Major Auctions v. eBay

[YankeeCollector]

Where do you think its better to buy for PC and where do you think its better to sell?

I actually just bought a card for $2000 @ the Heritage Auction that ended in April and sold it on ebay for $3000. Im thinking that Auction houses are great places to buy and eBay is better to sell. Any thoughts??

[collectbaseball]

I think it can go either way. One time I got a great deal on ebay -- the exact same piece had sold at auction (Heritage) two months earlier for double, $800 vs $400. It was conveniently "lost" and I got a refund.....

Did you sell it on ebay via auction of buy it now?

[YankeeCollector]

Auction. It is my experience that straight Auctions starting at .01 always gets the best result for me ending on Sunday night of course!

[sportscardpete]

I don't deal with PC's but in my opinion buying raw cards on ebay is the best (but riskiest) way to get a good deal on a card. Just need to have a good eye and buy it from a person with a strong feedback. I have done this plenty of times and for the most part, I have had great success.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by YankeeCollector

I actually just bought a card for $2000 @ the Heritage Auction that ended in April and sold it on ebay for $3000. Im thinking that Auction houses are great places to buy and eBay is better to sell. Any thoughts??

what card?

[Bicem]

never mind, found it. nice flip.

PC stand for personal collection?

[CowboysGuide]

It can all be done on eBay (buy, then sell), but it's a lot of work. The key for me has been finding auctions that are poorly listed or end in the middle of the day. Sometime the profit is worth the effort, but if done in volume, you can do well. This is coming from a football card guy, so we're not talking thousand dollar cards. I would imagine pre-war baseball could be a better situation, but you're risking more on the buying end of the deal.

[Gradedcardman]

I search the auction houses for certain items and have had great success at flipping that way. Generally I buy lots that have at least one card for my collection and then move the rest via eBay.

[sports-rings]

Lately I have sold some items on ebay and not been paid. Seems the buyers just changed their mind! If I complain I get negative feedback and who needs that?

I also hear that the buyers can complain to paypal and basically keep your items without paying since ebay and paypal so often side with the buyers. Is this true?

While I need to search ebay everyday because you never know what items will be there, my desire to sell on ebay has diminished. I will be moving more items to auction houses where I don't have to worry about not getting paid or losing my items and having no one to assist me.

[mcadams]

If you're buying at an auction house and selling on Ebay, you have a 20% hurdle to cross just to break-even. You won't be able to do that long-term.

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by Bicem

never mind, found it. nice flip.

PC stand for personal collection?

Yes, Personal Collection. How did u find the card?

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by mcadams

If you're buying at an auction house and selling on Ebay, you have a 20% hurdle to cross just to break-even. You won't be able to do that long-term.

Its that 20% that is keeping more bidders away from major auction houses AND that you can find a few bargains. Plus, I have noticed some poor writing especially in SCP's last auction.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by YankeeCollector

Its that 20% that is keeping more bidders away from major auction houses AND that you can find a few bargains. Plus, I have noticed some poor writing especially in SCP's last auction.

You can say what you want to, per the rules, but these kinds of statements will require your name to be in your post. You can put it out here or edit your comments...nothing personal and thanks for your understanding....

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by YankeeCollector

Yes, Personal Collection. How did u find the card?

Gotcha, think some people thought maybe you meant postcard.

Just did a completed auction search on ebay and saw the e120 Ruth sell for 3k and then crossed referenced it with the April HA auction.

So really all this proves is... I have way too much free time.

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by sports-rings

Lately I have sold some items on ebay and not been paid. Seems the buyers just changed their mind! If I complain I get negative feedback and who needs that?

I also hear that the buyers can complain to paypal and basically keep your items without paying since ebay and paypal so often side with the buyers. Is this true?

While I need to search ebay everyday because you never know what items will be there, my desire to sell on ebay has diminished. I will be moving more items to auction houses where I don't have to worry about not getting paid or losing my items and having no one to assist me.

