Posted By:
JOSH NATHANSONHi Eric,
Thanks for your interest. Here are answers to your questions...
This is really interesting and an a nice alternative to Ebay and the auction houses. But I have 3 questions.
1) You say the following..."we suggest that you place a buy order to increase your chances of obtaining the item"....why is it when you hit the buy order you only increase your chances? Shouldn't it be a done deal then?
*It is worded that way for three reasons. First, the chances are greater that the user will obtain the item if he places a buy order instead of a bid. I think what you were touching on, though, is how can someone who places a buy order for an item not get the item. If a buy order is placed by more than one person, the first person to place the buy order will get the item. Also, let's say the card is owned by a dealer, who goes to a convention over the weekend and sells a card. While he is at the show, a buyer places an order for the same card on SportsCardLink. When the dealer comes back to the SportsCardLink buy order, the SportsCardLink buyer gets notified that it is no longer available.
2) The non-sports card market has skyrocketed recently. Any chance of having a non-sports section? Maybe pre-war only to keep out the shiny crap.
*Yes! A few people have touched on the need for a non-sports section and I am thinking about it. There is certainly enough crossover. If anyone would like to sell vintage non-sports cards, then certainly let me know. It may happen sooner rather than later if we get some good stuff.
3) Wouldn't it be better to leave a bid that was rejected (maybe gray it out) so another person a day later oesn't come on an put in the same or lesser bid. This could go on for a long time and annoy the seller who in turn stops replying.
*That is actually the way it works now. The bid does stay up there so sellers don't get annoyed and bidders know it is pointless to bid less than the prior bid.
Hope that clears things up.
Josh Nathanson, President
www.sportscardlink.com