Done trying to deal with sellers on ebay

[Snapolit1]

I have a pretty limited array of things I am looking for at this point and am tired of the inflated crazy prices sellers are asking for anything Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Mantle, etc. related. Will stick to the auction houses for a while.

Case and point: Memory Lane just had a Babe Ruth 1920 cut strip card (W 516) (A) that failed to sell in their I Own it Now for $495. And they were taking offers for lower. People on eBay selling same card for BIN at $1300, $1400, and more.

I get it. You can list a card for anything you want. But I keep seeing cards on eBay that are conservatively 250% - 500% higher than they should really be.

[1952boyntoncollector]

This has been discussed a lot. Yeah if they were to sell it at auction the card would sell for far lower.

However there are people out there that dont care about resell of the card and want the card now apparently. Sometimes paying 5X the price is worth it for people. We dont live forever and why wait for something for 5 years (talking generally, i dont know how available the card at issue is ) if you can buy it now.

we buy things all the time that we lose money on.....most home improvements you are lucky to get a fraction of what you paid...everything isnt about re-sale, sometimes its just about availability and/or time among other things

[Snapolit1]

I hear you, and I am sure I've fallen in love with cards and overpaid on BIN. But month after month I see the same Ruth cards just get listed and relisted and relisted and relisted. Odd. Some chewed up SGC 10 listed for more than a 50 just sold for last month. Just seems like a bizarre way to do business.

[Republicaninmass]

most home improvements you are lucky to get a fraction of what you paid..

That would be breaking news to flippers and investors. I wonder sometimes where you come up with this stuff! It's literary likness to stream of consciousness posting

[vintagetoppsguy]

707 Sports Cards is one of the worst. He puts a date stamp watermark on all his images. Here is one from 2008...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1910-T206-ML...l3nyvclslHWafQ

If he would just price his cards reasonably, he would make less profit margin, but his overall profit would be much greater because he would turn over his inventory quicker. How do some people stay in business? I really don't get it. I wonder how much he's paid in re-list fees over the 8 years this card has been on eBay?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

707 Sports Cards is one of the worst. He puts a date stamp watermark on all his images. Here is one from 2008...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1910-T206-ML...l3nyvclslHWafQ

If he would just price his cards reasonably, he would make less profit margin, but his overall profit would be much greater because he would turn over his inventory quicker. How do some people stay in business? I really don't get it. I wonder how much he's paid in re-list fees over the 8 years this card has been on eBay?

With due respect, I have heard Levi and Jimmy are doing just fine in this world, and probably don't need advice. I am SURE they understand the relationship between price and sales, for example.

[Rich Klein]

Levi and Jimmy are doing just fine. They have no financial need to rush through their inventory

Rich

[Luke]

I agree that ebay is filled with overpriced BINs. Just want to play devil's advocate.

I sell on ebay using BINs, and I try to have fair prices. One problem with selling things at market prices is that people quickly buy up your best inventory. Whenever I get a chance to buy a nice group of cards, the best stuff (Cobbs, Mattys, Youngs etc) gets bought up pretty quick, and my inventory starts looking less and less appealing until I have my next opportunity to add new stuff.

There is definitely some (though hard to quantify) value to maintaining quality inventory. Is it enough value to make up for not turning your inventory over, and paying ebay to list the same Ruth card for years? Not to me, but I can imagine that some sellers might have reasons why it makes sense for them.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Levi and Jimmy are doing just fine. They have no financial need to rush through their inventory

Rich

....and they often have hard to find cards. No issues with Levi other than having to haggle over prices.

Z

[Joshchisox08]

Yeah the PSA 2 commons for T206s. Listed $50 and above. Sometimes over $100. I often wonder what in the world the seller is thinking on some of those prices.

Regardless if 707 and Dean's are doing well for themselves, I can't imagine they make much off of eBay. Their strategy must be to taunt buyers until they have to pay their price.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

With due respect, I have heard Levi and Jimmy are doing just fine in this world, and probably don't need advice. I am SURE they understand the relationship between price and sales, for example.

Do you seriously think it's good marketing to have anything in your inventory for 8 years? 8 years!!! This was one example of many. Look through their inventory, many cards they've had for several years

In any other business, these guys are idiots. Ever see a house (average house because we'we talking average cards) set on the market 8 years? Ever see a car sit at a dealership for 8 years? Where, please tell me where else in the world, people hold onto inventory for 8 years (I'm not talking something obscure, I'm talking something that can be found readily available).

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Do you seriously think it's good marketing to have anything in your inventory for 8 years? 8 years!!! This was one example of many. Look through their inventory, many cards they've had for several years

In any other business, these guys are idiots. Ever see a house (average house because we'we talking average cards) set on the market 8 years? Ever see a car sit at a dealership for 8 years? Where, please tell me where else in the world, people hold onto inventory for 8 years (I'm not talking something obscure, I'm talking something that can be found readily available).

It doesn't matter. I am telling you, they have done fabulously well in cards. They know exactly what they are doing. If they needed or wanted to generate more cash flow, they would.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

most home improvements you are lucky to get a fraction of what you paid..

