Over the weekend I was shocked to see an OOP (out of print) Prairie Schooler chart sell for $76.00. I put in a bid that I thought was high and then regretted it immediately. But later when I saw that someone had paid $76, (way more than double my highest bid) I almost fell over. Am I just being naive? Or cheap? I can never imagine that I'd want a chart that much.
What's the highest price you've ever seen a chart sell for on ebay? I mean just the chart....not a chart with the fabric and threads.
Come on. Amaze my cheap little mind.
Those OOP charts can go for very high prices! They are definitely not in my budget. The highest price I have ever seen on eBay was before there was a PDF version of Beatrix Potter's Quaker Sampler. It went for $150.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at the prices too. I have been trying to win on ebay Prairie Schooler's Acorns & Pumpkins charts. I guess I can forgot that. OOP and to high for me. I saw the Pumpkins go for $52.00 one time. To rich for me. Maybe I can find one to borrow from someone...
ReplyDeleteNot quite answering your question, but I do wonder why so many PS charts go OOP, since they're obviously pretty popular. Or maybe they're only popular because they're OOP? In this day and age, it would be easy to offer OOP charts as .pdf downloads, especially if the designer is still designing.
ReplyDeleteTo answer one of your questions, no you're not being cheap. I wouldn't pay that much either.
Ouch. I think $76 is ridiculous. But then again, I am cheap. If something I want goes for over $15 I'm out. There are a couple of charts I want but I will be patient. And there is always plenty of stuff out there to stitch! I wouldn't doubt that the buyer is having buyer's remorse right now.
ReplyDeleteOuch!! That's too much for my wallet - even if I really wanted it!! I guess I might have to rely on the kindness of others in blogland to let me borrow, buy or trade for a pattern if I really wanted it!
ReplyDeleteBy the way - what pattern was it?
I saw someone go to the three digits for Noah's Submarine by Stoney Creek. And when it got that ridiculous, they rereleased the chart!
ReplyDeleteThat's just dowright crazy! Never in a zillion years would I ever pay that much for a chart, not even a collectible Disney one. The most I spent was about $20 on an OOP 80's Disney chart book because I collect them.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Prairie Schooler - but wasn't aware that there were so many OOPs and people who collected them. I guess the old economic model of supply & demand is in work here (low supply/high demand = high prices). However popular, I am not one to spend that kind of money either. I like one of the comments above...if the patterns are still that popular, it would be a great idea for the publisher or designer to make some money on it by providing pdf downloads of the oop patterns.
ReplyDeleteTake care...and rest assured that you are not cheap - just sane :)
I saw Teresa Wentzler's "You Were Hatched..." go for over $50 -- it was a limited edition. I think there were only 1000 of them released as one of the "Fantasy Faire" series some of the designers did. I actually have a copy,but I bought it when it was released for the $6 sticker price! I'm saving it for the day I REALLY need a little extra cash... LOL
ReplyDeleteI think the most I've paid for a chart myself, OOP or otherwise, is around $20-$25. But like you, I'm cheap!
A lot of Goode Huswife charts went for BIG money on Ebay. I recall one of her Quaker samplers selling for over a $100. That prompted Ann to re-release her out of print charts and sell them on her website.
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of books that went for hugh prices, you can't touch Betty Ring's sampler books unless you take out a second mortgage.
I don't consider myself cheap but I wouldn't pay that to stitch a chart. Much easier ways of getting it. Which one was it? I have some Prairie Schooler charts in the discard pile.
ReplyDeleteOTOH, I have a couple of charts I know will pull in bucks on ebay (a P Buckley Moss someone gave me that I would NEVER stitch) and I'm looking forward to making money from the suckers.
I did pay $25 for a secret needle night kit I really wanted, but that's only $10 over retail.
That's crazy. When I got back into xstitching I pulled out a lot of my old PS charts and saw that I have one worth 30$ on ebay but I would never pay that . Heck you can get a great kit for that price! Happy stitching on Lo this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI put an OOP Mary Gary chart up on Ebay last year just doing some stash cleaning and I was shocked that it went for over $40. I never expected anything like that. I personally would never pay that much for a chart but I guess if you are a collector or really want that pattern you will pay it.
ReplyDeleteI have been looking at the stash from my Mom and a friend's Mom that was all donated to me a few years ago wondering if anything in it that I don't personally like would be of value to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI think people are willing to pay big bucks sometimes if they have been looking for something for a really long time.
I've heard of charts going for over $100. It's a shame that the designers can't reap the benefits of their hard work. I don't mind shelling out for silks and hand dyed fabrics, but the $75 that I paid for Mary Beale's Days of Advent chart was my limit. I 'only' paid that due to the sheer size and detail of the design, figuring that a LHN chart has less detail than one of the MB blocks and they sell for about $8 or $9 each.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would ever pay more than about £15 for a chart, even an OOP Prairie Schooler.
ReplyDeleteI do find it odd that PS haven't cottoned on to the fact that people love their old designs and are willing to pay - with electronic downloads, it's not like having to have a huge amount of inventory around if you decide to re-release a chart.
