Comment about buying off the bst (added comment))

jdimmick · January 28, 2009 12:25PM

I rarely bother with looking at items posted on the bst that are E-bay listed. Usually I am looking for something posted that I can get a bargain on , priced with room or need for a customer. Once I see its linked to e-bay, I seldom bother becuase most likely its going to go too high or closer to retail and not worth my bother. The main difference is I do not buy coins but for the single purpose of selling for a profit. I see quite a it of neat items on occasions, but just no room left to buy it.

On the other hand as a seller, it probably does them good to link e-bay sales over here to the forum for additional exposure!!

Jim

commoncents05 · January 28, 2009 12:31PM

I have bought from Board members on eBay because of their links on the BST, and I have sold to board members because of my links on the BST.

-Paul

RYK · January 28, 2009 12:35PM

I have been primarily a buyer on the BST, when I see something that suits me. These pick-ups are rarely for my core collection. I have never had a problem transaction and have probably dealt with 50 or more forum members via the BST.

PutTogether · January 28, 2009 1:04PM

I was just thinking about this. I got a PM from a member asking if I had ever heard of another member, because he was about to complete a rather large transaction with him, and wanted to know if he could be trusted. I didn't know the person he was asking about, but it got me thinking. In five years, and probably 60 or so transactions adding up to several thousand dollars, I have never, not once, ever even had a HINT of a problem on the BST.

I still get slightly nervous if someone i don't know, that others can't vouch for, wants a cashiers check for a large amount, but never one single problem. That is really cool when you think about it. It is like our little virtual community is the last place on earth you can trust strangers.

Eric

Meltdown · January 28, 2009 4:44PM

<< I was just thinking about this. I got a PM from a member asking if I had ever heard of another member, because he was about to complete a rather large transaction with him, and wanted to know if he could be trusted. I didn't know the person he was asking about, but it got me thinking. In five years, and probably 60 or so transactions adding up to several thousand dollars, I have never, not once, ever even had a HINT of a problem on the BST.

I still get slightly nervous if someone i don't know, that others can't vouch for, wants a cashiers check for a large amount, but never one single problem. That is really cool when you think about it. It is like our little virtual community is the last place on earth you can trust strangers.

Eric >>

I agree 100%. Both as a buyer and seller over on the bst, I've met and dealt with nothing but professional and friendly people every single time.

illini420 · January 28, 2009 5:50PM

<< I rarely bother with looking at items posted on the bst that are E-bay listed. Usually I am looking for something posted that I can get a bargain on , priced with room or need for a customer. Once I see its linked to e-bay, I seldom bother becuase most likely its going to go too high or closer to retail and not worth my bother. The main difference is I do not buy coins but for the single purpose of selling for a profit. I see quite a it of neat items on occasions, but just no room left to buy it.

On the other hand as a seller, it probably does them good to link e-bay sales over here to the forum for additional exposure!!

Jim >>

I buy a bunch off the BST and have sold a bit as well. If I see something I really like, I'm willing to pay retail prices off the BST because I'm not sure I have much other choice... I mean, either buy it from a member here, or likely pay at least as much if not more buying from a dealer. Of course, a nice deal is always welcome. I also look at eBay links, especially if it's something I'm interested in!!! sure the prices can go higher, but in most cases a quick message to the seller expressing serious interest will end their eBay auction and can get the coin for at least 10% cheaper as the eBay fees are avoided. I've found some great deals from forum members this way.

Not sure your post makes complete sense to me though. If you're not buying for the single purpose of profit, then why won't you pay retail prices if it's somehting that want?? Why does there need to be room left to buy?? We all like to get bargains, but I try to remember that most of us on the BST probably paid somewhere near retail prices for the things we are selling there in the first place (I can't be the only one!!!!

)

for the BST

greghansen · January 28, 2009 7:54PM

I've had dozens of pleasant transactions via BST both as a buyer and seller. Just concluded another one last night for a coin valued at over a grand! In all my years, I've only had one deal kind of go sideways when a buyer, after we agreed to a price, sent me on approval a common coin which he was sure was worth more than the item he had agreed to buy. He wanted me to ship him my coin and accept the POS he mailed me as full payment. I was not too impressed with this 'bait and switch' and just ate the cost of mailing his coin back with a note that our deal was off and to not bother sending me money for the coin. I just don't want to get started doing business with those sorts of clowns. You never know when you got a deal and when you don't. And yes...he was from the northeast! Other than that minor fiasco a few years back...nothing but great things on both sides of BST; and links to EBAY do not bother me at all.

Connecticoin · January 28, 2009 8:33PM

If you get a coin at a price that is acceptable to you, what difference does it make whether you buy it on the BST or buy it on ebay? Many coins go for less on ebay (sometimes much less) than for prices offered on the BST.

FilthyBroke · January 28, 2009 8:49PM

My opinion of Ebay - There is a LOT of junk to sort through to find the few bargains, but they are certainly there. You just have to be diligent.

BAJJERFAN · January 28, 2009 9:25PM

<< 

<< I rarely bother with looking at items posted on the bst that are E-bay listed. Usually I am looking for something posted that I can get a bargain on , priced with room or need for a customer. Once I see its linked to e-bay, I seldom bother becuase most likely its going to go too high or closer to retail and not worth my bother. The main difference is I do not buy coins but for the single purpose of selling for a profit. I see quite a it of neat items on occasions, but just no room left to buy it.

