eBay auctions

[VoodooChild]

I very rarely check BIN's anymore. Maybe one a month to add a few "reasonably" prices ones to my watch list for when there are eBay Buck promotions. I'll also check right before I'm about to place a bid on a card just to make sure there's not a nicer BIN for around the same price (which every once in a while, there actually is).

[TheNightmanCometh]

Originally Posted by VoodooChild

I very rarely check BIN's anymore. Maybe one a month to add a few "reasonably" prices ones to my watch list for when there are eBay Buck promotions. I'll also check right before I'm about to place a bid on a card just to make sure there's not a nicer BIN for around the same price (which every once in a while, there actually is).

I'm with you. I rarely check BINs. I have lists saved in folders that are prompted to show only auctions; I bypass BINs altogether.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

well I switched from auctions to BIN's almost exclusively a few years back and my business has grown rapidly since that time. I think my prices are reasonable, I am almost always the best price on ebay at my starting price and I accept offers on 90% of my listings. I am never insulted by an offer, even when it's under half what I'm asking. I tend to just turn those down instead of counter-offering, but it doesn't hurt my feelings or something stupid like that.

I have a bunch of prewar going up over the next few days, I offer a PSA gradability guarantee. Everything I sell (unless otherwise stated) is guaranteed to receive a numerical grade from PSA. Look at my listings and send me a PM if you think my BIN's are insane, I'd be curious to hear from a knowledgeable group like N54 members!.

http://stores.ebay.com/Aquarian-Sports-Cards

[Sean]

I almost never get cards through ebay BIN unless it's a card that I really need it, which is rare. I prefer to buy cards in auctions, ebay or otherwise.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

well I switched from auctions to BIN's almost exclusively a few years back and my business has grown rapidly since that time. I think my prices are reasonable, I am almost always the best price on ebay at my starting price and I accept offers on 90% of my listings. I am never insulted by an offer, even when it's under half what I'm asking. I tend to just turn those down instead of counter-offering, but it doesn't hurt my feelings or something stupid like that.

I have a bunch of prewar going up over the next few days, I offer a PSA gradability guarantee. Everything I sell (unless otherwise stated) is guaranteed to receive a numerical grade from PSA. Look at my listings and send me a PM if you think my BIN's are insane, I'd be curious to hear from a knowledgeable group like N54 members!.

http://stores.ebay.com/Aquarian-Sports-Cards

I know of one seller who has prices better than you on Ebay!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

FWIW I just sold a T205 Russ Ford (tough White Cap variation) from my ebay store to a member here, we moved the transaction off ebay, but I doubt he even inquires if my BIN wasn't reasonable.

[Edwolf1963]

I'd like to see eBay put in place a system that ratchet's up the listing fees every time a card is re-listed at same price after going 'x' amount of time with no bids - I get tired of seeing the same cards month after month, year after year - same seller's/same prices.

Would also be nice to see a fee schedule graduated corresponding to the amount over what the 12 month average is. For example, one would pay "x" amount more to list a common T206 PSA4 at say $100 BIN than they would to list same @ $65 (or whatever the 12 mo. average range is)

Nice to think about but I won't hold me breath as this would be counter-productive to eBay's bottom line - which of course would never be considered. Even if it means the most basic common-sense things such as booting fraud clowns like "Battlefield.." whatever bcse they make a hefty FVF from her.

[Luke]

Something like this would be cool. Even from ebay's perspective, I don't see that the benefit to them outweighs the negatives associated with having cards priced at 5x retail that relist for years. That just looks so bad to potential customers. We can see in this thread that potential customers are so turned off that they don't even look at the BINs, and that should alarm ebay. But maybe they just don't care about the baseball card market. I actually think they will (or would) want to clean it up if they ever realize how bad it looks to customers.

For the really big card sellers, I understand their model and they should be allowed to operate in a way that works for them. But, there are a ton of small sellers, or sellers with a small card inventory that just have no intention of selling anything on ebay. They just relist over and over at outrageous prices. As a guy who sells exclusively via the BIN (and tries to price fairly) it sucks that people are not even looking because of how bad the worst offenders are.

[clydepepper]

As long as they also have OBO available, I will continue to offer what I think the card is worth. Of course, that strategy has been working less and less lately.

It is depressing if sellers hang onto their unrealistic expectations...of course, it only takes one idiot willing to pay the BIN...to keep things out-of-order.

