Would you like CoinTalk Auctions, Classifieds, or Both?

your opinion is exactly what has been solicited. So don't apologize for it.

The open forum is not an auction format and few post there knowing they have a broader market for re-sale with sites like EBAY. From a buyers perspective, there is much more competition, and a greater likelihood of counterfeits being passed off as authentic/genuine raw or slabbed coins.

I would suggest that our CT membership would not knowingly stoop to that level. Ever joined a coin club and participated in their coin auctions ? It's tough trying to get one by, when your surrounded by friends and other members. There is an unspoken but understood aspect of honor and integrity to uphold. It works there, why not here?

 

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That possibility was brought up earlier and in my opinion, you canceled it out in the first part by stating there is already a way to sell on here (Open Forum) so what makes peeps think that an Auction Format will cause even more problems than the current format (problems vs. number of auctions)? It's without a doubt that if Peter makes it where peeps sell more on CT than before, there will be more problems but the ratio shouldn't change much so if we currently have 1 problem for every 100 sales, that's what we can expect later but since the new format will most likely increase sales and if we stay at the current ratio, then there will be more problems but only because sales have also increased. hya:

I hope I said that where it can be understood. :goofer:

Ribbit

 

I could definitely see where the "courtesy" issue is appropriate for discussion. However, in our closed , members only auction, the gloves are off as opposed to outside auction formats such as EBAY, etc, especially if a member presented an auction item for discussion in the forums. Lehigh and I both had a recent experience with this, and we both provided our high final bids to that presenter. Mine was actually low balled but definitely not insulting, to give both my CT members an opportunity to jump on and collect. The final was, I won it at the low balled figure. Well, this might be a good test of "fairness" for our CT members. To cut to the chase, you cannot satisfy all the members, all of the time, blah , blah,blah. Personally, I feel it is a worthy experimental project. Now I don't have a realization of what the startup cost would be to implement this auction, and that is to be considered should it produce too many problems, it should be canceled. I really don't think that would happen. IMHO

 

How about a sealed bid auction type format. Everyone makes a one time undisclosed sealed bid - highest offer wins. CoinTalk charges something like 25 cents per bid and a nominal seller's fee.

 

I voted for both. Although it seems like we already have a classified section. I've read some great ideas here. GD makes a good point that maybe it may be hard to get people to list auctions, but who knows. The open forum is very close to an auction style anyway when you can make an offer. It's just not a formal auction layout.

The first thing that came to my mind is how well policed a cointalk auction site could be if people were willing to do the work. When you have a site full of experts in their fields, dedicated to coins, and the auctions will be coins and no other non-sense, just think how well policed this could be compared to ebay. You could actually have a real zero tolerance policy for knowingly selling counterfeits and get bad sellers banned. Let them go back to ebay.

The main problem I see for it working is simply the number of people. Lets see how many people vote in this simple poll which costs nothing.

So far in two days, 77 people have responded. A very busy thread.

I'm guessing most of the regulars have chimed in. If we had 100 auctions going, how many of those 77 might have bought in the past week? How many would the following week? And the following week?
Ebay's coverage is much broader for the sake of the seller. Where you may get more page views of your auction than total membership that exists here. You have to figure only a fraction of the regular membership may or may not go to the auction forum. A fraction of them may look at a particular auction. And then a fraction of them may actually buy. The pool of actual buyers here is probably much smaller to begin with than most would think right now.
So it may not work unless people really pushed to get the word out to a lot of non-members so they would check ebay and here, and then sellers would have to be aggressively policed.

Maybe a neat idea but the end may not justify the means. It sounds like a lot of work

 

The seller, I presume would set the beginning bid price. Very worthwhile suggestion.

 

That is the reason I suggested the auction be limited to once per month. A system reminder of the auction date , could be generated and sent to all members eligible to participate.

 

I can't believe all the talk about age as if that's the biggest issue. I'm sure nobody's trying to offend anyone or doubting certain individuals credibility. The simple fact of the matter is that we have many rules in place in society based on age, that are intended to cover a broad range, an entire group of people,teens, misfits, what have you. Everyone knows there's good apples and very bad apples. Some 14 year olds may be very mature and would be safer driving a car than some 80 year olds. But what about the vast majority? If you ask me, I say no. The vast majority should not be driving at 14. Maybe not even 16 these days.

The point is, you have to draw the line somewhere. Somewhere that makes sense. At some point, the powers that be put their minds together and decided that in most places, the earliest teens should be allowed to drive is 16. In most places, legal drinking age has been bumped all the way to 21, hoping that it may save some immature misfits from killing themselves or a member of my family.

