<< <i>Here are some ideas. I hope some of them may help.
I always tracked other sellers that were selling what I was. I then looked at the sellers that were getting the highest sales prices. I would then use the layout they used, adjusting a few things here and there.
From what I see by looking at your listings here are my reccomendations:
I think you may want to market your coins in a more enticing matter.
You need to set your listing apart from other similar listings.
--- Bring color into the listing, a bright border. Using bold blues and bold reds for titles of each section instead of regular black. --- The longer you can keep a buyer on your page the more likely they will bid on it. --- Move your credentials below the information. (Very good info) but keep the enticing info at the top. --- I'm sure you have a gallery picture of the coin for the listing. --- You may want to spend a dollar to make your listing in bold for listings if you expect to get more than $25. Remember you're trying to set your listing apart from similar listings.
I would remove the "additional information" section from the listing. Much of that info will mean very little to most buyers interested in the coin and will get lost trying to sort it out. They may begin to lose interest in the coin and move on to other listings.
Try to keep your listing more of a sales pitch other than information about the coin.
I hope some of this helps,
Steve >>
The coins sold for what they are worth. You can do all this and more, and the coins will sell for the same price. If the OP really paid what he said he paid for those coins, then he grossly overpaid for them.
We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP.
Frank Provasek - PCGS Authorized Dealer, Life Member ANA, Member TNA. www.frankcoins.com
<< <i>We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
I don't think anybody has mentioned this, but scanning slabbed coins really does a good job of making them look like hell. Time to get a good digital camera. Sure it takes longer but your time is rewarded.
I'm with you Frank. My listings are minimal and do not compare to guys here. I sell high dollar stuff, but not on eBay. That venue for me is a playground. Bochi states that Russ does well, but Russ is earning a commission from other's coins. I think that should be stated. There is far more risk of loss when a dealer has to maintain his own inventory than when he is representing someone else's.
Anyway, it's a softer market with widgets.. that's for sure !
<< <i>Bochi states that Russ does well, but Russ is earning a commission from other's coins. I think that should be stated. There is far more risk of loss when a dealer has to maintain his own inventory than when he is representing someone else's. >>
I've sold just under $30,000 of my own purchased coins so far this year, and I sold every one of them at 99c no reserve.
Ebay and I have something in common, we both care about the bottom line. Ironicly, that's why I now use Ebay as a last resort selling platform. No one forces you to sell on ebay. If you dont like what they do for your business, dont use them. As soon as they see enough of their business go away, they'll do something about it. Until their bottom line is hit, it's just business as usual.
<< <i>We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
I agree with you that the market on ebay seems less attractive than it has been principally because most of the coins offered are fairly common, but also because I've found dealers in the City who offer quality coins for less than those priced or selling for on Ebay, plus I don't pay shipping costs. But then again, maybe my eye for quality and price is improving.
"Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world." PBShelley
<< <i>Anyway, it's a softer market with widgets.. that's for sure ! >>
I'm not convinced that's the whole story. What with eBay/PayPal fees and postage costs (all seemingly increasing at a rate which will assure that there's eventually no meat left on the bone for the seller), it's becoming harder and harder to sell low-dollar items and still make a profit. I don't think that necessarily means there's a dimishing demand- I know there are a number of under $10 items I've been looking for and not finding for at least a couple of years now- just that it doesn't pay to try to sell them online.
Which is a shame, because there are a lot of people out there looking for additions for their collection and not everbody is in the market for big ticket items or lives in a location which allows for in-person viewing of a large variety of coins. The beauty of eBay (once upon a time, anyway- not so much these days, it seems) was that lots of less expensive (but still desirable) coins were made available from all over the world- one wasn't limited to searching through the inventory of the local coin shop. Not that there's anything wrong with local shops, but if your collecting interests are out of the mainstream, your chances of finding what you're looking for there are rather slim.
Frank - you can "reason" what you will....I stand by my observations as to why your coins aren't doing as well as YOU think they should. Maybe buyers have tightened up or gotten smarter or pickier, doesn't matter to me. You are the one buying to sell on ebay. If you aren't making money, then get out of it. Maybe it's time to buy RAW and quality coins then slab? Maybe this is where the market starts weeding out some dealers a la Laura's comments in the last few years.....
