Originally Posted by wdwfan (Post 2520188)

It's more so to get rid of stuff I don't want. I buy collections, lots, starter sets and even packs/blasters from time to time. Anything I don't want or doesn't fit into my collection is what I try to trade. No sense in keeping it if it's not anything you collect/want.

But I also try and trade to get even value on stuff. For example, if you've got a $100 card that doesn't fit your collection that you want to get rid of, you're going to sell and lose out on fees and shipping. You're going to make $75. Whenever you go to replace it with something else, you're going to have to pay $125 (on eBay anyways as tons of sellers list prices are over comps) plus shipping and taxes. So you're losing $50. If you trade, you give up a $100 card and you get a $100 card. That's the way I look at it, and that's why I prefer to trade.

But it can be tough to find a match, as you said. You've got to find someone that has what you want and has something you need in return. But the conversation and back and forth is the fun part of the hobby.

The trading thing explains why my BSTs where I'm selling/trading never get any interest. But that doesn't explain why my posts looking to buy don't. The one I just created did, and I've bought 2 lots from people that reached out in response to my post. But that's not usually the case. It's usually just crickets.

Originally Posted by jayshum (Post 2520193)

So you're buying collections with a lot of stuff you don't want, but since you're trading it instead of selling it, you're a true collector. Got it.

Originally Posted by wdwfan (Post 2520188)

It's more so to get rid of stuff I don't want. I buy collections, lots, starter sets and even packs/blasters from time to time. Anything I don't want or doesn't fit into my collection is what I try to trade. No sense in keeping it if it's not anything you collect/want.

But I also try and trade to get even value on stuff. For example, if you've got a $100 card that doesn't fit your collection that you want to get rid of, you're going to sell and lose out on fees and shipping. You're going to make $75. Whenever you go to replace it with something else, you're going to have to pay $125 (on eBay anyways as tons of sellers list prices are over comps) plus shipping and taxes. So you're losing $50. If you trade, you give up a $100 card and you get a $100 card. That's the way I look at it, and that's why I prefer to trade.

But it can be tough to find a match, as you said. You've got to find someone that has what you want and has something you need in return. But the conversation and back and forth is the fun part of the hobby.

The trading thing explains why my BSTs where I'm selling/trading never get any interest. But that doesn't explain why my posts looking to buy don't. The one I just created did, and I've bought 2 lots from people that reached out in response to my post. But that's not usually the case. It's usually just crickets.

Originally Posted by Eric72 (Post 2519023)

Here's a nickel's worth of free advice:

If you want to get a good scanner, buy a good scanner. Don't try to get a piece of multipurpose equipment. Those all-in-one devices tend to do a mediocre job at multiple things. Their scanner (for example) typically lacks the technology to scan items with depth. Long story short: the scans of graded cards will look blurry and defeat the purpose of having a new scanner.

Originally Posted by jh691626 (Post 2526898)

Hoping this isn't too off topic, but a number of people in this thread have mentioned scanners. Which ones do you use? I have a multi purpose thingee and long ago gave up trying to use it to scan cards for all the reasons that have been mentioned.

Originally Posted by raulus (Post 2526904)

You need one that can pick up depth. Pretty sure that's called CCD functionality. There's one that's real popular around here Epson V something? I forget, because that's not the one I bought.

Personally, I also wanted one that could handle jumbo stuff, since I was tired of standard size scanners not accommodating a full scan of my jumbo pieces. So I picked up this version, which has worked fine. It is a beast, so you will need somewhere to store it, unless you want it to take up your whole desk all the time.

https://www.amazon.com/Plustek-Optic...dp/B08K993G24/

Originally Posted by raulus (Post 2520198)

By golly, my way of collecting is the only true way of collecting. Everyone else is just a bunch of poser goons doing something else that is a poor facsimile of collecting.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein (Post 2527206)

in the 60-80's world just for kicks and I know it may just be me, but the prices almost always (with a few exceptions) seem to be higher than anything I see at the DCS bi monthly event.

