Ebay starting price discussion

Polarbeer

How do you reason about a sellers starting price? If the starting price is just below what you could imagine yourself paying as a final bid, do you even care about following that item?

What if a seller puts all his items out for like 80% of what would be the common ending price, but every now and then posted an item with 0.01 starting price? What would that tell you about that 0.01 item? That he just wants to get rid of it? Why deviate from his selling patterns?

To answer my last question I feel suspicious if someone lists all his coins that high and all of a sudden lists a single coin starting at 0.01, something wrong with that coin?

How is the starting price affecting you when searching for coins?

notwilight

Items that are popular with lots of bidders are "safe" for a seller to start low. If it is an item that you don't know if two bidders will show up at the end, then a seller needs to start at a price that he is willing to sell it for, or else use a reserve. Reserve pricing on ebay has expensive fees and because of the secrecy, drives away some buyers.

Remember, ebay auctions don't get the publicity and the fanfare of a heritage or similar auction. If you're looking for an 1856 large cent in 65RB you'll probably check each heritage auction. But there may be 20 people in the US looking for this coin and because there hasn't been one on ebay in 2 years, they may not bother to check ebay during the week your coin is running. So 20 guys are willing to pay fair market value but none of them check ebay and the coin sells for 50% of market value. That's why so many auctions start so high.

So if the auction starts at what you are willing to pay, bid away. There is a good chance no other bidders will show up (unless you're really cheap that the start price is well below market).

And to your final question. The coin starting at a low bid is likely the superior coin that the seller isn't worried about having plenty of bidders find the market value at the end.

--Jerry

NHSBaseball

It can work both ways- I got one of my favorite coins when a seller listed a fairly high starting price. I think it scared away potential bidders and I sniped it at the last minute. I got a really nice tough marriage half dime that slabbed at VF-35 for $99.

On the other hand, throwing the coin out there at .99 has prompted some nice bidding wars.

Maybe one of the more experienced Ebay sellers could explain why reserves are set on some coins but not others. It's possible that if a coin is consigned there may be specific instructions by the consignor about minimum price, etc.

Swampboy

<< <i>If the starting price is just below what you could imagine yourself paying as a final bid, do you even care about following that item? >>




No.


Ironically I don't mind paying what I imagine a final bid price would be, but I do enjoy the 'action' of getting in at a fraction and hoping for a buy.
Does that make any sense?

I'm in a different class of collector from those who hunt and hunt for the best upgrade or variety they can find and then pursue it to the limit of their budget. Maybe someday.

sweetwilliet

I have seen many sellers list a coin as a BIN (either BIN only or a high starting price close to the BIN), then, if it does not sell, relist the coin at 0.99 with no reserve. I think they often do this as an initial safety net and see if they can sell the coin for retail. If not, they relist and recapture their fees, since they know the coin will sell at 0.99 and no reserve.

ziggy29

I agree with Jerry. Certain types of coins, especially those in high demand and with good eye appeal, are pretty safe to start at .99 and no reserve along with good images. Other coins are esoteric enough and appeal to such a limited set of eyeballs that .99/NR would be a big risk hoping that the right two people came along to see it and bid.

droopyd

<< <i>How do you reason about a sellers starting price? If the starting price is just below what you could imagine yourself paying as a final bid, do you even care about following that item? >>



Absolutely, if I wanted the coin and was willing to pay that amount. Many items sell to the one and only bidder.



<< <i>What if a seller puts all his items out for like 80% of what would be the common ending price, but every now and then posted an item with 0.01 starting price? What would that tell you about that 0.01 item? That he just wants to get rid of it? Why deviate from his selling patterns? >>



I've seen items that didn't sell the first go-round that were relisted at a low start price -- obviously the seller "just wants to get rid of it" and simply priced too high the first time. The low start price lets the market set the price.