Do A Lot Of Us Still Use Ebay

Typetone · April 13, 2003 8:29AM

I have really given up on Ebay. With all the jerk sellers out there, I do not find it worth the risk. When I know a seller, I will work with him personally outside or Ebay, assuming it is not too late for him to take down the auction. Usually, I can find the coins I want from well-know reputable dealers, or from sellers right here on the B/S/T or Set Registry Boards.

When I want to sell low priced coins on Ebay, I do not do them myself, but send them to Carl Wohlford, who has a nice ebay business going. For a small percentage, he images the coins, lists them, sends them out, collects the cash, deals with feedback and deadbeats, and sends me a check.

Is everyone else still hot on ebay, or are you dropping off?

Greg

DCAMFranklin · April 13, 2003 8:35AM

"Deals with feedback and deadbeats", so there are "jerk" buyers as well?

tjkillian · April 13, 2003 8:37AM

Yes, I still like eBay for both buying and selling. I have not been burned yet and I get much higher prices for the stuff I sell than I would if I sold them to a dealer. It is all of buyer beware (caveat emptor).

Tom

nwcs · April 13, 2003 8:41AM

When I first got back into the hobby, I was on ebay all the time snapping up things. Sometimes I scored well. A couple times I lost big time. But most of the time I got an ok deal.

After the grading class, though, I realized how essential it is to see a coin before buying it. So I basically don't buy coins from ebay anymore.

kieferscoins · April 13, 2003 8:41AM

I have gotten more into it within the last 6 months. Good prices for things that I sell and alot of fun watching auction progess. I just made a powerseller stauts this morning.

Ebay: kiefersebay@yahoo.com

Cameron Kiefer

Russ · April 13, 2003 8:45AM

There are still some HUGE scores that can be found on eBay.

Russ, NCNE

lordmarcovan · April 13, 2003 8:47AM

Though I'm doing far less on eBay these days, it's not 'cause of the snakes in the grass. I do more selling locally now, and love not having to package and ship stuff! Some things, most notably world coins, do better with a global market, though, and eBay's tough to beat in that department.

Coulport · April 13, 2003 8:50AM

What's EBay?

FatMan · April 13, 2003 8:51AM

<< I just made a powerseller stauts this morning. >>

Wow....a Good Guy and a Power Seller. You have reached the pinnacle.

I use eBay all the time. Sometimes for coins, but more often I get all kinds of other things. eBay.....a great bastion of capitalism for the little guy. Good deals, Bad deals, lots of risk, profits and loses. Actually, not much different than NASDAQ, NYSE, AMEX. Just on a smaller scale. Make sure your eyes are wide open and always remember, Buyer Beware. America...What a country!

keets · April 13, 2003 8:52AM

hey greg

i haven't given up on eBay and try to use it for more than just buying and selling. it's a good way for me to monitor selling prices and availability of some coins i'm looking for. i also do as you do, contact sellers from time to time regarding coins they've listed, though my style is a bit different from yours in that i wait until a coin has ended unsold.

i've never had any trouble with a transaction on eBay that wasn't easily reconciled and doubt that if i did it would be enough to sour me. i have, however, limited how much i buy coins there simply because i've switched gears and begun to purchase more raw coins. gotta do that with the coins in my grubby hands!! books, audio equipment, a camera and other items bought/sold at eBay have always been pleasant experiences.

while some bemoan eBay, i've always looked at it as an oppurtunity to buy coins near wholesale and without a doubt way below retail. what i can't get wholesale i just buy at shows, shops or online at retail.

al h.

