I'm starting this discussion here and also on rcb for the purpose of helping get the ball rolling and get people to think about how to find good lampwork on eBay. Kalera has been talking this idea up on LampworkETC and I think that it also needs to come out here too where not only beadmakers but those as affected by the issue, bead buyers are to be found.
Everyone knows about AH and the other mass-producers flooding the market in eBay, and the problems facing self-representing artists. There is a place for the SRA lampworkers to list, in an existing SRA category but understandably many people who make their living either entirely or partially on eBay are worried about moving out of the 'lampwork' listing categories to the SRA one. I can understand that.
I can also say that in our listings on eBay.com in the SRA category, we had new bidders, people who probably would not look in 'lampwork' either due to not being interested in beads per se or because the category is so heavily clogged with mass-produced beads masquerading as 'artisan' beads. We didn't lose any money, our sales were as good, and we're planning on kicking the dust of 'lampwork' from our arty shoes and moving our auctions on eBay.com to the SRA category.
If people are aware of the category and why we're doing this along with other artists, and where we're going then they'll follow. Mike's no Kevin Costner but we believe that if you build something up people will find you.
So, here's the link to the category. We're not there at the moment as our listings start in the evening on Thursdays but we're not simply concerned about ourselves but about everyone giving it a chance. Other people have spoken strongly about this in the lampwork forums but that's preaching partly to the choir, we need to give this information out to the people who will come, look and hopefully buy the work of SRAs.
-Su