Not again! This is why I have a problem with PWCC!! Sorry for the rant!

[T206Collector]

I have never bought an item on ebay based on the seller. I buy items on ebay based on the item and the price. And I do not think it is credible to suggest that PWCC does better because people know their brands or are even treating their auctions like an event.

Doesn't everybody have their eBay saved searches emailed to them every morning?

Doesn't everybody just place snipes on those items at the time instead of manually placing a bid like it's 1998?

It's very difficult for me to believe that "stuff" is trumped by "seller" when all of the evidence almost universally points to "stuff" trumping "seller." The current proliferation of on-line auction houses dealing with pre-war cards can only exist in a world where "stuff" is driving the value. Otherwise consignors would naturally gravitate to one or two auction houses.

Instead, I believe the anonymity of ebay bidders shields shenanigans that would otherwise be eliminated by reputable auction houses.

[bobbyw8469]

Instead, I believe the anonymity of ebay bidders shields shenanigans that would otherwise be eliminated by reputable auction houses.

As much as I want to believe this is false, I do think this is true.

[orly57]

Ok, I am stumped at how this is unclear. I will use an example: I am not specifically looking for a USC Lefty Grove, but it's a card on my list to buy if I ever find a nice one. I see that PWCC has an auction. So, I go to "view seller's other items" and scroll down the list of 1,000's of cards. Why? Because they always have a ton of cool stuff. If you don't think their auctions are an event, you are fooling yourself.

"Oh wow" I proclaim, "that's a nice Lefty Grove PSA 6! I think I shall put it on my watch list." Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, another collector does the same thing. Low and behold, he and I compete over the card and I win it for $1,120.00 because our competition drove it up. That happens with PWCC and Probstein. That DOES NOT happen with Bobfromnet54 with a feedback of 124.

As I said before, if a guy happens to be looking specifically for a USC Lefty Grove, then he will find Bobfromnet54's card and put it on his watch list. But this will only happen if he is specifically looking for that card AT THE PRECISE TIME that Bobfromnet54's auction is going on. And now, said collector will probably have less competition for the card unless someone else is looking for the precise card at the same time.

A USC Lefty Grove is a very nice card, but it's not a Goudey Ruth where dozens of people are searching for them daily. In short, all it takes at an auction is two guys who want a card. The more people who want it, the more competition. Most collectors look at PWCC's newest auctions. More eyes= more buyers= more competition= higher price sale than what Bobfromnet54 got.

[ullmandds]

I agree with Orly in that sometimes I view PWCC...or others sellers cards after viewing something that initially struck my eye...and that because of this I may end up bidding or even winning said item. BUT...shilling has been shown to be happening over...and over...and over...and over again with certain sellers.

Our beloved hobby now seems to accept shilling as de rigueur. Knowing this....bid accordingly!

The one occasion I attempted to use PWCC to make money...I lost!

[orly57]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I agree with Orly in that sometimes I view PWCC...or others sellers cards after viewing something that initially struck my eye...and that because of this I may end up bidding or even winning said item. BUT...shilling has been shown to be happening over...and over...and over...and over again with certain sellers.

Our beloved hobby now seems to accept shilling as de rigueur. Knowing this....bid accordingly!

The one occasion I attempted to use PWCC to make money...I lost!

I agree with all of this. I am merely giving an alternative explanation. It's just bizarre to see "the little guy" complain that the major company is making more money than him. It's like the owner of my local diner complaining that he can't get four bucks for essentially the same cup of coffee the way Starbucks across the street can. I know it isn't a precise analogy, but you get the point.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by orly57

Ok, I am stumped at how this is unclear...Most collectors look at PWCC's newest auctions. More eyes= more buyers= more competition= higher price sale than what Bobfromnet54 got.

This analysis is missing a critical fact — before anyone ever places a bid on an item on eBay — even in a PWCC auction — they also look for what the value of that item is on eBay, if for no other reason than to try to figure out what a reasonable bid at PWCC is. For this reason, PWCC actually drives business to BobfromNet54, not take it away.

Heck, I don’t place a bid at REA or Love of the Game before checking current or past prices on eBay, regardless of whether BobfromNet54 sold it.

[orly57]

Excellent point. And if this were apples-to-apples it would apply here. However, the person buying a dead-centered psa 7 in a new holder isn't necessarily interested in a nice 6 in an old holder. Perhaps this is more of a grade-worship issue than a pwcc-gets-more issue. A jump from 6 to 7 is huge. There is also a lower population of 7s than 6s. And guys love that new holder: it shows it is properly graded according to PSAs current standards.

I think the better question here is "why would you auction the card off yourself anyway?" Between eBay and PayPal fees you end up paying almost as much as PWCC's cut on a card in this price range. They list it, ship it, and advertise. It's worth the extra few bucks just to not have to do the work. Not to mention the fact that you may get more for the card than if you sold on your own (usually).

[CrackaJackKid]

Originally Posted by t206collector

i have never bought an item on ebay based on the seller. I buy items on ebay based on the item and the price. And i do not think it is credible to suggest that pwcc does better because people know their brands or are even treating their auctions like an event.

Doesn't everybody have their ebay saved searches emailed to them every morning?

Doesn't everybody just place snipes on those items at the time instead of manually placing a bid like it's 1998?

It's very difficult for me to believe that "stuff" is trumped by "seller" when all of the evidence almost universally points to "stuff" trumping "seller." the current proliferation of on-line auction houses dealing with pre-war cards can only exist in a world where "stuff" is driving the value. Otherwise consignors would naturally gravitate to one or two auction houses.

Instead, i believe the anonymity of ebay bidders shields shenanigans that would otherwise be eliminated by reputable auction houses.

+10000000