@jmloking the obvious. There isn't 1% of the volume on BST. You couldn't possibly run a coin business on the BST with so few eyes.
People pay exorbitant fees to Amazon not because they love Amazon but because they love eyeballs. Same with eBay. You can create your own site with a payment gateway for maybe $35 per month total. But NO ONE is going to be looking...not for a long time.
That's why you would put the same coin in both venues. If it sells first on the BST you can offer it cheaper and still make more money by avoiding all the eBay and Paypal fees.
You could...as long as you value your time at $0.
Don't get me wrong, BST has its place. Personal websites have their place. Giant auction houses have their place. And, haters or not, eBay has its place.
Just like I would not replace Stack's with eBay, I also wouldn't substitute BST for eBay. They each have their place...and their respective haters.
I am in favor of them making all fixed price listings good till cancelled - yay!
Saves me having edit that part in managing new additions for online.
Let’s not trash eBay sellers. That coins may linger in fixed listings is more of the impact of the stagnant market, decreasing number of collectors (new investor blood needed) than blaming eBay sellers who are paying players on eBay. Furthermore many buyers on the bay simply looking for what they can rip at auction, etc (not really serious retail buyers). I do work to remove / reduce prices on slow moving material. But no I am not in the business to give it away. Furthermore I am glad other sellers use gtc bc I can research what others asking on that venue.
There are many selling venues in numismatics just like many WR on roster of a football team. Everybody knows the venue getting the most looks will probably be the most successful. I gravitate to the venue with the best mix of selling cost, looks, and buyers. eBay has been WR1 for sometime.
I used to buy some coins off EBay but I quit that. I'm sorry to tell Ebay sellers but I could get a nicer coin for less price on line and from a local dealer. EBay used to be the go to place for good deals but no longer. Sorry.
@amwldcoin said:
Don't think much can be done about those that list auctions over and over again though.
As a member of the eBay expressions team, we have been addressing that issue directly. We believe that charging sellers listing fees would help prevent the listing over and over abuse as seen by a few listers ie eternitycoins, coins4auction, friscomint1793, dreamtrophy, jlewis90 etc. We see their 1,000's of listing for the same coin month after month, year after year at insanely high prices due to them not being charged a listing fee thus clogging-up searches: https://ebayexpression.com/hub
As a collector (of Draped Bust LCs), I've almost completely given up on eBay. The same old crap recycled over and over again; asking prices that are just plain silly and a Global Shipping Program that doubles the actual cost of posting a coin from the US to NZ. No thanks. GC is my venue of choice, followed by Heritage (GC has the much better shipping charges; Heritage the better selection). I do realise that I'm in a different situation than most (being outside the US).
By the way, I have made a couple of modest purchases from USACoinBook and was happy with the outcomes. I've never bought anything from MA-Shops but I do check in once in a while.
So...If the mountains of listings went away...do you think for a second YOU will be able to cherry pick the good deals????...Any cherry pick candidates would be swept up in seconds....A good pick takes work...YES, You will have to weed thru the garbage to find the diamonds....I prefer the mess....It weeds the lazy buyers out. :-)
One of the worst they have ever come up with is, IMO, the global shipping rip-off.
If we all refuse to use it, buying or selling, they will eventually stop it. there are other ways to achieve better.
so guys, dealers or not, STOP trying to save pennies while LOOSING a dollar in not made sales.
(like a coin worth $ 5 and a shipping cost of $ 21 of which you get nothing)
The Global Shipping is an ABSOLUTE Cash Cow for me. I sell items much bigger than coin, and no one, FedeX, USPS, DHL, UPS, etc. can even get close to the cheap shipping charged by ebay Global. Yes, they collect the import fees, but when you ship USPS, they don't and leave it for your person at the other end to pay. Also, they have tracking door to door, which USPS does not have.
Please do not try to disrupt a service that is extremely beneficial to many sellers.
@PRIZ430 said:
So...If the mountains of listings went away...do you think for a second YOU will be able to cherry pick the good deals????...Any cherry pick candidates would be swept up in seconds....A good pick takes work...YES, You will have to weed thru the garbage to find the diamonds....I prefer the mess....It weeds the lazy buyers out. :-)
Excellent point!
There are still many cherrypicking opportunities on Ebay but you have to spend the time to scan through all the garbage.
It's still fun and it's still profitable.........a proven recipe for success.
"Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
You deal in error coins. For esoteric items, a venue like eBay makes a lot more sense. For more mainstream coins, the BST is also a good choice.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Just curious....how much of the shipping costs is import duties? Item dollar for dollar how do the shipping costs compare with GC or Heritage. My experience has been if I need to insure an item it's much cheaper through the Global Shipping program and I have absolutely no hassles if something is lost making a claim! I totally agree with your position on a cheap coin as they ship priority mail or Fed-Ex etc. But what about a $1000 coin for example?
I gave USACOINBOOK a look and might give it a try!
@Aotearoa said:
As a collector (of Draped Bust LCs), I've almost completely given up on eBay. The same old crap recycled over and over again; asking prices that are just plain silly and a Global Shipping Program that doubles the actual cost of posting a coin from the US to NZ. No thanks. GC is my venue of choice, followed by Heritage (GC has the much better shipping charges; Heritage the better selection). I do realise that I'm in a different situation than most (being outside the US).
By the way, I have made a couple of modest purchases from USACoinBook and was happy with the outcomes. I've never bought anything from MA-Shops but I do check in once in a while.
@amwldcoin said:
Just curious....how much of the shipping costs is import duties? Item dollar for dollar how do the shipping costs compare with GC or Heritage. My experience has been if I need to insure an item it's much cheaper through the Global Shipping program and I have absolutely no hassles if something is lost making a claim! I totally agree with your position on a cheap coin as they ship priority mail or Fed-Ex etc. But what about a $1000 coin for example?
No duty if the total cost (including shipping charges) comes in under NZ$400 (approx US$272). GC charges $16 plus $1 per additional coin. Heritage is something like three times that amount - which means items I purchase from Heritage get routed through a contact I have in the US (which is also the path taken when the duty threshold is breached).
eBay's Global Shipping runs something like $25 from there to here. With my typical purchases running under $200, that's just too big of a bite.
I don't know if you are aware. The USPS rates have skyrocketed. Pretty sure my actual minimum cost to ship to New Zealand with a discount through ebay is between $12.00 + $13.00. If I go to the Post Office it's over $14 and that's without any insurance. To get insurance you have to go Priority mail and I am sure the cost will easily be $25.00.
@amwldcoin said:
Just curious....how much of the shipping costs is import duties? Item dollar for dollar how do the shipping costs compare with GC or Heritage. My experience has been if I need to insure an item it's much cheaper through the Global Shipping program and I have absolutely no hassles if something is lost making a claim! I totally agree with your position on a cheap coin as they ship priority mail or Fed-Ex etc. But what about a $1000 coin for example?
No duty if the total cost (including shipping charges) comes in under NZ$400 (approx US$272). GC charges $16 plus $1 per additional coin. Heritage is something like three times that amount - which means items I purchase from Heritage get routed through a contact I have in the US (which is also the path taken when the duty threshold is breached).
eBay's Global Shipping runs something like $25 from there to here. With my typical purchases running under $200, that's just too big of a bite.
The GC rate I quoted includes insurance. I do seem to recall Ian stating that GC's shipping charges didn't actually cover their shipping costs. I might have to move!
@amwldcoin said:
But that was when they allowed time limited fixed price listings. My theory is they do not want to keep funding the storage space for unsold listings.
@Coinstartled said:
I understand the desire to dump Ebay but don't really get your concern. I have ended GTC listings and have been able to relist them at a later without a problem.
Per eBay's Update on Good Til Cancelled
"For GTC listings, end date indicates the next date of renewal, and time left indicates the time left until renewal. Just as you do today, you can start, end, or relist your items at any time you choose."
The questions they will not seem to answer is "will you lose your listing and the ability to relist without starting from scratch". That is a big deal for me. They are also banking on folks missing ending the listing in time IMHO!
@amwldcoin said:
But that was when they allowed time limited fixed price listings. My theory is they do not want to keep funding the storage space for unsold listings.
@Coinstartled said:
I understand the desire to dump Ebay but don't really get your concern. I have ended GTC listings and have been able to relist them at a later without a problem.
Per eBay's Update on Good Til Cancelled
"For GTC listings, end date indicates the next date of renewal, and time left indicates the time left until renewal. Just as you do today, you can start, end, or relist your items at any time you choose."
@amwldcoin said:
The questions they will not seem to answer is "will you lose your listing and the ability to relist without starting from scratch". That is a big deal for me. They are also banking on folks missing ending the listing in time IMHO!
