A Critique on My Ebay Listing

EDITED - Please read the rules

Now if this post is a problem, I'm sorry about that.

I don't encourage anyone to bid on this based on this post. It is just meant for reviewal purposes.

For a first auction, what do some of you think?

This information you guys have given is priceless and so many people I bet are learning alot here.

I got this coin for $617 which was a bit of a premium I must admit but hey, now I know. In the world of ebay, anything could happen.

What do you think of the listing style, wording, pictures, etc?

*Note, there is one grammatical error and another error but I'll let you find them.

 

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To be frank, which is what you are asking for, there is a time when extra large photos can sell an item, but I think in this case, it makes many of the detracting hits, especially on the cheek area, but the whole lower left quadrant very apparent. You are selling the coin based more on PCGS grading and OG Label, than on actual appearance. When you start an auction @ .99, it often seems that you don't expect much for it. I look more carefully ( for higher end coins) at coins that start at a 1/2 value or so. So if this started at $249, it would interest me more ( paradoxically ).

Jim

 

What Jim said...

Never give the opinion that it is so cheap!!
After all you said it best "A highly sought after coin"


RickieB

 

I was thinking the same thing Jim.... I wasn't sure if the scratches were on the plastic; I think the ones on the reverse are on the slab (at least some of them). Also, I believe you can edit your description (not the title) after bidding has started (I may be wrong on that... I usually catch my errors while they can still be edited). Here's the one I found:
... PCGS will not take allow for it.
Just a couple extra words thrown in (PCGS will not allow it would sound better).

 

Right, I'm well aware of that. However, I can't edit.

 

Overall, a pretty good listing. :thumb:

STRONG POINTS :

• Return policy (7 days, no questions asked, full refund). That's a biggy for me.
• 100% positive feedback
• Nice coin
• No reserve, low starting bid

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT :

• The photos are good, not great.
• For me, the verbiage was a little over-hyped... too much like a used-car salesman. Not bad, though. Certainly not obnoxious like some e-bay listings.
• Less than 20 feedbacks - of course, over time this will increase. Might want to post multiple low-dollar items to get your count up a bit.
• Quoting Redbook and PCGS prices is a turnoff for me personally, but for many people it's perfectly cool. Certainly not unethical.

Very best wishes ! A lot of people poor-mouth E-Bay, but almost all my experiences there are positive.

 

What an awesome critique! Thanks! That was so perfectly worded and formed.

Thanks

 

Overall, I like your auction. I would tone down the selling a bit in the description, but that's a bit of a nit. 900fine gave you great advice, also..Mike

p.s. wanna bet you don't recoup your $617 cost?

 

I'm glad to see that you are offering a Return Policy and you do know that you can go back and Revise your listing and fix those grammatical errors if they bother you or affect your description.

I do not think you should have listed the price you paid for this coin in this thread in the event that someone, members here or elsewhere, sees the last price paid prior to bidding in your auction on eBay. It just seems counterintuitive.

While I have the luxury of seeing many of your posts here on CT and know of your beginner status as a collector/investor in coins, I'm curious how you could put such language into the item description that seems to indicate that you have more experience with these (or any coins) more than you actually do. How will you answer questions you may receive from more knowledgeable buyers than yourself? Will you ask the CT members so you can use that information to reply to them? I think regardless of your glowing item description language you may loose prospective buyers if you can't meet/match their inquiries to your actual experience level and they will sense it in your replies, especially if its huckstering or flowery and lacks the correct sophistication. I know this is a learning thing for you, so don't get upset with me please. These are just my thoughts based on the OP, item description and are some of the things that turn me away from such auction language as I prefer less hype to the plain facts: mintage for that year and clear pics = good info to see. Saying PCGS is the best, that's rather subjective and an unnecessary detail to impart.

 

Are you sure? Because I can't. It will only let me add to the description.

Any specific help would be appreciated.

 

Of course I won't. If I get over $400 I'm lucky, right?

 

Time will tell, but somewhere in the $400-$500 range sounds about right to me (Morgans aren't my area of specialty and i don't follow them closely enough to feel confident).

More importantly, I think you will have a better feel for the transaction costs of eBay (i.e. eBay fees, PayPal fees, shippping, packaging, etc.) that I suspect you are underestimating...Mike

 

FWIW, I do the opposite. If the seller starts at $.01 or $.99, I figure he is confident it will go for his "fair price". If he has to start is at $249 or whatever, I think he is afraid that is all he is going to be able to get for it.

 

Seconded.

 

FWIW, I agree with RLM on this one. $0.99 starting price says to me a seller has confidence in the item, it also tells bargain shoppers (and there are lots of them on eBay, more often than not unexperienced) that they should keep an eye on it. I typically walk away from reserve/starting bid auctions.

 

In the future, I'd omit the reference to the "Red Book" - it is not a current/accurate source for coin values.

You might bring trouble upon yourself with incorrect statements like that. PCGS and other grading companies grade coins that have been cleaned. Ditto for the tampering part.

 

Several good hints already posted, but as mentioned I like auctions that start at .99 better. Just my opinion.

 

Now I've edited out the link to the item per the CoinTalk rules. As you all know, or should know, such posting is not allowed here on CT, by the person who listed the item.

Speedy

 

Hii Speedy, I am familiar with the rules regarding this situation but I didn't think they applied in this certain situation especially where I made a big note telling people to not be influenced by this link in a bidding way.. It's just for reviewing purposes.

I guess that doesn't work huh?

 

With regards to the auction listing below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120464909411&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling#ht_2536wt_1165

I think your approach targets the wrong audience. It seems like you are pitching an investment opportunity to a coin novice. IMO, most people in the market for an 1885-CC Morgan Dollar are not novice collectors. The typical buyer of this coin will be very aware of both the rarity and value of the coin and will most likely view your salesman tactics as a turnoff

I would completely eliminate all of the flowery prose and make your description about the coin. Describe the elements of the coin's grade: surface preservation, luster, strike, and eye appeal. Here is an example of what I consider a good coin description from the current Heritage Signature sale.

http://coins.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=1129&Lot_No=1371#photo


An alternative is to use headings such as COIN DESCRIPTION & SELLER'S COMMENTS. This way the experienced collector can easily skip your sales pitch.

Lastly, I don't consider the 1885-CC a key date Morgan. Although the coin had a scant mintage of 228,000, the number of surviving examples in mint state is considerable. In MS65+, the total population is 6,556. Hardly a number I would relate to a key date coin. Call it a semi-key if you want, but key date is misleading IMO.

BTW, The no reserve tactic is very good and will often result in a higher price for an established E-Bay seller with a loyal following. I don't know if it works for new E-Bay sellers, but we will soon find out.