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  • Kovels Announces Tips and Tricks to Protect Your Stuff

    Kovels, one of iTaggit's affiliates, has release a a new report with tips and tricks to protect your collectibles during a disaster. See their ad listed below:

    Tornados and floods have hit the central United States hard. Are you ready for a disaster? The facts may surprise you?

    Tornadoes and floods have hit the central United States hard. Are you ready for a disaster? The facts may surprise you.


    Kovels Dealing with Disaster: How To Protect Your Collection From Theft, Fire and Natural Disasters and How to Handle a Disaster If It Strikes
    Save $5 now. Enter code "PREVENT" at checkout.

    FACT: Tornadoes strike quickly with little or no warning.

    KOVELS Tip: Prepare yourself—plan an evacuation route now, create an emergency kit, and keep a household inventory in a safe-deposit box.

    FACT: Most basic homeowners or renters insurance policies give minimal or no protection for loss of antiques and collectibles.

    KOVELS Tip: You need special coverage for objects worth more than $5,000—and you need documentation to prove their value.

    FACT: Theft is a widespread problem for disaster-striken neighborhoods.

    KOVELS Tip: As soon as it's safe, secure your property. If there's a hole in the roof, move the collectibles in the attic to a different floor. If your doors are gone, move everything to rented storage.

    Save $5 now. Enter code "PREVENT" at checkout.
    NO HOME SHOULD BE WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION

    "We wrote this report because so many of you have asked about these problems. Many times it’s too late; the mistakes have been made."

    Terry Kovel

    Kovels Dealing with Disaster: How To Protect Your Collection From Theft, Fire and Natural Disasters and How to Handle a Disaster If It Strikes

    • Common-sense advice and tips written in the Kovels' trademark no-nonsense style
    • More than 15 checklists crafted to save you time and money
    • Expertise compiled from all major disaster and insurance agencies
    • Keeps your phone numbers and contacts all in one place

    Kovels Dealing with DisasterTHE guide to disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, fire, floods and theft AND to putting everything back in its place. Order it today.


    *Prices are valid until June 27, 2008. Enter code "PREVENT" during checkout to get discounted prices.
    Discount only applicable to report mentioned above. Discount doesn't apply to digital versions.

    To make sure communications from Kovels Antiques, Inc. get delivered to your mailbox, please read our instructions on how to add us to your address book depending on the email provider you use.

    You received this email as sfox@itaggit.com. If you would like to stop receiving important communications from Kovels' Antiques, Inc. please unsubscribe.

    Questions? Please contact customer service at 800-571-1555 (toll-free in the USA).

    Kovels.com

    P.O. Box 22900
    Beachwood, OH 44122-0900
    800-571-1555 

    ©2008 Ralph and Terry Kovel. All rights reserved.

     

  • TIAS Announces Top 10 Antiques and Collectibles for May 2008

    TIAS, the web's largest online antique and collectible mall, released their monthly "Hot List" of Antiques & Collectibles for May 2008.  These monthly "Hot Lists" are based on hundreds of thousands of searches by people using the online search engines at the indicated Web sites in the month of May 2008. The top 10 items are listed below.
     

    1. Cookie jar

    2. Bird (related collectibles)

    3. Transferware

    4. Teapots

    5. Teacups

    6. Fenton

    7. Pyrex

    8. Chintz

    9. Bavaria

    10. Candlestick

  • Top 10 Sports Memorabilia Gifts for Father's Day

    Looking for that unexpected Father’s Day gift? Sure, most guy’s would love to add a Mickey Mantel autographed baseball or a pair of Muhammad Ali signed boxing gloves to their collection. But the truth is these items aren’t always affordable for the average sports fan. So here is a list of some of the hottest sports memorabilia items for 2008 that are relatively affordable and destined to increase in value.

     

    10. Chicago Cubs Memorabilia

    This one is based strictly on potential. It has been 100 years since the Cubs last won a World Series. The Cubs currently have the best record in June for the first time since 1908, coincidently the last time they won the World Series. If the Cubs are able to break the curse this season, memorabilia for 2008 will definitely be a hot commodity.