@amwldcoin said:
But that was when they allowed time limited fixed price listings. My theory is they do not want to keep funding the storage space for unsold listings.
@Coinstartled said:
I understand the desire to dump Ebay but don't really get your concern. I have ended GTC listings and have been able to relist them at a later without a problem.
Per eBay's Update on Good Til Cancelled
"For GTC listings, end date indicates the next date of renewal, and time left indicates the time left until renewal. Just as you do today, you can start, end, or relist your items at any time you choose."
Here are some screen snips of all Holdered Barber Halves on Ebay - One showing all auction (fixed prices) and the other showing auction style listings.
@amwldcoin said:
Don't think much can be done about those that list auctions over and over again though.
As a member of the eBay expressions team, we have been addressing that issue directly. We believe that charging sellers listing fees would help prevent the listing over and over abuse as seen by a few listers ie eternitycoins, coins4auction, friscomint1793, dreamtrophy, jlewis90 etc. We see their 1,000's of listing for the same coin month after month, year after year at insanely high prices due to them not being charged a listing fee thus clogging-up searches: https://ebayexpression.com/hub
Finally. That Eternitycoin is the bane of my existence. When you go to Seated Half Dollars, Eternitycoin is like the coin circus has come to town with all of its freak show characters.
@amwldcoin said:
The questions they will not seem to answer is "will you lose your listing and the ability to relist without starting from scratch". That is a big deal for me. They are also banking on folks missing ending the listing in time IMHO!
@amwldcoin said:
But that was when they allowed time limited fixed price listings. My theory is they do not want to keep funding the storage space for unsold listings.
@Coinstartled said:
I understand the desire to dump Ebay but don't really get your concern. I have ended GTC listings and have been able to relist them at a later without a problem.
Per eBay's Update on Good Til Cancelled
"For GTC listings, end date indicates the next date of renewal, and time left indicates the time left until renewal. Just as you do today, you can start, end, or relist your items at any time you choose."
eBay has been successful for me and I have about 300 items good till cancelled and I applaud them going to gtc. It is a variable selling expense vs shows which are a fixed cost issue where results mixed. I sold 2 fairly high ticket coins last weekend on the Bay doing well with over 30 pct margin. I occasionally auction bullion material starting around melt or say coins starting (blowout) around bluesheet then dropping opening bid say 5 pct if no activity. It costs me 15-17 pct sales operate on the Bay which means about a 30 pct margin to be successful.
The market needs fresh retail buyers / investors. At shows attend regularly it can be the same old lookey look broke crowd. I am acquiring low pop, CAC material, gold and getting rid of generics. Currency has done well especially with the $60 and under high markup items. Also focus on nice world slabbed material single digit low pop - keystone markup as likely have only one in room. Strong metals prices will boost the market.
I do move material at shows at say bid plus 10 pct or sometimes just $5 over cost or bid but a lot of them don’t have any money! I have been successul getting 50 pct over the CAC bid in the sheet on my CAC material and buy these when can get below bid like the other day with AS.
Glad eBay made fixed listings good till cancelled makes my work easier. I get x number for free with the store. eBay has a great search engine and I just run searches for am looking for. International business has been booming for me on the Bay too. Been amazed at the intl buyers buying CSA and obsoletes.
In 2015 the Houston Oil Crash crushed the job market and ended a lot of people’s careers here - high unemployment, overloaded job market, age bias in job search, bankruptcies, cc default, and occasional crap jobs in lower pay hostile work environment. Recovery slow. Consequently shows here not as lucrative as many other locales.
So at the shows I will make the guy a deal if he is for real and has the cash.
This could be a great change. I think they need to refactor their 'best match' algorithm to put more weight on watchers. This would alleviate the issue of just ending and relisting the gtc listings. Anything that keeps EC and others from flooding out everyone with these 3 day renewals would be good.
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
Inquiring minds want to know this as well as many other questions. I have read all the ebay discussions about this and all they can do is push their hype. Very few pointed questions have been answered and most discussions have been closed!
@jcocoin said:
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
I guess we'll just have to wait & see and run a few tests to see what results we get.
I was thinking of upgrading my store to get more free listings so I don't get hit with relisting fees so much, but I'll wait until the fall to make a decision on that because coins get slower in the summer months.
@amwldcoin said:
Inquiring minds want to know this as well as many other questions. I have read all the ebay discussions about this and all they can do is push their hype. Very few pointed questions have been answered and most discussions have been closed!