CLASSICS · April 13, 2003 9:00AM

ebay is becoming full of idiots! with over graded, over priced, enhanced photos, artifical toned, and scam artist....yes, there are some good sellers,if you look hard enought they can be found.....i have done business with a few of the forum members here, they are great......i beleive ebay use to be a very good place to buy and sell...........however as time has passed, thats no longer the case....ebay is aware of all the crap that is going on........they cant be that stupid, can they?........they get thier fees, and if you dont like the sellers feedback, they say dont bid......mean while so many people are getting ripped off........sad....

ms71 · April 13, 2003 9:03AM

I still spend a fair amount of time perusing coins on ebay, but I do much less bidding. You really have to see a coin in person to make an informed buying decision, and there are just too many potential pitfalls on ebay. The only exception for me is when a top-notch dealer (duvallgold comes to mind) has something of interest on ebay.
Just this week there were two PCGS MS64 Type-I gold dollars listed by a seller named "saulww" out of Pittsburgh (one of the dealers in the Harold Weitz firm, I think). The images were so blurry that you could just barely make out that it was a Type-I dollar, you could make absolutely no judgement as to condition. I e-mailed the seller to ask for a clearer image, they never bothered to respond. What raised my suspicions was that both lots had "buy it now" prices below the Weitz firm's "buy" price for Type-I MS-64s published in Coin World. It's stuff like this that have to give you pause on higher-value items, unless you have no other access to the market. When I first got back into coins, I made a lot of purchases on ebay. I now look at it as paying my "tuition" to learn about the online market and what to look out for. It has been quite a few months since I bought a coin on ebay, and I would be very surprised if I were to make a serious run at anything more often than once every six months or less.

Dog97 · April 13, 2003 9:06AM

My collection is full of $100 "junk" coins so I had lost some interest in eBay the last several months.
Then Keith Dagen lists a 1997 MS67 Washington 25¢ (highest graded) and somebody else a 1897 $2.5 MS62 Quarter Eagle and along with some Morgans BOOM there goes 2 week's paychecks.
Kinda on again off again I guess.

RGL · April 13, 2003 9:13AM

Just received my purple (500 positive feedbacks) star and going strong... eBay is cherrypicking heaven. Sure, sometimes, it does not pan out, but then, I am not gambling big bucks on what looks to be a promising image. And then, there are other times, when you can make major scores, like a $360 coin for $10, ala my 1960 PR-68 DCAM Jeff (36/3) which arrived Friday from PCGS!

If I were to turn around and sell the coins from my latest submission -- LINK -- I would have a profit of several hundred dollars, and every single coin on that submission -- save two -- were eBay cherrypicks. But, as with everything, you have to be selective and caveat emptor.

Barry · April 13, 2003 9:26AM

I still find Ebay to be a great source. Sure, I look at plenty of coins before bidding on one. Isn't that part of the fun, just like at a show - looking at all the coins?

khayse · April 13, 2003 9:46AM

I use Ebay for buying generic stuff (proof silver eagles, other stuff I missed out on
buying from the mint). I also use it to sell coins that I've upgraded.

For coins I'm looking for (early to mid Walkers) it's just not enough of a target rich environment.
What I do find I don't have enough confidence in the quality.

My time seems to be better spent going to a few dealers that I've worked with before.

-KHayse

CarlWohlforth · April 13, 2003 9:48AM

Thanks for the good plug Greg! (I swear I didn't put him up to it!)

There are lots of flakes out there. If you can avoid them there are good finds. Heck, Russ found a multi thousand dollar Deep Cameo Accent Hair Kennedy in a cheap proof set! That is a true cherry pick. I'd like to do the same. I guess he has an eye for it and spent loads of time and took lots of shots...

Anyway there are a few good sellers out there. I just had fun bidding on an Anaconda coin. It has a few hours left and is worth more than the current price, but it got over my head...

fcloud · April 13, 2003 10:21AM

I continue to buy on ebay. I always check feedback, and if the seller responds in a negitive manner to someone they have ripped off, I simply don't buy from that seller no matter what they are selling. I have also stopped buying any coins that are not certified (unless I have experience with the seller). There are many good/honest sellers there, and to stop using ebay because there are a few trying to ruin it for everyone, simply doesn't make sense.

ursabear · April 13, 2003 10:38AM

I continue to buy and sell on eBay fairly frequently. It is a great venue for me since I can't typically get to coin shows or clubs - I've got way too much family time and work time to branch out.

It has given me a great living-room micro-business. I have had a few troubles, but they've been very few and far between.

bigbadchad777 · April 13, 2003 10:51AM

Ebay RULES. I buy & SELL COINS all of the time.