Joe (TwoSides...) - I know Russ does on commission, I also know he goes to shows and knows how to grades and sells his own coins. He does well with those. The difference, in this instance, with Frank and Russ is that Russ is a bit pickier about what he puts up that is his. He also doesn't do the BS route that will turn some buyers off.
When you are selling, and want to max your profits, you want as many buyers as you can get....being told that "TRENDS!!!!!" and "RETAILS FOR $$$ONE MILLION$$$$" turns people off and then ignoring that is fine....just don't whine if you don't make what you want to make on the coin. One can always sell anyway one wants to if it is your own stuff. If you don't make what you want, then stop selling and find something else to do (that's why I ain't a coin dealer )
Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
Like I said earlier, that's a different thread!
But hell yeah, that's the truth!
Even using the Ebay Calculator at www.ebcalc.com , they take 7%
<< <i>thank you Bochi... I appreciate you guys candid and open responses. This place rocks for learning !
Frank ? I know you are reading this, too. It is sensible, eh ? >>
Not particularly. Your web page shows your roofing company has been in business since 1997. Would you like it if someone suggested that you read "roofing for dummies"?
Frank Provasek - PCGS Authorized Dealer, Life Member ANA, Member TNA. www.frankcoins.com
They suggested you read ebay for dummies not coins for dummies. Big difference. I, for one think I learned a somethings from this thread!!! Thanks!!! Frank stop being offended and realize they are just trying to help!!!
<< <i>I know there are a number of under $10 items I've been looking for and not finding for at least a couple of years now- just that it doesn't pay to try to sell them online. >>
Yeah... sadly, if it isn't going to sell for at least $20, it's not worth the effort for me to list.
Me at the Springfield coin show: 60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
<< <i>thank you Bochi... I appreciate you guys candid and open responses. This place rocks for learning !
Frank ? I know you are reading this, too. It is sensible, eh ? >>
Not particularly. Your web page shows your roofing company has been in business since 1997. Would you like it if someone suggested that you read "roofing for dummies"? >>
I would not like it, Frank. It is belittling... and humility is a lesson we all have to deal with. Certainly there are some people along the way that I'd like to have deeper discussions with in the confines of a ring, but... as long as we are serving the public, ... well the customer is right. I just list fewer coins on ebay but my inventory is small and my livelihood is not dependent on coins. I can relate to how you feel about the insults and the LOW PRICES, but in order for us to work this out (numismatically) there is some good reading within the thread that gives us all a better insight to the current condition of the market with other than "key coins" or "key series". I personally feel the pinch with some coins. More than a few times I thought about just dumping all this great stuff and going back to singing telegrams. At least people laughed and tipped good.
Coins are a dog eat dog world unless you have what everyone wants... Like
There was a time on Ebay when profits on coin sales were high, and successful sales were easy. Seems like a blind dog with a note in its mouth could sell almost all coins at strong prices, and be profitable if the coins were bought at all well - even low end stuff.
As some folks pointed out, selling coins successfully today on the 'Bay may require a little more attention to detail - like appropriate ending times, less "crap" in the layout, and better images. Although I found some of the posts unduly harsh (and I've met Boik and could probably take him ), if you can get past the harshness, you'll probably do better by using the advice given.
I agree that your premise that costs are going up and auction realized prices have gone down (I believe that adjusted for inflation, margins have gone WAY down) on a lot of common stuff - but desireable coins do sell, and sell well. I was especially shocked in reading that you, as a seller of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of coins on Ebay, paid the prices that you did for raw material. I agree with you that selling on Ebay may no longer be wothwhile for you, for that fact alone.
I think that your sales reflect market reality for this time. Common coins, smarter buyers,summertime, are all reasons for low sales prices. When you list retail prices or trends you are messing with the collectors phsyche'. (not sure how to spell physche') Everyone is looking for a bargain-listing trends or "retails for" is a turn off for most buyers. I also avoid auctions with things like -retails for $50 or should bring $50 or trends $50 or anything like that. A collector knows what the coin should sell for. Still i see a general softning of the market almost all around with the exception of exceptional pieces or very rare coins. When a downturn starts, it usually starts with the common stuff. Bob
<< <i>We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
I agree with you that the market on ebay seems less attractive than it has been principally because most of the coins offered are fairly common, but also because I've found dealers in the City who offer quality coins for less than those priced or selling for on Ebay, plus I don't pay shipping costs. But then again, maybe my eye for quality and price is improving. >>
Well said ...any type of quality is disappearing from Ebay..This will be a looming problem for Ebay down the road
Comments
<< <i>Here are some ideas. I hope some of them may help.
