BST Live Auctions Section - Suggestions

[Leon]

Originally Posted by refz

All fine and good but the cutoff needs to be at minimum 1973-75 in that range perhaps 1972?

Do we really need extended bidding on a 1973 Topps Buddy Bell or a group of 1968 commons? Maybe for higher tier items, my opinion. I’m not a fan of this myself..

Danny

The more I think about what the goal is, the less I like the idea of extended bidding. With this rinky dink platform you can post in about 5-6 different threads, or the same thread, in a minute. It might just be where you put your high bid in at the end, and hope it holds up. If there is a tie the first guess wins.
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[HercDriver]

For those that don’t want extended bidding or max bids, then no complaints about the lack of quality lots. It just won’t be worth it for the sellers. Why bother bidding until the last minute, when you can get any card for a buck?

[abothebear]

I'm not sure I understand the concern with extended bidding or not having a maximum bid option. Since there is no maximum bid entry apparatus, bidders either have to check-in to bid at auction close, or they need to put in a competitive bid when they can and hope it holds. this is good for sellers. And the extended bidding time also favors sellers and prevents an exclusive snipe strategy. Fairly favoring the sellers is good for bidders - because it promotes more auctions.

As I mentioned above, do y'all think increasing the minimum bid in the extended time (ideally also for the last minutes of regular time) would make sense and be something that would make things more pleasant for bidders? $1 bids at the end and in extended time are tedious. It is fun to win by a dollar, but it is annoying for everyone else.

If I was designing a digital platform, I'd think about incorporating an auto-figuring percentage of the current bid minimum bid for the last five minutes and into extended time to avoid the chump-change snipes for the win.

[whitehse]

I am up for any and all change. But I do have a question about what can be auctioned. Is this only going to be for cards or can memorabilia be included in the auction section. I have some smaller items I have been wanting to try the auctions with but have not had the chance yet.

Either way, I am in to whatever changes that are made.

[JollyElm]

The point I was trying to make earlier is this. The number of post-war 'Topps-era' collectors on this site is pretty massive, but we are kinda treated like the ole red-headed stepchild. If the reason for this thread is to try to drive interest and action in auctions, then you gotta look at giving 'em their own section there.

Here's a quick and simple example: 'Josh' says, "Cool! I'll try out a new $1 starting bid auction, and list a lower grade 1960s Mantle card." (No matter the year, such a card will easily go for $100+.)

Scenario one: if the auction section is for 1950-1980 cards alone, then there's a much better chance the card will sell for what it 'should' sell for (your mileage may vary), because the right people will be patrolling the auction section. The card will have the 'proper' eyes viewing it, and it shan't be drowned out.

Scenario two: if the auction section is for the huge span of 1950-2022 cards, then (as always) the section will be crowded with all sorts of stuff that in no way, shape or form is of interest to the 'Topps-era' guys. That is why I suggested the hidden reserve (for scenario two). If your card is lost in a sea of other stuff, who in heck is going to risk posting something of decent value?? And again, isn't the purpose of this thread to increase auction action??? (Say that three times fast!!) Right now, there is a helluva lot of people just ignoring the auction section altogether, because of said overcrowding.

If space on the site is a problem, then maybe nothing can be done, but it's important to recognize the inherent problems in play.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by HercDriver

For those that don’t want extended bidding or max bids, then no complaints about the lack of quality lots. It just won’t be worth it for the sellers. Why bother bidding until the last minute, when you can get any card for a buck?

Because there is no max bid option with a forum post, there has to be extended bidding to allow incremental bids to climb. Nobody is really going to raise their $15 bid that is winning at 8:58 to $45 at 8:59, even if that is there true “max”. Listing items with a next bid only option and no extended bidding will make this not viable for sellers trying to sell more expensive items, since that appears to be the new goal.

[ALBB]

I like the idea of Pre 80 stuff

I like the idea of ONLY cards

I like the idea of ending about the same time

I think a min bid might be better at 5 bucks...my thinking is..maybe give the seller a little more confidence or comfort about listing something that is clearly worth more then a buck... ...A guy might be " afraid " to list a 66T Banks for one buck...but at $5...maybe feels a bit " safer" . I think this way might bring out some more desirable cards

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by ALBB

I like the idea of Pre 80 stuff

I like the idea of ONLY cards

I like the idea of ending about the same time

I think a min bid might be better at 5 bucks...my thinking is..maybe give the seller a little more confidence or comfort about listing something that is clearly worth more then a buck... ...A guy might be " afraid " to list a 66T Banks for one buck...but at $5...maybe feels a bit " safer" . I think this way might bring out some more desirable cards

Good point. It seems like Leon (understandably) wants to limit the number of different auction sections, but my first thought was that three sections would be great:

1) Cards Pre-(whatever year is the cutoff, I'm fine with anywhere from '50 to '80)
2) Post-(cutoff year)

and 3) $1 start auctions, for cards or other collectibles

This way the starting bid for the first two categories could be $5, or $10, or whatever...