@jcocoin said:
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
I have changed many of my 7 day BINs to 7 day auctions with higher than 99 cent starting prices. The insertion prices aren't bad because of my store free insertions. Then they will stay in my closed unsold list for easy relisting if they do not sell.
I have been selling on eBay since 1997. Things have changed. Most changes - like this year's have been pretty minor. Some changes I liked. Some changes I hated. I adjusted and have continued to successfully sell.
I have sold on Amazon. I have sold on my own website. I've done a few local shows. I've sold at coin club. I've consigned to major auction houses. I've sold to people on this forum. Every venue has its place.
If you let your anger get in the way of your judgment, you are only hurting yourself. There are frustrating things about EVERY venue.
That's what I was thinking of doing. I just can't justify a static cost of $300 a month! Most especially since Cassimi hates me! I spent about an hour on the phone today with an ebay supervisor. I even showed him some of my 10 day auction listings that are priced well below the going rate. 16 out of 25 had 0 YES! ZERO views after 5 days. Nothing but canned answers!
You do realize your stored info disappears after 90 days.....but I will wager that will be reduced shortly!
I just can't get onboard with the way ebay is treating sellers. I was a gold powerseller before they launched Cassimi. In 3 months I was a bronze. The problem with Cassimi is it is great for Walmart type stuff. But for coins and the sort it always puts the crap(lower priced) stuff ahead of the quality stuff.
@jcocoin said:
I guess we'll just have to wait & see and run a few tests to see what results we get.
I was thinking of upgrading my store to get more free listings so I don't get hit with relisting fees so much, but I'll wait until the fall to make a decision on that because coins get slower in the summer months.
@amwldcoin said:
Inquiring minds want to know this as well as many other questions. I have read all the ebay discussions about this and all they can do is push their hype. Very few pointed questions have been answered and most discussions have been closed!
@jcocoin said:
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
LOL! I see the door...I see a bright sun on the other side of it. If other ways don't work for me I or my heirs are going to have some fresh material down the road!
As an added thought. I quit selling on ebay in 2000 when they got crazy! It was to the point that ebay was making as much or more than I did just for having their computers clicking away. After time I believe they realized their mistake and also made it a safer environment for buyers 1st...but also sellers. They were also investing a lot more into customer service.
Now they are after the cash cow. They are doing nothing but a money grab. They will snare thousands of casual listers with a 35 cent listing fee every month. You will also begin to realize if you don't pay their bribe...alias promoted listing fees you will find yourself sinking to the bottom of the food chain.
@jmlanzaf said:
I have been selling on eBay since 1997. Things have changed. Most changes - like this year's have been pretty minor. Some changes I liked. Some changes I hated. I adjusted and have continued to successfully sell.
I have sold on Amazon. I have sold on my own website. I've done a few local shows. I've sold at coin club. I've consigned to major auction houses. I've sold to people on this forum. Every venue has its place.
If you let your anger get in the way of your judgment, you are only hurting yourself. There are frustrating things about EVERY venue.
Yeah, $300 a month is a big cost to overcome, especially when things are slow in the summer. I'm only signed up for the $22 store w/ 250 fixed listings. The jump I'll go to next is where I think you might be currently at, $60 w/ 1000 fixed listings. Based on my current volume that would still work ok for me. Ebay really needs another store level in-between the $60 & $300 level. Maybe a $150 level store. Maybe suggest that to your ebay rep, but I'm sure nothing would come of it in the short term.
I do see that unsold listings disappear from the store in 90 days. It was easy to keep up with in the past when they would have a free listing offer, I'd re-list everything. Now if they have a free listing offer and I re-list them all, they will all list as Good til Cancelled, and start charging a bunch to auto relist when I don't want them relisted right away.
I do notice I get less views on items, but I don't recall any at zero. The biggest thing I've noticed is that I've had to double my number of active listings over the past years to get the same dollar volume of sales.
I'm not familiar w/ Cassimi. Is that a listing tool?
@amwldcoin said:
That's what I was thinking of doing. I just can't justify a static cost of $300 a month! Most especially since Cassimi hates me! I spent about an hour on the phone today with an ebay supervisor. I even showed him some of my 10 day auction listings that are priced well below the going rate. 16 out of 25 had 0 YES! ZERO views after 5 days. Nothing but canned answers!