I always tracked other sellers that were selling what I was. I then looked at the sellers that were getting the highest sales prices. I would then use the layout they used, adjusting a few things here and there.
From what I see by looking at your listings here are my reccomendations:
I think you may want to market your coins in a more enticing matter.
You need to set your listing apart from other similar listings.
--- Bring color into the listing, a bright border. Using bold blues and bold reds for titles of each section instead of regular black.
--- The longer you can keep a buyer on your page the more likely they will bid on it.
--- Move your credentials below the information. (Very good info) but keep the enticing info at the top.
--- I'm sure you have a gallery picture of the coin for the listing.
--- You may want to spend a dollar to make your listing in bold for listings if you expect to get more than $25. Remember you're trying to set your listing apart from similar listings.
I would remove the "additional information" section from the listing. Much of that info will mean very little to most buyers interested in the coin and will get lost trying to sort it out. They may begin to lose interest in the coin and move on to other listings.
Try to keep your listing more of a sales pitch other than information about the coin.
I hope some of this helps,
Steve >>
The coins sold for what they are worth. You can do all this and more, and the coins will sell for the same price. If the OP really paid what he said he paid for those coins, then he grossly overpaid for them.
<< <i>We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
Bochi states that Russ does well, but Russ is earning a commission from other's coins. I think that should be stated. There is far more risk of loss when a dealer has to maintain his own inventory than when he is representing someone else's.
Anyway, it's a softer market with widgets.. that's for sure !
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
Same goes for buying. Coincidence?
I never said I could do your auctions better.
I wouldn't want to.
I sell different stuff than you and I'm not complaining about it.
You posted about it looking for something. I just gave you what I thought.
<< <i>Bochi states that Russ does well, but Russ is earning a commission from other's coins. I think that should be stated. There is far more risk of loss when a dealer has to maintain his own inventory than when he is representing someone else's. >>
I've sold just under $30,000 of my own purchased coins so far this year, and I sold every one of them at 99c no reserve.
Russ, NCNE
-David
<< <i>We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
I agree with you that the market on ebay seems less attractive than it has been principally because most of the coins offered are fairly common, but also because I've found dealers in the City who offer quality coins for less than those priced or selling for on Ebay, plus I don't pay shipping costs. But then again, maybe my eye for quality and price is improving.
<< <i>Anyway, it's a softer market with widgets.. that's for sure ! >>
I'm not convinced that's the whole story. What with eBay/PayPal fees and postage costs (all seemingly increasing at a rate which will assure that there's eventually no meat left on the bone for the seller), it's becoming harder and harder to sell low-dollar items and still make a profit. I don't think that necessarily means there's a dimishing demand- I know there are a number of under $10 items I've been looking for and not finding for at least a couple of years now- just that it doesn't pay to try to sell them online.
Which is a shame, because there are a lot of people out there looking for additions for their collection and not everbody is in the market for big ticket items or lives in a location which allows for in-person viewing of a large variety of coins. The beauty of eBay (once upon a time, anyway- not so much these days, it seems) was that lots of less expensive (but still desirable) coins were made available from all over the world- one wasn't limited to searching through the inventory of the local coin shop. Not that there's anything wrong with local shops, but if your collecting interests are out of the mainstream, your chances of finding what you're looking for there are rather slim.
C'est la vie...
Joe (TwoSides...) - I know Russ does on commission, I also know he goes to shows and knows how to grades and sells his own coins. He does well with those. The difference, in this instance, with Frank and Russ is that Russ is a bit pickier about what he puts up that is his. He also doesn't do the BS route that will turn some buyers off.
