Anyone have a trick to getting coins cheap off eBay?

I only purchase a few coins every now and then from eBay. I have quit purchasing silver dollars due to the fact that their silver melt value has far exceeded their numismatic value in most cases. However instead of bringing melt they usually bring $40 for a common date Morgan and $35 for a peace, which is well over melt.

So that leads me to this question: Does anyone have a trick to getting coins cheap off eBay?

 

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Always be browsing & watching a lot of items in your Watch List!

 

I don't kiss and tell.........

 

My trick is look for title mistakes. Search things such as "coin lots" rather than a specific coin. Therefore nobody knows what is in the lot until they look at the description or the image. Another trick I use is adding a lot of items to my watch and add a note stating the highest I will go which is always much lower than previous auctions of the same coin. My last trick would be scanning the buy it now section and asking the seller of a coin you like to do the sale off eBay. However don't word it like that. Say if you will accept my offer send a paypal request to whatever email you use. Saving him and you 10%.

 

Isn't that bad form with regard to e-bay policy? And a bit risky, no doubt.

 

Yes, It is against eBay policy. I doubt eBay would be able to catch me nor would they delete my account if they caught me with somebody that has 150 positive feedback. That is also why I make sure to word it very carefully. Let's just say somebody has an item listed for $200, I will offer him through message $180. I will say "If you accept this offer send me an invoice for $180".

 

BINGO! ... and very hard to do via a picture, but doable over time. Also be ready to get some crap, but that's part of the game and over time you'll minimize the poor buys more and more. The 'bay is littered with overpriced and overbid and shilled coins, probably 95%+ of the auctions. 4% are probably square "retail" buys where you pay dealer margin, and then 1% can be captured at the same price a dealer would pay or even less. You "have" to look at hundreds of auctions a day, every day or at least very often, for years...over time the 1% will begin to jump out at you pretty readily and the 95% you'll almost "auto scan" past... and the 4% will catch your eye and make you consider them (especially if you need the coin).

Obviously and has been said many times:
* don't get in a bidding war... durrrr.
* watch a lot of auctions.
* use the saved searches feature to minimize search time
* I don't spend too much time on BIN's, but have heard that watching the newly listed BIN's can be a good way to capture a deal fast.
* patience patience patience......

 

Yep. I always spend time researching what I would like to have before I start shopping and placing bids. Then I watch, watch, watch. I think patience comes into play here too.

 

That's also a good way to get burned. I've already seen a post where the buyer received clad coins where he was supposed to receive Morgans. The seller claimed he sent Morgans and accused the buyer of lying....a complete mess. What are you going to do when that happens with a stranger outside of ebay? It's not worth $20 to go through that!

 

I've never done that with $200 coins I was just being hypothetical. I usually only do it on $20 coins. The seller can replace real coins with fakes through eBay or not. That is why you have paypal.

 

I think these two cover it pretty much.

 

That's not cool, Tyler. And I think you know better. It's not about not getting caught cheating. It's about ethics and morality.

Some day you'll be very glad about the protection you receive from playing by their business rules.
Lance.

 

Ethics and morality? It is the same as speeding. Sure it is illegal, but if you accept the possibility of getting a ticket then it's a fair trade. I am not doing anything that can get me locked up by negotiating with somebody outside of eBay. It is the same as purchasing a house behind the realtors back. Let them sue me. You are overreacting much?

 

Actually, no I don't. Chances are if you bid on an item I'm bidding on, you're going to pay fair price to get it. I don't look for "deals" because they often just don't exist. I bid full retail and if it's something I've been looking for for quite some time, I'll go as much as 50% over retail or more. Bottom line, if you look for nothing but deals you'll only get one of two things....no coins or the worst of the worst in coins.
Guy

 

So, you're arguing that it's okay, just like speeding (how fast?) or going behind a realtor's back (after they helped you find the house)?

I realize that different people have different perspectives, but from mine, you're in a pretty deep hole already, and you might do well to stop digging.

 

No, going behind a realtors back is unethical because they did waste their time to help you. But it happens and the realtor can civil sue. If I was to see an item on eBay and as the buyer I didn't want their "Buyer Protection" garbage, I see no problem in buying outside of eBay. It takes two for a transaction. I see it just like going into a store finding an item you like and going home to buy it online later for a cheaper price. I am sure plenty of people on here have done that. If you know you can get a cheaper price why would you not take advantage of that? Just because I saw the item on eBay am I obligated to purchase through eBay? Also what hole exactly am I in? I'm such a criminal!

 

Trick?
Buy coins that are not silver.

 

And then spend enough time on eBay to find them!

 

+1

No brainer...