Buyer’s Premium. A buyer’s premium will be added to the hammer price and is payable by the purchaser as part of the total purchase price. The buyer’s premium is 17.5% of the hammer price.
I do remember the thread regarding buyers premiums being raised to 20% at most auction houses. Maybe they haven't updated their terms and conditions yet to reflect that increase. If I had to make a guess though, I would say that eBay is charging a fee for hosting live bidding, and Stacks is covering that cost in their buyers premium.
"Raising the buyers fee to 20% is great! Now it will be much easier to calculate the total amount of your bids!"
I guess this blows that excuse for major auction house greed out of the water.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Their buyer's premium is still 17.5%. If you bid via eBay it is 22.5%.
Anytime you see a "live" auction on eBay, the BP will always be 5% more than the auction house's actual BP. The additional 5% is an eBay fee for them hosting the auction on their platform.
Just bid on Stacks own website to skip the eBay fee.
I wonder if the eBay rate will go to 25% when they raise their auction rate to 20%? Probably.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
Amazing... you get to pay an extra fee for the privilege of buying something likely overpriced anyway. This is the most ridiculous charge I know of, and why people put up with it is a mystery to me. If the auction houses start seeing empty 'bid rooms' it would change quickly.... If you walked into a store (coin or otherwise) and decided you liked a product, price marked.... then went to check out and they added 20%, would you buy or walk??? Case closed. Cheers, RickO
When I was dealer, the buyers fee was 15%. I used wish I could make a 15% mark-up on everything I sold. That would have been great on the really expesnsive pieces (5 figures) when the mark-ups were small (a few thousand) percentage wise.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
The title of this thread is very misleading. If you want to bid in a Stacks auction via FleaBay, you have always had to pay the extra 5%. Why anyone would want to do that, I have no idea. So, via FleaBay, it's been at 22.5% ever since they raised the basic buyers fee to 17.5% so it's not a recent development as the OP implies. Debate the merits (or demerits) of the Buyers Charge as you will but at least have the facts straight.
In all the major auction rooms I've ever been in since 1975, which included 0% buyer's fees, then 10%, then 15%, and then 17.5%....I've yet to see any less attendance. In fact, there are probably more coins going to major auction since the jump to 15% fees, than at any time in the previous 40 years. Go figure?
As a buyer over that period, I've paid what the coins were worth, nothing more. As a seller under various buyer's fees, I've netted the same 87-92%. Same old, same old. Newbies do need to be aware that fees need to be taken into account whether buyer or seller.
@SmithAuctionCo said:
Their buyer's premium is still 17.5%. If you bid via eBay it is 22.5%.
Anytime you see a "live" auction on eBay, the BP will always be 5% more than the auction house's actual BP. The additional 5% is an eBay fee for them hosting the auction on their platform.
Just bid on Stacks own website to skip the eBay fee.
@2ndCharter said:
The title of this thread is very misleading. If you want to bid in a Stacks auction via FleaBay, you have always had to pay the extra 5%. Why anyone would want to do that, I have no idea. So, via FleaBay, it's been at 22.5% ever since they raised the basic buyers fee to 17.5% so it's not a recent development as the OP implies. Debate the merits (or demerits) of the Buyers Charge as you will but at least have the facts straight.
Thread title, "Stacks BP is 22.5% on Ebay Live Auctions," appears to be quite factual.
How is it misleading? Also, the seller has zero feedback (member since 6/17), he has no premium history on ebay unless he was selling under another ID.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
@roadrunner said:
And we thought dividing by 1.20 was going to be easier. Now have to do 1.225.
Well when Stack's goes to 20 the math becomes easy again
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
@2ndCharter said:
The title of this thread is very misleading. If you want to bid in a Stacks auction via FleaBay, you have always had to pay the extra 5%. Why anyone would want to do that, I have no idea. So, via FleaBay, it's been at 22.5% ever since they raised the basic buyers fee to 17.5% so it's not a recent development as the OP implies. Debate the merits (or demerits) of the Buyers Charge as you will but at least have the facts straight.
Thread title, "Stacks BP is 22.5% on Ebay Live Auctions," appears to be quite factual.
How is it misleading? Also, the seller has zero feedback (member since 6/17), he has no premium history on ebay unless he was selling under another ID.
It was edited
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
"Smart buyers factor the 10 or 15 percent into the price they’re willing to pay. If they’re willing to pay $1,000 for a coin, they’ll just bid less on it if they’re paying a 15- percent buyer’s fee and they’ll pay a little more if they’re paying 5 percent. The bottom line for them is still going to be $1,000."
