Is this really a buyer’s market?

[raulus]

I think the biggest flaw in your strategy is probably your venue. Expecting to get screaming deals on eBay (particularly for BIN stuff or high starting bids) is a bit optimistic, aside from an occasional lucky strike.

I suspect if you look to the average auction house, particularly for mid grade stuff that is readily available, you’ll find some prices that are more enticing. Some stuff will still go nuts. But your odds of success should be a bit better, particularly if you’re willing to be disciplined and bow out when you hit your limit for any given piece.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by raulus

I think the biggest flaw in your strategy is probably your venue. Expecting to get screaming deals on eBay (particularly for BIN stuff or high starting bids) is a bit optimistic, aside from an occasional lucky strike.

I suspect if you look to the average auction house, particularly for mid grade stuff that is readily available, you’ll find some prices that are more enticing. Some stuff will still go nuts. But your odds of success should be a bit better, particularly if you’re willing to be disciplined and bow out when you hit your limit for any given piece.

100% agree.

When a card is listed in an auction, the owner has already decided he is selling the card and will let the market determine the card's value. Once the card is consigned to the auction house, it will be sold and the owner has lost control over its ultimate disposition. Ebay is a store, where the proprietors are setting their prices and determining when and on what terms they will sell. Thus, many people listing cards listed on Ebay are not "sellers" unless they get what they want.

Maybe cards are selling for solid prices at auction houses, but at least the market is determining the value on items that will be sold once at least one bid is placed.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Is it easier to buy a card on eBay or via AH?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Is it easier to buy a card on eBay or via AH?

I'm slightly paranoid that this is a joke, and you're not really asking. But at the risk of looking like a tool for stating a lot of obvious stuff, the answer probably depends on what you mean by "easy".

Also probably depends on how you weigh various elements.

eBay is often pretty quick. For BIN stuff, you can buy it on the spot, and often it gets shipped within a few days. If it's going through the authentication guarantee, then that can add a week (give or take) to your turnaround. Most eBay auctions last for 7-10 days, so it tends to be pretty quick. Also don't have to worry about a buyer's premium. The closing process for eBay auctions is also pretty easy - when the time comes, whoever has the highest bid wins. No extended bidding. At the same time, if you're dealing with a seller who's not well known, then there's always the possibility that they might play their own games, which is no fun. eBay also has the advantage that there's really no registration requirement. Anyone can sign up and bid. While there are some drawbacks there, for a buyer it makes the process a little easier. eBay also tends to have pretty small bid increments, which is nice.

eBay also tends to have pretty simple saved search features that make it easy to check if anything new has come online since the last time you checked. Although certainly some will tell you that those searches aren't perfect.

For most AHs, the process can take longer. Most sizeable auctions last for a few weeks (except for the smaller weeklies). Usually they have a registration requirement, which can take a few days or longer. They will want references, and some may even require that you submit documentation about your ability to pay. Some have an exciting closing process that can drag on for a while as long as people keep bidding, which can often last well into the night, particularly if you're on the east coast. Some AHs limit the forms of payment, as many don't accept credit cards, so that can add another layer of fun. And if you're paying by personal check, then it will add to the turnaround time to get your item. Most auction houses also have exciting minimum bid increments that can get pretty wide as an item rises in price, which not everyone loves, as you might be forced to increase your bid by $1k, when you really only wanted to go up by $500.

Most AHs also don't have a real easy way to save searches. So you're usually left to do manual online searches. And even then, sometimes exciting stuff doesn't get picked up and so I often find myself working through the entire online catalog just to be safe.

Ultimately, I buy from anywhere that will sell me stuff, and that has the stuff that I want, which is becoming harder to find these days. So personally, I'd focus less on ease of use, and focus more on finding the stuff that you want at a price that works for you. The rest is just details and process.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I am not looking to buy anything now. My point is that it’s a lot more of a hassle to buy specific cards from AH’s than eBay. When prices were sky high, you could find everything that you wanted on eBay so no need to go the AH route. Now that prices are way down, it’s a major struggle to find anything appealing on eBay and requires more resorting to the AH’s. That is my point.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I am not looking to buy anything now. My point is that it’s a lot more of a hassle to buy specific cards from AH’s than eBay. When prices were sky high, you could find everything that you wanted on eBay so no need to go the AH route. Now that prices are way down, it’s a major struggle to find anything appealing on eBay and requires more resorting to the AH’s. That is my point.

A lot more hassle seems like an overstatement to me. I do think if you've never registered, then it can seem like a hassle. But my experience is that it's not that difficult.

Maybe I've just grown accustomed to buying from AHs, so it doesn't seem like a hassle to me. The various elements that seem more painful than just going to eBay aren't really that bad. And if it keeps someone from bidding against me, then I'm all for it. Stay away from the AHs and don't give me any competition for my stuff!

[packs]

I’m not sure it’s the state of the market that has sapped eBay of quality items. There was a large consignment shop on eBay trading a huge amount of cards. They created their own marketplace and took the inventory off eBay.

I do agree there is less pre-war material on eBay now. Again I don’t know that it’s the market but I was used to seeing stuff like Cobb T206s up for auction pretty regularly. They seem to trickle out now. Most of the good stuff is locked away in BIN purgatory.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by packs

I’m not sure it’s the state of the market that has sapped eBay of quality items. There was a large consignment shop on eBay trading a huge amount of cards. They created their own marketplace and took the inventory off eBay.

I do agree there is less pre-war material on eBay now. Again I don’t know that it’s the market but I was used to seeing stuff like Cobb T206s up for auction pretty regularly. They seem to trickle out now. Most of the good stuff is locked away in BIN purgatory.

Yes but a lot of those consignments moved to Probstein. Not sure how much to attribute to PWCC .

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I am not looking to buy anything now. My point is that it’s a lot more of a hassle to buy specific cards from AH’s than eBay. When prices were sky high, you could find everything that you wanted on eBay so no need to go the AH route. Now that prices are way down, it’s a major struggle to find anything appealing on eBay and requires more resorting to the AH’s. That is my point.

It is no hassle. I bet once you start buying from Auction houses your interest in eBay will go down. But the best part is you can do both! LOTG and REA start soon. Try signing up for both. Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions - emphasis on bidding increments and closing procedures - and bid on what interests you. If you have any questions, PM me or just ask. There is a whole world outside of eBay and BST

I just read your post that you are familiar with AHs and they gave you a heart attack. Stick with EBay!!!’

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

It is no hassle. I bet once you start buying from Auction houses your interest in eBay will go down. But the best part is you can do both! LOTG and REA start soon. Try signing up for both. Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions - emphasis on bidding increments and closing procedures - and bid on what interests you. If you have any questions, PM me or just ask. There is a whole world outside of eBay and BST

The majority of my purchases are now auction houses followed by net54 member trades/bst, and occasionally EBay which has become a wasteland.

I never get tired of searching multiple auction houses for cards, even if I can't afford the big boys there's always something in my price range, and it's just plain fun looking at all the eye candy.