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Ebay: What, no vintage buyers today?

jskirwinjskirwin Posts: 700 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I'm listing several lots of vintage cards, including 2 300+ lots of EX 1977 baseball (link)

So far I have had little action; both of the large lots are going for under $2. Unless they get sniped, I'm looking at a serious bathtaking here.

Have I done something wrong?

1. The listings end on Sat night - 12 midnite for West Coast crowd.
2. Condition accurate.
3. Listed card #s
4. Solid + feedback (91-100%)
5. Low shipping.
6. Low starting bid.

My other auctions aren't moving either. Is there a card show or something that is sucking up the vintage collectors?

Comments

  • phreakydancinphreakydancin Posts: 1,691 ✭✭
    1. You picked a pretty crappy looking card for your display picture. If you have some NM cards in the lot, use one of them for your picture. That RBI leaders card shows some serious corner wear.
    2. I think most folks around here would agree that 1977 is not vintage; it's considered modern.
    3. Modern cards averaging EX condition really aren't worth that much. They certainly won't appeal to anyone trying to put together a graded set, and someone putting together a raw set is probably trying to do so on the cheap.

    That said, you might be more successful if you pulled all the truly NM cards out of this group and sold them as a separate lot. Many collectors will see "NM" and assume that some might even be a little better.
  • jrdolanjrdolan Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
    Yeah, it's fair to say that EX-condition '77 cards aren't in high demand. Even PSA 8 or NM-MT attracts little interest these days. For modern cards that are plentiful in high grade, most collectors hold out for PSA 9 or straight Mint. It's not that the price isn't good ... it's that a lot of people have boxes of EX to EX-MT 1970s commons already. I do, anyway, and so do my friends.

    1972 is usually considered the cutoff point for "vintage." And some people think vintage has to be before World War II. image
  • BuccaneerBuccaneer Posts: 1,794 ✭✭
    phreaky and jr are right, mid-grade 1977 commons are 1) not vintage and 2) worth very little. One would accurately price the cards at 30-50% of book in their condition. (300) 1977 commons in EX is worth about $10-18. Factoring in the "bargain" pricing Ebay buyers expect, $5-10 would be a realistic sell price.

    I am interested in this because I am working my way up to selling my 1970s sets. I have so far sold off all of my 1950s raws, got some 1960s up right now and once I get the 1000+ 1960s raws sold, then it's on to the 1970s. Even though my volume will increase, I expect a continued diminishing rate of return. The key is not to have paid much for such cards in the first place.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,281 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<< occasionally one will have pen marks >>>

    This was a VERY bad idea to place cards with pen marks in this lot. Not that this lot was worth much anyway. But you should have just tossed these pen marked cards aside. Every prospective bidder will assume that any star cards are gonna have pen marks whether yours really do or not, because in many bulk lots with other sellers on ebay this assumption would be correct.
  • lostdart58lostdart58 Posts: 2,938 ✭✭✭
    jskirwin,

    The only thing you perhaps did wrong with your auction is having it end on saturday night and only a five day listing.

    As others have said already these cards in their present. condition are not worth alot......and 77 is not really vintage.

    You should get some last minute bids.

    Good luck.

    Collector of:Baseball
    1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better

    Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
    Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
    Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete


  • cybrbrdrcybrbrdr Posts: 17
    Jskirwin,
    The biggest issue is the auction time, in my opinion. Saturday night is the absolute worst. Very little
    ebay activity at that time. What you are looking for are the "stay at home" nights. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
    are best. I like to close auctions around 10:30 Eastern.
    Also, your average price per card ratio will be higher when you divide the auction up into smaller groups.
    I like to do team lots, scanning as many cards as possible.
  • ababsktbllababsktbll Posts: 45
    I'm glad jskirwin posted this question because I was thinking of doing the same. Thanks for the suggestions guys.
    building raw FB sets, 59-72, 74-77
    basketball 69/70-75/76, baseball 1974
    ExMt or better, lot of trading material.
  • jskirwinjskirwin Posts: 700 ✭✭✭
    Excellent comments. Much appreciated.
    In fact, the NM cards in these lots are mine. The VGs are ones I bought as EX - NRMT on Ebay. I tend to grade my cards with a PSA mindset - especially since I send stuff in to be graded.

    The 70s have been moving pretty well. I know because I've been buying them. I've paid upwards .10 per (total cost - ship. inc), and seen '75s in EX+ go for more than that.

    If memory serves I paid about .05-.08 for these. Looks like it's bathtime...

    Lesson learned. Thanks again.
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