Ebay for PSA Set Building?

scottsusor

I've now run across three PSA Registered Set collectors who say they either dislike Ebay or just flat out don't use it. The alternatives, of course, are to either: (1) rely 100% on one's own submissions or (2) buy direct from dealers who submit cards to PSA.

Just out of curiosity -- What percentage of PSA Registered Set collectors do not use Ebay at all and/or do not regularly monitor Ebay for graded cards they are looking for? What percentage rely 100% on their own submissions exclusively?

Scott

murcerfan

highend

i prefer to submit my own cards for the sets i'm working on, the thrill of turning a raw card into a PSA 9 or 10 is awesome. as a long time raw collector this, along with the challenge is what has drawn me to work on the 2 graded sets i am actively persuing.
if you don't use ebay you are at a MAJOR disadvantage, especially with the older issues, not a heck of alot 50's and 60's around that are worth submitting.

gemint

I think it's foolish to disregard any avenue for acquiring cards as long as you can get the quality you need for a price you're willing to pay. If someone pays a premium to what they'd pay on eBay or anywhere else, it doesn't make sense. I prefer to find raw cards and submit myself whenever possible. However, I also look to eBay for good deals or to acquire those tough to locate cards.

CON40

For completing my sets, I simply follow the path of least resistance, wherever that may take me!

fsjeter

3) You can also buy/trade with other registry members. I got several '67's for my registry that way. Your own submissions is definately a more cost efficient way than ebay but it still works for me. I've gotten the majority of the cards for my three sets from ebay.

Vargha

Stay away from eBay -- it is evil, eeeeeeeeeeeeevilllllllllll!!!

ctsoxfan

I largely submit my own, but that is because the sets I am working on currently (1976 through 1980) still have some quality raw cards around, if you look. But, no doubt I buy a lot on Ebay, and from other board members (thanks RobE!)...without Ebay, many cards would take forever to find, if you could find them at all.

magellan

<< <i>You can also buy/trade with other registry members. I got several '67's for my registry that way. Your own submissions is definately a more cost efficient way than ebay but it still works for me. I've gotten the majority of the cards for my three sets from ebay. >>



As fsjeter says , other collectors here can be a great source of cards , I've bought quite a few and sold some to other board members. Con probably stated it best for me though , the easiest way at the time for a particular card or cards is the way I'll go. One minor point of disagreement with fsjeter on this, commons can very often be bought for less than your cost of submitting raw .

Dave

mariner

I don't understand why some don't like eBay. It is great in my book. I don't limit my opportunities to build my registry sets. I do eBay, buy and sell, submit my raw cards that will walk the walk, and go to several large shows a year to buy. Also, I have found that the contact with other registry members has yielded new friends and great card deals. Also, I have contact with several trusted dealers around the country that I frequently do business with. Why would one limit themselves?

My eBay experience has been 98% positive with just a few glitches here and there, but no big deal.

Basilone

I agree with Vargha....stay away from eBay. You will only get ripped off and will end up paying above retail for your cards (especially those pesky star cards)

mariner

Basilone....

Not necessarily true....star cards can be had for 65-80% of SMR many times. Not always, but I have gotten some of mine at a very nice price...... a price definitely better than prices I would pay at shows.

ctsoxfan

I think he was being sarcastic, as was Vargha. (Trying to lessen the competition, eh guys? )

Vargha

I would never even think of such a thing. It would be wrong to win an auction for the opening bid.

Basilone

Yes..I was being sarcastic.

mariner

Sorry.....I was too dense to pick up on that......

Vargha

Don -- I completely understand. The current baseball season has affected me greatly as well.

mariner

Yep, the M's are hard to take this year.....I am a die hard so it is brutal.

scottsusor

Its really puzzling to me also why a PSA Registered Set builder would avoid Ebay. Having done some comparisons of identical cards at shows and/or for sale on online web sites to those that have sold on Ebay, I find that Ebay sales are virtually always for less than "retail price" -- often FAR LESS than "retail price." So I have to conclude that its something else.

Is it one or more bad experiences with Ebay that cause this? Or is it -- as somebody pointed out -- an issue concerning competition? At least one of the people who told me they avoid Ebay prefers to deal in direct negotiation with the seller. I can see the advantage of that when it comes to graded star/superstar cards because the "market price" does not fluctuate much. But for the heralded "low pop commons" -- where prices can fluctuate greatly -- I don't see where it would make a lot of sense for a seller to set a given price at a given time. If set too low, the seller will leave money on the table. If set too high, the buyer will think it unreasonable.

Scott

wildcat05

nice set

ctsoxfan

I'll take it one step further. I can't remember the last time I bought a graded card at a show (and, I attend a lot of shows). Dealers who set up their mountain of graded cards at shows (take the Fort for example) generally ask prices at or well above SMR. Many don't negotiate, or seem to want to. I had been looking for a nice 79 PSA 9 Smith RC for my set for a while, and found one at the last Fort show (dealer in particular escapes me, but he was a large PSA dealer). I asked for a price, to which he picked up his SMR (just like the Beckett is often used - ridiculous!) and he stated "Well, SMR is $450, so I can go $440." Seriously, he said that! I laughed, and walked away from his table, and as I was walking, he yelled after me, "How about $425?". Obviously, I kept walking.

Went home that night, popped on Ebay, found a reputable seller offering one, and won it for around $325.