When you are selling, and want to max your profits, you want as many buyers as you can get....being told that "TRENDS!!!!!" and "RETAILS FOR $$$ONE MILLION$$$$" turns people off and then ignoring that is fine....just don't whine if you don't make what you want to make on the coin.
One can always sell anyway one wants to if it is your own stuff. If you don't make what you want, then stop selling and find something else to do
(that's why I ain't a coin dealer
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Like I said earlier, that's a different thread!
But hell yeah, that's the truth!
Even using the Ebay Calculator at www.ebcalc.com , they take 7%
Frank ? I know you are reading this, too. It is sensible, eh ?
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
<< <i>thank you Bochi... I appreciate you guys candid and open responses. This place rocks for learning !
Frank ? I know you are reading this, too. It is sensible, eh ? >>
Not particularly. Your web page shows your roofing company has been in business since 1997. Would you
like it if someone suggested that you read "roofing for dummies"?
<< <i>[I've sold just under $30,000 of my own purchased coins so far this year, and I sold every one of them at 99c no reserve. >>
I hope you mean you STARTED them at 99 cents....
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
<< <i>I know there are a number of under $10 items I've been looking for and not finding for at least a couple of years now- just that it doesn't pay to try to sell them online. >>
Yeah... sadly, if it isn't going to sell for at least $20, it's not worth the effort for me to list.
60 years into this hobby and I'm still working on my Lincoln set!
<< <i>
<< <i>thank you Bochi... I appreciate you guys candid and open responses. This place rocks for learning !
Frank ? I know you are reading this, too. It is sensible, eh ? >>
Not particularly. Your web page shows your roofing company has been in business since 1997. Would you
like it if someone suggested that you read "roofing for dummies"? >>
I would not like it, Frank. It is belittling... and humility is a lesson we all have to deal with. Certainly there are some people along the way that I'd like to have deeper discussions with in the confines of a ring, but... as long as we are serving the public, ... well the customer is right. I just list fewer coins on ebay but my inventory is small and my livelihood is not dependent on coins. I can relate to how you feel about the insults and the LOW PRICES, but in order for us to work this out (numismatically) there is some good reading within the thread that gives us all a better insight to the current condition of the market with other than "key coins" or "key series".
I personally feel the pinch with some coins. More than a few times I thought about just dumping all this great stuff and going back to singing telegrams. At least people laughed and tipped good.
Coins are a dog eat dog world unless you have what everyone wants...
Like
"first strikes"
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5
As some folks pointed out, selling coins successfully today on the 'Bay may require a little more attention to detail - like appropriate ending times, less "crap" in the layout, and better images. Although I found some of the posts unduly harsh (and I've met Boik and could probably take him
I agree that your premise that costs are going up and auction realized prices have gone down (I believe that adjusted for inflation, margins have gone WAY down) on a lot of common stuff - but desireable coins do sell, and sell well. I was especially shocked in reading that you, as a seller of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of coins on Ebay, paid the prices that you did for raw material. I agree with you that selling on Ebay may no longer be wothwhile for you, for that fact alone.
Check out my current listings: https://ebay.com/sch/khunt/m.html?_ipg=200&_sop=12&_rdc=1
Still i see a general softning of the market almost all around with the exception of exceptional pieces or very rare coins. When a downturn starts, it usually starts with the common stuff. Bob
<< <i>
<< <i>We have sold about $1/2 million in coins on eBay, about 7,000 lots, both under FRANKCOINS and CAUSEYS, and our point is not that we feel that we need "ebay for dummmies" or that we pay too much for our coins, or that quoting Coin World Trends values for properly graded certified coins is shady, or that we need bold print and colors in the ad...but rather that the ebay marketplace has become less and less attractive for both buyers and sellers. Indeed, in this up market of the past 2 or 3 years, our eBay gross sales and net margins have decreased every year, while the fees paid to ebay, Paypal and the post office have gone UP. >>
I agree with you that the market on ebay seems less attractive than it has been principally because most of the coins offered are fairly common, but also because I've found dealers in the City who offer quality coins for less than those priced or selling for on Ebay, plus I don't pay shipping costs. But then again, maybe my eye for quality and price is improving. >>
Well said ...any type of quality is disappearing from Ebay..This will be a looming problem for Ebay down the road
Box of 20