$.99 w/ Free Shipping is the way to go
JHS5120
Posts: 1,968 ✭✭✭
I have been selling more and more on eBay over the past year and I have determined that $.99 auctions with free shipping is the way to go. I have had a bunch of auctions end recently and I could not have been happier with the results!
This may be old news to some, but I have read a few posts by skeptics so I thought I would rekindle the argument.
Aside from specialty/odd cards, I believe that a properly executed $.99 auction can outperform any other format; it creates more traffic, more watchers and more bids.
Some very important notes:
VCP Average = $86.98
Here's an example of someone listing a card with a high minimum bid and a poor picture. The title was fine, but not enough people showed interest after viewing the starting bid.
Bought
Sold
When still testing out various auction formats I listed this card with a high starting bid and no success. When I relisted the card, the only thing I changed was the starting price.
Unsuccessful Listing
Successful Listing
Another Example:
Unsuccessful Listing
Successful Listing
This may be old news to some, but I have read a few posts by skeptics so I thought I would rekindle the argument.
Aside from specialty/odd cards, I believe that a properly executed $.99 auction can outperform any other format; it creates more traffic, more watchers and more bids.
Some very important notes:
- Always have a clear and consistant title. I find that [Year, Set, Card Number, Player Name, Condition] works best.Always have a very clear picture. Black background, one card at a time, back scans if necessary.Always avoid sleazy sales tactics (ie. keyword spamming, CAPITAL LETTERS, exclamation points!)Don't exaggerate the grade. This is extremely hard to do and even I sometimes fail to stay objective.Most importantly! Free shipping and $.99!
VCP Average = $86.98
Here's an example of someone listing a card with a high minimum bid and a poor picture. The title was fine, but not enough people showed interest after viewing the starting bid.
Bought
Sold
When still testing out various auction formats I listed this card with a high starting bid and no success. When I relisted the card, the only thing I changed was the starting price.
Unsuccessful Listing
Successful Listing
Another Example:
Unsuccessful Listing
Successful Listing
My eBay Store 
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
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Comments
PSA HOF Baseball Postwar Rookies Set Registry- (Currently 80.51% Complete)
PSA Pro Football HOF Rookie Players Set Registry- (Currently 19.80% Complete)
PSA Basketball HOF Players Rookies Set Registry- (Currently 6.02% Complete)
But I do like the sellers that do such. I imagine I save at least 30% if they start auctions like that.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
You seem to be having good luck.
Congratulations.
Joe
PS - On the SGC card in the first example, you keyword spammed the word PSA in your auction title. If you had left that keyword out, I doubt very seriously you would have recouped your original $200 investment.
<< <i>I am with Joe and Meteorite Guy on this one. You have gotten lucky so far. Get burned on a couple of cards and you might change your tune on the 99 cent, free listing deal!
PS - On the SGC card in the first example, you keyword spammed the word PSA in your auction title. If you had left that keyword out, I doubt very seriously you would have recouped your original $200 investment. >>
Completely agree on both points.
As others have stated, starting many cards at 99 cents is really rolling the dice.
Especially on cheaper cards that typically sell in the $10-30 range. They can
easily get just a couple of bids and sell for under $5.
On more expensive cards that usually sell north of $100, starting them at 99 cents usually works
well and seems like a solid idea.
Putting PSA in the title of a SGC or BGS card usually boosts the views. It's a no brainer, although
I hate keyword spamming.
If the OP is having success at their way of listing, that's great though. Good luck
with your listings!
<< <i>Some very important notes:
Always avoid sleazy sales tactics (ie. keyword spamming, CAPITAL LETTERS, exclamation points!) >>
BUT YOU ADDED THE WORD "PSA" IN THE TITLE OF A NON-PSA CARD
The '62 YAZ you sold is, IMO, a very high grade "7". It should have sold for more than the average "VCP". Probably someone looking to bust it out and send it in for a regrade.
I also have to agree with many of the other posters ... you have been lucky so far. But as Cardbender stated, on cards that consistently sell for more than $100.00 and are sold often, you are probably going to be OK. But put up a few $30.00 - $40.00 cards, start them at .99 ... sooner or later you are going to start getting burned.
As I said before I'm glad it's working for you and I hope it keeps up.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
I have been burned on a few items, believe me, but I have learned from those mistakes and win much more than I lose.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss
<< <i>Inventory turnover is key. >>
Oh. I thought profit was.