Yes. A buyer purchased something from me and when they recieved the item contacted me and said it was "dumpster diving trash". I offered a partial refund and let them keep the item even though the description included the condition and the buyer never contacted me prior to bidding. They refused the partial refund and opened a complaint case against me. I explained my side to ebay but they sided with him.
He got a full refund (incl. shipping) and got to keep the item while I recieved my only negative feedback in 8 years on ebay.
Very frustrating.
Drew

[sports-rings]

I explained my side to ebay but they sided with him.
He got a full refund (incl. shipping) and got to keep the item while I recieved my only negative feedback in 8 years on ebay.

And then people wonder why ebay has so little "good stuff" anymore?

[drc]

I think in general, and overall, items sell for more at major auctions,but that's just in general not a rule.

It used to be at least you could buy nice bulk lots at the major auctions, like Mastro, and make a good profit breaking them up. Dont' know how that works anymore.

Picking one example (Heritage to ebay) doesn't prove anything, as you can find examples that work the other way way round. I've seen buy things on eBay and consign for profit at Legendary or REA.

As a buyer/seller you just have to find good buying deals no matter where they are-- eBay, antique store or REA.

eBay is a nice venue and you can get genuine $$, but can be messy and time consuming. A lot of people consign their collections to a big auction so it can be sold all at once and some one else is handling the whole thing. A lot of people aren't into writing auction listings, sending invoices, etc.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Goes both ways, all timing and luck as one bidder either way can add a lot of $$$ on both ends. You might win your next card for $2000 and sell it for $750. The last four cards I won on ebay went for less than half of the previous sales in the exact same card/grade.

[terjung]

I really think it depends on the card(s) in question and it also depends on the auction house. Some cards are better on ebay and some are better in AHs. Selecting the right auction house will also depend on the card. For example, I wouldn't consign PSA 4 Goudeys to REA, but might throw them on ebay with a low start or to a smaller auction house. I probably wouldn't put a really scarce, high dollar card on eBay with a low start, but might throw it to REA (or Heritage, or Sterling, or B&L, or...)

I hate to answer with "it depends", but it really does.

[barrysloate]

I agree with Johnny S. completely. Venue is pretty much irrelevant. Getting a high price at auction is all about who is bidding, period. Find the right combination of bidders and you might set a new price record. Offer the same lot a month later when these same bidders have lost interest and you might get a weak price. Auctions are a crapshoot and it's always good to sell something when it is hot, and the buyers are out there. I've had incredible results on ebay, and I've consigned to the biggest auction houses and gotten killed. And vice versa.

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Gotcha, think some people thought maybe you meant postcard.

Just did a completed auction search on ebay and saw the e120 Ruth sell for 3k and then crossed referenced it with the April HA auction.

So really all this proves is... I have way too much free time.

Pretty cool how u did that.

[YankeeCollector]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I agree with Johnny S. completely. Venue is pretty much irrelevant. Getting a high price at auction is all about who is bidding, period. Find the right combination of bidders and you might set a new price record. Offer the same lot a month later when these same bidders have lost interest and you might get a weak price. Auctions are a crapshoot and it's always good to sell something when it is hot, and the buyers are out there. I've had incredible results on ebay, and I've consigned to the biggest auction houses and gotten killed. And vice versa.

well said! I totally agree!

I recently sold my Razor BAbe RUth cut auto on eBay when I noticed that there were a lot of bidders bidding on Ruth auto cards and I got 2500 more than I thought I would get.

[Exhibitman]

Amendment to the rule:

It is possible to do very well flipping auction lots because anything I consign to a major auction will sell at a bargain basement price.

[drc]

Been there done that, Adam.

I once bought a cabinet photo for $3,000, resold via major auction for $1,500 then a few years later saw it sell for $13,000.

The only benefit for me is I tell people I once owned a $13,000 photo.