Quick analysis of purchases/wins eBay vs GC vs HA + random thoughts
SpikeInPhilly
Posts: 58 ✭✭✭
I decided to run a quick analysis of my PCGS-certified purchases or winning bids since the start of 2023 to see where I'm getting the "best deals." This reflects some significant buying activity (I keep telling myself to slow down and save/invest the money or spend elsewhere, but I haven't listened yet...) so the sample size is big enough to make the data meaningful. By "best deals," I'm comparing what I pay with the latest PCGS price guide numbers tied to the PCGS registry.
Based on purchase amount (including buyer's premium and usually including negligible shipping), these purchases are spread across three sources, with 2.44% on eBay, 42.83% on GreatCollections, and 54.73% on Heritage. I didn't include other sources in the analysis.
Winning bids (including BP) on GreatCollections average 79.40% of the current PCGS retail prices. eBay purchases average 72.32% of current retail. Heritage purchases average 68.38%, reflecting the biggest "discount" (relative to retail).
My thought here is that Heritage's listing pages keep my bidding in check a little more as their item information includes past realized prices for similar items as well as wholesale prices. That probably anchors the price I'm willing to pay a little lower. I was surprised to see that my auction winnings on eBay have landed me "better deals" than those on GC.
If I ever get to the point of consigning my collection or parts theerof -- if that even is the best way to realize potential gains -- this information might be interesting to consider along with the various seller's fees, etc. I could easily break down the data by type or denomination to see where I'd likely be more successful for each coin.
Collecting: Cents, Dansco 7070, Half Dollars, 1947, 1976, random pieces I like
My PCGS Registry
Comments
That’s an interesting data point. It certainly would be interesting to break it down further by series. You might also want to split up toned vs not toned (if you had both). And then there might be more factors, like sticker status, old holder vs new, low pop vs high pop, top pop, etc.
2.44% on eBay, 42.83% on GreatCollections, and 68.38% on Heritage.
Right There is 113% of your buys- yes?
Wondercoin.
In my experience, Heritage has been the most expensive for seated quarters. GC has been the best.
First thing I noticed, as well!
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
What kind of coins? What grading service?
Corrected in the OP
Collecting: Cents, Dansco 7070, Half Dollars, 1947, 1976, random pieces I like
My PCGS Registry
A wide variety... All denominations, classic silver and gold, classic commems, modern coins as well. Most under $1,500 a piece. This only includes PCGS certified.
Collecting: Cents, Dansco 7070, Half Dollars, 1947, 1976, random pieces I like
My PCGS Registry
Forget the percentages. How many lots from each source>
The 2.44% is probably a very small sample.
It can be interesting to conduct a data analysis of your coin acquisitions. But they key word is ‘your.’ This is due to everyone collecting different series, across different grade levels, at different times. and according to our own judgment of eye appeal.
I’m not saying that you do, but you could be buying straight dogs and therefore your pricing would reflect a different relativity as compared to say, someone who’s collecting A++++ eye appeal coins. Also, using the PCGS price guide as your sole source of pricing reference can/will lead to accuracy issues. Personally, I use the sheet for my comparisons as I find it much more accurate.
To each their own of course, but I find eBay to be predominantly a dumping ground. Of course there are deals to be found on fleaBay from time to time - that’s for sure. I don’t mind paying slightly more for great pictures too, like those found at GC. The bad and intentionally misleading pictures so commonly found on eBay often lead to returns, which then occasionally lead to issues, which then take money and time to sort out. My time is valuable.
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
Individual items:
35 eBay
277 GC
220 Heritage
The average price of items purchased at Heritage is a lot higher, which makes sense as lower-priced coins make more sense with the lower minimum buyer's premium at GreatCollections.
I'm not sure of a way for a non-dealer to pull greysheet prices, but that would be a better benchmark. I agree that the data may not translate to other people, but it's interesting nonetheless.
Collecting: Cents, Dansco 7070, Half Dollars, 1947, 1976, random pieces I like
My PCGS Registry
Heritage does a fantastic job of providing pricing data including the greysheet prices.
You must have had a lot of fun buying over 500 coins since 2023 and you have put together some interesting statistics. If some of these coins were CACed, can you give a separate breakdown for them?
Looking at only the coins with CAC stickers (don't have it broken down green vs. gold but it's mostly green), purchase price vs PCGS guide price:
GreatCollections 86.72% of PCGS price guide
Heritage 68.95% of PCGS price guide
None at eBay
And it has been a lot of fun! 👍 My office looks like a disaster, though.
Collecting: Cents, Dansco 7070, Half Dollars, 1947, 1976, random pieces I like
My PCGS Registry
Oh it’s easy my friend. You just go buy it from the publisher online: greysheet.com.
You can pick a plan and subscribe, or buy a single issue. You can also go the digital route, the hard copy magazine route, or the combo. I don’t sell enough to justify the subscription so I just do the combo every 3 months or so, (unless there’s an interesting article I want access to **that ** month).
It’s like $55 per issue for the combo. You have to dig into the site a bit to find the single issue, Under “products.”
Having fun while switching things up and focusing on a next level PCGS slabbed 1950+ type set, while still looking for great examples for the 7070.
Well, based on this if i were to sell, I'm going with Great Collections!
Perhaps, but it could be misleading. They are clearly not the same coins at both sites. The OP Says the GC coins are cheaper.
As I've said before, some material is better in different venues and there is no single correct venue. I buy coins from both Heritage and GC to resell in eBay for a profit. My data would tell you that ebay is the right answer, but that would be misleading as well.
I have noticed the GC trend increasing in my series of interest. I will continue to use them as I really, really dislike Heritage. Ebay is a crap shoot. Sometimes you can still get a deal but depends on the image quality and knowledge of the competition.
The 3 seem seem fairly close, 73pct avg. So a super pickup, high bids on badly wanted items could skew that data. Conversely a super pickup can too.
eBay I can use AS, GC I have to beat out other bidders in final seconds. Do my homework days before. Lots quality material on GC, bought a lot there.
Whatever win I just mark it up accordingly. For US look at CDN bid, auction history in deciding any max bid. Avoid bid wars with some rabid bidder. Have had some really fantastic pickoffs.
@Cougar1978 It's a shame you edited your post. Can you please give us a breakdown on your security levels?
Level 1 -
Level 2 -
Level 3 -
Level 4 - You only
Level ???
Chopmarked Trade Dollar Registry Set --- US & World Gold Showcase --- World Chopmark Showcase
Defcon 1!!!!!