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Dinner Reservation at Rao’s Auctioned on eBay
Would you pay $5,000 for a dinner reservation? I don’t mean the price of the meal, which is not included. I mean just for the chance to eat somewhere in New York on July 27.
Charles Rao emigrated from Italy to Harlem in New York City. At that time, the neighborhood was primarily an Italian community. He opened Rao’s restaurant in 1896 and ran it until his death in 1909. Over the next hundred years, the place has become a world-class hotspot for fine cuisine.
Bids for the reservation start at $5,000 and benefit the National Italian American Foundation for educational purposes, including grants to study Italian history, culture, or language.
What’s so special about this place anyway? You may have seen it in the D.O.A. (Death of Autotune) video that Jay-Z shot at the restaurant in 2009. There is also a Law & Order episode inspired by the difficulty at securing a reservation. But chances are you haven’t eaten there, it’s one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world.
One of the reasons that it’s so hard to get a table is that there are only ten and there’s only one seating per even. Another reason is that locals have been given standing reservations during the century it’s been open, many of which are still around today. In 1977, its place in culinary history was cemented by New York Times food critic Mimi Sheraton who gave them a half-page, three-star review which made it nearly impossible to get a reservation.
The eatery’s modest website states “For reservations, call: 212-722-6709,” and offers a concession–have a drink at the bar–for those who can’t get a table. You can call (212) 722-6709 and try your hand at being one of the lucky few to get a reservation on their own. Most callers are told that they’re booked for the year and not taking any reservations right now.
Myself, I’ll be ordering a jar of their sauce, boiling my own noodles, and seeing what all the fuss is about.
The Morbid Economics of Celebrity
“It’s better to burn out,” as the song goes, “than to fade away.” From John Lennon to Kurt Cobain, the mortality of rock stars are as much a part of their musical legacy as their music itself. For many, their death cements their handprints on the walkway of public affection for all time. The catalog of psychedelic superstar Jimi Hendrix and rap legend Tupac Shakur both boast more posthumous releases than were published during their short lifetimes, the latter lending support to the (false) rumors that reports of his death were untrue.
Recently, I saw a still-living B.B. King, who suffers from arthritis and other medical conditions that affect his ability to play; nevertheless, he remained seated while he offered his traditional blues-crossover sets as if it were 1990. Of all the members of the archetypal rock band, the vocalist is perhaps the most transient. Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page will continue to play guitar past traditional ages of retirement, but a vocalist can only suck down cigarettes and scream out rock tunes with any credibility for a relatively shorter period. If you go see Robert Plant live, you’ll see a much more subdued set than Led Zeppelin concertgoers were entertained with in the early 70’s.
When I heard the news that rock vocalist Ronnie James Dio had died of stomach cancer earlier this month, my heart went out to his family and loyal fans. It’s a rough way to go, reminding us that fading away can be more painful than merely losing the spotlight as one ages.
No doubt, however, others were privately rejoicing, as the market for Dio memorabillia has exploded. This is common when celebrities die, as Zippycart eCommerce news reports. Auctions on eBay for a variety of related articles, many autographed by the rock star. Because he will not be around to sign any more items, it’s no surprise that their value has instantly risen with the news of his passing.
The most expensive items are autographed guitars, which are always a hot-ticket item even if the person signing did not play guitar. Complete sets of autographs from the post-Ozzy Black Sabbath lineup will also no doubt fetch a small fortune. Photographs and box sets make popular items for autographing, as do concert tickets/programs or shirts from their many years of touring. The article mentioned above reports that over a thousand items including “Ronnie James Dio” in the auction title have recently been added as of May 18, with many more lacking this specificity no doubt being added since then.
Dio will be best remembered for being Ozzy Osbourne’s replacement as the vocalist and frontman of metal pioneers Black Sabbath. He also was the first to popularize the “devil horns” gesture, extending the index and little fingers, which is now as ubiquitous as a raised cigarette lighter among concertgoers across all genres. Dio’s legacy also includes his work with other lesser-known metal bands, and his solo career with his own eponymous group, Dio.
Profiting on the death of celebrities can seem distasteful, as our culture tens to regard death as a sad and sacred event. I believe, however, that there’s a profound respect among the resurgence of interest found after celebrity deaths. Every person, famous or otherwise, will die someday. For every person who decides to hold onto an item until death increases its value, there is another who benefits from purchasing an item to help them remember a fallen hero.
Though many Texans burned their Black Sabbath items when Ozzy Osbourne was banned from playing in Texas for disrespecting the Alamo, there is likely a gold mine of Black Sabbath and Dio goods in garages and boxes across the state. Interested in getting rid of your Dio-related stuff? Contact an Easysale representative today to find out if your forgotten treasure can make a mourning fan happy and earn some cash for you.
Million Dollar Film Sells for Handful on eBay
What have you bought lately for five bucks? For most, it barely crosses the impulse buy threshold. It’s a cup at Starbucks, enough gas to get to work the day before payday, not even enough for a pack of deadly cigarettes for the unfortunately addicted.
But for Morace Park, of Essex, England, $5.68 (£3.20 for him) has netted him well over a 300,000% return on his meager investment. It started with eBay, the world’s online marketplace, and a listing labelled “an old film” which was the inadequate description of the aged, olive green film canister he purchased for dirt cheap. Inside was a 35mm nitrate film with the title “Charlie Chaplin in Zepped.”
Charlie Chaplin films are always great collectors items, and one in this condition begs the question–did the seller even examine what he had listed? Adding to its value is the fact that the film is a World War I relic, as it’s a previously uncirculated (among collectors) propaganda film for the war effort. Initial reports from the Daily Mail (UK) last year estimated that the film “could be worth up to £40,000″ (~$57,348 USD), but this is a conservative estimate as experts continue to understand its rarity and historical significance.
