I recently asked a Corrimal dealer in old wares to value a collection of over 100 items – many interesting and attractive pieces that could be classed as ‘‘trinkets’’, as well as four Royal Dalton Queens, four Franklin Mint Peony Ladies, several Chinese vases and bowls, native wall masks from Argentina, PNG, China, old style jewellery and a gold ring.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
I was told the items were fit only for markets and would not sell for more than a few dollars.
I accepted his offer of $150 for the lot.
I later visited his shop and saw one of the four Queens marked at $475 and one of the Chinese bowls at $145. I Googled ‘collectible’ items and found my four Royal Dalton Queens valued at $450 each, Franklin Mint Peony Ladies valued at $50 each and wall masks at $20-$50 each.
I called an authority for advice and was told the dealer had acted within the law – a) the dealer offered me a price which I accepted, and b) my ignorance of the real value was no excuse. My advisor then commented that I had been well and truly conned. His advice was to contact the dealer and ask for a fairer quote, which I did. However, all my attempts have been ignored.
This dealer could make well over $2000 for his outlay of $150!
That’s not a bad profit margin!
Elderly people have wonderful treasures and memorabilia collected over the years, with no idea of their commercial value. Please, be careful and don’t allow an unscrupulous and heartless dealer take advantage of you.
Jean Barrett, Bellambi
A comprehensive and independent coronial inquest into the deaths of Tori Johnson, Katrina Dawson and Man Monis is currently being presided over by State Coroner Michael Barnes. This inquest will hear evidence from numerous witnesses in relation to the Lindt cafe siege on December 15 last year.
The inquest is not yet completed with numerous witnesses yet to give evidence and submissions yet to be delivered by the numerous learned counsel assisting.
Karlis Matuzelis, of Bulli, (Letters, June 24) however, can make determinations in relation to these events without the benefit of one witness. Matuzelis places blame directly on the police for the death of at least one of the victims.
This determination is made without consideration of an abundance of evidence yet to be heard and reference to evidence already delivered. Everybody is entitled to an opinion, including Karlis Matuzelis, but let’s hope he is never placed in the position to make a determination that may effect others and whilst his opinion must be respected it is definitely not to be taken seriously.
Jon Fitzgerald, Kanahooka
The TV show Q&A has always been a “must watch” program for my family, and on last Monday’s program, we watched Zaky Mallah asking questions.
I was not too shocked seeing him on our ABC, but it would have been better not to give any air time to the likes of him. What did shock me was the scene in The Killing Fields program later in the week, where the lynch mob had placards in Canberra “Ditch the Witch” with Tony Abbott and Alan Jones joining in and addressing this mob. It was shameful.
For Abbott to call the ABC a “lefty lynch mob” would have to be a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black; shame on him.
John Pronk, Wollongong