuses
15 years ago
OK M3D, I've had it with you. You either start finding me bargains like this or you'll be banned from e-bay. LOL, of course I'm playing with you.

That lamp is so fabulous and I'd kill to have it for my DH's desk. Glad you found it!!

Let me ask, do you go searching specifically for some of these items or are you finding them by accident while surfing?
My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
Brutuses, Usually I'll go out and look for 'Bouillotte lamp' or 'candlestick lamp'. This one was truly an accident, as it had that description of 'Elegant Solid Brass Base dual bulb Table Lamp w/ Shade'.

I may have been looking for something else that day (I forget!) and saw that the seller had a nice item, and then clicked on View Sellers Other Items. I do that often when I find one nice item that a seller has.

And, I ask questions! If the shipping seems too high, which it often is now due to eBay's calculator that they have sellers 's use, I'll question it. Most often the seller writes back lamenting that shipping calculator, and gives me a much lower correct fee. In cases like that, perhaps others have seen a high shipping fee and decided not to bid, and I luck out because I questioned it.

I do a quick check of my Craigslist at least once a day, and the same with eBay. Some of my best finds are due to the seller using a description like this one, which didn't have key words in it. It was too vague to show up in a specific search - 'brass' and 'lamp' were the only words I might have hit on with some of my searches.
My3dogs ME zone 5A
Original Author
15 years ago
I cannot believe it. I saw the yellow sticker in the auction photo, which is like what I have on my 2 Chapman lamps, but just assumed it couldn't be. It's made in 1972, which is, ahem, the year I graduated from high school, which makes me smile even more.

The link below is to a similar current version on Chapman's website. In fact the brass bases are the same, only the shade and finials differ.

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Chapman Empire Bouillotte swan lamp

It's getting embarrassing, but lightning has struck on eBay again

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terri_ks

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It's getting embarrassing, but lightning has struck on eBay again

Comments (18)

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