Ebay European Sellers Reflect Moribund Economic Models
boyhowdy
Posts: 657 ✭
I spend a lot of time roaming around foreign eBay sites looking for nicer US and Canadian type stuff.
As a result I have been able to observe and make some comments regarding the economic mindset
of European sellers.
All of western European eBay sellers have to contend with much higher postal rates than we do in the states.
It is not uncommon to see $5-10 US coins posted with postage costs that surpass that of the coin(s) being
offered. This drastically cuts down on the number of lower-priced yet collectable coins. Why would anyone
attempt to build a set of circulated Lincoln cents when you have to pay $9 shipping on each 1922-D or
even a 1955-S cent needed for the set? By demanding sky-high postal rates the European socialist economies
have installed a wall between the collector and the coins they need or want.
One of the most frustrating aspect of bidding overseas is the ugly proliferation of BIN lots. In France the vast
majority of older coins have a BIN that often reaches a multiple of retail value. It's as if the sellers are unwilling to
risk the vagarities of the open market and insist on a huge profit. They want an insured profit without the gambling inherent to
a free market system. Perhaps French enterpeneurship has been smothered by their cradle-to-grave social programs. The
Germans are nearly as anal about risk avoidance with the English and Swedes (surprise!) less so.
Hand in hand with risk avoidance is the European lack of trust. Most overseas sellers refuse to take Paypal or any type of
electronic transfer except bank-to-bank transfers. I end up wading through a translation site as I arrange to send US cash hidden
in an envelope. I've queried a number of these sellers to ask them about Paypal and I usually get the same response --
we don't trust non-bank financial entities. Period. Send cash or don't bid. By severly limiting payment options these foreign
sellers are painting themselves into a corner when it comes to expanding financial transactions. The English and Swedes, again,
are more like the US in that they are much easier to do business with. Perhaps the Swedes have been running away from their
socialist past and have seen the errors of their previous ways.
Here is my point, European sellers seem to have a host of systemic problems when it comes to selling and delivering modeastly
priced items. These problems seem to me reflect the economic personalities of their countries. The political reasons I've
suggested are the result of my own political proclivities. Anyone agree or disagree?
Steve
As a result I have been able to observe and make some comments regarding the economic mindset
of European sellers.
All of western European eBay sellers have to contend with much higher postal rates than we do in the states.
It is not uncommon to see $5-10 US coins posted with postage costs that surpass that of the coin(s) being
offered. This drastically cuts down on the number of lower-priced yet collectable coins. Why would anyone
attempt to build a set of circulated Lincoln cents when you have to pay $9 shipping on each 1922-D or
even a 1955-S cent needed for the set? By demanding sky-high postal rates the European socialist economies
have installed a wall between the collector and the coins they need or want.
One of the most frustrating aspect of bidding overseas is the ugly proliferation of BIN lots. In France the vast
majority of older coins have a BIN that often reaches a multiple of retail value. It's as if the sellers are unwilling to
risk the vagarities of the open market and insist on a huge profit. They want an insured profit without the gambling inherent to
a free market system. Perhaps French enterpeneurship has been smothered by their cradle-to-grave social programs. The
Germans are nearly as anal about risk avoidance with the English and Swedes (surprise!) less so.
Hand in hand with risk avoidance is the European lack of trust. Most overseas sellers refuse to take Paypal or any type of
electronic transfer except bank-to-bank transfers. I end up wading through a translation site as I arrange to send US cash hidden
in an envelope. I've queried a number of these sellers to ask them about Paypal and I usually get the same response --
we don't trust non-bank financial entities. Period. Send cash or don't bid. By severly limiting payment options these foreign
sellers are painting themselves into a corner when it comes to expanding financial transactions. The English and Swedes, again,
are more like the US in that they are much easier to do business with. Perhaps the Swedes have been running away from their
socialist past and have seen the errors of their previous ways.
Here is my point, European sellers seem to have a host of systemic problems when it comes to selling and delivering modeastly
priced items. These problems seem to me reflect the economic personalities of their countries. The political reasons I've
suggested are the result of my own political proclivities. Anyone agree or disagree?
Steve
Collecting XF+ toned Barber dimes
0
Comments
The same is true on US ebay. I believe it has nothing to do with their socialist economies, and is a result of lower demand as the result of a poor world economy.
European experience is probably somewhat different than ours, thus there are certain things they don't want to accept.
I'm blocked on bidding due to not being in Europe, or Germany, or ?. I only bid on US coins, you
would think that they might know that a US collector would be interested.
Then you do win and no Paypal and it's cash off in an envelope (lost $70 that way a few years ago).
What I do find is that the younger sellers (if you can tell) speak and write English pretty well and
will occasionally try to work with you.
Not near the problems going the other direction (Australia, New Zealand, China, etc.).
bob
some will take EUROs for payment - but adds to problem of buying EUROs and buyers risk of sending payment through the mail
I do not spend much ttime looking there anymore as frequently the older coins come cleaned from long ago
and many coins go for retail+ prices
and most eBay locations will not offer 'sort by bids', which I use to weed out the crap and state quarters for a buck