I will never understand ebayers.

MSD61

I know I have asked this once before but I have to gripe about it. Why do the auctions with crummy pics and stupid information seem to go for a higher price than the auctions with nice clear pics and great information???? What I'm confused about is I had a coin for sale on ebay with nice images and clear, honest information that sold for half of one that had terrible pics and little information. Why is that????

WhiteLighnin

I think alot of times people think that someone who can't take a good picture might not know exactly how nice the coin really is and are takin a chance that they might be gettin a steal???? Maybe?????

wjd283

They probably use shills ?



I was selling average Morgan and Peace $s for $7 to $8.50 starting bid and they'd get one bid and sell for $7 to $8.50.I started starting them at $1 and they started ending from $14 to $17.50.

Ebay is wierd !

WhiteLighnin

<< <i>They probably use shills ? >>

I been seein alot of auctions lately that i have wondered about, that's for sure.....

Aethelred

Who knows?

BigAlan

Ebay is for the accepting not for the understanding.

spoon

The bidders think they're getting a deal.. that no one else could possibly be as smart as them and recognize what a nice coin it actually is. Then they bid. And, oops, someone else is smart too, so that makes them mad.. so they must outbid this person. And on and on... until it's proven that they're not quite so smart as petty.

lordmarcovan

I remember when Mongoose stole a 1799 ANACS MS63 RB Brit halfpenny (with a lot of red) from me once for a little over a hundred bucks (EF price). At the same time my auction was listed, and "featured in category", and so on, there was another high-end 1799 halfpenny up for sale. It was a nice piece, but it was an AU-ish slider, raw, and much browner than my coin. It ended up selling for way more than the one I had paid big bucks to "feature" in two categories (by mistake- a mistake I won't repeat.) I think it went for almost 50% more than my redder, nicer, more-publicized slabbed piece in the end. I'll never figure that out.

At least when my coin was "stolen" from me, it was taken by a friend and forum member.

(and I'd stolen it from the Mushroom Man, myself.)

Askari

Wjd283 has noted an interesting phenomenon that I've observed as well. The starting price often has quite a bit to do with the final price. Set it too close, and it doesn't run; set it low and watch it run (or not). I recently won two very nice, large Wyon medallions. The prices were set to start in the $165-180 range and in each case I got it for that. Frankly, I expected a snipe or two out of the usual competition. Each was worth considerably more and I'll bet if he'd started them below $100 there'd have been more action and perhaps more run-up. I've seen the same thing happen with inexpensive coins, too. Too close to book and no run-up (unless it's an exceptionally attractive design).

I also agree that greedy bidders often think they'll hit paydirt with a lousy image and clueless seller. In fact it happens often enough that some less-than-fully-ethical sellers actually pretend to be clueless.

wybrit

Here's a classic.

A 1983 British mint set, which fetches around $10-$15, sells for $45!! Lousy picture too!!! Where are these bidders when I sell???

Link

weresteve

<< <i>A 1983 British mint set, which fetches around $10-$15, sells for $45!! Lousy picture too!!! Where are these bidders when I sell??? >>



What I would like to know is where most of the reasonably priced British mint sets dissapeared to when I was putting a set together. Had to pass on several because they got bid up too high. At least I was able to finish a decent set in about six months or so of 1982 - 2005 sets. Depending upon how kind PCGS is ... I will probably be in the market for a few more at a later date.

Now if I can only find one little coin without having to purchase an entire proof set I will be happy ...

Steve

agraded

Maybe some people like a bit of mystery...they don't want see everything. That may work for me on ladies clothing but I like to see my coins in the stark light of reality.