What are your keys in maximizing winning bids in eBay auctions of PSA graded cards?

paleocards

I sell cards about once a year on eBay and I'm currently preparing my next sale of PSA 6-7 (mostly 1960-69 Topps) baseball HOFers. I've been pretty happy with the final hammers in my previous auctions but I'd always like to do improve my sales if possible. Here are my keys to successful eBay auctions of PSA-graded baseball cards:

1. Include a 150%-size, high-res scan of the card's front & back
2. Start the auction at $0.99 and let it ride...
3. In the title, include the year, set, card #, player name, PSA numeric and text grade (listing qualifiers, if any)
4. Keep the description concise and accurate
5. Ship every item with delivery confirmation, insurance for cards over $25, but keep s/h costs reasonable and stated up-front
6. Forgot an important one: schedule the auctions to end on a Sunday night at the very end of the month (after monthly & biweekly paychecks have been deposited -- more buyers will have more $$ in their pockets)

What are your keys to maximizing returns on your eBay auctions of PSA-graded cards?

gameusedhoop

I try to get the team played for in the title too. All this including the nickname fit and commas in the alloted space:

1961 Topps, Carl Yastrzemski, Yaz, #287, Red Sox, PSA 8

ElToroLoco

Shillling usually works for me! It looks like you've hit every key point.From a buying standpoint, quickly answering any questions I may have is important.Additional ,close-up scans if I need them would also be important.

CW

Solid tips, paleocards. In the past, I would've added

6. be sure to accept Paypal

but now that's a given.


A couple questions....

What would be the best recommended ending times/days for auctions? I recall Sunday
evenings being good years ago, but has that changed?

What times of the year should you typically avoid selling parts of your collection? For
example, I'd imagine around Christmas and around the April 15th tax time would be bad
times to sell. What are some other times to avoid having your auctions run?

Finally, what's the best strategy for accepting returns on graded cards? Does not accepting
returns turn off enough buyers, or does accepting returns only add to more headaches from
picky or remorseful buyers?

Thanks in advance for more tips!

HoofHearted

pc,

PM sent regarding what you'll be selling...

Thx!

HoofHearted

BTW, as mainly a buyer on eBay, I'd appreciate your approach to listing the cards. My search is always "1962 Topps PSA" and I rely heavily on good scans, front and back preferrably, with a good-sized enlargement. I'm trying to find copies of both Green- and No-tint versions of the second and third series (#s 110-196). Sometimes you can only tell by the cropping of the picture which is which...

Best of luck on your sales!