That would be breaking news to flippers and investors. I wonder sometimes where you come up with this stuff! It's literary likness to stream of consciousness posting

Right its an analogy. The point is that resell isnt important to many people in a hobby..

Anyway, i do understand that there are items that are there just to get others to look at your other things. I get that. It real hard to sell things when there are set breaks on the same item every month though.

Back to the housing analogy, i have seen houses for sale for a price that noone would ever pay for it either....sometimes years go by..its like they are waiting for a foreign investor to overpay..i guess sometimes that happens..but only takes one..

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Do you seriously think it's good marketing to have anything in your inventory for 8 years? 8 years!!! This was one example of many. Look through their inventory, many cards they've had for several years

In any other business, these guys are idiots. Ever see a house (average house because we'we talking average cards) set on the market 8 years? Ever see a car sit at a dealership for 8 years? Where, please tell me where else in the world, people hold onto inventory for 8 years (I'm not talking something obscure, I'm talking something that can be found readily available).

really not much of a cost holding a card for years......storage is real easy too...not like cars...but i dig your house comparison...

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

really not much of a cost holding a card for years......storage is real easy too...not like cars...but i dig your house comparison...

Cost or relisting it over 8 years?

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

With due respect, I have heard Levi and Jimmy are doing just fine in this world, and probably don't need advice. I am SURE they understand the relationship between price and sales, for example.

If I remember correctly I clicked on Levi's 52 topps registry set and saw a PSA 10 52 Mantle. I have to agree with Peter here if those guys nended to sell quickly they could. They seem like they're doing fine to me.

[Beastmode]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Levi and Jimmy are doing just fine. They have no financial need to rush through their inventory

Rich

Clearly

[rats60]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Cost or relisting it over 8 years?

Ebay offers plenty of free listings. I think that is part of the problem, no cost to keep listing over priced items for many sellers.

[egbeachley]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

707 Sports Cards is one of the worst. He puts a date stamp watermark on all his images. Here is one from 2008...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1910-T206-ML...l3nyvclslHWafQ

If he would just price his cards reasonably, he would make less profit margin, but his overall profit would be much greater because he would turn over his inventory quicker. How do some people stay in business? I really don't get it. I wonder how much he's paid in re-list fees over the 8 years this card has been on eBay?

I disagree. High margin at low sales = low margin at high sales. Except it's more work to mail more packages and once they sell their inventory it's hard to replenish at reasonable prices (i.e. if you think he can restock at below market prices then just go to the same place to buy what you want). This way he can sit back and relax while selling 5 cards per week and make the same profit as selling 200 cards at market prices, then still know he has 195 more cards in inventory to do the same thing the following week, after week, after week.

It sucks for buyers but anyone who has overpaid for a BIN has enabled this to happen. Nobody else is to blame.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by rats60

Ebay offers plenty of free listings.

That's good for them because they relist about 97% of their listings.

I clicked on their completed listings and looked at the last 100. Only 3 sold. THREE!!!

Yeah, they're 'doing just fine' with their 3% success rate. Great business model for other eBay sellers.

[Republicaninmass]

Case in point

Years ago Everyone laughed at Levi's show case full of 52 mantles and their prices.

...Now they wish they bought them!

[frankbmd]

I'm trying to sell a house and I had to buy a lake so that I could list it as a waterfront property. You can't get one of those at Home Depot and they are not cheap.

[Joshchisox08]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

That's good for them because they relist about 97% of their listings.

I clicked on their completed listings and looked at the last 100. Only 3 sold. THREE!!!

Yeah, they're 'doing just fine' with their 3% success rate. Great business model for other eBay sellers.

Dave I agree with you for the simple fact that I'm sick and tired of looking at their cards day after day. Way overpriced common cards that just sit and sit and sit. It drains you after you have to sift through their crap all the time.

[ALR-bishop]

I have done a lot of business with Levi and Jim. I have always found them reasonable in direct dealings. I would not buy from them off eBay.

I have seen dozens upon dozen of threads and posts over many years about their ridiculous pricing and business model. I have even seen it said that 707 is code for LOL. I wonder if they read and get a kick out of all of it

I do think Levi needs a new hat

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I have done a lot of business with Levi and Jim. I have always found them reasonable in direct dealings. I would not buy from them off eBay.

I have seen dozens upon dozen of threads and posts over many years about their ridiculous pricing and business model. I have even seen it said that 707 is code for LOL. I wonder if they read and get a kick out of all of it

I do think Levi needs a new hat

i think keeping firm prices also saves time of haggling with buyers...many selelrs i dont even bother trying to ask for 10% off..(due to having 10% ebay bucks at the time which allows for almost 20% off) so thats one less email they have to deal with..

[Snapolit1]

I guess my post gets the award for most frequent rant on the board annually. Buyers vs sellers. I didn't single anyone out. To each his own. I just drains my of the fun of the chase to see the same overpriced stuff listed week after week and month after month. I guess the bottom line is these aren't houses and aren't cars, they are little colored pieces of cardboard. Someone can throw something out there and see if their crazy price is met. I'm not a heavy duty eBay sells but I didn't think they charged you at all if you don't sell and relist. I do enjoy the discussion just as matter of economics. Hated the subject in college and now I think it's the key to everything. How do people act in a free market to get what they want/need.

