Ebay selling question

Teknobailey

Hey,

I hate reserves.... hate them... but i also hate losing money on stuff (like my complete 2006 Bowman Heritage mini set that went for $20)...

So... if you have an item that you know you want (let's say) $100.00 for... is it better to just start the bidding at somewhere around $80.00? Or put in an $80.00 reserve and pray? Or do a $100.00 or best-offer with BIN?

Also, which is cheaper from a sellers perspective?

Thanks in advance.

artistlost

Buy it now and a best offer I find works best.

mathew

BobaFett72

in the sportscard game you almost have to expect to lose money in the long run. Gotta sell while the item is hot, or your stuck with it forever.

p.s.
want a case of 1991 score baseball cards lol.

thedutymon

Good Afternoon,
There are pro's and con's with reserves, from my own perspective I've only used it maybe 10-15 times in 10000 auctions. Those times were only when I trully didn't know what the Market would bear and was willing to eat the Reserve to do a test run.
Pro's
1. Either you get your money that you need out of the product or it doesn't sell and your just out the Listing fee/Reserve Fee.
2. If somebody wants it enough and bids and exceeds your Reserve, their bid is automaticaly put at your Reserve when they are High Bid or First High bid, ect. So you can set your starting price at .99 with a Reserve of $80.00 and it gives Bidders a lot of room to bid up slowly in increments. This is best if you have an item you know will have oodles of interest.
Con's
1. Listing Fee is expensive.
2. Listing Fee is Real Expensive and you don't get part of that credit if you have to re-list.
3. Usually when I see a Reserve as a Bidder, I will place one bid and even if I have a real interest, bid, and if I don't hit the Reserve, I never come back !!!!!!! I figure that the Reserve is way to high for me and I'm done.
4. Gives the Seller the impression that you either Know what you are selling is worth and are not going to give the buyer one Iota of discount/good deal Or you are somebody who found Aunt Addies cards in the Attic and think every card before 2006 is going to put little Billy through College and so is way way overpriced.

Honestly, I of course have taken my lumps (With low starting prices) and do have exceptions to the following Rule. 99% of all my auctions start at .99 or 9.99 whether it's a $5 card or a $100 card. If you don't think it will sell for what you need to get out of it, you shouldn't be Selling it right now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once it gets above $100 or so, then of course a second set of rules apply's, but before I would use Reserve I would list a $150.00 card with a starting bid of $99.00.
Just my thoughts.
Neil

Alfonz24

Isn't the fee the same for a $99 starting bid and a $99 reserve price?

I thought that I read where someone will list a starting bid at .99 cents (that they would only sell for a $100) and set the reserve for $99. They would also state in the auction description that the reserve is set at $99. But by starting at 99 cents they will get more traffic than a $99 start price.

Not sure how this worked out for the seller.