You're not cheap, you're practical! I've been looking for BBD Moonlit Garden- the chart is listed on ebay for $50. $135 for chart, linen and fibers!! Makes my head spin! (I didn't buy it) I did pay just over $20 for PS Bremen Town Musicians.... PS Barn Cats sold for $50+. I covet that chart, but just couldn't justify the price.
ReplyDeleteI also have a few older PS charts-why don't you let us know what you're looking for.
Chris in NY
I've paid almost that much for a Prairie Schooler on ebay, and also for a Loose Feathers Blackbird Designs. Like someone said, if you've been looking a long time, it may be worth it to you. It was to me.
ReplyDeleteJulie
I too don't understand why they won't release some of their older charts. Especially since they are still designing and still in business. What you have seen is not unusual on Ebay. It has been going on for years so it is not like it is a new thing. As I am sitting here trying to think...I think I once saw a Just Nan kit go for close to 250 on Ebay. The one that was a Silver Needle shop class I think....it was the pink one with flowers needle keep set.....on the pink ginham like linen....kinda matched the Queen of the Needle chart. I think it was a kit...may have been just the chart.
ReplyDeleteI will admit to spending about 30-40 for an OOP PS chart. I am a fan of their designs and they are so much more fun to stitch now with all the cool hand dyed threads that weren't available to us when the charts were originally released. But I do not make it a habit to browse ebay for them. I can't afford it!
The most I have spent is $16 for an OOP PS chart. I knew that was a deal but even at $16, I hated to pay it. I just know i will stitch it many times over in my lifetime for gifts, myself and such.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much OOP goes for. I look for BOAF and practically fall off my chair each time I see the price on eBay.
Just wanted to add: Everyone has different priorities. To me, I cross stitch everyday, I LOVE the Prairie Schooler designs and lean toward that type of decorating in my home, and working on the charts will bring me many hours of enjoyment. On the other hand, I'm not the type of person who has a collection of shoes or purses, or gets her hair colored or a manicure. To me, that is a waste of money, but it's fine for other people if that's what they like.
ReplyDeleteJulie
I saw one of the Just Nan designs go for over $300 on ebay. It was Queen of the Needle Needlecase which was rare and I think a class (limited edition). I am amazed that a person would want it that much.
ReplyDeleteI recently sold a few of the oop BBD charts which are very popular for $28 and I have a bid right now for my Plantation sampler chart for $20.
An old Porcupine Collection Chart - Jane Ballard I think, just went for about $350.00. Lunacy!
ReplyDeleteI once paid $56.00 for a PS chart. That was 2 years ago and I still have not stitched it. Never again. I just think of all the dyed floss and fabric I could have gotten and that stops me.
ReplyDeleteI am curious, which PS chart was it? I've heard some of them are going for good prices on ebay...
ReplyDeleteI guess if you really want it, it is worth it to you.
Maybe I need to do some checking and put some of my older charts on ebay and make some money...to spend on new stash of course! LOL
Not too long ago I saw Mary Beale's Sampler Wreath go for over $100!!!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe it!
I bought it years ago, second hand. I felt like a fool for paying over $20 for it!
I don't know what gets into people!
I'd love to know where these people are when I put something up for auction.
No, i don't think your cheap either, but i suppose like everything else, something is only worth what anyone will pay for it, and some people will pay way over the odds. Whay don't you put a shout out to see if anyone has this chart? maybe they would 'loan' it to you or do a swap.
ReplyDeleteGood luck
I don't think you're cheap or naive either. I think the most I've ever paid for a chart on e-bay was about $15, although I've bid up to $25. I paid over $30 for And They Sinned from the LNS and I would love to have Days of Advent, but I just can't quite bring myself to shell out the $$$ for that one, although I must admit that Siobhan's logic is -- well, logical!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't pay $76 for a chart- no matter how much I wanted it- it's still just paper! lol Besides in with all these bloggers and people selling and trading all over the place, I think we could find quite a few OOP charts for alot cheaper! I have seen a seller on ebay selling OOP charts, with linen and thread for over $100- even with the extras included I think that's ridiculous! Maybe if I had that kind of money to spend I'd feel differently though.. lol
ReplyDeleteI would never spend that much money on a chart no matter how much I wanted it! I think a lot of us have a limit to what we will spend.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what I would do as I have never had a chart I absolutely have to have. I have many that I am very attached to, but there are always more where that came from and when it comes to charts as with other 'things' I have long since decided that I can like them without having to have them. So... I probably wouldn't pay that kind of money for a chart.
ReplyDeleteI'm late in responding to this, but here's my $0.02. I personally wouldn't pay that much for a chart. However, I have paid more than I intended to on an OOP chart or kit due to a combination of frenzied eBay bidding and panic. Usually, though, I sit back and think about why I really want/need said chart or kit and whether or not it is truly worth that amount of money to me. If it is, I will bid up to that. If not, I won't. And I try not to look back.
ReplyDelete