     

    Adrian Peterson Autographed Football9. Sidney Crosby Signed Hockey Puck

    Crosby is already being compared to hockey greats Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. He is the youngest player to record 100 points in a season, 200 career points, win the Art Ross Trophy, and the Lester B. Pearson trophy. Crosby is on pace to become an all time NHL great, so his memorabilia is destined to grow in value.

     

    8. Adrian Peterson Autographed Football

    As a rookie, Peterson set the rookie record for most 200 yard games (2), most rushing yard in his first eight games (1,036), and most yards rushing in a single game (296). He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the MVP of the 2008 Pro Bowl. Peterson is on record for stating that his goal is to rush for 2,000 yards in this upcoming season. Running backs can have short careers in the NFL, but Peterson is worth the risk.

     

    7. Shaquille O’Neil Game Worn Jersey

    Shaq is arguably the most dominant center in the NBA. Over his career he has lead his teams to 4 NBA championships with 3 straight finals MVP's. Although he is on the decline these days, he will always be considered an all time great. After he retires, his memorabilia will steadily increase, as long as it’s not his movie memorabilia.

     Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card

    6. Ken Griffey Jr. Rookie Card

    Ken Griffey Jr. was projected to one day break Hank Aaron’s home run record. In 1998, he became the youngest player to ever reach 350 home runs. But injuries have really slowed Junior down. Today, Junior has compiled 10 Gold Gloves (1990-99) and currently is 6th all time with 599 HR’s. He is a future Hall of Famer and a fan favorite.

     

    5. Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Gear

    The Detroit Red Wings just won their American leading 11th Stanley Cup. Behind the efforts of Henrik Zetterberg (Conn Smythe Trophy winner) and goalie Chris Osgood, the Red Wings were the best team throughout the regular season and the playoffs. This is a storied franchise and their memorabilia will always be very valuable.

     

    4. Brett Favre Autographed Ball

    Favre played the game with as much passion as any player on the field. His career numbers represent the risks he took and the fire he played with. It is for these reasons that Favre has always been a fan favorite. His memorabilia will always be a commodity and in 5 years when he is elected to the Hall of Fame, its value will soar.


    Lebron James Autographed Jersey

    3. LeBron James Autographed Jersey

    LeBron James is already considered one of the best players in the NBA. In his first four seasons, James has already accomplished winning a Rookie of the Year award, 4 NBA All-Star appearances, won a scoring title, and led his team to the NBA Finals. If James continues to progress, he will go down as an all time great.

     

    2. Kobe Bryant Game Used Jersey

    Bryant is one of few NBA stars who have frequently been compared to Michael Jordan. But Bryant is the only star who has lived up to the hype, and he has the credentials to prove it. He won his first league MVP this season and already has 3 rings. Even if the Lakers do not win the championship this year, they will be a title contender for the next few years.

     

    1. Tiger Woods Memorabilia

    Tiger Woods will arguably be remembered as the greatest golfer ever. He is the youngest player to 50 wins, has 64 PGA tour wins (tied for 3rd all-time) and 13 Major Championships (2nd all-time). It is only a matter of time before he becomes the all time leader in each of those categories. Tiger could go down in history as one of the greatest athletes of all time, which will make is memorabilia very valuable one day.

     

     

     

     

  • Newsletters Now Archived on iTaggit

    iTaggit newsletters are now archived on iTaggit in addition to being emailed out monthly. The iTaggit team currently emails out 7 newsletters a month so we are sure to get you the most up-to-date information about your categories.

    The newsletter topics are:

     

    Previous newsletters can be found by clicking on any of the above categories. Newsletters are send out once a month. If you would like to be added to the list of recipients please send an email to support@itaggit.com with your user name and the newsletter you would like to receive. Additonally, you will automatically be placed on the list if you have at least 1 item in that specific category and you have opted in to receive iTaggit newsletters in your profile settings.

    If you would like to be removed from the newsletter list, please change your newsletter settings in your profile to opt out or unsubscribe in the newsletter email you receive.

    Have a topic or submission you would like to see in one of the newsletters? Send an email to support@itaggit.com with your submission and we will include it in next months edition.

