The State of eBay

[bcbgcbrcb]

I list a lot of $50-$500 cards on eBay. My take on things currently is if you are priced at and keep up to date with recent comps, you stand a good chance of moving a good percentage of your stuff within a few months of listing it. If you price at 2021 levels, you sell next to nothing. But, that is no different than the current state of card shows either. No one knows better than me what it is like to grudgingly list your cards for sale taking significant losses but if you are in that position, that’s what you have to do. Otherwise, don’t blame eBay/buyers for your lack of sales, it’s your own fault.

[ooo-ribay]

Funny that (the other) Rob just started this thread today. Before I just saw it, I had discussed my ebay frustrations earlier today with two other collector friends…

As a seller, ebay’s fees are ridiculous. They could cut their fees by 75% and still be rolling in the dough. I don’t sell enough to deal with the tax reporting but the fees are enough of a detriment.

As a buyer, my biggest beef is the proliferation of 24/7 trolls either jumping on every underpriced BIN within seconds or “getting to” sellers with offers that end auctions. I understand that some of the trolls buy and then sell as a way of making a living but others seem to be borderline hoarders. As a collector without the time to constantly be on ebay, it frustrates the hell out of me. I would love to see no BIN’s (at least on anything “pre-owned”) and an all auction format that would give us all a chance at the good stuff that comes up with ever decreasing frequency. Do the high end auction houses have BIN’s? I don’t think so. I just long for the days when collecting was a leisurely pastime and not a cutthroat business

[Exhibitman]

As I recited (in excruciating detail in my article on eBay seller punishment fees), I spent a year in the surcharge doghouse and basically sold next to nothing on eBay. That ended on the 1st and I started selling immediately. My sales absolutely exploded after I started listing again. There is nowhere else I am aware of where I could have turned out a mix of items like this and had them sell quickly and for top dollar:

--1977 Topps Star Wars sets, display boxes, stickers
--Sports cards
--1st edition hardcover of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
--1959 NBA program
--1950s-1960s Oldsmobile postcards
--Mutoscope pin-up cards
--Academy Awards tickets
--WWII photos
--Rock and roll memorabilia

Yes, the fees end up as high as AH fees when it comes to lower end items, and it is annoying as hell to pay a final value fee on sales taxes and shipping costs, but if you have good items and price them well, it is a hell of a marketplace. I sell a lot of esoteric items and cards that would be lotted into 'shoeboxes' in most auctions to generate the minimum per lot that AHs like. Some were even turned down by AHs. There is also the friction of it; some eBay buyers are dweebs and others are obviously need major mental health care, but dealing with the occasional non-paying bidder or jerk is worth it.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

it is annoying as hell to pay a final value fee on sales taxes

I have never understood how it is within their legal right to profit from this.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Funny that (the other) Rob just started this thread today. Before I just saw it, I had discussed my ebay frustrations earlier today with two other collector friends…

As a seller, ebay’s fees are ridiculous. They could cut their fees by 75% and still be rolling in the dough. I don’t sell enough to deal with the tax reporting but the fees are enough of a detriment.

As a buyer, my biggest beef is the proliferation of 24/7 trolls either jumping on every underpriced BIN within seconds or “getting to” sellers with offers that end auctions. I understand that some of the trolls buy and then sell as a way of making a living but others seem to be borderline hoarders. As a collector without the time to constantly be on ebay, it frustrates the hell out of me. I would love to see no BIN’s (at least on anything “pre-owned”) and an all auction format that would give us all a chance at the good stuff that comes up with ever decreasing frequency. Do the high end auction houses have BIN’s? I don’t think so. I just long for the days when collecting was a leisurely pastime and not a cutthroat business

I'm a big believer in don't sweat the stuff you can't control and that would certainly include other buyers' behavior.

Also the auction industry in general is starting to use BIN's in conjunction with the auction method. It's not everywhere yet, I haven't seen it in the sports collectibles category, but it's gaining traction overall. (I am not a fan)