I will try this again, I wrote this once and somehow unplugged my internet so it didn't send. Here we go! I know there are a lot of folks here who either sell on ebay or have done so in the past. I need your wisdom!!!! I have decided that in order to complete my set of both mint sets and proof sets from 1959 to 2009, I need to sell some of my doubles and extras. Though I have bought many things on Ebay, I have never sold anything. I see great variances in the same product over a 7 day period. Here is my example: 2000 clad proof set completed aucion prices range from $5.80 - $27.50. With a lot of sales at $10-$12 and a lot at $20 - $22. There was not a noticable difference in the shipping or return policies, so why the huge variance. another example is the 2001 clad proof set, for the same 7 day period on ebay they sold from $40 - $55, though the numismedia guide lists FMV at $81. My local pawn broker lent me $53 as pawn value, would I not be better off just to sell it to him and avoid the listing and selling percentages not to mention all the other hastles. I guess i am asking what sets these auctions apart? How do you get to the high end, and how do you make sure you get what you need without putting a starting price of $50. I am so confussed, i need guidence!!!:headbang:
You would be better of posting what you have one CoinTalk, (PayPal) if you want to be sure, because ebay fees kill you, and on a $15.00 item you sort of loose, thats why people lot smaller items together. http://pages.ebay.com/HELP/SELL/fees.html
I can see several possible reasons. The day of the week and time of day that the auction ends can have an effect, past history of the seller can have an effect, the exact title of the auction can have an effect by changing how it shows up in a search. Whether the bids are being executed by snipe programs or live bidders can be a factor. And of course it also depends on how many people just happen to be looking for that particular set at the time. That strikes me as a pretty good indication that the Numismedia FMV is wrong. Yes. Unfortunately a lot of it is luck, and you can't be sure of getting what you need. Putting a high starting bid would probably be counterproductive. After all Why would I bid on your auction with the high starting bid when there are plenty of auctions with low starting bids where I might be able to buy it for less than your opening bid? The problem is selling proofs sets means you are selling a VERY generic item. If I don't buy yours there are thousands more of them coming along in the near future and they are all pretty much alike. And generic items typically means low bids because If I don't get your sooner or later my low bid WILL win one so I have no incentive to raise my bid. The best you can do is try to determine the best ending time (others on here with more sales experience can help with that), have fair tems, start at a reasonable or even low level, and have good clear pictures of the actual item. Avoid stock pictures because even for generic items people feel more confident if they know they are seeing the actual item they will be getting.
Thanks for the comments and you are right. I decide what I want to try and pay for a mint set or proof set and then I just keep bidding in auction after auction til I get lucky and catch everyone else sleeping or busy watching something else. I find that if I wait long enough I will get it eventually.
Ebay is easy and convenient. LOTS of crooks networking on eBay with different user ID's! Lots of shill bidding could explain the variance in winning bids.Get caught up in the excitement and spend more. Ebay has no issue worth thier time with all the criminal elements using thier venue.One might say Ebay is a standoff partner in internet crime. Better off avoiding the 9% final value fee,listing fee and Paypal is a joke! Ebay is comically reffered to as FEE BAY!
I absolutely agree but it takes someone who has entered into a nightmare situation to realize your statement is true.
Coming from an ex-ebayer, I used to think there were great deals on coins on ebay. Then I bought a microscope on ebay. Many of those great deals I had bought were harshly cleaned. These are the items you are competing with on ebay. If you get a less than expected final bid, you can thank all those dirtbags out there. I'd sell your coins somewhere more reputable.