It’s lucky for Mr. Park that his neighbor, John Dyer, is the former head of education for the British Board of Film Classification. Together, the two have embarked on a journey to understand this piece of history.
The film, which could easily be mistaken for a Monty Python sequence according to the Guardian (UK), is not even seven minutes long. It includes shots of Chaplin along with previously unseen footage of Zeppelin bombing attacks. The Guardian speculates that Chaplin’s position as a humorist could be juxtaposed with the powerful images of warfare in order to reduce the public fear of their destructive potential.
Chaplin, who was criticized for his own lack of military service in World War I, was embroiled in contract and salary disputes which led to a lot of patchwork films in an effort to blend new and old material to create new works. It’s uncertain how much of the film consists of previously unarchived footage of the man many consider the father of cinematic humor.
According to The Star (Canada), an academic film publication out of Russia reported that the film was likely destroyed. Another article posts that the film was en route to Egypt for exposition many years ago. How it ended up on eBay for a microfraction of its worth is completely unknown.
Filmmaker Hammad Khan is making a documentary out of the quest to investigate the film’s origin and worth and the purchaser and his neighbor had started a blog which describes the genesis of their journey: “We think we might have made THE cinematic find of the last 100 years. It’s something we feel compelled to get to the bottom of. And quick.” The blog, which may have moved or been abandoned, describes the difficulty of performing normal household tasks such as washing dishes with such a monumental mystery on their hands.
On May 23 of this year, the Mirror (UK) reported that the 46-year-old father of three from Henham, Essex was offered £900,000 (almost $1.3 million USD) by a private collector for the film, which he’s in “no rush” to sell. He describes his quest as “like the search for the Holy Grail.”
Sweet Deal & Demo of iPhone Selling App
eBay’s newest iPhone app is designed to streamline the process of listing items for sale using your iPhone’s camera. It’s more than just an extension of browsing capabilities, it was designed to be the quickest and easiest way to get your items listed for sale. Though many consider image uploading a basic lesson in internet literacy, it still helps some overcome the technological barrier between listing an item for sale and cashing in on eBay sales.
It’s not just an app for beginners, though; eBay’s suite of mobile apps are tailored for advanced users as well. One great resource is eBay’s research feature. Sellers can analyze sales trends of similar items to see what sells and for what price. Knowing when to go fixed price and when to let buyers scramble to outbid one another in a live action is part of what differentiates casual eBayers from those who know the business well.
This is one reason why it’s still a great idea to consider using Easysale to sell your used goods. Even though trends are making it easy to list items yourself, their comprehensive listing service includes professional photography and authorship of listings as well as other “trade secrets” used to maximize the final price. Considering they are working for a percentage of the sale price of your items, they have a vested interest in knowing how to make the most of your used items.
Still, iPhone users interested in trying out eBay should give the selling tool a shot. Listing items is supposed to be a snap (see demo video below) and you can track listings and activity directly from its interface.
For a limited time, the eBay mobile site is reporting that users will have their scheduled listing fee waived and four free photos are included with out any additional charge. Integration with Paypal is another great feature.
Other mobile apps available from eBay have been targeted towards buyers, such as the daily deal and buyer alerts. Besides making things easier and reducing eBay’s learning curve, these apps also help connect people’s eBay activity with their social networks.
You may have to see this to understand how simple it is. I’m impressed at how the features are integrated without unnecessary complexity. For now, it’s only available in the U.S. app store, and the same goes for the deal described above.
Liquidating Business Assets for a Good Cause
A high school Junior in Arden Hills, MN (northeast of St. Paul) has organized an eBay auction program in order to both save money and earn money at the same time. The student took note of the high price of recycling electronics at his high school, Mounds View High School. In an earlier post, we covered the high cost of recycling and how selling or donating used electronics is a more humane and environmentally friendly option.
Doing business as “Scoolsout,” the student-led initiative happened in collaboration with the school district’s technology director and the ”Steps to Success” program. The project also gained the attention of a scholarship contest sponsored by SkillsUSA; Thompson took first place and netted a cool $5,000.
According to Missouri licensing laws, it can cost up to $25 per item to recycle electronics, a hefty cost when one considers the frequent equipment turnover for school districts. Additionally, some of the proceeds of the initiative go to fund the Steps to Success program. Leadership and job readiness training is provided to participating students. Students graduate from the program trained on cutting-edge internet business.
Students are responsible for posting items, creating listings, collecting funds, running the office, ordering supplies, customer service, and the timely shipping of goods. So far, the program has made $13,000, as reported in the Shoreview Press. All in all, it’s hard work, and accolades are well-deserved for participating students who gain work experience before finishing high school.
Plans are in the works to expand the program and contract the services to other surrounding schools, which should prove lucrative as new computers are on the way to area middle schools.
Easysale, a full-service eBay consignment store in the Dallas metroplex is proud to offer similar fundraising for qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits. This is a great way to raise money all year for your school, church, synagogue or other nonprofit. Simply ask your network of supporters to gather unwanted items valued at $50 or more.
Easysale is dedicated to helping non-profits raise funds more efficiently. With our competitive fee structure, the seller/donor receives the proceeds from the sale of their items, with 60% of the proceeds going to the seller/donor.
You can track your auction online (that’s part of the fun) and 100% of the final selling price is deductible for income tax purposes as a charitable donation. Ask about how you can get telephone scripts, contact letters, and template e-mails to reach out to existing donors. Check out our For Charities page for more information.
And if you’re looking to consolidate your own business assets, consider making money off your upgrade by consulting Easysale’s staff. They are experienced in handling business liquidations, head on over to our For Your Business to find out more.