You do realize your stored info disappears after 90 days.....but I will wager that will be reduced shortly!
I just can't get onboard with the way ebay is treating sellers. I was a gold powerseller before they launched Cassimi. In 3 months I was a bronze. The problem with Cassimi is it is great for Walmart type stuff. But for coins and the sort it always puts the crap(lower priced) stuff ahead of the quality stuff.
@jcocoin said:
I guess we'll just have to wait & see and run a few tests to see what results we get.
I was thinking of upgrading my store to get more free listings so I don't get hit with relisting fees so much, but I'll wait until the fall to make a decision on that because coins get slower in the summer months.
@amwldcoin said:
Inquiring minds want to know this as well as many other questions. I have read all the ebay discussions about this and all they can do is push their hype. Very few pointed questions have been answered and most discussions have been closed!
@jcocoin said:
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
So what happens when all sellers "promote" their listings so they can get views?
Will there be a "new and improved Super Duper Promotion?"
It reminds me of cheating in sports to gain an edge and keep up because "everyone else is cheating."
I have been after ebay from the get go when they changed the anchor store @$149 per month to $300 per month @10,000 listings. Kept getting promises,promises and when they did roll out knew options they included the 2 smaller options along with the enterprise @100,000 listings! Why not just make that unlimited listings?
Cassimi is/was their latest greatest search engine.
@jcocoin said:
Yeah, $300 a month is a big cost to overcome, especially when things are slow in the summer. I'm only signed up for the $22 store w/ 250 fixed listings. The jump I'll go to next is where I think you might be currently at, $60 w/ 1000 fixed listings. Based on my current volume that would still work ok for me. Ebay really needs another store level in-between the $60 & $300 level. Maybe a $150 level store. Maybe suggest that to your ebay rep, but I'm sure nothing would come of it in the short term.
I do see that unsold listings disappear from the store in 90 days. It was easy to keep up with in the past when they would have a free listing offer, I'd re-list everything. Now if they have a free listing offer and I re-list them all, they will all list as Good til Cancelled, and start charging a bunch to auto relist when I don't want them relisted right away.
I do notice I get less views on items, but I don't recall any at zero. The biggest thing I've noticed is that I've had to double my number of active listings over the past years to get the same dollar volume of sales.
I'm not familiar w/ Cassimi. Is that a listing tool?
@amwldcoin said:
That's what I was thinking of doing. I just can't justify a static cost of $300 a month! Most especially since Cassimi hates me! I spent about an hour on the phone today with an ebay supervisor. I even showed him some of my 10 day auction listings that are priced well below the going rate. 16 out of 25 had 0 YES! ZERO views after 5 days. Nothing but canned answers!
You do realize your stored info disappears after 90 days.....but I will wager that will be reduced shortly!
I just can't get onboard with the way ebay is treating sellers. I was a gold powerseller before they launched Cassimi. In 3 months I was a bronze. The problem with Cassimi is it is great for Walmart type stuff. But for coins and the sort it always puts the crap(lower priced) stuff ahead of the quality stuff.
@jcocoin said:
I guess we'll just have to wait & see and run a few tests to see what results we get.
I was thinking of upgrading my store to get more free listings so I don't get hit with relisting fees so much, but I'll wait until the fall to make a decision on that because coins get slower in the summer months.
@amwldcoin said:
Inquiring minds want to know this as well as many other questions. I have read all the ebay discussions about this and all they can do is push their hype. Very few pointed questions have been answered and most discussions have been closed!
@jcocoin said:
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
That's where the battle begins. You choose how much of a percentage of your sales price you wish to spend. Right now most categories recommend 5-6%. If your item sells you pay that along with the FVF fees. You do see where this is going....well he's giving 5% so I'll give 6% so I have better visibility. I loath those who are feeding eBay's greed. If you want to know who the sellers are just look at the listings which are sponsored.
@mannie gray said:
So what happens when all sellers "promote" their listings so they can get views?
Will there be a "new and improved Super Duper Promotion?"
It reminds me of cheating in sports to gain an edge and keep up because "everyone else is cheating."
Comments
Ebay vs BST, really?
I have not listed on BST in months.
I sell coins daily on ebay.
You could...as long as you value your time at $0.
Don't get me wrong, BST has its place. Personal websites have their place. Giant auction houses have their place. And, haters or not, eBay has its place.
Just like I would not replace Stack's with eBay, I also wouldn't substitute BST for eBay. They each have their place...and their respective haters.
