Jared Says for September 2000

I recently learned the power of advertising in the right media: No matter how small! During the past three years I have put a small ad in a free local newspaper where I requested pre-1950 paper items. Each year I would receive calls wanting to sell one item of little or no value, but then has always been one call that provide decent buy.

This year I hesitated to place the ad. The newspaper had shrunk in page size, and I thought this might make it less effective, but I decided to try one last time. Bingo!

I received a call from an estate lawyer who had a large lot of pre-Civil War business paper. What a find! This lot was filled a N.E. tool company's business papers and correspondence associated with sailing vessels and railroads. And it was very clean too!

This $6 /week ad led to a major find and hopefully continued interaction with this estate lawyer.

It is interesting to note that this type of success did not happen when I advertised in the local daily papers. As a sideline, always go appropriately dressed. This helped in this lawyers decision to sell to me over the other bidders.

Good luck and good dealings!

Jared