An observation about eBay Sportscard auctions

halfcentman

I am in the process of selling a old-time collection that has not seen the light of day for 25 years.

Like my coin auctions, I run all of my auctions at $0.69 with no reserve. Some of the stuff I get creamed on, others bring what they should bring, and some are incredible.

However, there are a lot of people (moreso than in the coin section) that list cards at ridiculous fixed prices and waste bandwidth on eBay. The percentage of items when you look up COMPLETED LISTINGS is laden with items in red that have not sold.

Look, any successful seller knows that you do not make money on everything you sell - nor is it your inherent right. Cash flow is the name of the game, as well as keeping your stock fresh so people are interested in your material. I find it to be an incredible turn-off when people have the same stuff at the same prices for a long period of time, and I am sure that others feel the same way.

Regarding the way I run my auctions, I find that people like to bid and just like in a live auction they get competitive. After all, it's just human nature.

Thanks for listening,

Greg Heim
eBay ID: gynandroidhead

mcolney1

Some people don't need to sell their stuff, others are happy to wait for that one, err...sucker that will pay their price. See discussions on Levi @ 707.

BugOnTheRug

Are you brokering this for someone or was did you purchase the collection?

mlb1999

Cash flow is the name of the game if this is your only source of income. However, if it is your hobby, it is easy for people to hold out for a few weeks/months on a few cards to get the price they want.

Also, I don't think BIN buyers are suckers. Sometimes your time is more valuable than the extra BIN price cost (compared to auction).

PROMETHIUS88

Preachin' to the choir on this matter! Even if you hold out on your price and sell it a few months later, there are the extra fees that pile up and that money sitting there in an item could be making money 5 to 10 times on other items bought and sold.

MULLINS5

Buy it Now with immediate payment, or a Best Offer on some, built in shipping costs, listings are about 1 cent/day...this is the way to go IMO. Auctions, for me, are just when I want the stuff out of the closet.

bobbyw8469

Auctions lately have been at giveaway prices.....my auctions are usually won by my competitors, who then have the capability/gumption to ding your stars, and then sell your item on Ebay themselves for a 300-500% increase themselves........not cool.......

MULLINS5

<< <i>Auctions lately have been at giveaway prices.....my auctions are usually won by my competitors, who then have the capability/gumption to ding your stars, and then sell your item on Ebay themselves for a 300-500% increase themselves........not cool....... >>



They can't ding your stars too much and give you a positive

Brick

<< <i>Auctions lately have been at giveaway prices.....my auctions are usually won by my competitors, who then have the capability/gumption to ding your stars, and then sell your item on Ebay themselves for a 300-500% increase themselves........not cool....... >>



Buy it back. Then Neg em.

storm888

"...Buy it Now with immediate payment, or a Best Offer on some, built in shipping costs, listings are about 1 cent/day...this is the way to go IMO..."

/////////////////////////////////

Always works for me.

I am a patient boy. Eventually, everything sells.

MULLINS5

<< <i>

<< <i>Auctions lately have been at giveaway prices.....my auctions are usually won by my competitors, who then have the capability/gumption to ding your stars, and then sell your item on Ebay themselves for a 300-500% increase themselves........not cool....... >>



Buy it back. Then Neg em. >>



HAH!

otwcards

<< <i>I am in the process of selling a old-time collection that has not seen the light of day for 25 years.

Like my coin auctions, I run all of my auctions at $0.69 with no reserve. Some of the stuff I get creamed on, others bring what they should bring, and some are incredible.

However, there are a lot of people (moreso than in the coin section) that list cards at ridiculous fixed prices and waste bandwidth on eBay. The percentage of items when you look up COMPLETED LISTINGS is laden with items in red that have not sold.

Look, any successful seller knows that you do not make money on everything you sell - nor is it your inherent right. Cash flow is the name of the game, as well as keeping your stock fresh so people are interested in your material. I find it to be an incredible turn-off when people have the same stuff at the same prices for a long period of time, and I am sure that others feel the same way.

Regarding the way I run my auctions, I find that people like to bid and just like in a live auction they get competitive. After all, it's just human nature. >>




Do I get a 1991 OPC Premier rebate if I win anything?

diamondman

Most of my auctions start at .99 to 9.99, but there are some items that I start at a higher price or a BIN, example : oddball item, a scarce/rare item that only a select few collect or an item that only surfaces on Ebay once a year or once every few years, because if there is only 1 to 5 people looking for this oddball/rare item it is possible it will sell at the starting bid and if starting bid is 99 cents (Ouch).

I know I have had items with the starting bids say 24.99 or higher run 2 or 3 weeks in a row and not sell. Wait a couple weeks or months run the same item at the same start price and Boom 2 or more people bidding and the 24.99 item goes for 50 to 150 dollars. Not all collectors check Ebay every day or week, some collectors might only check once a month and with the economy being slow/bad, there are more and more items that I start out with higher opening bids.

some items you can start at 99 cents and never worry about them bringing true market value other items if you start at 99 cents you will get killed on them.