As for Hughes, he is a Rangers fan/collector and does buy things to pull a few items for his collection and then trades/sells the rest to fund what he wants for himself. To me, that's a pretty good collector who is keeping a few things he wants and sells the rest to get more items for his collection

Back in the 1970's that was what most of the dealers did anyway and we would consider most of them collectors even in today's world

Rich

Originally Posted by Snapolit1 (Post 2527218)

Best way to sell something fast on BST is to list it for 50% less than what you would get at an AH. So the guy you sold it to can immediately sell it for a 20-30% profit.

Originally Posted by bnorth (Post 2527220)

A lot of us do that. I am trying to sell some stuff now to buy other stuff. Who is Hughes?

Originally Posted by Rich Klein (Post 2527226)

Hughes is the person who started this thread. That's his wife's name he is using for the BST

Originally Posted by bnorth (Post 2527190)

Always bumping your sold posts to let everyone know it's sold is a great idea.;)

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry (Post 2527603)

This annoys me probably more than it should.

Also, how *not* to get traction on the BST : bump your listing over and over again for months (or even years) without ever lowering the price.

Originally Posted by Eric72 (Post 2533293)

Here's one suggestion:

When someone is willing to pay your asking price a few days after you've listed something, don't shoot them down because you put the card back in your trade box.

It was a low-dollar card, to be sure. It'll be easy enough for me to get a different one. No money changed hands, either, so I'm not implying you tried to scam anybody.

Still, add me to the list of people who will simply scroll by your listings without clicking.

Good luck and happy collecting.

Originally Posted by wdwfan (Post 2533311)

Thanks. So you're upset because I put something up for trade, had it listed for several days without any interest then put it back into my own collection? Just making sure. I've never heard of someone upset at that. If you had really wanted it, you'd made a trade offer while my trade post was up and running, and we would've made a trade for it. But as I said in the post, instead of trading it for under value here, I'd rather just trade it at the show or keep it. Didn't realize some people get upset at that situation.

Originally Posted by wdwfan (Post 2533311)

Thanks. So you're upset because I put something up for trade, had it listed for several days without any interest then put it back into my own collection? Just making sure. I've never heard of someone upset at that. If you had really wanted it, you'd made a trade offer while my trade post was up and running, and we would've made a trade for it. But as I said in the post, instead of trading it for under value here, I'd rather just trade it at the show or keep it. Didn't realize some people get upset at that situation.

Originally Posted by Leon (Post 2533317)

Sounds like he tried to buy a card you had up for trade. Any one can do anything they want to, just as you said.

I do have one question, pertaining to your user id and name. Is emlily your name?
.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein (Post 2533340)

Leon:

We discussed this a few posts ago, Hughes is not great at setting up things so his wife's name is Emily and he is using her name. He collects. she does not. Hughes has done many of my shows over the years going back to my 1st synagogue show in 2014 and I'll vouch for him if needed

Rich

Originally Posted by raulus (Post 2516743)

I think part of the fun is also that fixed price listings aren't going to get anyone's animal spirits going. There's just no trigger to get people to act quickly. If I can buy it here for $100 today or tomorrow on eBay for $100, then the odds are low that you're going to get a sale today.

In many ways, you might need to be willing to list it for a bit of a discount to eBay, such that it motivates buyers to move on it before someone else gets it. My guess is that if you're saving the eBay selling fees then maybe you break even or come out slightly ahead, depending on the amount of discount to eBay. Either that or it had better be nice, with better centering, which always seems to get the centering savants to click the "buy now" button.

I think too in general that selling with fixed price listings means you have to be patient. Someone could come along today and want it, so it sells today. Or it might sit for months or even years. Like I tell my son, you don't have to fool all of the ladies, you just have to fool one. And in your case, you just need to get one buyer to decide to bite, but it tends to be a bit random when that buyer will come along, particularly with the smaller pool of eyeballs here.