How many of you think that many coins on ebay sell to high on auctions? Do you think that some uninformed people come on and just bid to win. Yes there are still some good deals.
I think in some cases, yes. In other cases, I've come across some great deals. Patience is a virtue when buying off eBay. It's a large marketplace, if you don't win the coin at the price you're willing to pay, chances are there's another dozen out there too choose from or plenty more in the near future.
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. There are definitely bargains out there to be had and I see more than a couple people who have overpaid. It can depend on a lot of things from the time (both hour, day of the week, and season), length of the listing time, presentation, pictures, etc.
I buy lots of junk silver of ebay and find some good deals usually a little over spot but less then the premium I'd pay at my lcs for the same coins. Although sometimes auctions do leave me scratching my head as to why some auctions get as high as they do, but then I remember a fool and his money are soon parted kinda ironic when the fool's are buying money I guess lol.
For instance, I just snagged a 1924 Standing Liberty Quarter that appears to be in F to VF condition for a G type value at $16. It's a common date but was an impulse buy as I love the Standing Liberty Quarters.
People get a strange mentality when it comes to auctions. You ever watch storage wars? Those guys crack me up with their trash talking. "blah blah doesn't want to go head to head with me in an auction I'll out bid him every time!" It's like it's a macho thing to pay more for something then what the other people there are willing to??? I don't get it but it is real. I went to a police auction one time to see if I could pick up a couple bikes for me and my wife. It was rediculous. people were bidding over $50 for broke down old bikes, tons of money for lots of outdate useless computer monitors and printers. I wont even get into the seized/abandoned cars and retired cruisers.
Count me among those that do. Is it all of them ? Of course not, but there's way too many. No, I believe they don't have a clue what they are doing. One reason for that is using ebay completed sales as a guide. Another is using other grossly inflated price guides. Another is they don't know the difference between SGS and PCGS - or any other TPG for that matter.
Count me among those who are amazed at what some auctions on eBay reach. Why does that rarely happen on the coins I'M SELLING? OTOH, I've picked up some real bargains on eBay. Impulse buying will kill you on eBay. Know what you're looking for, know how much you are willing to spend and then bid accordingly. If you don't win, don't worry - another coin will come along or, more likely, there are already about a gajillion coins just like the one you didn't win already on eBay.
Definitely. I've bid on some items before, set my highest bid price, get outbid and going back to see the final price was amazed at the price it ended up at. There are definitely some uninformed buyers out there or there are some crazy collectors willing to pay anything to get what they want.
Someone sure got a pretty good deal on my 1925 S Mercury dime today. I say it's XF, but only sold for $13.86 + $3 shipping. Thought it woulda hit AT LEAST $30-40. My loss. I guess I'll use the reserve option next time. So, yes, there are deals to be had. Here it is if you've got any input:
I actually avoid auctions with reserves. I say, if you're gonna have a reserve, just start the bidding price at your reserve price.
People like to gamble. It is the unknown that attracts them. Remove the unknown and they don't even try (bid). That is the advantage of a reserve.
What really edited me off are all the jerk bidders with say 100+ bid retractions in a single month... I always thought bid retractions were a last resort..
I find it funny that at times you can find better prices at a lcs. You would think that ebay prices would be lower, not higher than a store. Also a lot of times I see coins in pretty beat up shape selling pretty high too. Whats going with that?
True, but the times I've bid on them, not seeing the reserve price say it's met and I know the coin isn't gonna fetch any higher, the seller to me is just kidding themselves or getting a feel for how much it's going to go for.
You are not alone in your thinking, but it's faulty logic that makes you think that way. It is very common to be able to find a dealer selling equal items for less than you can get them for on ebay. People being ignorant, or just plain stupid, not knowing what they are doing.