Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Mike Snyder</b><p>How does www.707sportscards.com do it??? <br /><br />THere must be 500 cards posted with no bids. Doesnt this cost him a fortune, not selling cards like this? Posting fees must be enormous!

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>He lists them on like the ten cent listing days. All he has to do is sell a couple cards for way more than they are worth to make up for it...which he does.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>it is a monthly fee as opposed to a per listing fee.<br /><br />not sure though.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>brian</b><p>think of all the time it takes to list that many lots! software can only do so much of the work, right?

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Bobby Binder</b><p>Has to be all software sorry to say because between 707 and Keppler they have almost 20,000 ilstings of over priced cards.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Brian,<br /><br />I would think that after you put your listing on a file one time, all you need to do would be save the file for future use. The only modification they probably make in the future is to increase (or decrease) the price.<br /><br />Peter

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Trae R.</b><p>Scanning that many cards would be one tough job too... must have some sort of feeder or third party bulk scanning service.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>"Over-priced cards" is putting it mildly.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Frank Wakefield</b><p>And if they sell a card or two, it has paid for itself...<br /><br /><br />But who among us hasn't paid way too much for a particular card. I have, for certain. If it is a card that I'm really after that is seldom seen, then the prices that guides and sites suggest are meaningless.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>We all have. But I'm amazed that some of these businesses stay in business, profiting from the occasional, whimsical spontaniety of some of us- especially when they list 36 of the same card.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>the thing that really is amazing about these listings is why not at least have a "BEST OFFER". i would think a "seller "would like to "sell" a few items? imagine to see all your listings out there with no bids!logically you'd have to figure,gee maybe i'm overpricing this stuff? also if you are a buyer and see all this guys listings w/no bids it does not make you feel good about actually buying something.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Robert Reiss</b><p>The bigger question is "How does everyone else deal with wading through it all?" I can't wait until they all end.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Brian Weisner</b><p><br /> Hi Guys and Gals(Joann and Julie), <br /> I have bought and sold hundreds of cards with Levi and never had a problem. His prices may be a little higher than the market, but he always has the key cards from each set in stock. Some dealers like the quick turn and some wait for the larger return, but that doesn't make one better than the other. Be well Brian<br /><br />

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Bobby Binder</b><p>In tracking for the site we ignore those sellers so that it does not get infested with auctions that never sell and people don't want to see. So searching for the cards by player or set is a lot easier.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>rand</b><p>I dont mind high prices for tough or key cards, but his prices are 5 times what a common 33 goudey sells for..he want $400 for a common that sells for $80 - 100 on auction. its just rediculous.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Mike</b><p>If Ebay wants to implement a real good policy, on bargain listing days, limit each account to 10-20 listings. Eliminate all the clutter while still promoting business.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Limiting each account to 10-20 items would be a ridiculous idea. Levi sold over 500 cards this week during the special. Not only did eBay get 17,000 insertion fees, but they got final value fees on $55,000 worth of cards. There are even some deals to be had from Levi. How about the card that was $75 in his store last week but sold for $250 when five people got into a bidding war. Or the $250 hockey card that you could've had last week but it jumped to $610 during bidding.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Ed</b><p>I find his starting bids insulting. I guess he knows what he's doing.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Brett</b><p>I'd like to know how that seller comes up with those prices...

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>I would say he looks at recent sales...and adds 35% or so...just like some of the ridicilious prices you see at card shows.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Jason L</b><p>because sometimes browsing Levi's pages can be hard to stomach, but having said that, I recognize that most of my problem is my own jealousies -of his inventory, and as well as his luxury of patience in turnover...I have only dealt with him once, and he was a pleasure...got a couple of cards for me that I had been looking for for about 15 years! I paid up and I got the goods.<br /><br />cheers,<br />Jason L<br /><br />edited to add: there's nothing wrong with testing the market to see what it will bear...and it has been bearing alot more than I would have expected lately....so these strategies are looking pretty smart in this environment!<br />After all, a card is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That doesn't have to resemble a price guide (or most recent sales, for that matter)at all - as we are seeing!

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Dave,<br /><br />The prices at shows are more forgiveable. Some of the dealers are doing shows on a part-time basis, they may not know the prices. Or alternatively they are collectors at heart and really don't want to part with their cards.<br /><br />Peter

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>I can't imagine any dealer not knowing current market values for cards...after all if they are dealers that is their career we are talking about..not a side hobby.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>I think that one fails the market test when their inventory shows up week after week after week at the same starting bid. This is not to say that they are ALL unreasonably priced- but I think with some of these sellers, the majority of their stuff simply doesn't move at the prices demanded.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Mike Snyder</b><p>I looked through many of the cards on Ebay as well as the ones on his site.<br />He did have many cards that I desired in the grade desired, but they were grossly off-center. <br /><br />I agree, the prices were ridiculous. I saw few buyers and, at that, they were for the lower priced cards.<br /><br />The prices would be more in line if the cards were of better quality.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Jim Clarke</b><p>Ole Levi at 707. I can remember at the Atlanta National when I was interested in a 5K card. I asked him what is the best price he could do on it and he said "what is the price on the back" I said 5K and he said, "that would be the price then" as he was putting it back into the case. I think he was stereo typing me as I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I have never seen him before until that moment... All I can say to Levi is Buh bye..