<< <i>
<< <i>Inventory turnover is key. >>
Oh. I thought profit was. >>
actually Maurice, profit-making is borne of sensible business practices, which includes letting go of potentially dead inventory at a loss if it means recouping a portion of your investment and then finding a better option to help make up for the loss. gotta have some kind of liquidity.
it reeks of one step forward, two steps back, but it's still better to say "I screwed up" if your intention is to profit, than to simply own worthless stuff. then take another step forward.
a successful business will recover gracefully from poor judgement and a business destined to repeat the losing formula will simply slide out of sight. it can't last.
<< <i>actually Maurice, profit-making is borne of sensible business practices, which includes letting go of potentially dead inventory at a loss if it means recouping a portion of your investment and then finding a better option to help make up for the loss. gotta have some kind of liquidity.
it reeks of one step forward, two steps back, but it's still better to say "I screwed up" if your intention is to profit, than to simply own worthless stuff. then take another step forward.
a successful business will recover gracefully from poor judgement and a business destined to repeat the losing formula will simply slide out of sight. it can't last. >>
I don't disagree with what you wrote, but the foundation of a successful business is knowledge along with being properly capitalized. In the world of baseball cards, one needs to know what's good and what's junk. Demand is not static. And one needs to be able to hold the good stuff during periods of low demand.
The idea of turning over inventory just for the sake of turning over inventory is a plan for failure.
<< <i>
<< <i>actually Maurice, profit-making is borne of sensible business practices, which includes letting go of potentially dead inventory at a loss if it means recouping a portion of your investment and then finding a better option to help make up for the loss. gotta have some kind of liquidity.
it reeks of one step forward, two steps back, but it's still better to say "I screwed up" if your intention is to profit, than to simply own worthless stuff. then take another step forward.
a successful business will recover gracefully from poor judgement and a business destined to repeat the losing formula will simply slide out of sight. it can't last. >>
I don't disagree with what you wrote, but the foundation of a successful business is knowledge along with being properly capitalized. In the world of baseball cards, one needs to know what's good and what's junk. Demand is not static. And one needs to be able to hold the good stuff during periods of low demand.
The idea of turning over inventory just for the sake of turning over inventory is a plan for failure. >>
in the world of baseball cards, a good strategy involves the use of calculated gambles and guesses. not all of them work. having a good bounceback plan is vital. it's fairly easy to know what's junk. not so easy to predict other factors which eventually determine value.
you gotta keep your percentages high. absorb the losses well. it works.
Nah maybe you're all right, maybe the bidders are so dumb they won't see it's a SGC card. Lol!!!!!
<< <i>You're gonna rack this guy for putting PSA in an auction title? Seriously?
Nah maybe you're all right, maybe the bidders are so dumb they won't see it's a SGC card. Lol!!!!! >>
Pretty sure I read somewhere that Ebay was beginning to come down on that as keyword spamming, which I think is silly as hell.
Working on the following: 1970 Baseball PSA, 1970-1976 Raw, World Series Subsets PSA, 1969 Expansion Teams PSA, Fleer World Series Sets, Texas Rangers Topps Run 1972-1989
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Successful deals to date: thedudeabides,gameusedhoop,golfcollector,tigerdean,treetop,bkritz, CapeMOGuy,WeekendHacker,jeff8877,backbidder,Salinas,milbroco,bbuckner22,VitoCo1972,ddfamf,gemint,K,fatty macs,waltersobchak,dboneesq
<< <i>You're gonna rack this guy for putting PSA in an auction title? Seriously? >>
He wrote "Always avoid sleazy sales tactics (ie. keyword spamming, CAPITAL LETTERS, exclamation points!)" and then he linked his auction where he was keyword spamming. So, yeah, it seems appropriate.
Always buying Bobby Cox inserts. PM me.
If you have a good card, it doesnt matter what the opening bid is, you will still get what its worth. However, starting a sellable, yet not "hot" card, at a 99 cent auction is just begging to not get value for it. A BIN or BO at a reasonable price will do the trick.
I am all for people making money on ebay, but I am not willing to give away items, just so people can feel they got a good deal
One little twist in which I have had a little luck is starting an unsure item at $4.99. These items are items that should sell for $5 to $10, but you never know because they might just go for $0.99. I have started a few of these at $4.99 and most of the time get a bid and sometime get several bids. This way, you don't get bit by an item selling for $0.99 that should go for $5 to $10.
Shane