What would YOU like to see in a online auction?

[mechanicalman]

A question I would ask the OP or anyone interested in this path, why does the world need yet another AH? There's already at least 20 AHs, each offering some derivation of the same theme. Do you guys realize how many more cards we'd all own if we didn't have to pay a 12.5-30% margin for someone to broker our transactions?

Why not think bigger and create a different model to facilitate the buying and selling of cards and memorabilia? Think of a BST on steroids, where you create a platform that allows for a high volume of transactions between buyers and sellers with the "house" just taking a small cut (3-5 pts) in exchange for programming and managing the platform. Sellers can manage the "marketing" of their goods and their own shipments. Sellers and buyers could be vetted by the platform and kept honest by higher levels of transparency you'd find on eBay. PayPal still offers Buyer protection, or an escrow service could be used for high-value transactions.

Obviously, I haven't thought through all the details here, but I'm not personally interested in starting a business card related business. But if I was, I wouldn't focus on the equivalent of launching a better taxi company; I'd shoot to launch the equivalent of Uber.

[oldjudge]

Sam-What it sound like you are proposing is a card marketplace with the entrepreneur assuming the role as an intermediary. This is effectively what the Ebay BIN market is. Ebay assures the buyer that they will stand behind the transaction. To have any chance of being successful on a commercial scale I believe that a similar marketplace would have to do the same. This is not a business I would want to run.

[bigfish]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

A question I would ask the OP or anyone interested in this path, why does the world need yet another AH? There's already at least 20 AHs, each offering some derivation of the same theme. Do you guys realize how many more cards we'd all own if we didn't have to pay a 12.5-30% margin for someone to broker our transactions?

Why not think bigger and create a different model to facilitate the buying and selling of cards and memorabilia? Think of a BST on steroids, where you create a platform that allows for a high volume of transactions between buyers and sellers with the "house" just taking a small cut (3-5 pts) in exchange for programming and managing the platform. Sellers can manage the "marketing" of their goods and their own shipments. Sellers and buyers could be vetted by the platform and kept honest by higher levels of transparency you'd find on eBay. PayPal still offers Buyer protection, or an escrow service could be used for high-value transactions.

Obviously, I haven't thought through all the details here, but I'm not personally interested in starting a business card related business. But if I was, I wouldn't focus on the equivalent of launching a better taxi company; I'd shoot to launch
the equivalent of Uber.

This is a good thought. Go for it.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

A question I would ask the OP or anyone interested in this path, why does the world need yet another AH? There's already at least 20 AHs, each offering some derivation of the same theme. Do you guys realize how many more cards we'd all own if we didn't have to pay a 12.5-30% margin for someone to broker our transactions?

Why not think bigger and create a different model to facilitate the buying and selling of cards and memorabilia? Think of a BST on steroids, where you create a platform that allows for a high volume of transactions between buyers and sellers with the "house" just taking a small cut (3-5 pts) in exchange for programming and managing the platform. Sellers can manage the "marketing" of their goods and their own shipments. Sellers and buyers could be vetted by the platform and kept honest by higher levels of transparency you'd find on eBay. PayPal still offers Buyer protection, or an escrow service could be used for high-value transactions.

Obviously, I haven't thought through all the details here, but I'm not personally interested in starting a business card related business. But if I was, I wouldn't focus on the equivalent of launching a better taxi company; I'd shoot to launch the equivalent of Uber.

Didn't SportsCardLink create an "Exchange" to try to do exactly this? And isn't COMC doing something similar (but where they take possession of the cards)...IMO, neither of these have enough legs to overtake eBay. But the concept seems like it should work.

[conor912]

Is there a way to monetize my idea for a new BST section? Like an auction house that specializes in bulk lots? I still feel like there's opportunity there. Maybe it could incorporate PWCCs program where you can pay for your winnings with consignments? That would allow people to effectively trade, if the so choose, all the while the house taking, say, 5% along the way. Just spit balling here.

[cardsnstuff]

For those that are really creative; I think the following could be huge.

A marketplace where buyers post their "buy prices"; like the old Naxcom, in the grade desired, quantity wanted, etc. And than sellers click & can sell cards to them. Tracking is req'd. When a seller goes to sell a item, they are paid instantly or when package is accepted by PO via paypal. This would be great for all the set builders, etc. If the buyer isn't happy with the condition he can return item for refund. There would need to be securities put in place to prevent fraud. I don't think you can ever completely remove this element but you can prevent it and abuse.

FYI: Leon, I was thinking of this as new BST board too.
Break down posts by sport, year, etc. And people enter their needs and buy prices and so on.

[Snapolit1]

I'm guessing that would almost never work. As a seller I am really not interested in what you would hope pay, but in what I want. And my experience has almost always been that those numbers are not that close.

The buy prices would be almost always be way too low. Some old VCP price from 2013. Everyone wants a great bargain. And most sellers don't want to give one.

Originally Posted by cardsnstuff

For those that are really creative; I think the following could be huge.

A marketplace where buyers post their "buy prices"; like the old Naxcom, in the grade desired, quantity wanted, etc. And than sellers click & can sell cards to them. Tracking is req'd. When a seller goes to sell a item, they are paid instantly or when package is accepted by PO via paypal. This would be great for all the set builders, etc. If the buyer isn't happy with the condition he can return item for refund. There would need to be securities put in place to prevent fraud. I don't think you can ever completely remove this element but you can prevent it and abuse.

FYI: Leon, I was thinking of this as new BST board too.
Break down posts by sport, year, etc. And people enter their needs and buy prices and so on.

[drcy]

I would think a viable way to start an auction house is to have a top and highly respected expert in the material. If Jim Stinson started an autograph auction house, he'd have a strong audience right away from all the people concerned with authenticity.

All the auction format, fees and shipping cost stuff is a distant afterthought to the above.