It works the same way no matter if the buyers commission is 5 , 10, 15, 17.5 or 20%
mark
Walker Proof Digital Album Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I am a bit confused by this. If you win an auction coin on eBay, it is covered by eBay's Buyer guarantee. That guarantee generally permits returns despite the clear language of the seller's auction terms and conditions. We just had this happen where eBay essentially told us the buyer can cancel a sale despite the clear language of our auction terms. Does Stacks anticipate a higher return rate through the use of eBay? If not, why not?
Second, eBay buyers may expect to pay with PayPal or their credit card. But, it looks like Stacks will not accept them (the auction really does not clearly state how payment is to be made unless I missed it). So, when an eBay buyer wants to use his credit card to pay (and can't) can he request the winning bid be cancelled due to the misunderstanding?
Finally, if eBay will permit an arrangement where a seller (like Stacks) can request its buyers to mail them a check for their winnings, then does this open the door for all eBay sellers to be able to request payment by check? At the moment, this is not permitted on eBay as far as I know.
Back in the early days of eBay, a seller could request a buyer to mail him a check as a payment method. I hope sellers are once again given that option.
Best of luck to Stacks with this eBay partnership.
Wondercoin.
Please visit my website at www.wondercoins.com and my ebay auctions under my user name www.wondercoin.com.
Wondercoin I believe a buyer is allowed to request they send a check or MO but ebay does not allow a seller t advertise it. I have 2 steady ebay buyers who dont have paypal and send me a check. I only sell ebay auctions to them via check. If I have a buy it now item I end it and sell directly. They save me fee's so I save them 10%.
Positive BST Deals as a seller : Wondercoin, Chumlee, Jerster, Perry Hall , DMarks, MWK, drewsef, SoCalBigMark, Lakesammman, Nurmaler
@ricko said:
Amazing... you get to pay an extra fee for the privilege of buying something likely overpriced anyway. This is the most ridiculous charge I know of, and why people put up with it is a mystery to me. If the auction houses start seeing empty 'bid rooms' it would change quickly.... If you walked into a store (coin or otherwise) and decided you liked a product, price marked.... then went to check out and they added 20%, would you buy or walk??? Case closed. Cheers, RickO
I hereby raise my "auction house fee" to 22.5%. Any auction house that wants the privilege of having me as a buyer will have to rebate me 22.5% of my winning bid.
I wanted to take a moment to clarify some confusion in this post.
Stack's BP is 17.5% (increasing to 20% after the ANA). Ebay charges a 5% fee for bidding through their platform or 22.5% total.
One of our goals is to put our consignor's property in front of as many potential buyers as possible and achieve the highest prices. Our auctions are listed on many platforms in addition to Ebay which we are newly trying - Collectors Corner, Sixbid, Coinfacts, Invaluable, Numisbids, Intelliquote, CDN, PCGS Price Guide, PCGS Pop Guide, Collectors.com, NGC, and more. This creates tremendous visibility for our auctions.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
I hereby raise my "auction house fee" to 22.5%. Any auction house that wants the privilege of having me as a buyer will have to rebate me 22.5% of my winning bid.
So far, no takers.
I'll one up you. I'd consider signing up for a 100% buyer's fee at any auctions I bid on...as long as I get head of the line privileges at lot viewings and a min of 90% net for any lots I eventually consign. .....dividing by 2 is so much easier.
@StacksBowersGalleries said:
I wanted to take a moment to clarify some confusion in this post.
Stack's BP is 17.5% (increasing to 20% after the ANA). Ebay charges a 5% fee for bidding through their platform or 22.5% total.
One of our goals is to put our consignor's property in front of as many potential buyers as possible and achieve the highest prices. Our auctions are listed on many platforms in addition to Ebay which we are newly trying - Collectors Corner, Sixbid, Coinfacts, Invaluable, Numisbids, Intelliquote, CDN, PCGS Price Guide, PCGS Pop Guide, Collectors.com, NGC, and more. This creates tremendous visibility for our auctions.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Brian
Ebay live auctions are joke , plenty of threads on this board about them no good can come of getting mixed up with them as a buyer or a seller
I don't know when the buyers premium hikes started but I know that less than 30 years ago Bowers & Merena was only 10%. I often bid on the lots (scraps) they offered at the end of the auction hoping to make a little or a least break even on the coins I didn't want to keep. Starting out 20% in the hole is a lot different than 10%.
