We've had multiple threads about the wisdom (or lack thereof) of using alternative auction sites. I think my experience answers the question - On August 20 I listed a four piece complete type-set of bronze ¥10 coins, at a very low dutch auction price on one of the upstart auction sites that tout how much cheaper they are for sellers than EBay. They are cheaper - free in fact. But, what good are they? This particular site automatically relists your item at the end of the 10-day listing period. Today I received my periodic pair of e-mails. One tells me that I had no bids, and the other tells me I'm relisted. Whoopee!
We have looked into the free auction sites and found that either people were offering items for way too much money which scared buyers off or they were offering complete junk which also scared buyers off. The jury is still out on Overstock.com. However, last I checked, their search function was still not operating properly so you had to look through all of the items and couldn't search for a specific coin. Also, their coin category has no subcategories. Unfortunately, any site that does not have a listing fee is subject to the scammers and uneducated who have nothing to lose by offering substandard items at a Rockefeller price. What we need is a good auction site with fees that will keep out the riff-raff but not be cost prohibitive. Ebay is the closest thus far, but we all know about the scams and fraud that go on there day after day. If eBay would eliminate the option of 1 and 3 day auctions, more of the scammers could be caught and eBay could be made a much safer trading place, which would make it ideal since eBay already has media advertising and are so well-known. Even people who have never purchased on eBay are familiar with it.
HI, I have sold coins on ebay for many years and was growing tired of the rat race and higher fees. I decided a year ago to start my own coin auction and metal detecting site Link deleted. My auction site is geared toward the common date and semi key date coins and I would never list a key date at deleted because there is just not enough traffic as of yet, my keys will be listed on ebay. with much experience and testing I have found that I get about the same price if not a little more for my common and semi-key date coins at my auction site. We do have listing and closing fees but they are very reasonable. My sellers are happy to sell at deleted and know of ebay very well. Ebay is a great place to sell certain coins but I feel they are pushing the smaller dealers out because of the ever increasing fees. I am not competing for ebay's coin business but just want a small friendly place for us to trade our coins without all the hassle of scams and deadbeats. Greg
I have heard of very few online auction services. I think that Ebay does a wonderful job of promoting itself. Good or bad, they are not sitting on their hands as these other sites. Ebay is now a major sponsor of the large coin shows. They partner with the ANA to showcase their auctions, and even placate the ANA with promises of doing better. Oh how the money talks. More auction companies are popping up all the time. Unfortunately, they are following the Ebay model, or go to the other extreme. There are just too many cheap options for the scammer.
Your right, it is next to imposible to stop the scammers. I do my best to check out everyone that joins my auction site. Greg