My buyer backed out of the last coin I sold. Said he didn't have enough $$ to pay. That idiot. He deserves negative feedback but I fear leaving him any as he will do the same to me. I can't afford any false negatives. I am at 100% positive.

ARCO · April 13, 2003 10:56AM

I always get very good results on my auctions thanks the legions of TURDS selling on Ebay. A good seller is swamped with people and bids looking for nice coins.

Since I buy only circulated coins averaging $10-$150.00 I usually make out nicely with patience.

Tyler

ARCO · April 13, 2003 11:00AM

As a note. I went to the ANA show in Salt Lake city a while back and looked over every dealers goods for coins. I left with a $250.00 F12 1892-O barber half and a $50.00 Barber half. They were the only nice original coins I could find with nice eye appeal and properly graded during the large national show.

Ebay on a monthly basis offers many more coins in my series than a large national show. Cant beat that!

Tyler

ConstellatioCollector · April 13, 2003 11:02AM

I still use ebay. I'm currently selling a 1785 Nova Constellatio PCGS AU58. The fees seem to keep going up though!

segoja · April 13, 2003 11:28AM

Greg,

Still use it to sell. Occasionally buy.

It's a;ways hit or miss.

Put a 73-S Ike out there in MS68. had a BIN for I think $225, and sold it for $262. Go figure!

Had some 72-S Ikes out there for $75 and couldn't sell em.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

You jsut hope you win in the combined total.

James

ksteelheader · April 13, 2003 10:32PM

I still use e-bay. I don't buy like I used to though. I have become more educated, thanks in part to the good people on this forum. Last week I snatched a really nice accented hair from a forum member with a last second snipe..........Ken

Colorfulcoins · April 13, 2003 11:52PM

I still use ebay for both buying and selling.....buying when there's a good deal and selling when I have something that will not be a premium sale item.

Lakesammman · April 14, 2003 12:05AM

ebay is just like a coin show - there are idiots and ugly coins but also some great deals and great sellers/buyers. Why should ebay be different than life in general??

Russ · April 14, 2003 1:39AM

<< Last week I snatched a really nice accented hair from a forum member with a last second snipe.. >>

Bite me.

Russ, NCNE

ksteelheader · April 14, 2003 1:49AM

Good afternoon, Russ, Sir.........

.........Ken

MrSunshine · April 14, 2003 2:18AM

Ebay is ok if you pay attention and shipping. I was searching mint sets and found two proof set listed as mint sets. I thought if the seller can't tell the difference between a mint set and a proof set, perhaps they don't check for variety. Forty dollars later, I had the coins in hand. I recieved a 58 set all dcam and a 61 frankie with ddr. Now if PCGS would return my coins with grades I'd be a happy camper.

doops · April 14, 2003 4:58PM

<< "Deals with feedback and deadbeats", so there are "jerk" buyers as well?

>>

yeah, you..

relayer · April 14, 2003 6:39PM

Maybe this is a sign of the times - All I see in the auctions are Power Sellers selling to other Power Sellers.

Perhaps there is no consumer market anymore and it's just power sellers trading coins back and forth?

Power Seller / Power Buyer #1

Power Seller / Power Buyer #2

ARCO · April 14, 2003 10:21PM

What other venue allows collectors to sell to other collectors at the going wholesale, retail, or even better rates? The local pawn shop guy sure the hell won't.

Tyler

Dave99B · April 15, 2003 1:23AM

eBay IS the market, like it or not. Nice material draws STRONG prices. Junk sits unsold.

It just takes time to sort through all the crap, much like your average coin show. It's just a GIGANTIC show, open 24 hrs a day.

The easilest way to find nice material is as follows: Just wait until Tyler lists some his Barbers that he's run all over the world for...

Dave

Dave99B · April 15, 2003 3:56AM

Baseball -

Tyler's handle is "TCHILD2".

He sells great Barber material, mainly halves. Sweet better date stuff. You will not be disappointed.

Dave

DCAMFranklin · April 15, 2003 1:35PM

<< 

<< "Deals with feedback and deadbeats", so there are "jerk" buyers as well?

>>

yeah, you.. >>

What's the matter PEPPERDOODLES? Business slowing down?

Do A Lot Of Us Still Use Ebay

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