Family Pepsi stuff...

[Alondro]

Well, I'm in a very interesting and potentially profitable situation, but I want to hear some advice from people who may have a little more experience in dealing with collectibles, and I'd feel safer asking of people whom I at least know a little bit rather than dropping in on a collectors' forum where the advice would be likely more geared to getting me to sell well below the actual value so they can all pick up my stuff cheap.

Family history:  My great uncle Charles de Charleroy (The de Charleroy side of the family recycles names constantly... there are 6 Alberts... not the most original bunch) was the vice president and general manager of the Pepsi Cola headquarters in New York City in the 1960's and early 70's (then got shafted when they reorganized, but enough about how he was cheated out of a decent pension.  ) 

Anyway, he left behind a number of prototype promotional items, executive stuff, pins, watches, and some random bits.  We lost alot of stuff when the caretaker of my great aunt (unbeknownst to me) decided to sell alot of it!  The bitch kept most of the money and skipped out on my poor aunt who was dying with Alzheimer's.  And it was legal since the conniving whore had snuck her way in to getting power of attourney.  Suffice to say I was utterly enraged when I finally heard about it.

We only held onto a few small boxes of things my uncle had given to my grandfather and my father.  I finally got a look at everything this year and gasped at some of the things I saw.  Even not knowing much about Pepsi collectibles, I could tell that the mint-condition 14-K gold-filled Zippo lighter and mirror-finish chrome Scripto Pepsi and Tab lighters (in the original tins with matting and instruction papers intact) were likely exceedingly rare.

To make the rest of the long story short, I tracked down Bob Stoddard, the leading authority on Pepsi stuff and a big-time collector and Pepsi museum founder.  He got back to me within a day after I emailed him and made a brief mention of some things.  He asked for pictures... I sent 5 of some of the interesting items. 

He mailed me back in less than an hour... interesting in purchasing the entire collection... and gave me his home phone.

Now, I know something of how collectors act, especially big-time ones.  You NEVER hear back so quickly unless they know you've got something they REALLY REALLY want.  The problem is, I have absolutely no idea what this stuff is worth!  Most of these things aren't listed anywhere in the collectors books, they're too rare.  Some, like the promotional prototypes and two solid .999 FS silver Mountain Dew Dollar coins from 1968, may be the only ones in existance.  How can I even begin to put a price tag on something like that?

Does anyone have advice about how to approach a potential sale like this?  My family is really in need of money (as my father is now going on 2 years unemployed and my little lab salary can't cover everything), and this may be the one chance we have to fix our finances.  I can't afford to make a mistake here.

I would really appreciate some advice on how to proceed, if for nothing else that to hear some other points of view and ideas to get a different perspective from my own.

[Ryudo Lee]

I suggest you take it to a third party appraiser, specifically someone who does not specialize in Pepsi products.  This way you have an experts opinion.

[Tapewolf]

I suggest you take it to a third party appraiser, specifically someone who does not specialize in Pepsi products.  This way you have an experts opinion.

I concur.  I was going to suggest that you get someone else to value it, but that's about the extent of my suggestions.  I've never done this so I don't know how you'd go about finding someone suitable.

By the way, Charles, I'm not about to forget your promise about paying for Anthrocon 

[Alondro]

I suggest you take it to a third party appraiser, specifically someone who does not specialize in Pepsi products.  This way you have an experts opinion.

I concur.  I was going to suggest that you get someone else to value it, but that's about the extent of my suggestions.  I've never done this so I don't know how you'd go about finding someone suitable.

By the way, Charles, I'm not about to forget your promise about paying for Anthrocon 

Thanks, that's a good idea.  I think there are a few appraisers close by in Philadelphia to where I work. 

And Tapewolf, after we're done with our debts, there prolly wouldn't be enough left to buy a stick of bubble gum for everyone at Anthrocon.   

[Damaris]

I would do at least three appraisers, if you can.  That way, you have a good cross section of ideas on the price- appraising is incredibly subjective, and it's safer to have multiple opinions.  (For example, when Darkmoon's parents pass on, it has been decided that three separate appraisers will be called in to value their extensive art collection.  This does not even include one of the sisters, who will be an appraiser by that time as well.  We're hoping this will keep all the family from fighting.)