    If you would like to see another category have its own newsletter, please send an email to support@itaggit.com and the iTaggit team will consider adding it to their list of newsletters.

  • iTaggit Welcomes New Antique Expert Blogger – Susan Cramer

    Susan Cramer has been a fan of antiques and collectibles since she was a little girl. She holds a degree in interior design, with additional courses in writing. She has run estates sales, tag sales and booths at antique shows and considers sifting through dusty boxes in estate sale basements as one of the highest forms of recreation. As a writer her work can be found on Suite101.com  and Antique Week. Susan collects many types of antiques including; buttons, blue pottery, art deco chromeware, statue of liberty memorabilia, and books.  She also collects World's Fair memorabilia because the single brightest memory of her entire childhood is from when her adored Uncle took her and her brothers to the NY world's fair in 1964.Susan Cramer, iTaggit's Antique Expert

     Susan is now iTaggit's first antique expert. Susan has been busy blogging on iTaggit this week. Her blogs focus primarily on specific items. For Susan, "the most interesting aspect of any antique is the back-story; the memories of the part that a particular item played in the life of its owner. Without this sort of connection, what we're talking about is simply "stuff".  That is not to say that a collector has deep feelings for every item she has, but it's usually where a collection starts." 

    You can read Susan's first blogs below:

    Mc Coy Cookie Jars

    Chrome by Chase-Art Deco for the Home

    Coca-Cola Collectible Trays

    Fire King for the Kitchen


    To follow her blogs view the Antiques Blog Directory or you can find them listed on her iTaggit profile.

  • iTaggit Unveils New Comic Book and Antique Microsites

    Online company continues to build strong comic book and antiques communities.

    Communities as strong as iTaggit's comic book and antique communities command their own version of iTaggit.com.

    Austin, TX (PRWEB) May 21, 2008 -- www.itaggit.com, the leading collecting web site, announced today the release of microsites to provide a simple point of access for collectors interested exclusively in comic books or antiques. These new sites, http://comics.itaggit.com and http://antiques.itaggit.com, filter the content found on iTaggit.com to display only content specific to comic books and antiques, including items, collections, news, and blogs.

    iTaggit.com is a centralized application allowing users to gain access to content across multiple categories. Users who have an interest in multiple categories will still have the ability to use iTaggit's personalization feature to apply a custom filter site wide.

    "iTaggit users are very passionate about specific types of items and giving them access directly to the type of content they want to see ensures a better user experience", said Casey Gannon, Marketing Manager of iTaggit Inc. "Communities as strong as iTaggit's comic book and antique communities command their own version of iTaggit.com."

    Other features introduced recently include new tools to track and manage item values. These innovative tools tracks and chart the value of an item over time.

    iTaggit continues to develop and release features to create the ultimate destination to organize, showcase, value, and monetize the items and collections that users are passionate about.

    About iTaggit:
    iTaggit is a web-based item management information system that provides "the place for every thing" by securely storing and organizing information, enabling research, and building communities based on individuals and collections of items. This essential online environment allows our user community to maximize the value and enjoyment of their stuff. iTaggit was founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas. For more information visit www.itaggit.com.

    ###

  • Trading and Selling is FREE with iTaggit!

        Did you know that iTaggit offers the selling and trading of items for free?  Here at iTaggit, we believe that you should be able to showcase you item, find its value using our eBay and research tools, and monetize it by selling on eBay, or by placing it in our Items For Sale or Trade collection... all for FREE!!

        Adding your item to the
    Items For Sale or Trade collection is very simple, and only takes seconds of your time.  First, find the item you would like to sell or trade and click on it, taking you to the item view screen.  Next, click on the Item Actions button, located just above the pictures.  This will activate a drop-down menu with a large selection of options from which to choose (shown in the picture on the right).  Select Trade This Item, and a "Trade Information" template will appear.  Simply fill out the information, including the date the item will be available until, what types of items you are willing to trade for or if you prefer to use currency (sell), the minimum you will sell it for, your location and where you are willing to ship the item.  

