AH (PWCC) Reality Check Please

[tab]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Well, I've never used a sniping service and I doubt I am the only
one.

I have never sniped. I always bid early and put another bid in at the end.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by tab

I have never sniped. I always bid early and put another bid in at the end.

It's my habit to wait as long as possible before putting in a bid - I always thought THAT was sniping.

Could someone please explain to this dumb guy exactly what sniping is?


Thanks,
Raymond

By the way, if enough folks who have had scheduling issues with PWCC contact them with that issue, would they be open to changing that practice?

As devil's advocate, I would think that it may just be the 'luck of the draw' i.e. if they schedule 'round the clock, someone has to get the bad slots. IMO

p

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

It's my habit to wait as long as possible before putting in a bid - I always thought THAT was sniping.

Could someone please explain to this dumb guy exactly what sniping is?


Thanks,
Raymond

By the way, if enough folks who have had scheduling issues with PWCC contact them with that issue, would they be open to changing that practice?

As devil's advocate, I would think that it may just be the 'luck of the draw' i.e. if they schedule 'round the clock, someone has to get the bad slots. IMO

p

I manually snipe the same way you do. Most use a company to snipe for them and that is what most refer to as sniping.

[Exhibitman]

Raymond: sniping is using a service to execute a bid for you via computer program during the last few seconds of an auction. It avoids having a shill bidder eat away at a high bid you leave early and frees you from sitting on an auction close. It can save you a lot of money.

[Runscott]

Straight auctions on ebay generally succeed when the consignor shills his own auctions, the AH has employees who shill the auctions, or both.

I feel for you Steve, but it's a lesson all honest consignors have to learn once. Certainly the market price changes and the election night ending made it a triple-whammy for you (those two, plus your being honest).

[Luke]

Yeah, the timing wasn't great, but I was bidding in that auction and nothing that I wanted went for a bargain. I'm only talking about T206s, but the bidding seemed to be as strong as it normally is. I went big on a couple cards I really wanted and was surprised to be the under-bidder.

[PhillipAbbott79]

PWCC just lists items on Ebay. They do nothing special for you as a seller, and charge you more money on certain items than if you just listed it and shipped it yourself.

To think they reach more people listing their items in the exact same place and location as you, is absurd. People should only be using them if they are to lazy to list and ship their own items or you are willing to hire someone to do it for you, for whatever reason.

I have never seen any proof that their items generate more money for you as the seller. Not every card is created equal. Most of the time if a card brings more money...it was a nicer card than other ones in the same grade.

[Luke]

Originally Posted by PhillipAbbott79

PWCC just lists items on Ebay. They do nothing special for you as a seller, and charge you more money on certain items than if you just listed it and shipped it yourself.

To think they reach more people listing their items in the exact same place and location as you, is absurd. People should only be using them if they are to lazy to list and ship their own items or you are willing to hire someone to do it for you, for whatever reason.

I have never seen any proof that their items generate more money for you as the seller. Not every card is created equal. Most of the time if a card brings more money...it was a nicer card than other ones in the same grade.

This is incorrect. They get a ton of eyes on their auctions. You very rarely see anything falling through the cracks for crazy cheap price because so many people are watching the auction as items are ending. If I list 10 items to end on a Tuesday night, I guarantee you there are not hundreds of people watching my listings end. They have created a brand that people are loyal to. I very rarely find a bargain via PWCC but I find them elsewhere all the time.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by PhillipAbbott79

PWCC just lists items on Ebay. They do nothing special for you as a seller, and charge you more money on certain items than if you just listed it and shipped it yourself.

To think they reach more people listing their items in the exact same place and location as you, is absurd. People should only be using them if they are to lazy to list and ship their own items or you are willing to hire someone to do it for you, for whatever reason.

I have never seen any proof that their items generate more money for you as the seller. Not every card is created equal. Most of the time if a card brings more money...it was a nicer card than other ones in the same grade.

That is manifestly ridiculous. On major cards they blow away everyone except a few other regular and well-known ebay sellers. One can speculate as to the reasons why, and there has been plenty of discussion, but a tour of VCP confirms it without question.

[Snapolit1]

RunScott - thanks. I'm willing to let this thread die, having said what I needed to get off my chest, but I just wanted to add that I discovered your eBay store a month or so ago and you have extremely interesting, cool stuff. If anyone on the board hasn't checked it out and followed it you are making a huge mistake. Lots of stores are the S.O.S. Your store is really cool.
Steve

[ajquigs]

That's lousy. While it's fair to say there is a "seller beware" aspect to what happened, I agree that PWCC - which I think is a well run business - could have been more mindful and avoided clashing with a truly unique event.
I could easily see the same thing happening to me as a seller and I'm sure I wouldn't be pleased.

[bobbyw8469]

I had a card sell for peanuts because Ebay had a "glitch" and no one was able to access the auctions and see the items, much less place a bid. I lost a bit, shipped the card and moved on. The winning buyer flipped it for a tidy profit. Comes with the territory. Just forget about it and move on.

[irishdenny]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

It's my habit to wait as long as possible before putting in a bid - I always thought THAT was sniping.

Could someone please explain to this dumb guy exactly what sniping is?


Thanks,
Raymond

By the way, if enough folks who have had scheduling issues with PWCC contact them with that issue, would they be open to changing that practice?

As devil's advocate, I would think that it may just be the 'luck of the draw' i.e. if they schedule 'round the clock, someone has to get the bad slots. IMO

p

https://www.gavelsnipe.com/log-in.php?ref=%2Fsnipe.php

Works Wit Ebay & Heritage...
" & It's Free Ray!"

[ValKehl]

I have never consigned to an eBay auction house, such as PWCC. But, from time to time, I have consigned items to catalog-internet auction houses as well as internet-only auction houses, and here is what I have learned from my experience in my efforts to better my return:

- There is no reason for me to pay a seller's commission in this day and age.
- If I feel my item is worth a 1/2 page exposure in the glossy auction catalog, I discuss this with the auction house, as I don't want a surprise later when my item only got a 1/5 page of catalog coverage.
- I make sure to confirm which auction my item will appear in. A month ago, I consigned an item to an auction house that had a catalog auction that ended very recently. At the time I consigned, I was told that my item could make it into this auction that just ended. I declined this, preferring to wait until their next catalog auction, because I knew that my item would either (1) appear in the last-minute-additions section at the end of the catalog, or (2) be included with the internet-only items that are not pictured in the catalog. IMHO, such inclusions are not going to maximize my return.
- I sometimes specify, or at least suggest, the starting bids for my items. If I am consigning a $1,000 item, I feel that a starting bid of $250 will imply that it is worth more than a staring bid of $100 will. I feel more strongly about this when I am consigning an obscure, low-demand item.
- I note on the consignment form info that I feel is very relevant and should be included in the catalog description of my item - e.g., rookie card, 1 of 2 graded, third highest graded, scarce type 3 back variation, scarce color variation, toughest common in the set, etc. Auction houses are not always aware of these nuances, and some auction houses don't do as much research as others.
Val