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Mark L</b><p>What is the tee-shirt and shorts stereotype? Isn't that how everyone dresses at shows? More importantly, how should one dress to get a serious price from 707?

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>Mike, <br /><br />Here's a story on how the hobby has changed. I was at a small Holiday Inn card show recently. I saw a well-centered 1959 Topps Bob Gibson Rookie sitting at a dealer's table which was apparently underpriced.<br /><br />I didn't want to take advantage of the dealer so I told him that it was difficult to find well-centered Bob Gibson rookie cards and perhaps his price was too low. After a little thought the dealer agreed with me, then I asked him how much he wanted for the card, at this point the dealer told me he didn't want to sell me the card. Not only that but he wanted to continue displaying the card in his case. <br /><br />This just proves to you the truth in the old adage, "No good deed goes unpunished." <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>scgaynor</b><p>"I can't imagine any dealer not knowing current market values for cards...after all if they are dealers that is their career we are talking about..not a side hobby."<br /><br /><br />That is an interesting statement. The current market value for post-1948 cards is pretty easy to determine, just check out prices realized on ebay.<br /><br />However, it is not that easy when it comes to pre-war cards or high grade cards that don't change hands often. I don't know that there has ever been a time in the hobby when trying to determine the current market value of items like that has ever been harder. That is one of the main reasons that people use the auction format when selling. Prices are all over the place (but typically higher that one might think and not lower). They same applies to all areas of Sports Memorabilia. <br /><br />As a dealer I have always found that the best thing to do is just mark it up a bit, sell it, and move on to the next piece. <br /><br />Scott

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>Sorry to differ here..but I must. I hardly think today's climate makes for it being that difficult for dealers to see what current prices are for pre-war cards...instead, much easier. Dealers either know the current values....or for some reason all seem to get lucky as heck marking things up just above current values. <br /><br />It's also just as easy for any dealer to subscribe to one of the pay services....much easier and quicker than trying to look up things in out of date old price guides.<br /><br />Edited to say..when your talking about items that don't come up that often...how many dealers are currently trying to sell E107's? Most of what they have is exchanged through transaction enough it is rather easy to tell price values IMO.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Dave- I have to agree with Scott here. I sell vintage cards full time and it is very hard to keep up with prices in such a volatile market. That's why I auction just about everything- the market knows the value better than I do. Sure, I can distinguish a rare card from a relatively common one, but coming up with an exact price can be tough.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>Barry...but most dealers aren't selling E107's or Just So Tobacco's....I would just have to think when they are selling T206's...they certainly know the ballparks that these cards are going for...<br /><br />It's funny to me if a dealer says they can't keep up with current values...they tend to always list things way above current value...seems every once in a blue moon they would miss on one and have one for sale for under....if they do I certainly don't ever see those...

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I know the general value of most cards, and certainly know which ones are tougher than others. But sets seem to get hot overnight and it's hard to keep up.<br /><br />Today I was writing up some lots for my next auction and one of them was a T206 Miller Huggins with an upside down back! Now how in the world could I tell you what the added premium will be because the back was inverted? I have no idea. I suppose, as you say, the guy who sets up at every show selling more or less the same things would know the market pretty well, but the vintage market is so diverse with so many rare cards and obscure variations that it just isn't always that easy.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>I totally agree on a case such as a Huggins with an upside down back...as well as any of the rare cards...would be impossible to pinpoint prices for any of that. <br /><br />However someone like Levi...he isn't exactly selling anything rare that I've seen and he knows what the cards are really worth. Obviously though they are worth whatever someone will pay for them...so if he sells one out of a hundred that way...good for him.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p><br /><br />"Dave,<br /><br />The prices at shows are more forgiveable. Some of the dealers are doing shows on a part-time basis, they may not know the prices. Or alternatively they are collectors at heart and really don't want to part with their cards.<br /><br />Peter"<br /><br />One other thing Peter...if a guy is really a collector at heart and doesn't wnat to part with his cards than what in the world is he doing paying for a table at a card show?<br /><br /> <br />

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>I'm not really grouping you in with a Levi obviously. You run clean auctions...what he does is far from that...and I don't mean that to say he isn't honest...he may be...he just has his head a little higher in the clouds. More than likely the PSA 5 T206 Jimmy Collins with a regular Piedmont back that he tries selling for $525 is a card that he purchased himself for $200.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>Good question...I've had the same experience, without doing the good deed Peter did. I've seen many dealers put out "their" cards that are not for sale and only bother to tell you then after you ask how much they want. Or- they'll say that they're not inclined to sell it, unless you make them a "ridiculous offer." Whatever.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Mark</b><p>It seems obvious to me that Levi needs to charge more than other sellers because he has more into his cards. How else can he hope to recoup the 10+ insertion fees he's incurred on many or most of his 17,000 cards?