        Once you have completed the information, simply click the orange
    Done button, and your item is automatically placed in the Items For Sale or Trade collection gallery.  From here, users can message you for more information or to make an offer, and you can decide your next move!  The picture to the right is a snapshot of the Item View screen, complete with the drop-down menu and Trade Information template.  You can view this item (and make an offer, if you would like) by clicking the link, or by visiting the Items For Sale or Trade collection gallery.

        If you have any questions about buying, selling, or trading, please
    take a look at the FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions), the Trading Terms and Conditions, send me a message, or leave a comment at the bottom of this blog.

        I know many of you are looking to monetize your collections, just as many others want to add to theirs.  Using iTaggit to buy, sell, and trade your items makes it easy to do all of these, and the best part is that it is 100% FREE!!

     

    Happy Hunting!

     

    -Chris


      
  • Want more from your appraisal?

    Are you looking for more information about your item than just the value? If you want more than just a Classic Appraisal, than try our Deluxe Appraisal. This type of appraisal is for customers requiring in-depth information about an item in addition to the fair market value and the replacement value.

    When you order a Deluxe Appraisal you will receive more detailed information about your item which may include historical information, details regarding its manufacture, and other pertinent details which the appraiser has researched.

    The appraiser will also provide information regarding the sources they used in obtaining their valuation. You will be given tips and hints on how to care for your item, how to store it and other useful advice.

    The appraisal process is quick and fun and follows 5 easy steps:

    1. Upload your item into your iTaggit account and select the valuation button in the item view. This will open up your item's valuation manager and give you 3 options for finding the value of your item and a chart that records the changes in value. From the valuation manager select the appraise button.
    2. Choose the category that best suits your item.
      This important step will determine who will appraise your item. Your iTaggit item record and pictures will be exported to WIW2U.
    3. Answer more specific questions.
      Now you will be asked a few more questions specific to your item. These questions will help the appraiser determine exactly what your item is.
    4. Review the Appraisal.
      At this point in time all of the information that you input will be presented to you for your review. You may add, edit or delete as appropriate.
    5. Proceed to Secure Payment Page.
      You will be presented options for payment. WIW2U accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and PayPal. You may also send payment to WIW2U’s office or call in your payment details.

     

  • iTaggit Welcomes New Comic Book Expert Blogger – Alan David Doane

    Alan David Doane has been a radio broadcaster since 1985 and a writer about comics and graphic novels since the mid-1990s. He is the mastermind behind the website Comic Book Galaxy and is the former reviews editor for Silver Bullet Comic Books (now Comics Bulletin). He has also written for many popular comic blogs and publications including: iTaggit Comics Expert David Doane
    • The ADD Blog for Comic Book Galaxy since 2002
    • The Comics Journal
    • Alan Moore's Yuggoth Cultures collection from Avatar Press
    Alan is now iTaggit's first comic book expert. Alan has wasted no time getting started on iTaggit. He has posted 4 new blogs over the past week and plans to keep you posted with up-to-date information on the happenings in the comic book industry. Read his first blogs below:

    So You Want to Publish Comics?
    Recommended Iron Man Graphic Novels
    So You Want to Make Comics?
    How Much Are My Comics Worth?

    To follow his blogs view the Comics Blog Directory or you can find them listed on his iTaggit profile.
  • Can I Get an Appraisal Within 24 Hours?

    Yes! An Express Appraisal is a deluxe appraisal completed in a 24 hr. time period. A deluxe appraisal is for customers requiring in-depth information about an item in addition to the fair market value and the replacement value. When you order a Deluxe Appraisal you will receive more detailed information about your item which may include historical information, details regarding its manufacturer, and other pertinent details which the appraiser has researched. The appraiser will also provide information regarding the sources they used in obtaining their valuation. You will be given tips and hints on how to care for your item, how to store it and other useful advice.

     

    To have your item appraised you must upload your item with pictures and description into your iTaggit account. Once you have uploaded your item, click on the ‘valuation’ button located in the item view. This will open your valuation manager and allow you to submit your item for an appraisal.

