Is there a secret to getting traction on BST posts?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Just curious if there's any tricks as my posts never get comments or any responses. I'm talking a variety of posts (buying posts, posts to move cards like what I just posted). Stuff like that. So, is there a secret? I was told by someone at a card show that it's hard to BST on here unless you're a long-time member, sort of a like a buyer's group. But that's just what I was told. So I am just curious. What is everyone's thoughts?

Again, it happens whenever I make a post to buy or a post to move (sell/trade). I know my cards aren't most popular (Mantles, etc), and I'm not looking for thousand dollar cards. And maybe people don't move cheap cards (like $100 or less). So that could be it too. But I'm just curious.

Never mention "book value" again as it is completely worthless. Everyone can look at eBay sold auctions and see what they really sell for. Posts need good pics and a good price and they will sell as there is no "buyers group" in the BST section. If it is priced properly it will sell and if you can take a little less than eBay it will sell very quickly.

[wdwfan]

Oh, I don't mention it. I know people here go by VCP. I've now joined VCP, so I can find pricing. However, along those lines, I know people on SCF and The Bench still use book value. As do lots of vintage guys at shows. I can't tell you how many times I've found a card at a show, asked the price and the guy brings out a Beckett to look it up.

Gotcha as far as prices. I usually do 20% below eBay averages (not last sold, but average of last 4-5 sold). So I believe pricing is decent. Not really sure. But thank you for the tips and advice.

Originally Posted by bnorth

Never mention "book value" again as it is completely worthless. Everyone can look at eBay sold auctions and see what they really sell for. Posts need good pics and a good price and they will sell as there is no "buyers group" in the BST section. If it is priced properly it will sell and if you can take a little less than eBay it will sell very quickly.

[raulus]

A lot will also depend on what you are selling, and the relative price range. Popular stuff from stars selling for 2 figures or low 3 figures will move fast. Stuff selling for high 4 or 5 figures is going to sit, even if your asking price is reasonable.

Selling obscure postwar stuff can be a real slog sometimes, unless it’s something in high demand.

For better or worse, there’s only so many eyeballs here, and most of them are focused on prewar.

[wdwfan]

Thanks for the tips. I'm a very low-end collector. I can't afford the high dollar stuff. Everything I Have is going to be like $150 and under, lol. It's just basic Topps from the 60s (Mantle, Banks, Rose, that type stuff). And it's pretty much all graded. That's all I have.

And I hear that about pre-war. I just wasn't around when any of those guys played. So I have no idea of most of them. But I do know some of the big names. As I said, though, I'll never own those as I'm a very small-time dealer.

Originally Posted by raulus

A lot will also depend on what you are selling, and the relative price range. Popular stuff from stars selling for 2 figures or low 3 figures will move fast. Stuff selling for high 4 or 5 figures is going to sit, even if your asking price is reasonable.

Selling obscure postwar stuff can be a real slog sometimes, unless it’s something in high demand.

For better or worse, there’s only so many eyeballs here, and most of them are focused on prewar.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Oh, I don't mention it. I know people here go by VCP. I've now joined VCP, so I can find pricing. However, along those lines, I know people on SCF and The Bench still use book value. As do lots of vintage guys at shows. I can't tell you how many times I've found a card at a show, asked the price and the guy brings out a Beckett to look it up.

Gotcha as far as prices. I usually do 20% below eBay averages (not last sold, but average of last 4-5 sold). So I believe pricing is decent. Not really sure. But thank you for the tips and advice.

I looked and you did quit using book value in your listings. I honestly haven't looked at any of your listing for a very long time because you used to use it all the time and it was always way higher than you could buy on eBay. I will start checking them out again.

[raulus]

I think part of the fun is also that fixed price listings aren't going to get anyone's animal spirits going. There's just no trigger to get people to act quickly. If I can buy it here for $100 today or tomorrow on eBay for $100, then the odds are low that you're going to get a sale today.

In many ways, you might need to be willing to list it for a bit of a discount to eBay, such that it motivates buyers to move on it before someone else gets it. My guess is that if you're saving the eBay selling fees then maybe you break even or come out slightly ahead, depending on the amount of discount to eBay. Either that or it had better be nice, with better centering, which always seems to get the centering savants to click the "buy now" button.

I think too in general that selling with fixed price listings means you have to be patient. Someone could come along today and want it, so it sells today. Or it might sit for months or even years. Like I tell my son, you don't have to fool all of the ladies, you just have to fool one. And in your case, you just need to get one buyer to decide to bite, but it tends to be a bit random when that buyer will come along, particularly with the smaller pool of eyeballs here.

[wdwfan]

Thanks everyone. Got a follow up question. Seems no one trades here anymore. Why is that? I guess everyone has now gone to buying, selling and flipping and no one truly collects/trades anymore?

Again it could just just be me. Not sure.

[raulus]

Trades can be complicated, particularly because now you have to argue about valuing twice as much. Cash is pretty simple.

I do think that trades still happen, albeit on a lesser level. My experience is that they are still alive and well when it comes to impossible to find stuff that is difficult to value. I might have something that you really want, and you might have something that I really want. They’re impossible to find and difficult to price, so we agree to trade, maybe with a little cash to even things out.

I’ve done a handful of trades over the last few years, sometimes including some 3-way or 4-way trades when our cards don’t align perfectly, but another party does have stuff that aligns.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Thanks everyone. Got a follow up question. Seems no one trades here anymore. Why is that? I guess everyone has now gone to buying, selling and flipping and no one truly collects/trades anymore?

Again it could just just be me. Not sure.

Not sure what you mean by "no one truly collects/trades anymore". Are you saying you have to trade instead of buy to be a true collector? I don't trade for the simple reason that I usually don't have anything I want to part with. I try to only buy cards I am happy with so I don't have to upgrade them later. I also usually don't buy large lots just to get a single or a few cards.

[ALBB]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Thanks everyone. Got a follow up question. Seems no one trades here anymore. Why is that? I guess everyone has now gone to buying, selling and flipping and no one truly collects/trades anymore?

Again it could just just be me. Not sure.

Also helps when a person is somewhat prompt on answering messages regarding a possible trade

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Never mention "book value" again as it is completely worthless. Everyone can look at eBay sold auctions and see what they really sell for. Posts need good pics and a good price and they will sell as there is no "buyers group" in the BST section. If it is priced properly it will sell and if you can take a little less than eBay it will sell very quickly.

Agree with the above. Ben gives good advice.

[wdwfan]

Yes, I learned BV is irrelevant years ago, lol. Only a few people still use it (my LCS being one of them). But people on other sites, TBT and SCF, still use it. As do some guys at shows. Was at a show a few weeks ago, and I found several cards I was interested in. I asked how much, and the vendor said to give him a few minutes and proceeded to pull out his Beckett vintage book. I was like I'll come back.

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Agree with the above. Ben gives good advice.