In these days of dropping margins in many businesses due to computer and internet efficiencies I am not sure how the hikes are justified. It used to be the only way to bid on these auctions was by buying the fancy catalog. It should be easier and cheaper to reach more buyers now. Many coins now are already graded by TPG's so you shouldn't need as many experts in house to authenticate and grade the coins. Digital photography should be easier and cheaper than the "old" days too.
Seems like some sellers would be looking for different options.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
@roadrunner said:
In all the major auction rooms I've ever been in since 1975, which included 0% buyer's fees, then 10%, then 15%, and then 17.5%....I've yet to see any less attendance. In fact, there are probably more coins going to major auction since the jump to 15% fees, than at any time in the previous 40 years. Go figure?
As a buyer over that period, I've paid what the coins were worth, nothing more. As a seller under various buyer's fees, I've netted the same 87-92%. Same old, same old. Newbies do need to be aware that fees need to be taken into account whether buyer or seller.
Know of several big buyers who have dropped out of auctions over last couple years... like in 7 figures buyers
So if I have a high value coin I wanna sell and don't wanna pay these ridiculous fees what am I gonna do? I'm not paying ANYONE 20% + fees. Not me pal.
The bitterness of "Poor Quality" is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
Comments
According to their Conditions of Sale page, the buyers premium is 17.5%.
I do remember the thread regarding buyers premiums being raised to 20% at most auction houses. Maybe they haven't updated their terms and conditions yet to reflect that increase. If I had to make a guess though, I would say that eBay is charging a fee for hosting live bidding, and Stacks is covering that cost in their buyers premium.
It seems like now when one auction house raises their BP then all the other auction houses have to raise theirs.
Guys, it's not a contest.
Private sales and GreatCollections take care of most of what I need anyway.
"Raising the buyers fee to 20% is great! Now it will be much easier to calculate the total amount of your bids!"
I guess this blows that excuse for major auction house greed out of the water.
that is ridiculous
BHNC #203
Their buyer's premium is still 17.5%. If you bid via eBay it is 22.5%.
Anytime you see a "live" auction on eBay, the BP will always be 5% more than the auction house's actual BP. The additional 5% is an eBay fee for them hosting the auction on their platform.
Just bid on Stacks own website to skip the eBay fee.
17.5% is 12.5% to high in my book. Especially in this market.
This is the ebay premium added in due to fee structure
I wonder if the eBay rate will go to 25% when they raise their auction rate to 20%? Probably.
Amazing... you get to pay an extra fee for the privilege of buying something likely overpriced anyway. This is the most ridiculous charge I know of, and why people put up with it is a mystery to me. If the auction houses start seeing empty 'bid rooms' it would change quickly.... If you walked into a store (coin or otherwise) and decided you liked a product, price marked.... then went to check out and they added 20%, would you buy or walk??? Case closed. Cheers, RickO
When I was dealer, the buyers fee was 15%. I used wish I could make a 15% mark-up on everything I sold. That would have been great on the really expesnsive pieces (5 figures) when the mark-ups were small (a few thousand) percentage wise.
Maybe they can use the extra money to get their website debugged.
The title of this thread is very misleading. If you want to bid in a Stacks auction via FleaBay, you have always had to pay the extra 5%. Why anyone would want to do that, I have no idea. So, via FleaBay, it's been at 22.5% ever since they raised the basic buyers fee to 17.5% so it's not a recent development as the OP implies. Debate the merits (or demerits) of the Buyers Charge as you will but at least have the facts straight.
Member ANA, SPMC, SCNA, FUN, CONECA
Glad I don't play in the deep water anymore.
a few more like ourselfs feel the same way. nothing wrong with it either
Gotta wonder if the extra 5% ebay charges allows a return! SB's pictures usually lack a lot to be desired!
Gotta wonder if the extra 5% ebay charges allows a return! SB's pictures usually lack a lot to be desired!
In all the major auction rooms I've ever been in since 1975, which included 0% buyer's fees, then 10%, then 15%, and then 17.5%....I've yet to see any less attendance. In fact, there are probably more coins going to major auction since the jump to 15% fees, than at any time in the previous 40 years. Go figure?
As a buyer over that period, I've paid what the coins were worth, nothing more. As a seller under various buyer's fees, I've netted the same 87-92%. Same old, same old. Newbies do need to be aware that fees need to be taken into account whether buyer or seller.
I am begining to lose my taste for auctions.
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
Or don't bid and save even more!
No thanks. Pass.