     

    There are two conditions that WIW2U put on this type of appraisal. First, you must upload at least one clear image of your item and second it must be submitted so that the appraisers have ample time to complete the appraisal during normal business hours.

    WIW2U has set up an automated schedule of 'blackout' times (weekends and holidays). If you attempt to submit an appraisal during the blackout time the site will simply save your information and let you know that you must return to the website to pay for your appraisal outside of the blackout times. We will also send you a reminder email once the weekend or holiday is over. If your Express Appraisal is not completed within the 24 hr. time period you will be given three choices:

    1. Change appraisal to a Deluxe Appraisal and receive a refund for the difference.
    2. Change appraisal to a Classic Appraisal and receive a refund for the difference.
    3. Cancel appraisal and receive a full refund.

    IMPORTANT
    Due to the time-sensitive nature of this appraisal it is imperative to note the following:

    1. Ensure that you have quick and easy access to your email during the 24 hour time period and respond to appraiser inquiries as promptly as possible.
    2. If your email uses spam filtering it is imperative that you add express@wiw2u.com to your list of approved senders.
    3. Login to WIW2U’s and regularly check your page for messages, in the unlikely event that emails are still not getting through to you.
    4. Although we only require that you upload one (1) image of your item for an Express Appraisal, it is best to take a few pictures from various angles and especially try to show any markings or signatures.
    24 Hour Express Appraisal
  • What is a Classic Appraisal and How do I Get One?

    The Classic Appraisal will provide the Current Fair Market Value and the Replacement Value of your item, along with some limited comments from the appraiser. The Classic Appraisal is still the best deal on the net for over 7 years at only $9.95.

    Find out the value of your item from trusted professionals! To meet some of WIW2U’s experts click here. With experts in virtually every category, you will get a fast and accurate item valuation.

     

    The appraisal process is quick and fun and follows 5 easy steps:

    1. Upload your item into your iTaggit account and select the valuation button in the item view. This will open up your item's valuation manager and give you 3 options for finding the value of your item and a chart that records the changes in value. From the valuation manager select the appraise button.
    2. Choose the category that best suits your item.
      This important step will determine who will appraise your item. Your iTaggit item record and pictures will be exported to WIW2U.
    3. Answer more specific questions.
      Now you will be asked a few more questions specific to your item. These questions will help the appraiser determine exactly what your item is.
    4. Review the Appraisal.
      At this point in time all of the information that you input will be presented to you for your review. You may add, edit or delete as appropriate.
    5. Proceed to Secure Payment Page.
      You will be presented options for payment. WIW2U accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and PayPal. You may also send payment to WIW2U’s office or call in your payment details.

    What do I do after I submit my item?
    You can view the status of your appraisal by viewing your item on iTaggit and clicking on ‘View Status’ in the yellow bar under the item’s name.

    If the appraiser requires more information, you will be sent an email requesting you to go to the website and provide additional details.

    Once your appraisal has been completed, you will be notified by email and can then login to the website and view the details on the appraisal certificate. You can copy your appraisal into the notes section of your item record or upload a copy into the documents section of your item record. If you require a more in-depth appraisal please choose the Deluxe Appraisal.

     

    Not an iTaggit member? Register today.

  • iTaggit Announces Innovative Valuation Tools!

    Austin, TX (PRWEB) April 23, 2008 -- iTaggit.com, the leading collecting web site, announced today the release of their Valuation Manager tool to help users more easily find and track the value of their items. This innovative tool tracks and charts the value of an item over time. Users can also use the Historical Value Estimator, which helps find relative market values based on the final sales of price of similar items on eBay.com over the last year.

    A user simply has to upload their item on iTaggit and click on the valuation tool. The information gathered is charted on their item's record and allows the user to track fluctuations in the value of their item. Users can also manually enter and track market values on individual items and track them over time.

     

    As the economy continues to be uncertain, many people are looking to find the value of the things they already own and turn these items into cash, such as collectibles and antiques, said David Altounian, Chief Executive Officer of iTaggit Inc.
    "As the economy continues to be uncertain, many people are looking to find the value of the things they already own and turn these items into cash, such as collectibles and antiques, said David Altounian, Chief Executive Officer of iTaggit Inc. "In addition, it has proven difficult to find the market value of these unique items and good value history is important when selling items, insuring them, or trying to do estate planning."