[egri]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I'm trying to sell a house and I had to buy a lake so that I could list it as a waterfront property. You can't get one of those at Home Depot and they are not cheap.

You jest, but my neighbors did that. They weren't happy about how far their house was from the neighborhood lake, so they brought in a crew and now, where their backyard used to be, they have their own pond.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I have a pretty limited array of things I am looking for at this point and am tired of the inflated crazy prices sellers are asking for anything Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Mantle, etc. related. Will stick to the auction houses for a while.

Case and point: Memory Lane just had a Babe Ruth 1920 cut strip card (W 516) (A) that failed to sell in their I Own it Now for $495. And they were taking offers for lower. People on eBay selling same card for BIN at $1300, $1400, and more.

I get it. You can list a card for anything you want. But I keep seeing cards on eBay that are conservatively 250% - 500% higher than they should really be.

Interesting. I was under the impression A/H's were more expensive, albeit, they usually had a better product, but with their 15%-20+% tacked on, I thought E-Bay was more reasonable?

I have seen some crazy E-Bay prices just snooping, and usually a quick trip to VCP confirms that, but for the most part, usually the prices are not that far apart. (post war anyways)

[Jantz]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

I'm trying to sell a house and I had to buy a lake so that I could list it as a waterfront property. You can't get one of those at Home Depot and they are not cheap.

And why was I never invited to fish Frank Lake?

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

That's good for them because they relist about 97% of their listings.

I clicked on their completed listings and looked at the last 100. Only 3 sold. THREE!!!

Yeah, they're 'doing just fine' with their 3% success rate. Great business model for other eBay sellers.

Have tried many times to deal with 707.... At this point I just ignore their auctions....

[begsu1013]

to take full advantage of tax laws, that's why.

spend $150 to incorporate.
buy up a bunch of your favorite cards
list a bunch of these cards at crazy prices

then write off:

card purchases
percentage of house for home offices
percentage of your utilities
your supplies to house your collecting museum
travel expenses
lunches/dinners
and a million other small justifible reasons if ya have the right tax guy.

like golf and using the rules to your advantage. all completely legal if set up properly. so long as you keep records, your collection can work for you.

at the end of the day, its not really what you make, its what you can legally deduct.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by begsu1013

to take full advantage of tax laws, that's why.

spend $150 to incorporate.
buy up a bunch of your favorite cards
list a bunch of these cards at crazy prices

then write off:

card purchases
percentage of house for home offices
percentage of your utilities
your supplies to house your collecting museum
travel expenses
lunches/dinners
and a million other small justifible reasons if ya have the right tax guy.

like golf and using the rules to your advantage. all completely legal if set up properly. so long as you keep records, your collection can work for you.

at the end of the day, its not really what you make, its what you can legally deduct.

LOL, That is funny and really close to true. There is a little more to it that that but not much. I done it with parrots instead of baseball cards for many years. The great thing about having large birds is after you learn to block them out you can ignore anything. I have not heard my wife complain about anything in years.

[ksabet]

If there is a place that serves good burgers at $99.99 I will never know.

I will also not continually hark about how expensive they are.

[Snapolit1]

We have some pretty good burgers in NY City for $39.00. Seem to sell a lot of them.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by bnorth

LOL, That is funny and really close to true. There is a little more to it that that but not much. I done it with parrots instead of baseball cards for many years. The great thing about having large birds is after you learn to block them out you can ignore anything. I have not heard my wife complain about anything in years.

What kind of parrots do you have? We have a small yellow sided green cheek conure who is awesome!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

What kind of parrots do you have? We have a small yellow sided green cheek conure who is awesome!

I have a pair of African Senegal parrots. I bought them as babies. Female in spring of 1994 and the male in the fall. I also have a Orange Winged Amazon that I got in 1998. I got it from a guy that bought it in 1981 and was told it was a old wild caught bird back then.

Over about a 10 year period I owned several birds. Like some do with cards I bought, sold and traded them. One of my favorites was a Yellow Collared Macaw I named Sam.

[begsu1013]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I bought, sold and traded them.

you sold petey!?!?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by begsu1013

you sold petey!?!?

There was a lot of $ in selling/raising birds in the 90's. Never sold one named Petey but probably sold one that got named Petey.

[bbcard1]

One of the things about the industry today is that there are a lot of dealers who do it as a true hobby. In the 80s and 90s, there were a lot of guys in it who didn't have any money and had to hustle. I was actually one of those guys. I needed to generate a pay check so my margins were thinner. A lot of these guys are retired, have other sources of income and are really just doing it to stay busy.

[begsu1013]

...some baseball cards, a sack of marbles, (cough) petey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQeJIVNmfCM

[ksabet]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

We have some pretty good burgers in NY City for $39.00. Seem to sell a lot of them.

I edited