True market value on a 99 cent auction can only be achieved if there is more than 1 person bidding. JMHO

hammered

<< <i>Most of my auctions start at .99 to 9.99, but there are some items that I start at a higher price or a BIN, example : oddball item, a scarce/rare item that only a select few collect or an item that only surfaces on Ebay once a year or once every few years, because if there is only 1 to 5 people looking for this oddball/rare item it is possible it will sell at the starting bid and if starting bid is 99 cents (Ouch).

I know I have had items with the starting bids say 24.99 or higher run 2 or 3 weeks in a row and not sell. Wait a couple weeks or months run the same item at the same start price and Boom 2 or more people bidding and the 24.99 item goes for 50 to 150 dollars. Not all collectors check Ebay every day or week, some collectors might only check once a month and with the economy being slow/bad, there are more and more items that I start out with higher opening bids.

some items you can start at 99 cents and never worry about them bringing true market value other items if you start at 99 cents you will get killed on them.

True market value on a 99 cent auction can only be achieved if there is more than 1 person bidding. JMHO >>




These are my thoughts exactly. I love auctions and if I am selling items I know are in fairly high demand (ie, star cards) I can start them at .99 and let them run. More obscure commons, even in PSA 10, where the traffic might be limited, I usually start at my minimum acceptable price.

mtcards

I think everyone, whether it be ebay or Wal-Mart has items which are inherently too high. Since Wal-mart is a BIN storefront so to speak, you dont really notice everything they have, but can easily point out items that I do NOT buy at Wal-mart because they cost too much compared to local stores.

Bottom line is, if enough people notice that the price is too high, then the price is NOT too high or else it wouldnt have been noticed in the first place and like has been mentioned, if a seller has patience, their item will sell at their price. Only people or business with cash flow problems have to sell at discounts

Boopotts

I don't think sellers should charge $4 to ship a card. That's way too high.

CDsNuts

I don't think sellers should charge $4 to ship a card. That's way too high.

I hate when people take upwards of 4 days to ship a card after i pay within 2 hours of the auction ending.

bking

<< <i>I don't think sellers should charge $4 to ship a card. That's way too high.

I hate when people take upwards of 4 days to ship a card after i pay within 2 hours of the auction ending. >>



I hate it when sellers offer free shipping. To me, that has become code for "expect a PWE with a unsecure card."

bobbyw8469

<< <i> don't think sellers should charge $4 to ship a card. That's way too high. >>



Wonders when the last time you shipped a card out was?!?!?! Last I checked, Insurance is $2.75+......Signature Confirmation is $2.25....I have charged $4 to ship a card that acutally cost me $6+ to ship...and that is a single, slabbed card!

nam812

<< <i>Wonders when the last time you shipped a card out was?!?!?! Last I checked, Insurance is $2.75+......Signature Confirmation is $2.25....I have charged $4 to ship a card that acutally cost me $6+ to ship...and that is a single, slabbed card! >>



Wonders why you think you need signature confirmation on every card.

bobbyw8469

Don't need it on every card....but PayPal dictates that you HAVE to have it on cards over $250. I don't know about you, but I sell ALOT of cards over $250......do you also have the same rant about the guy who charges $10-$20 to ship the $3,000 Babe Ruth card??

bobbyw8469

PPS - Not to beat a dead horse here, but I charge $4 a card...if someone thinks that is too much, so be it! I have paid more than that to have cards shipped to me....as long as it is secure, insured, and arrives fast, I don't care.......Last time I checked, shipping and handling WAS NOT FREE! the Post Office charges a service to send items across the county. UPS & FedEx charge the same. I have paid higher charges than that from some of the online auction houses to ship cards......bottom line.....NOTHING IS FREE (even though Ebay would lead you to think it is free to ship items).

Boopotts

<< <i>

<< <i> don't think sellers should charge $4 to ship a card. That's way too high. >>



Wonders when the last time you shipped a card out was?!?!?! >>



Well, you got me there. I'm mostly a buyer on Ebay-- I do very little selling.

Edit to add: On a related note, I hate when sellers have the best offer feature, and then don't even counter when you make an offer on one of their cards. This is Ebay, not a museum!

Brick

I believe charging a little more for shipping tends to discourage bidding. I seem to get the best deals on what I collect when there are higher shipping prices. I really do not mind paying $5 or $6 for shipping when I pay $40 for a card that usually goes for $55 to $70. I think if you have cards that go for over $250 offering free shipping may get higher bids that more than make up for shipping. Not telling anyone how to run their business. Just my observation.

Blacklabelsociety

<< <i>Don't need it on every card....but PayPal dictates that you HAVE to have it on cards over $250. I don't know about you, but I sell ALOT of cards over $250......do you also have the same rant about the guy who charges $10-$20 to ship the $3,000 Babe Ruth card?? >>



i just shipped out a $3000 card last week USPS with signature and insurance and it cost $38.

bobbyw8469

<< <i>i just shipped out a $3000 card last week USPS with signature and insurance and it cost $38 >>



If $4 is too much, no telling what the general population thinks about that one......how much did you charge the buyer?

Blacklabelsociety

<< <i>

<< <i>i just shipped out a $3000 card last week USPS with signature and insurance and it cost $38 >>



If $4 is too much, no telling what the general population thinks about that one......how much did you charge the buyer? >>



$15 so i lost $23. Wont be doing that anymore lol.