My $.02

[HercDriver]

Originally Posted by G1911

Because there is no max bid option with a forum post, there has to be extended bidding to allow incremental bids to climb. Nobody is really going to raise their $15 bid that is winning at 8:58 to $45 at 8:59, even if that is there true “max”. Listing items with a next bid only option and no extended bidding will make this not viable for sellers trying to sell more expensive items, since that appears to be the new goal.

Yep...exactly what I'm saying. If we want $1 lots on the auction site, then no extended bidding needed. If you want $50 cards, then you have to have a mechanism to encourage raises. Otherwise, nobody is going to post nice cards. I'll just post my expensive ones on the Sell threads, and just lower the price a couple bucks every day, until it sells.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by G1911

Because there is no max bid option with a forum post, there has to be extended bidding to allow incremental bids to climb. Nobody is really going to raise their $15 bid that is winning at 8:58 to $45 at 8:59, even if that is there true “max”. Listing items with a next bid only option and no extended bidding will make this not viable for sellers trying to sell more expensive items, since that appears to be the new goal.

I have made a few more tweaks to the more easy version of what we have been talking about, taking everything into consideration.

I don't think a $100 card is going to go for $50 with everyone looking the last day...and knowing when to look., If I see a $100 card I want, I might even put in $120 last second bid, sort of like ebay.

I think the keep-it-simple-stupid method needs to be adhered to. Anything more and it won't be manageable because I don't want to manage it LOL.

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[G1911]

Originally Posted by Leon

I think the keep-it-simple-stupid method needs to be adhered to. Anything more and it won't be manageable because I don't want to manage it LOL.

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Yeah, I wouldn’t want to deal with managing that either lol.

[Leon]

My final thoughts are - we are going to try (when I can figure out how to do it) having a section for Live Auctions for 1945 and prior baseball cards, with the rules above in the first post. That is our roots so lets see how it goes...

We can change the current Live Auctions section later to only newer stuff, if we want to. But the rules, for now, will only be for this new 1945 and earlier, Live Auction section. The rules will be stickied.

I am open to other changes but lets see how this 1 section goes. The top post has been edited (and can be edited again!) to what is going to happen. Ya'll might see some weirdness on forums and where they are, while I am figuring it out. I will try not to delete any current sections . Hopefully I can get this done today or tomorrow. We will see.

[BobbyStrawberry]

I'm excited for this! Thanks as always for all your work on this site, Leon.

[UKCardGuy]

+1 I like it.

It'd be great to have something for post 1945 too. But I get that you just want to start and see how it goes.

I think the fixed end time for auctions will help drive eyeballs and hopefully bids.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Leon

I have made a few more tweaks to the more easy version of what we have been talking about, taking everything into consideration.

I don't think a $100 card is going to go for $50 with everyone looking the last day...and knowing when to look., If I see a $100 card I want, I might even put in $120 last second bid, sort of like ebay.

I think the keep-it-simple-stupid method needs to be adhered to. Anything more and it won't be manageable because I don't want to manage it LOL.

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Love it.

Already watching the trial auctions.

[nolemmings]

Thanks Leon, I'll probably list something early next week, although given the Holidays and everyone being busy, I may wait.

Not really sure why there is a minimum bid requirement. Seems that an unrealistic opening bid will soon be spotted and the seller will learn from his mistake when there are no takers.

Also not really sure why whole dollar increments only. Given digital/electronic payments, it's not like somebody is sending bags of coins. Personally, if someone wants to pay me 37 cents more than the last guy I can live with that.

Still, nice to see the new format--good luck to all who play.

[Leon]

Thanks for the good and constructive feedback, Todd (as well as thanks to the others)

I set the minimum low due to complaints of the Live Auctions starting at retail prices. When I sold my collection, everything sold (99%?) because I wanted everything to sell (ok, I sold too early, whatever )

Whole dollar increments because I think it's kind of weaselly to bid a penny more than the next bid.

The rules take about 5 seconds to change if there are better ways and it makes sense. But I don't want to manage these auctions or have to get involved. They have to be simple and easy (KISS method) just like the BST is 99.9% of the times, without respect for the scammers of recent times.

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Thanks Leon, I'll probably list something early next week, although given the Holidays and everyone being busy, I may wait.

Not really sure why there is a minimum bid requirement. Seems that an unrealistic opening bid will soon be spotted and the seller will learn from his mistake when there are no takers.

Also not really sure why whole dollar increments only. Given digital/electronic payments, it's not like somebody is sending bags of coins. Personally, if someone wants to pay me 37 cents more than the last guy I can live with that.

Still, nice to see the new format--good luck to all who play.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Leon

The more I think about what the goal is, the less I like the idea of extended bidding. With this rinky dink platform you can post in about 5-6 different threads, or the same thread, in a minute. It might just be where you put your high bid in at the end, and hope it holds up. If there is a tie the first guess wins.
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+1. Seems to me that sellers could come out ahead. Waiting until the end may cause someone to place a higher, one time bid that will not be considered a max but instead a fixed bid.