I thought at least this week those same idiots would have something to distract them like making speeches, etc.

[Sean]

Careful with the political comments. You'll get this thread locked.

[ls7plus]

You would think that when a seller has 10-15 people watching an item (can you say BVG Metropolitan Studios Dizzy Dean rookie?), with only a BIN, that the seller would realize the asking price is out of line with the card, due to condition issues (significant paper loss on the front of the Dean card) or otherwise (the Dean rookie has been reprinted, and I don't know how good the reprints are). At that point, the reasonable conclusion should be that the faithful watchers are waiting for the item to be put up for auction, but instead of doing that, the seller just relists it for the same price endlessly, month after month. Just seems quite clear that someone doesn't get it. Same with the 1954-56 Spic and Span Aaron--an "8" went in the $800.00 range at auction very recently (admittedly, it was somewhat dark in tone), and the seller keeps listing and relisting a "6" for $1499.00, over and over and over and over...Enough already! Put it up for auction and let's see what these items are actually worth!

Just my 25 cents worth,

Larry

PS: I will buy a really rare item I've been searching for which I believe is overpriced at the BIN if the price is in the right ballpark, though perhaps in the bleachers rather than the box seats behind the plate.

[swarmee]

If the items are from Comc_consignment , you can probably get them cheaper direct on comc.Com . Comc is in the process of listing millions of card from thousands of consignors. If the three digit code at the end is 0n8 , those are mine and i take offers up to half off.

[egbeachley]

It would be nice if eBay would get rid of the free listings, over 50 per month or so. How many times would they appear if sellers had to pay 20 cents per week per listing.

Would love to see a reverse auction format where a listing started at 2X value, but dropped 10% every week. Or better yet, 1% every day. As it got close to true value would buyer paranoia cause someone to snap it up at a 30% premium? Or would it drop below value and a couple buyers keep waiting to save a few more percentages and then decide to strike.......a half day too late!

[bunst]

Originally Posted by egbeachley

Would love to see a reverse auction format where a listing started at 2X value, but dropped 10% every week. Or better yet, 1% every day. As it got close to true value would buyer paranoia cause someone to snap it up at a 30% premium? Or would it drop below value and a couple buyers keep waiting to save a few more percentages and then decide to strike.......a half day too late!

Good idea! That would make ebay exciting and fun again.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Sean

Careful with the political comments. You'll get this thread locked.

Yes, political commentary will get a thread shut down as fast as anything. Especially with the divisive nature of what is going on. Let's leave the politics for other sites. Some of my best hobby friends have opposite views of mine (though I don't understand how ) and we can discuss in person, or away from this forum, if need be. Thanks everyone!!

As for the subject, it takes more than a several yr old listing to get me riled up....

and speaking or BIN's this one was up for only a few hours before I snapped it up... Ebay is a treasure trove if you have unlimited time to wade through the poop. (I might lose money on it but at least I have another Clemente)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-61-Topp...p2047675.l2557

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

If they're as nice as claimed that's a great buy!

[Beastmode]

With all respect to the 2% of folks that price their BIN's realistically, BIN's are a time suck. I vanquished them off my watch list two years ago. Makes my life so much more enjoyable.

It's too bad. If I was a BIN seller, I'd be upset with all the crap listed as BIN at 3x VCP. Scares good buyers away, like me. Most of the BIN's on ebay are trollers looking for newbie's who have no clue.

My advice: when you see a ridiculously priced BIN, remove that seller from your saved searches. I know, it's harsh. But what's more harsh is a seller taking 10 seconds of my life away with a crap listing.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Beastmode

With all respect to the 2% of folks that price their BIN's realistically, BIN's are a time suck. I vanquished them off my watch list two years ago. Makes my life so much more enjoyable.

It's too bad. If I was a BIN seller, I'd be upset with all the crap listed as BIN at 3x VCP. Scares good buyers away, like me. Most of the BIN's on ebay are trollers looking for newbie's who have no clue.

My advice: when you see a ridiculously priced BIN, remove that seller from your saved searches. I know, it's harsh. But what's more harsh is a seller taking 10 seconds of my life away with a crap listing.

Well Buffett says think like a contrarian. If 98% of BIN's are idiotic, it just makes mine look better, which may be why my store has been successful.