[RJ]

The only stuff I ever learnt about antiques and collectibles came from watching British shows... geez I love Antiques Roadshow. They know everything.

But yeah, I agree on the getting of at least three different opinions so you can to find an average selling price. And keep your wits about you with the guy you're selling to. He does seem rather desperate, so don't let him play down the price like he's not interested after all when the time comes. If he's looking for a bargain, don't let it be with you.

[Zedd]

Good gravey. Crazy caretakers, Alot pepsi merchandicing,and a dept of major glory in your family. I find it odd you have alot Alberts in your family though.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

I would say, Do NOT take his first offer.

Do not even accept that he might have a point.

Get a second opinion -before- you sell. Definitely.


Sadly, I'm not sure where you'd get a second opinion from. :-/ If you can't get a specialist opinion, find a generalist and get a rough idea, and ask -them- who you should talk to.

Edit:
Oh, btw - Bob -might- be reasonable and willing to be fair. Grant him the benefit of the doubt, there. After all, the fact that he's -definitely- interested doesn't mean that he also definitely wants to do you in.

[Brunhidden]

i agree with the box, i have had much experience with appraisers.

first, make sure you know of every appraiser in your city, and the two or three nearest cities. pawn shops work too.

second, go to at least one appraiser from each city.

third, make sure that you get at least one appraiser who specializes in expensive antiques and one that specializes in more everyday items.

fourth, absolutely none of them told you what the real value of the item is. the value of the item is only what people are willing to pay, an they're all just guessing. use their guesses as a basis at which to start your auctioning at, but ask a bit less then they suggested. its better to sell for a BIT less then its worth rather then get nothing at all.

fifth, if your using an actual auctioneer make sure to speak with several of his former clients, a great many of them are crooked but people still hire them because theres only a few out there and you don't have a choice.

of course some people just keep collecting, the worth of the collection being irrelevant. my mother collects cookie jars, and its estimated to be worth between eight hundred to a thousand dollars, my uncle collects beer cans that have been emptied via a pinprick in the bottom so as not to harm the can.... the collection has no two identical cans, fills an average sized bedroom, and nobody has a clue what its worth.

It was Carrot who'd suggested to the Patrician that hardened criminals should be given the chance to "serve the community" by redecorating the homes of the elderly, lending a new terror to old age and, given Ankh-Morpork's crime rate, leading to at least one old lady having her front room wallpapered so many times in six months that now she could only get in sideways.

[Alondro]

Edit:
Oh, btw - Bob -might- be reasonable and willing to be fair. Grant him the benefit of the doubt, there. After all, the fact that he's -definitely- interested doesn't mean that he also definitely wants to do you in.

I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt, since he is the premier authority in Pepsi collecting and I doubt would want to risk his apparently very good reputation.  I will try to get some opinions from appraisers, though, because having no idea what to ask for is pretty useless when bargaining.

[Netrogo]

The only advice I can give is, don't get blinded by the shiney. Many a time people will be overwhelmed by an offer that is filled with zeros and automatically jump on it rather then waiting for the number with more zeros to come along. Like others I'm not saying he's gonna be dishonest with you, but the rarer something is the less likely it is to have a 'book value'. The rarest collectibles in the world have no set value because it literally changes with each sale. An example of this is Action Comics #1, aka the first appearance of Superman in print from 1938. The comic has been known to be sold for upwards of two million dollars because there's only a select few (I believe it's less then 100) left in the world.

So yeah, if his first offer is good, chances are his second will be even better. A good guage would be to let him make his first offer, tell him you're going to check with some people/friends/whatever on it, and then pay attention to how he reacts to that. With regular people, if their offer is lower then it should be, they'll get somewhat 'antsy' or try to push you into the sale. This guy's big league from what you're saying but the tells would still be there, just much harder to make out.

Either way good luck, and congratulations on the find.