    In addition to the Historical Value Estimator, iTaggit offers three other easy solutions to help users find the value of their item:

     

    • Submit your items for a certified appraisal
    • Submit your item to the community and receive feedback from other collectors, dealers, and experts on the value of your item
    • Use iTaggit's research tool to scour the internet for update and relevant searches on similar items

    Other features in the release include, an enhanced "View Tracker." With this new tool, a user can see how many times their items, collections, and blogs have been viewed by others.

    iTaggit continues to develop and release features to create the ultimate destination to organize, showcase, value, and monetize the items and collections that users are passionate about.

  • Use iTaggit to Improve Your Auction and Classified Listings

                                iTaggit can help you improve your auction and classified listings so that you can reach more potential buyers.

    Why Should I Use iTaggit?

     
    Why shouldn’t you use iTaggit? iTaggit’s comprehensive item data fields and rank in search engines can help increase your item’s visibility and your sales.

     

    ·         iTaggit provides a 'back-end' for your listing with the ability to host multiple images, video, documents, links, and other information.

    ·         iTaggit’s items contain richer data, which improves buyer confidence and can drive higher realized prices.

    ·         Post your items once to iTaggit and use the publishing tool to post them to multiple places. Since you only enter your data once the publishing feature saves you time while simultaneously broadening your customer reach.

    ·         Items on iTaggit are regularly indexed by the search engines increasing the likelihood that buyers will find your item.

     
    How Do I Use iTaggit?

     
    The various publishing options make it easy for you to use iTaggit to improve your auction and classified listings.


     
    Include as much data as possible in the item’s record. 

    ·         You can post your item to sites a variety of ways:

    o        Post your item on eBay by clicking the Sell on eBay button and following the instructions.

    o        Post your item on sites that take html by selecting Publish this Item from Item Options.

    o        Post your item on sites that don't allow html by copying the URL from the iTaggit link bar and pasting it into the description field on the classified site.

     

     

     

  • The Market Value vs. Appraised Value of Antiques, Which is More Important?

    By Jamie Gilliam

    If you are asking yourself “ how do I value antiques?” you aren’t the only one. Even professional antiques appraisers on Antiques Roadshow can be a little off sometimes. I found this compilation video of several antique appraisals that missed the mark by quite a bit. Check it out.



    I’m not sure if you noticed, but all of the items on the video sold for at least twice the amount they were appraised. Some sold for even more than that. All of those owners should be thanking their lucky stars that the antique appraisals were low instead of high. I can’t imagine how disappointed I’d feel if my item sold for thousands less than it’s appraisal value. The scrimshaw knife and fork set were probably the most interesting item to me. I love looking through the scrimshaw collections on iTaggit. Such beautiful artwork and so many different styles.

    It should be noted that this compilation video is from the British version of the show, and I’m not sure how old it is. I love watching the British version of the show occasionally. The reactions of the owners are always quite different from their American counterparts. I’ve also noticed that the British version of the show tends to have older, more ornate items. Maybe it is because England is so much older than America. Items have more chance of being passed down.

    Whatever the reason, If you love the American version of Antiques Roadshow, you should definitely try watching the British Version. Another show you might like is a British show called Cash in the Attic. I believe there is even an American counterpart for that show as well. It is such an exciting time for people who love antiques. So many shows are now available that appraise antiques for our entertainment. If you catch an episode that you love of any of the above mentioned shows be sure and tell me all about it!

    Register with iTaggit to find the Value of your Antiques and Collectibles Today! Registration is free and getting started is simple.

     

  • iTaggit's CEO Discusses the Value of Managing Your Items on Web2point0.tv

    David Altounian, iTaggit's CEO, discussed the importance of tracking your items for both financial and emotional reasons at SXSW interactive in Austin, Texas last month. iTaggit took part in interactive panels, web2point0.tv, and co-sponsored the Austin Tech Happy Hour during the SXSWi conference.
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