On flipping coins on ebay purchased from heritage

stev32k

I routinely check the Heritage archives when I come across a coin on ebay that I'm interested in. Many times I can find the same coin and see the purchase price. I've noticed that the selling price on ebay is mostly lower than the Heritage selling price for coins over about $500 and up. The ebay selling price on coins under about $300 is usually higher than Heritage. This is by no means a scientific study and there are exceptions, but I've tracked about 30 or 40 coins and the observation seems to be true about 80% of the time.

I'm watching one now that was purchased from Heritage. It sat in a sellers ebay store for several months (3 - I think) with a listed price of about 15% over the Heritage price. Then it was listed at auction for a price 15% below the heritage price and it didn't sell. It has been relisted at a price 20% below Heritage and still no bids. If he comes down another 10% I'll buy it, and I sent him an offer to that effect - no response yet.

A month or so ago I found a group of 12 coins on ebay listed by the same seller that had been purchased from the Heritage FUN sale. When all the auctions ended the entire group sold for about $50 more than the combined Heritage price. Of course there is no way of telling if the ebay seller was the Heritage purchaser or if they were bought by a third party.

I don't really have a point to make it's just an interesting observation, but It does tell me that I don't want to try buying coins from Heritage to sell on ebay.

Russ

<< <i>I've noticed that the selling price on ebay is mostly lower than the Heritage selling price for coins over about $500 and up. The ebay selling price on coins under about $300 is usually higher than Heritage. >>



It varies by series and tends to change based on what is hot within each venue but, generally speaking, your observation is pretty close to reality. There are sometimes exceptions, though. I once sold a Gobrecht on eBay that brought more than it did through Heritage.

Russ, NCNE

123cents

Too many Ebay sellers to count are flipping coins they just recently purchased on Heritage Auctions.

orie

I totally agree with your observation. Everyone has their ebay comfort level and when the price of the coin starts over that buyers feel the need for more guarantees.

ILikeMercs

I would think most of the time the Ebay prices MIGHT be higher. Wouldn't Heritage buyers be better informed than Ebay buyers (in general)?


I just sold a 44 Merc (top pop) and got MUCH more on Ebay than the latest Heritage sales. This is just one example. I am selling my whole gem short set of Mercs and I've made out like a bandit.

jayboxx

I wonder if any of these people are buying through Heritage and after viewing the coins in person (assuming they didn't travel to see them originally) are simply selling the ones they don't wish to keep? Not trying to make a profit, rather just recouping most their expenses and moving on to the next coin.

Russ

<< <i>Everyone has their ebay comfort level and when the price of the coin starts over that buyers feel the need for more guarantees. >>



What guarantees does a buyer in a Heritage auction get?

Russ, NCNE

NumisOxide

Your observation holds true Steve.

I recently purchased a coin on ebay for $100 less than what it sold for on Heritage several months ago.

RYK

<< <i>

<< <i>Everyone has their ebay comfort level and when the price of the coin starts over that buyers feel the need for more guarantees. >>



What guarantees does a buyer in a Heritage auction get?

Russ, NCNE >>



There is the guarantee that if you buy a coin from Heritage, don't like it, and complain about it on the forum, someone from Heritage will contact you and make it go away.

Russ

<< <i>There is the guarantee that if you buy a coin from Heritage, don't like it, and complain about it on the forum, someone from Heritage will contact you and make it go away. >>



That approach frequently also works for eBay.

Russ, NCNE

bestday

<< <i>I wonder if any of these people are buying through Heritage and after viewing the coins in person (assuming they didn't travel to see them originally) are simply selling the ones they don't wish to keep? Not trying to make a profit, rather just recouping most their expenses and moving on to the next coin. >>



Coins in the hand may not look as well as the Heritage photos..so rather than complain those coins are sold elsewhere.

roadrunner

One would expect the higher priced coins to sell for more at a major auction venue. Out of hundreds of potential bidders usually at least a couple will see the coin as slightly better than it really is.
On ebay, you might be lucky if 20 people looked at a similar lot.
Once glaring exception to this is the upgrade candidate. On ebay
2 geniuses are guessing that a picture will upgrade, and they will often fight tooth and nail to be the victor. At a live auction the lot was viewed and if it's not a true upgrade candidate it will rarely bring the big bucks. I recall one episode on ebay where I ran another bidder up to $1800 on a shot 66 Saint in an old 65 holder. No one else even bid over $1200 for it. I just had a sense that the other bidder was not gonna give up. He later told me by email that he felt it was a 67 shot. For his sake I hope he got at least the 66.

roadrunner

goldboy

I have noticed the ebay prices usually lower than the heritage lots, particularly on the gold dollars.