That people bidding on Ebay will bid more for something they can buy for less under "buy it now" for that particular seller!! For example, Modern Coin Mart. I watch several items every day from several sellers just to see how prices go. Say 10 UNC 2014 ASEs you can "buy now" for $239 but I see people bidding the same thing from MCM under the auction stuff for more than the "buy it now" price. Happens with just about everything they are selling. What is it, the thrill of winning even though you are paying more than you can just buy it for? Sure, I try to snipe and get something cheaper than "buy it now" price, but I won't bid over that price and if I don't get it, I just keep on trucking hoping sooner or later I'll score one at a good time of the day or night. I guess they are too lazy to check to see what they can get it for just buying it.
I watch the same thing happen all the time. mostly I watch the gold side on ebay. I give up on silver there about 3 years ago. but the same thing happens in gold coins.
One buyer told me once he never saw one of my coins until I auctioned it. But it had run as a buy it now for 6 weeks prior to the auction! He said he doesn't even look at any buy it nows at all... assuming the prices were just jacked up too high.
I see folks bid way over what they could still currently pick up at the US Mint. It's called stupid and not doing your homework.........
I look at everything in the categories I search, BIN, regular bid items, U.S. or foreign, etc. I don't miss much and have picked up some nice examples over the years. I find that late night or early morning searches are best for finding things that others haven't noticed yet. Bruce
I like the best offer option. If it is a grade your happy with and you know the worth, it's a great way to buy off eBay and avoid over paying. Especially on a relisted item. You don't have to deal with the bid-idiots that way.
Some people would buy a turd, if it was offered by the U. S. Mint and had e pluribus unum stamped on it.
Research always pays off, so does keeping a regular tally ofwhats out thereand past purchase prices. Persistance pays off!!
I used to have fun with silver eagles based off this alone - I would find the lowest buy it now price. Then check auctions - find the lowest price between the two - and then I had to beat those prices in an auction. Yeah - I might have to bid on 10 to 20 items, but it worked. On some of the more classic coinage it is more about the coin. For example you can have 4 coins exact same grade at 4 vastly different prices. Not including variety. Then based off the pictures the best coin could be any of them - not always the most expensive. I think the one I just bought was about right for the price range to me, but there was a cheaper one but lousy pictures ruled it out. Sometimes I wonder where sellers get their prices.
If one wants just one Eagle, what's the best buy? Ten eagles at $239.00 or one eagle at $39.95? I just put one for $39.95 in the mail that I had the high price set on because I really didn't care to sell it but was showing it on eBay. Edited as I cited the price wrong.
One at 39.95. It is going to take more than $16 worth of postage, packaging, and time to resell the 9 you don't want.