Thread title, "Stacks BP is 22.5% on Ebay Live Auctions," appears to be quite factual.
How is it misleading? Also, the seller has zero feedback (member since 6/17), he has no premium history on ebay unless he was selling under another ID.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
And we thought dividing by 1.20 was going to be easier. Now have to do 1.225.
The auction houses are getting greedy. No need to go past 10%, except greed.
Why anyone would pay over 10% is mind bottling.
Well when Stack's goes to 20 the math becomes easy again
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
It was edited
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
As Scott Traver's correctly reasons
"Smart buyers factor the 10 or 15 percent into the price they’re willing to pay. If they’re willing to pay $1,000 for a coin, they’ll just bid less on it if they’re paying a 15- percent buyer’s fee and they’ll pay a little more if they’re paying 5 percent. The bottom line for them is still going to be $1,000."
It works the same way no matter if the buyers commission is 5 , 10, 15, 17.5 or 20%
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
I am a bit confused by this. If you win an auction coin on eBay, it is covered by eBay's Buyer guarantee. That guarantee generally permits returns despite the clear language of the seller's auction terms and conditions. We just had this happen where eBay essentially told us the buyer can cancel a sale despite the clear language of our auction terms. Does Stacks anticipate a higher return rate through the use of eBay? If not, why not?
Second, eBay buyers may expect to pay with PayPal or their credit card. But, it looks like Stacks will not accept them (the auction really does not clearly state how payment is to be made unless I missed it). So, when an eBay buyer wants to use his credit card to pay (and can't) can he request the winning bid be cancelled due to the misunderstanding?
Finally, if eBay will permit an arrangement where a seller (like Stacks) can request its buyers to mail them a check for their winnings, then does this open the door for all eBay sellers to be able to request payment by check? At the moment, this is not permitted on eBay as far as I know.
Back in the early days of eBay, a seller could request a buyer to mail him a check as a payment method. I hope sellers are once again given that option.
Best of luck to Stacks with this eBay partnership.
Wondercoin.
Wondercoin I believe a buyer is allowed to request they send a check or MO but ebay does not allow a seller t advertise it. I have 2 steady ebay buyers who dont have paypal and send me a check. I only sell ebay auctions to them via check. If I have a buy it now item I end it and sell directly. They save me fee's so I save them 10%.
I hereby raise my "auction house fee" to 22.5%. Any auction house that wants the privilege of having me as a buyer will have to rebate me 22.5% of my winning bid.
So far, no takers.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature

Could it be because now they would be subjected to PP fees as well as eBay fees? There is always a cost of tuition for a newbie.
I wanted to take a moment to clarify some confusion in this post.
Stack's BP is 17.5% (increasing to 20% after the ANA). Ebay charges a 5% fee for bidding through their platform or 22.5% total.
One of our goals is to put our consignor's property in front of as many potential buyers as possible and achieve the highest prices. Our auctions are listed on many platforms in addition to Ebay which we are newly trying - Collectors Corner, Sixbid, Coinfacts, Invaluable, Numisbids, Intelliquote, CDN, PCGS Price Guide, PCGS Pop Guide, Collectors.com, NGC, and more. This creates tremendous visibility for our auctions.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Brian
I'll one up you. I'd consider signing up for a 100% buyer's fee at any auctions I bid on...as long as I get head of the line privileges at lot viewings and a min of 90% net for any lots I eventually consign.
.....dividing by 2 is so much easier.
Ebay live auctions are joke , plenty of threads on this board about them no good can come of getting mixed up with them as a buyer or a seller
I don't know when the buyers premium hikes started but I know that less than 30 years ago Bowers & Merena was only 10%. I often bid on the lots (scraps) they offered at the end of the auction hoping to make a little or a least break even on the coins I didn't want to keep. Starting out 20% in the hole is a lot different than 10%.
In these days of dropping margins in many businesses due to computer and internet efficiencies I am not sure how the hikes are justified. It used to be the only way to bid on these auctions was by buying the fancy catalog. It should be easier and cheaper to reach more buyers now. Many coins now are already graded by TPG's so you shouldn't need as many experts in house to authenticate and grade the coins. Digital photography should be easier and cheaper than the "old" days too.
Seems like some sellers would be looking for different options.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
Know of several big buyers who have dropped out of auctions over last couple years... like in 7 figures buyers
So if I have a high value coin I wanna sell and don't wanna pay these ridiculous fees what am I gonna do? I'm not paying ANYONE 20% + fees. Not me pal.