A line has to be drawn to govern the entire group as a whole so nobody should take anything personaly. Just enjoy being kids. You have no idea how easy life is until you leave it behind. The perks of being an adult barely balances out the B.S. you have to deal with.

 

Thanks Coinman0456

I come up with a good idea ever once in a while. Sure a seller should be able to list a reserve price auction. But since that would more than likely reduce the number of sealed bids placed thus reducing the amount of revenue generated for CoinTalk the seller should ante an additional $1.00 or so reserve fee.

 

BINGO!!!

Doug is 100% correct here. If I am the first bidder on coin here in CT auctions thats fine, as soon as a second bid hits I am out of the game, I will NOT bid against a family member. Just the courtesy law I was raised on. Now there have been times in the WINS auctions that I have overbid other members, and sent them the coin. (Helps me with my Christmas shopping) People, CT much like WINS is family.. There are alot of great things about CT that no other forum can replicate, lets keep it doing what it does best. Educate and sharing knowledge.

Would YOU bid against any of the members here? You already know my answer.

 

I like the idea of both a Classifieds (Open) Forum and an Auction Forum. I also believe that it would be great to have a separate "Wanted" Forum as well.


Frank

 

I like the idea of limiting the number of "sales" per week. Don't know what it should be, but that would avoid the dealers in sheep's clothing.

The age issue is interesting. If I were a YN, I'd simply lie about my age - so that would lead us down the road of being dishonest with other members.

We would see a lot more members who get to the required post count and then are never seen or heard again except in the BST forums.

I agree about paying something but who is gonna do the bookkeeping? If it gets even a little busy, that's a lot of work. And then it wouldn't be a "donation", but payment for services rendered. All sorts of tax implications I don't even know about.

At first, I thought it might be a bad time to start this - with the bad economy and everything else. But then it would make sense to sell somewhere where you could avoid the EBAY pillaging of your selling amount.

 

Doug has very good points about local auctions. After hearing the comments of others also, I would prefer not to take the chance of negative reaction of a family member. I desire the change of increased number of Buy/Sell listings per week, increased experience ( 100 postings of something substancial rather than a emoticon or "I agree", etc.) to know the members, and somehow either the listings appearing in "new posts" or a reminder in "notifications" if possible.

I will renege on the Auction vote, ebay seems to be a little better set up for that. I would like to see sellers mention if they are on CT as it would increase my interest. Don't know if that is against ebay rules or not, I will look later.

Jim

 

I personally think the reluctance to bid against another member is simply absurd. Would you mind doing it on EBAY, or Heritage or any other coin auction site? Let me see, you said any member, how many members do we have?

Dealer to Dealer auctions happen every day, seven days a week. Coin Club members bid against each other on auction night. That excuse is way to vanilla. Instead of coming up with inadequate excuses why it would not work, try going the end of the spectrum, and suggest how it might work, if you are so inclined.

Just to clarify what I think I heard you say, was that if you were the first bidder, and you were over bid ( by a member ) you would bid no further. Hmmm. Would you hold any animosity toward the member that over bid you? I respect your right to discontinue bidding for whatever personal beliefs you may hold, but to suggest to offer that, as a justification as community moral standard, well it's beef jerky to me. Jim, I think we can make this work, in a friendly atmosphere, without hurt feelings by anyone for being outbid. Thats immature to me.
P.S. Sounds like some folks got a few nice/unexpected xmas presents.:smile

 

There is nothing vanilla about my answer. I have a track record and have made statements here in CT stating the same thing I said above well prior to this ever being brought up. No.. I will not bid against another CT member, never knowingly have never will. I won't bid on an auction in ebay if I see it mentioned here in CT either. Just the way I am, I have no need to. Ask Doug, AJ, Charmy, Clembo, Treashunt or many others if they would bid on something against a YN here. It might be something that is good for the YN's but I see nothing but hard feelings being developed by it.

I am a mod on another Coin Forum that does have an auction section. Its open to anyone and as Doug stated. Very seldom is there something put on it, Members do not bid against other members so the minimum prices that are listed are pretty much the price they sell for. That to me is not an auction but I am willing to sell this coin for X and another member bids X on it and wins. End of story.

 

Hang on a moment , you said nothing about bidding or not, against YN's in your previous post. That issue was not even mentioned in your posted response. I will agree with that jim, and this issue of YN"S being permitted in CT auctions probably won't happen for legal issues and ramifications.

I also stated , that you have your standards and moral feelings, but to offer that as a justification for not enhancing CT services and features, is just a tad , .not right.

 

Too many Jims in too close proximity

I hope that Peter tries all of them for a certain period and then asks for a re-evaluation. It doesn't hurt to tinker with the process until it works best for the forum.

Jim

 

Absolutely , jim.:smile

 

Yes!! yes!! yes!