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Josh Adams</b><p>More than likely the PSA 5 T206 Jimmy Collins with a regular Piedmont back that he tries selling for $525 is a card that he purchased himself for $200.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dave, not trying to be argumentative, but what is so wrong about that? I say, get as much as you can!

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I don't know Levi personally but there is nothing unethical about asking too much for an item; the buyer can always pass.<br /><br />When I have something for sale I like to sell it, period. That's why I start my ebay and catalog auctions with very low opening bids and let it roll. 95% of the time I am more than pleased (an occasional disappointment will pop up for sure). The business model Levi uses wouldn't work for me. I couldn't imagine pricing things so high that virtually nothing sold. That baffles me, but I guess he has a reason for doing it. He's been selling cards for a long time, so I assume he makes enough to justify it.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>To say a dealer knows the prices/values of all esoteric cards in the pre-war category is, to say the least, not realistic. Sure a T206 common in vg is probably easy to give a close approximation. But take any of the more obscure stuff and forget about it...ya never know. I can't say how many times I have been surprised at how much something has sold for in the last few years. I feel like I follow the market for obscure stuff almost as much as anyone and I still don't have a clue half the times. On the Levi 707 subject I would say I have done 10 deals with him...never paid full price but usually close...and he has always been very pleasant. No excuse for being rude and I am not making one for him if he was. I know I have been rude before but try not to be too often. On the subject of bringing cards to shows that aren't for sale I used to bring part of my collection to the National for show and tell. I had numerous people tell me they really appreciated me doing it and loved seeing them. After the first year I made little sign saying they weren't for sale. Before that Scott B wasn't too happy with me.... <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>.....Everyone would ask him how much for so and so....only for him to tell them they weren't for sale. That must have been sort of a downer but I did rectify it at future Nationals. Now I don't do it so I can drink more beer and not think about having the liability of having them with me...regards

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Leon- in your case you were bringing your collection to show so it's pefectly reasonable to say "not for sale."<br /><br />But for Levi isn't that his business? He has to sell material to make a living. Pricing it at the level he does is hard to figure. And who would want the same inventory show after show, sale after sale? I guess to each his own.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Dave F</b><p>I don't at all disagree with get as much as you can. Sounds great to me...I try to do it myself on my limited budget I have for cards. I do think though someone like Levi who may put 15,000+ cards on ebay would probably do a little better if he even went down to 10% over what the cards go for. He's a big time dealer..reputable, and I think would have alot more sales that way. I would agree with a prior statement about "why wouldn't he at least but a space for best offers along with his BIN's...but I guess the time it would take to go through best offers for that many cards is just unrealistic unless he has a 15-20 man staff. <br /><br />Leon...I'd be curious to know when most of your deals with Levi went through...were most prior to your time as the moderator here or afterwards? My own experience I've never got him down in price at all....would just be curious if being the moderator of something with alot of pull like this board would sway him to bend his own rules a little with you?

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Bobby Binder</b><p>Barry,<br /><br />I guess it is all a waiting game for Levi....you know what he has and the price he wants for it. And every show and 3 months on eBay you get to see the same card again and again that you need. So eventually a few people cave in and give him what he wants for the card.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>I'm sure Levi's not hurting. If he's in a cash crunch, he can just liquidate any one of his ten 52 Topps Mantles and survive another day.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Apparently it works for him, but you have to be able to tie up an incredible amount of money. I need more of a cash flow.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Cobby33</b><p>Most people in my reality do...

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>leon</b><p>Levi might not even know about the board or that I am the moderator. I have rented cases from him, with Scott, at the last several Nationals so that might play into it. I have done deals long before I began moderating and also since I have. Like I say it wasn't a lot but usually about 10%....At the last National I made a deal on a Gasslers bread card right when Ted G walked up to buy it....I really don't think he thinks of anything except business when doing deals....as most business people should. I have always had a good rapport with him so that might help too. I know I will sometimes make a better deal for someone that is nice over someone that is an arce....regards

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>A price break from Levi isn't unheard of. I've called on cards from his site, offered to send a MO or check, and received 5-10% off...higher end of the range if multiple cards were involved.

Hundreds of pre-1930 cards on Ebay
 

Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>A discount of 10%. So if Levi charges twice the market price. Then with the discount your only paying 80% more than the market price. That's not bad. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Peter