Buy it Now vs auctions on eBay

barrysloate · #1 06-17-2010, 10:47 AM

My understanding is those final value fees are reduced the more the item sells for. The percentage is less on a $1000 item than on a $10 one. Is that incorrect?

Greg and I posted at the same time.

smtjoy · #2 06-17-2010, 10:59 AM

I think the lack of auctions is just a sign of the tough times, if things change to the positive again I would expect to see a lot more open ended auctions.

On ebay while I dont think their pricing changes have helped I just dont think they make anywhere as much difference vs what your items sells for. All it takes is to have one card you purchased for $77 sell for $17 and you will see why many are listing cards with high starting bids or as BIN's. I prefer auctions as I know I will get cash soon but I also dont like to get hammered on what I am selling so I try to do a mix to protect myself.

My store BIN sales the last 6 weeks has been as good as any time for me in the last 4 years, not really sure why but lots of cards have been selling.

Matthew H · #3 06-17-2010, 11:08 AM

I have been checking the BINs lately. Some sellers are protecting themselves while remaining within reason.

barrysloate · #4 06-17-2010, 11:20 AM

Greg has assessed it well but not everything is suitable for a catalog auction. If I have a T206 Bobby Wallace in a PSA 3, I can't consign it to an auction house. So it has to be sold in a venue like ebay. In fact the majority of $100-$500 cards on ebay may be there because they would be rejected by a major auction house.

Regarding all the BIN's on ebay I think they fit into different categories. If you have a card worth $100 and set a BIN, or opening bid at $100, what's wrong with that? A seller is entitled to get market value for his card.

Most of the complaints are with $100 cards with BINs set at say $250. That's a card priced not to sell, and it's not that there are only a smattering of them listed. The problem is there are so many overpriced items that buyers are getting turned off (and let's not even go into the argument that sellers are free to list their items at any price that want to- we know that but for the sake of discussion that has no relevance).

Robextend · #5 06-17-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Most of the complaints are with $100 cards with BINs set at say $250. That's a card priced not to sell, and it's not that there are only a smattering of them listed. The problem is there are so many overpriced items that buyers are getting turned off (and let's not even go into the argument that sellers are free to list their items at any price that want to- we know that but for the sake of discussion that has no relevance).

Exactly. It is those kind of listings that make it disheartening to scroll through new listings every day. However most of us have to do it anyway just in case there is a steal (which does happen on occasion) or there is a card that is desperately needed.

mintacular · #6 06-17-2010, 11:40 AM

Most of the complaints are with $100 cards with BINs set at say $250. This is my issue, especially when EX cards are priced at NM Beckett Book...

alanu · #7 06-17-2010, 11:49 AM

The only time the BIN's of $250 for a $100 card bother me is when a seller is listing hundreds of such items at a time and it clogs up the "newly listed" items.

botn · #8 06-17-2010, 11:05 AM

One would think with so few non reserve auction listings that prices would be stronger than they are. The smaller supply has not diminished the impact of what appears to be a much weaker demand.

Sellers have to eat paypal fees (3%), listings fees (which are nominal in a true auction listing with no reserve), sometimes some shipping costs and final value fees (9%). Prices realized on ebay, for the most part, have been lower than the prices realized (before the buyer's fee is added on) from any of the numerous auction houses. So if you can wait to get paid and get a 0% consignment deal, you will end up with more money.

eBay is 24/7 and listings are continuously added and ending. Buyers have to make the time to search daily or things can get missed. Not everyone can search the site each day and now it is even less fun to search with the category changes and the sheer volume of high priced Buy It Now listings. It is easy for stuff to be missed. Catalog auctions are set to end on a specific day with a specific group of listings. Much easier to get buyers' attention which would also explain the higher prices realized.

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