Interesting New Auction Marketing Concept... PAYMENTS!

BigKidAtHeart

I just saw this not in an ebay card listing
and I thought about how this COULD be an
interesting new way to market your high dollar
cards to a new or potential buyer out there.

NOTE: BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DOLLAR POTENTIAL WITH THIS CARD, I WILL CONSIDER A TWO-PAYMENT PLAN... 1ST PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 10 CALENDAR DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION - 2ND PAYMENT MUST BE MADE WITHIN A MONTH!

I am not sure about how it would all work, but
I know that a "layaway plan" would help my
card budget from time to time for that really
expensive card I just had to win, but could
not quite afford yet. I could win the auction Now,
and then pay overtime...

Anyone else think this is interesting?

~jeff

RobE

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Paypal allows seller protection on partial payments.

thefootballcardstore

See something you like? Can't (or don't want) to pay all at once? But want to reserve your card TODAY?!

Hi Jeff - It works great. I currently manage about 35 different layaway accounts.
Granted - not all of them have a balance right now but since I introduced the service about 18 months ago there has been more and more interest. If someone has opened a "Buyer's Account" as we call them, eBay purchases (as well as Anonymous purchases, meaning items we win on your behalf) become eligible.

For someone that collects on a monthly budget, or wants to take to advantage by reserving cards, you really can't go wrong.

BTW - I'll just take this chance to thank all of the board members that I have had the pleasure to to business with in 2003. We will be expanding our on line inventory to include more PSA 9 cards in 2004, and extending services to include Anonymous Buyer, Auction Consignment, and will also begin to submit cards to PSA on your behalf.

Thanks for the thread Jeff - I think the reason that most sellers don't do it is because they need the working capital right away.
We just decided to make it happen, it has been win win for everyone.

Jeremy

BigKidAtHeart

<< <i>Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think Paypal allows seller protection on partial payments. >>

no I doubt they do.
You would have to only do this
with reputable dealers that you know
and trust (which may be a very short list)
~jeff

Kid4hof03

I just wanted to chime in and say that I have used the "buyers account" that Jeremy referred to. Thanks to this option I was able to buy several sets and a high grade card that I needed during the Christmas season and not feel the "crunch" of it. The cards were even better than expected and the service was absolutely outstanding. This was not my first purchase from thefootballcardstore.com and I guarantee it will not be my last either. Sorry to sound like a commercial, but if you are in need of high grade football cards and appreciate professional and friendly service check out Jeremy's website, it's as good as it gets!

Abe

cavalier

Our payment plan is called Visa/MC/Discover/Amex -- take as long as you want and get your item now.

Seriously any time you see something you want email the seller and ask if they would be willing to work out any payment plan -- over the years we have worked successfully with buyers on dozens of occasions. And in the store it is commonplace to do so.

Shameless self Promotion of current auctions

qualitycards

JEFF - I too have been using a layaway plan from day 1. I cater the plan to the customers needs and budget, usually my standard one is 1/3 down, 1/3 in the next 30 days, and the remaining 1/3 30 days later. Unless its an unusual circumstance, I hold the cards til final payment is made. Works for the buyer to lock in cards at his rate of payment, works for me knowing I have items sold and x amount coming in ...jay

nearmint

A payment plan never occurred to me until a couple of weeks ago, when two of my customers asked for one. The only downside I could think of was that a buyer might want to back out and get his down payment back. So I said sure, why not?

Mike

jmullen

I use payment plans on all of my big purchases. Being only 25 and wanting high profile cards -- it is the only way I can afford it.

For example, I had a payment plan of $600 per month on a card. The card, however, cost $7,000 so it took me almost a year to pay it off. However, now I have a $7,000 card that I would have never had if the seller wanted all the money up front.

Another time, I had a payment plan of $400 a month for a $3,500 card.

Paypal does allow for recurring payments so its easy to set one up using paypal.

One thing to note is that it is really easy to convince a seller to take a payment plan -- even if it takes a year to pay off. For example, the one seller only wanted $3,000 for a card and said he must get the money immediately. I asked him if I could pay him $350 a month for 10 months for a total of $3,500. The seller did not hesitate to make the deal.

Money talks. For all you collectors that can only afford a few hundred a month ... go the way of payment plans. It is the best way to get a kick ass collection. And give up buying those modern boxes!!! what a waste of money!!!

Scoop

Recently I decided to sell my 1956 Topps baseball set (#7 on current basic set registry list with grade weight of 8.01) due to financial reasons -- two sons currently in college -- and I would definitely offer this payment option to any prospective buyer. With 7 PSA 9's, 1 PSA 7 and the rest PSA 8's (all NQ), my set has current SMR value of between $35,000 and $40,000 and it would be difficult even for larger dealers to come up with entire amount at one time.

Offer would be 25% of negotiated price down, and the balance due before October of this year --- deadline for tuition payments. (Only offers for entire set at this time)

Email address: scoppe67@msn.com

thefootballcardstore

Sounds like the idea is picking up steam!

Xena6969

HSN does something like this its called flex pay for there stuff, No I dont buy there junk but my wife does. I really would like to see this option available from more sportscard dealers it definately would help me out a ton so if anyone has a large amount of 1970 topps baseball psa 8 they would like to sell using that method let me know.