BST Live Auctions Section - Suggestions

[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.

.

[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.

.

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.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yeap, we can change the current one later, but let's see how this goes. Let the games begin!

and thanks to Brian M for helping set the forum sections correctly....
.

[Rhotchkiss]

Good luck with the section. I think it’s a great idea and I hope it sticks. I like the rules, but I proffer three additional rules:

1. If you win an auction and don’t pay, you are kicked off site (or at least from participating in other auctions)
2. If you post a card for auction and it closes/someone wins and you don’t go through with sale, you are banned from site (or at least auctions)
3. Seller may end auction early, but after Friday at midnight, auction cannot be ended and must close to highest bidder on Monday 8pm CT

[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.

.

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.