Not me.
I am in favor of them making all fixed price listings good till cancelled - yay!
Saves me having edit that part in managing new additions for online.
Let’s not trash eBay sellers. That coins may linger in fixed listings is more of the impact of the stagnant market, decreasing number of collectors (new investor blood needed) than blaming eBay sellers who are paying players on eBay. Furthermore many buyers on the bay simply looking for what they can rip at auction, etc (not really serious retail buyers). I do work to remove / reduce prices on slow moving material. But no I am not in the business to give it away. Furthermore I am glad other sellers use gtc bc I can research what others asking on that venue.
There are many selling venues in numismatics just like many WR on roster of a football team. Everybody knows the venue getting the most looks will probably be the most successful. I gravitate to the venue with the best mix of selling cost, looks, and buyers. eBay has been WR1 for sometime.
I have been selling off my collection on Etsy for about a year now. I haven't had any problems with it yet.
The battle scars of all the good times
I used to buy some coins off EBay but I quit that. I'm sorry to tell Ebay sellers but I could get a nicer coin for less price on line and from a local dealer. EBay used to be the go to place for good deals but no longer. Sorry.
As a member of the eBay expressions team, we have been addressing that issue directly. We believe that charging sellers listing fees would help prevent the listing over and over abuse as seen by a few listers ie eternitycoins, coins4auction, friscomint1793, dreamtrophy, jlewis90 etc. We see their 1,000's of listing for the same coin month after month, year after year at insanely high prices due to them not being charged a listing fee thus clogging-up searches:
https://ebayexpression.com/hub
As a collector (of Draped Bust LCs), I've almost completely given up on eBay. The same old crap recycled over and over again; asking prices that are just plain silly and a Global Shipping Program that doubles the actual cost of posting a coin from the US to NZ. No thanks. GC is my venue of choice, followed by Heritage (GC has the much better shipping charges; Heritage the better selection). I do realise that I'm in a different situation than most (being outside the US).
By the way, I have made a couple of modest purchases from USACoinBook and was happy with the outcomes. I've never bought anything from MA-Shops but I do check in once in a while.
Smitten with DBLCs.
So...If the mountains of listings went away...do you think for a second YOU will be able to cherry pick the good deals????...Any cherry pick candidates would be swept up in seconds....A good pick takes work...YES, You will have to weed thru the garbage to find the diamonds....I prefer the mess....It weeds the lazy buyers out. :-)
The Global Shipping is an ABSOLUTE Cash Cow for me. I sell items much bigger than coin, and no one, FedeX, USPS, DHL, UPS, etc. can even get close to the cheap shipping charged by ebay Global. Yes, they collect the import fees, but when you ship USPS, they don't and leave it for your person at the other end to pay. Also, they have tracking door to door, which USPS does not have.
Please do not try to disrupt a service that is extremely beneficial to many sellers.
Excellent point!
There are still many cherrypicking opportunities on Ebay but you have to spend the time to scan through all the garbage.
It's still fun and it's still profitable.........a proven recipe for success.
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
You deal in error coins. For esoteric items, a venue like eBay makes a lot more sense. For more mainstream coins, the BST is also a good choice.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Just curious....how much of the shipping costs is import duties? Item dollar for dollar how do the shipping costs compare with GC or Heritage. My experience has been if I need to insure an item it's much cheaper through the Global Shipping program and I have absolutely no hassles if something is lost making a claim! I totally agree with your position on a cheap coin as they ship priority mail or Fed-Ex etc. But what about a $1000 coin for example?
I gave USACOINBOOK a look and might give it a try!
No duty if the total cost (including shipping charges) comes in under NZ$400 (approx US$272). GC charges $16 plus $1 per additional coin. Heritage is something like three times that amount - which means items I purchase from Heritage get routed through a contact I have in the US (which is also the path taken when the duty threshold is breached).
eBay's Global Shipping runs something like $25 from there to here. With my typical purchases running under $200, that's just too big of a bite.
Smitten with DBLCs.
I don't know if you are aware. The USPS rates have skyrocketed. Pretty sure my actual minimum cost to ship to New Zealand with a discount through ebay is between $12.00 + $13.00. If I go to the Post Office it's over $14 and that's without any insurance. To get insurance you have to go Priority mail and I am sure the cost will easily be $25.00.
The GC rate I quoted includes insurance. I do seem to recall Ian stating that GC's shipping charges didn't actually cover their shipping costs. I might have to move!