On the other hand as a seller, it probably does them good to link e-bay sales over here to the forum for additional exposure!!

Jim >>

Not sure your post makes complete sense to me though. If you're not buying for the single purpose of profit, then why won't you pay retail prices if it's somehting that want?? Why does there need to be room left to buy??

for the BST >>

Re-read his post again.

Boom · January 28, 2009 9:59PM

I have had many gratifying experiences on the BS&T - buying AND selling.

I've purchased some outstanding coins there and but for one that I can remember, I came away very pleased.
The one exception was paying too much for a coin but it was my fault for not doing my Homework.

I've SOLD MANY coins on the BS&T to MANY fellow members there AND on eBay because of links I posted along
with pictures.

There are a lot of good people there and some excellent merchandise, to boot.

Also, to better respond to the posted question, I have been directed to many fellow members ebay offerings and learned their ebay nicknames because they posted there. In many instances I probably would never have known of their items OR nicknames.

I've found it to be a very positive trading post, buying & selling.

jdimmick · January 28, 2009 10:39PM

Several of you all took this post way out of context, first I myself have had many transactions on the bst both buying and selling, and never had a problem(I am not sure how this got interjected) I was making a simple comment that usually I dont bother with BST e-bay linked auctions, becuase most really good items will go to stronger retail levels, and my sole purpose is buying to re-sell. However, yes if I do have a customer who is in need of something , I do stretch further to aquire it.

Additionally, I wanted to add, that I in fact do see some great coins on here (e-bay linked and some not) I would love to buy and are priced fair if I were a collector and it was my sole intrest, but at this time it is not. I cant buy coins just becuase they look nice as I have a business to run.

jim

SaorAlba · January 28, 2009 11:22PM

I have purchased items quite a bit on the BST since I have been on board since last summer, I have had nothing but pleasurable experiences and have gotten some great deals on unusual gold coins.

RegistryCoin · January 28, 2009 11:56PM

<< ...but it got me thinking. In five years, and probably 60 or so transactions adding up to several thousand dollars, I have never, not once, ever even had a HINT of a problem on the BST. >>

Ditto.
My transactions plus your transactions plus his transactions...
I wonder what the total value of all the BST transactions are.

lcoopie · January 29, 2009 12:41AM

I prefer to buy from the BST over ebay,
as I prefer to support my forum friends
over unknowns

mike92694 · January 29, 2009 12:47AM

<< Several of you all took this post way out of context, first I myself have had many transactions on the bst both buying and selling, and never had a problem(I am not sure how this got interjected) I was making a simple comment that usually I dont bother with BST e-bay linked auctions, becuase most really good items will go to stronger retail levels, and my sole purpose is buying to re-sell. However, yes if I do have a customer who is in need of something , I do stretch further to aquire it.

Additionally, I wanted to add, that I in fact do see some great coins on here (e-bay linked and some not) I would love to buy and are priced fair if I were a collector and it was my sole intrest, but at this time it is not. I cant buy coins just becuase they look nice as I have a business to run.

jim >>

Here are my thoughts.

The BST:
1. Prices are mostly set by the seller.
2. You can get the item fairly quickly without having to worry about being outbid.
3. People usually (but not always) have a good intuition regarding the trustworthiness of the seller.

eBay:
1. On auctions, prices are mostly set by the buyer.
2. You have to wait to see if you got the item.
3. Numeric feedback gives a gut feeling about the seller.

ElKevvo · January 29, 2009 12:57AM

I have bought many items from the BST and have sold one (need to sell more!!), in fact I think the OP was the very first person I ever bought anything from off the BST...I still have those Walkers Jim!

Have all the transactions been 100% smooth? 99.0% yes and the couple that have been difficult I eventually received the item and in both my cases, due to bad transactions with other members, the sellers eventually stopped posting around these parts.

I look at a lot of the e-bay links posted but rarely buy from them. Why? 1) I can usually get the same items here for less $...I have a budget supposedly and need to try and stick to it 2) I don't have to wait and see if I won and 3) I don't end up being outbid on an item when I bid a fair price and have to start the hunt over.

I do tend to buy stuff that is just neat to me here on the BST which has lead to collection bloat but I do get to support the folks here on the forum that have helped me with my collecting and Numismatic education and to me, that is more important than the 'collection' itself. JMTCW...

K

guitarwes · January 29, 2009 1:05AM

I comb the BST very frequently and have had probably 75-100 transactions with not one problem. I sell stuff mostly, but buy stuff for my collection and buy stuff to resale on occasion. The more time you've been here and the more time you have to see what/how people sell stuff, the better off your chances are for multiple smooth transactions. I hesitant about these "fly-by-night" people who spring up with tons of stuff to sell with no reputation, as you should be also.

-wes

quickwing · January 29, 2009 1:08AM

<< I prefer to buy from the BST over ebay, >>

<< as I prefer to support my forum friends >>

<< over unknowns >>

Well said!

robkool · January 29, 2009 1:49AM

No problems here... With plenty of BST transactions here & ebay.

commoncents123 · January 29, 2009 1:51AM

I simply link to my ebay items and offer a discount for buying through the forums.

Comment about buying off the bst (added comment))

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