During the renovation (initially a one year project, for a number of reasons finished in 3 years and 3 months), and after moving back into our little 1895 house we’ve become fanatic Marktplaatsers. Marktplaats means MarketPlace, it’s the original Dutch eBay, as a matter of fact taken over by eBay, but still running on the original platform, same layout, same name, even while eBay operates in Dutch at eBay.nl.
We found our moving boxes at Marktplaats, sixty good boxes for thirty Euros (‘only one time used’), en we’ve sold three quarters of them for the same amount after the removal, on Marktplaats again (yes: ‘only one time used’).
In Dutch at @ DutchCowboys
During the renovation (initially a one year project, for a number opf reasons finished in 3 years and 3 months) , and after moving back into our little 1895 house we’ve become fanatic Marktplaatsers. Marktplaats means MarketPlace, it’s the original Dutch eBay, as a matter of fact taken over by eBay, but still running on the original platform, same layout, same name, even while eBay operates in Dutch at eBay.nl.
We found our moving boxes at Marktplaats, sixty good boxes for thirtu Euros (‘only one time used’), en we’ve sold three quarters of them for the same amount after the removal, on Marktplaats again (yes: ‘only one time used’).
The fourth quart, filled with all kinds of junk, is still seeking space somewhere in the house, and if we can’t find sufficient spots, we’ll move them to Marktplaats as well, contents and all.
One of the vacuum cleaners is sold to a lady in Groningen who came to collect it all the way in the far south, for het daughter studying in Breda. The old Ikea wardrobes are sold on Marktplaats, and we’ve made an offer on an oak kitchen table in Kaatsheuvel. Long live the new economy, that I’m beginning to understand, even though I still have to read – en review – The Long Tail from Chris Anderson, lying next to my Mac.
There’s more money to make on eBay. After e-maling, calling and visiting at least ten Dutch shutter dealers and importers, one thing is clear: it’s about time that de NMA, the Dutch kartel watch dog, starts keeping an eye on that sector. Whoever you call, write or ask, the square meter price is approximately 400 euro’s, and you have to wait at least six, eight, ten weeks. Which means that the stuff is China made, just like the teak furniture you find all over Holland these days: much too expansive, way too long delivery times.
Should be cheaper, somwhere, in this new economy, so we searched on eBay and we e-mailed to China and the US.
A day later we’ve got a nice offer from East Coast US, shipping included less than half the price in Holland, delivered in Rotterdam in four weeks.
The reviewing system on eBay looks reasonable trustworthy to me, and this shutterman is honoured with flying colors, by his customers as well as by the guys who deliver his shutter materials.
I think we’re going to take the risk, and if they don’t fit after delivery we’ll throw them on Marktplaats, asking Dutch prices.
While I was writing this, I received a phone call: a teacher of the Music School in Tilburg who begs us to remove the ad with our old LP and single albums: he is on his way, and he will pay our asking price . . .
We’ve placed the ad in question less than five minutes earlier!
It was accompanied by a complete list of all the albums and (maxi) singles from the sixties, seventies, and eighties. The music is no problem, cause I’ve got almost everything covered on the iMac in iTunes, as well as on an external back up, but the big question is if we missed one hidden valuable jewel that we’ve sold for almost next to nothing.