Smitten with DBLCs.
Maybe they could add a search criteria to include or exclude x number of times relisted...
http://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/publishedset.aspx?s=142753
https://www.autismforums.com/media/albums/acrylic-colors-by-rocco.291/
Per eBay's Update on Good Til Cancelled
"For GTC listings, end date indicates the next date of renewal, and time left indicates the time left until renewal. Just as you do today, you can start, end, or relist your items at any time you choose."
https://community.ebay.com/t5/2019-Early-Seller-Update/Update-on-Good-Til-Cancelled/m-p/29556571#M1845
The questions they will not seem to answer is "will you lose your listing and the ability to relist without starting from scratch". That is a big deal for me. They are also banking on folks missing ending the listing in time IMHO!
It's still a good source for finding the real websites of some dealers.
What is unclear about "Just as you do today...relist your items at any time you choose."
Uhh, there are no auctions on Ebay, not really. It is all fixed pricing. Some coins have been on for 5-10 years....like this one:
https://ebay.com/itm/1910-S-Barber-Half-Dollar-50C-NGC-Uncirculated-Rare-Certified-BU-MS-Coin/183725205578?hash=item2ac6e0284a:g:IIMAAOxy--NRrqOi:sc:USPSFirstClass!84043!US!-1
Here are some screen snips of all Holdered Barber Halves on Ebay - One showing all auction (fixed prices) and the other showing auction style listings.
Can you guess which is the auction style snip?
Tyler
Finally. That Eternitycoin is the bane of my existence. When you go to Seated Half Dollars, Eternitycoin is like the coin circus has come to town with all of its freak show characters.
Maybe but ebay reps have been pointedly asked about this on several closed threads and they would not answer!
Well! Ebay did it. As of today my only fixed price option is "Good til Cancelled".
Still haven't figured out what I am going to do.
I had a high end baseball card they wanted to automatically drop 10% after 10 days.
Then continually drop 10% until sold. At least they stopped at about 50% off.
The hell you say?
It's a good place for the junk I sell across slot of collectible caregories.
BST: KindaNewish (3/21/21), WQuarterFreddie (3/30/21), Meltdown (4/6/21), DBSTrader2 (5/5/21) AKA- unclemonkey on Blow Out
eBay has been successful for me and I have about 300 items good till cancelled and I applaud them going to gtc. It is a variable selling expense vs shows which are a fixed cost issue where results mixed. I sold 2 fairly high ticket coins last weekend on the Bay doing well with over 30 pct margin. I occasionally auction bullion material starting around melt or say coins starting (blowout) around bluesheet then dropping opening bid say 5 pct if no activity. It costs me 15-17 pct sales operate on the Bay which means about a 30 pct margin to be successful.
The market needs fresh retail buyers / investors. At shows attend regularly it can be the same old lookey look broke crowd. I am acquiring low pop, CAC material, gold and getting rid of generics. Currency has done well especially with the $60 and under high markup items. Also focus on nice world slabbed material single digit low pop - keystone markup as likely have only one in room. Strong metals prices will boost the market.
I do move material at shows at say bid plus 10 pct or sometimes just $5 over cost or bid but a lot of them don’t have any money! I have been successul getting 50 pct over the CAC bid in the sheet on my CAC material and buy these when can get below bid like the other day with AS.
Glad eBay made fixed listings good till cancelled makes my work easier. I get x number for free with the store. eBay has a great search engine and I just run searches for am looking for. International business has been booming for me on the Bay too. Been amazed at the intl buyers buying CSA and obsoletes.
In 2015 the Houston Oil Crash crushed the job market and ended a lot of people’s careers here - high unemployment, overloaded job market, age bias in job search, bankruptcies, cc default, and occasional crap jobs in lower pay hostile work environment. Recovery slow. Consequently shows here not as lucrative as many other locales.
So at the shows I will make the guy a deal if he is for real and has the cash.
This could be a great change. I think they need to refactor their 'best match' algorithm to put more weight on watchers. This would alleviate the issue of just ending and relisting the gtc listings. Anything that keeps EC and others from flooding out everyone with these 3 day renewals would be good.
Aercus Numismatics - Certified coins for sale
Does anyone know if when a Good Til Cancelled listing ends then automatically renews, will it show up as a newly listed item in searches when buyers sort by new items in their search?
