Ebay Observation: If Two of the Same, the Second Sells for Less

ChuckC

I just paid way more than I should have for a coin. I paid $61 while just now (about 5 days since I won) the same coin went for $43. (both were 1937 PCGS MS66FB mercs). I am about to prove this again with a merc offered two hours apart...the first one went for $53, the second one has been fixed at $41 for a while now and has one hour left.

Has this happened to anyone else? Anyone else observe this?

billboat

It might be $41 now but a lot can happen in an hour.

Russ

There really is no rhyme or reason to eBay. The second of the same is just as likely to sell for more as it is to sell for less.

Russ, NCNE

FatMan

My first question is how do you get the same coin selling so often. Sound to me like you are buying slabs and not coins. Just maybe the one that closed earlier was a nicer coin?

sliderider

I have seen similar items sell in a broad range of prices. Most of us have more than one source for our coin purchases and have many irons in the fire at the same time. The pieces that close later, at a lower price, probably do so because all the underbidders in the earlier listings have found alternative sources for the coin(s) in question.

ChuckC

Well, I'll post the links, and you can compare yourself (regarding the 1937).

$43 Merc

$61 Merc

08HALA20

My observations

The $61 coin had better pics and 100% positive feedback.

Joe

FatMan

And free shipping. Although the $61 does not state a return policy, the other states that all sales are final (no returns are allowed). Also he uses "Estate" in the title of all his auctions. Many seasoned ebayers run from auctions with that word in the title. It has become almost synomous with "Scammer"

LindeDad

Listen to the FatMan. I buy almost all my coins on eBay. Estate is usally too much shipping and poor service.

nwcs

Yeah, a lot of it can be chance and visibility of items. Some sellers come away happy and some sad. Myself, I'm hoping I'll be happy.

But for the buyer, nothing is better than finding the right coin that nobody notices.

ChuckC

ah i see...I just ran an auction w/ free shipping and a no-bull description, and I had a huge response plus I have 100% pos feedback. Unfortunately, I just bid on a coin from the 'estate' guy. $4 for shipping. his feedback does not worry me though. It stands at 99.8% with 0 neg in the last year, scrace neutral (2 total) and many many positive messages.

ChuckC

BTW, the coin that went for $53 a couple hours ago went for $53 again (BY ME!). I guess my observation does not hold. Like you guys said, there's uncertainty in auctions, and the way a seller markets him/herself could dictate price. Lessons learned by all especially me