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Posted By: ErlandStevens

Oh boy, I hate to step into this mess, but I just can't resist. I collect more on the memorabilia side than cards. This signed T206 is really more a piece of memorabilia than a card (IMO). Memorabilia on ebay is tough because it's harder to price than cards. Both buyers and sellers are less certain on what the close will be.

I am an idealist with ebay. Auctions simply shouldn't be ended early for an off-ebay sale. Over time, I've learned that this is naive. (I still think it's right, but it's not the reality.) While I've seen lots of stuff close early, I've only been a part of the situation three times...

A little over a year ago, I was going to bid on a lot that closed early. I was steamed and sure that somebody made an offer on it. I admit that I emailed the seller and told him that he very likely made a bad deal. Furthermore, I said that if the buyer was willing to go off ebay to close the auction then I had no problem in going off ebay to make a counter offer. [In my heart I feel like I just disappointed Barry - sorry Barry.] The buyer replied not to worry because he had lots more of the same type of material. He did have some similar stuff, but not the same. I'm still convinced that the seller lost out. Of course, I'm selfish - I couldn't care less about the seller (or ebay). I'm disappointed that *I* missed out.

A few months ago a seller put up a lot with a nice item in it. Wise from my previous experience, I asked the seller not to close it early. Never, he replied. He later said that he was getting a lot of offers. Since he had much similar material, he put everything into one massive lot. I don't have a lot of funds for collecting, and I knew that I had no chance on the big lot. Within 24 hours, both auctions ended. The seller got an offer that he couldn't refuse. Within a couple weeks, the buyer came on this board and showed off part of the lot. I called him on it, but nobody seemed to care. I cannot complain too much. The seller held out an item for me and sold it to me for less than what I had already told him was a fair price.

Last month a nice lot came up, and I again asked the seller not to close it early. He asked what I thought it was worth ($50 was my answer). He said that he was getting a lot of interest and would let it run. Great, I replied. About 12 hours before the close, I placed a bid ($52 or similar). The lot was at like $10. The seller offered to close it for my original offer of $50. I said to just let it ride and figured it would go for $30-40. I ended up being the underbidder to a snipe.

I think that sniping is a source of the problem here. Snipes really leave the seller in the dark. For lots with a clear market value (graded T206 Cobb), anyone with experience in ebay can be somewhat confident about the closing price. For memorabilia with a thinner base, items of value can fall between the cracks. A lack of bidders can make a seller nervous, and poor decisions on an early close can be the result. Any tool that gives a buyer such an advantage is going to lead sellers looking to minimize a perceived loss. The T206 Johnson apparently had a lot more interest than the seller realized. In keeping their cards close, snipers can leave a seller feeling vulnerable. In defense of sniping, it is within the rules of ebay. You still have to be the highest bidder to win the lot. That's not the case with offers to close.