I would always use the 30 day listing, wait awhile after it ends (days, weeks), then relist it for another 30 days. I assume this method treated the item as a new listing when I relist thus putting it in the front of users when they sort for new items. I'm wondering if the GTC listings will give me the same result.
Inquiring minds want to know this as well as many other questions. I have read all the ebay discussions about this and all they can do is push their hype. Very few pointed questions have been answered and most discussions have been closed!
I guess we'll just have to wait & see and run a few tests to see what results we get.
I was thinking of upgrading my store to get more free listings so I don't get hit with relisting fees so much, but I'll wait until the fall to make a decision on that because coins get slower in the summer months.
I have changed many of my 7 day BINs to 7 day auctions with higher than 99 cent starting prices. The insertion prices aren't bad because of my store free insertions. Then they will stay in my closed unsold list for easy relisting if they do not sell.
I have been selling on eBay since 1997. Things have changed. Most changes - like this year's have been pretty minor. Some changes I liked. Some changes I hated. I adjusted and have continued to successfully sell.
I have sold on Amazon. I have sold on my own website. I've done a few local shows. I've sold at coin club. I've consigned to major auction houses. I've sold to people on this forum. Every venue has its place.
If you let your anger get in the way of your judgment, you are only hurting yourself. There are frustrating things about EVERY venue.
That's what I was thinking of doing. I just can't justify a static cost of $300 a month! Most especially since Cassimi hates me! I spent about an hour on the phone today with an ebay supervisor. I even showed him some of my 10 day auction listings that are priced well below the going rate. 16 out of 25 had 0 YES! ZERO views after 5 days. Nothing but canned answers!
You do realize your stored info disappears after 90 days.....but I will wager that will be reduced shortly!
I just can't get onboard with the way ebay is treating sellers. I was a gold powerseller before they launched Cassimi. In 3 months I was a bronze. The problem with Cassimi is it is great for Walmart type stuff. But for coins and the sort it always puts the crap(lower priced) stuff ahead of the quality stuff.
LOL! I see the door...I see a bright sun on the other side of it. If other ways don't work for me I or my heirs are going to have some fresh material down the road!
As an added thought. I quit selling on ebay in 2000 when they got crazy! It was to the point that ebay was making as much or more than I did just for having their computers clicking away. After time I believe they realized their mistake and also made it a safer environment for buyers 1st...but also sellers. They were also investing a lot more into customer service.
Now they are after the cash cow. They are doing nothing but a money grab. They will snare thousands of casual listers with a 35 cent listing fee every month. You will also begin to realize if you don't pay their bribe...alias promoted listing fees you will find yourself sinking to the bottom of the food chain.
Yeah, $300 a month is a big cost to overcome, especially when things are slow in the summer. I'm only signed up for the $22 store w/ 250 fixed listings. The jump I'll go to next is where I think you might be currently at, $60 w/ 1000 fixed listings. Based on my current volume that would still work ok for me. Ebay really needs another store level in-between the $60 & $300 level. Maybe a $150 level store. Maybe suggest that to your ebay rep, but I'm sure nothing would come of it in the short term.
I do see that unsold listings disappear from the store in 90 days. It was easy to keep up with in the past when they would have a free listing offer, I'd re-list everything. Now if they have a free listing offer and I re-list them all, they will all list as Good til Cancelled, and start charging a bunch to auto relist when I don't want them relisted right away.
I do notice I get less views on items, but I don't recall any at zero. The biggest thing I've noticed is that I've had to double my number of active listings over the past years to get the same dollar volume of sales.
I'm not familiar w/ Cassimi. Is that a listing tool?
So what happens when all sellers "promote" their listings so they can get views?
Will there be a "new and improved Super Duper Promotion?"
It reminds me of cheating in sports to gain an edge and keep up because "everyone else is cheating."
I have been after ebay from the get go when they changed the anchor store @$149 per month to $300 per month @10,000 listings. Kept getting promises,promises and when they did roll out knew options they included the 2 smaller options along with the enterprise @100,000 listings! Why not just make that unlimited listings?
Cassimi is/was their latest greatest search engine.
That's where the battle begins. You choose how much of a percentage of your sales price you wish to spend. Right now most categories recommend 5-6%. If your item sells you pay that along with the FVF fees. You do see where this is going....well he's giving 5% so I'll give 6% so I have better visibility. I loath those who are feeding eBay's greed. If you want to know who the sellers are just look at the listings which are sponsored.