Do Ebay stores make money selling overpriced cards?

[pscolgrafs]

A complimentary thread to the demise of Ebay and something I don't we have talked about before here.

You see so many people on here complaining about eBay store prices and I whole heartedly agree.

I saw one T206 (Cicotte) in the B/S/T for $110 a while back and there were four examples on eBay in the same grade offered for between $200-250.

Do these stores...make money? They must, or they wouldn't exist, right?

[JP]

I think the majority of these "stores" don't NEED to sell anything....they are willing to let their inventory sit there until some ignoramus makes a purchase at an insane price, or they hope that someone who needs a card to complete a set will buy out of frustration. I know that there is a PSA 5 T-206 Bender portrait that I've seen in an eBay store AT LEAST for a year, and it represents about a 50% premium to the highest the card has ever sold. But if or when it does sell, it will more than cover any store expenses the seller incurred. The rest of these stores are just people showing off.....

[quinnsryche]

I have had great luck making offers on ebay store inventory. At one time I offered $100 for a card listed at $250 and the seller accepted it. I have no problem contacting a seller with a card for sale and making an offer I am comfortable with even if he does not offer the "make an offer" option. I have also had success in offering cards for trade to sellers. My experience is they would love to get the asking price but in many instances can be very receptive to reasonable offers.

[M's_Fan]

I think that most of these "buy it now" listings are collectors that really don't want to sell their cards, but would be convinced to sell at a really high price only.

Back in the days of card shops, dealers actually had to move inventory to pay expenses like rent, utilities, salaries, etc. Nowadays it costs virtually nothing to list a card for sale on eBay, which causes a huge amount of clutter.

The best way collectors can deal with this is clicking on the "auctions only" tab. Save your searches with this tab clicked and you won't have to click it every time.

[ksabet]

Originally Posted by quinnsryche

I have had great luck making offers on ebay store inventory. At one time I offered $100 for a card listed at $250 and the seller accepted it. I have no problem contacting a seller with a card for sale and making an offer I am comfortable with even if he does not offer the "make an offer" option. I have also had success in offering cards for trade to sellers. My experience is they would love to get the asking price but in many instances can be very receptive to reasonable offers.

Except be careful with seller "yepbg" he doesn't like when you do this and will ban you from bidding as well as berate and ridicule you. I mean when a card has averaged $430 over its last ten sales, his $1200 asking price is perfectly reasonable right?

[quinnsryche]

Originally Posted by ksabet

Except be careful with seller "yepbg" he doesn't like when you do this and will ban you from bidding as well as berate and ridicule you. I mean when a card has averaged $430 over its last ten sales, his $1200 asking price is perfectly reasonable right?

I've seen his stuff and never even stopped. The asking price can't be THAT ridiculous when asking about a deal. He's one of the ones I don't even bother with.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by ksabet

Except be careful with seller "yepbg" he doesn't like when you do this and will ban you from bidding as well as berate and ridicule you. I mean when a card has averaged $430 over its last ten sales, his $1200 asking price is perfectly reasonable right?

Is that a real seller? I thought it was a beta test seeking deranged compulsive buyers.

[calvindog]

Yeah, he's actually the worst, his prices make Levi blush. Smart guy. He should give the underwear gnomes in South Park some business advice.

Phase 1: Collect Underpants
Phase 2: ?
Phase 3: Profit