eBay Mess

[barrysloate]

As much as I've supported Leon with the idea of starting an auction site on Net54, the fact is no one can compete with the audience ebay reaches. It is simply remarkable, and probably the best thing about it.

When I was at my peak of selling on ebay, probably 2-3 years ago, the number of new names and new bidders I would get was extraordinary. And that in turn led to high prices realized. A site similar to ebay, hosted here, would only get a fraction of the views. So that would concern me.

[Matt]

Barry - you are correct as that has always been the issue with eBay competitors. But with people generally leaving eBay in chunks due to their decisions over the past year, and then sports-collectibles-specific folks leaving in droves over this mess, added with the fact that a significant percentage (vast majority?) of pre-war card collectors are already on this site, I think there is a good chance for success.

[barrysloate]

Matt- I agree that now would be an opportune time to start a new auction site. People are angry and looking for an alternative.

[tbob]

The only thing that ebay concerns itself with is money. Why should they care how we feel, as collectors, about this idiotic new move? I think the only thing that would make them change their mind is a boycott by sellers and buyers. Perhaps, as Barry says, the money derived is a drop in the bucket but 1% of ebay revenues is 1% of ebay revenues and some bean counter is going to notice. Maybe giving them a "Black October" for cards would do some good and convince the miscreants to change things back. Who knows?
In the meantime I have to shake my head at some of the responses on this board. It appears very obvious that each one of us who calls or writes is dealing with one different person each time. It's too bad they don't have a single person or group of people you can complain to who would see that the complaints are not singular in nature but shared by a large group of people.
It just p.o.'s me that I have a feedback of over 6500 and have made them a lot of money through the years (and Paypal too) and yet I am treated like someone who collects string.

[iggyman]

Originally Posted by Matt

Barry - you are correct as that has always been the issue with eBay competitors. But with people generally leaving eBay in chunks due to their decisions over the past year, and then sports-collectibles-specific folks leaving in droves over this mess, added with the fact that a significant percentage (vast majority?) of pre-war card collectors are already on this site, I think there is a good chance for success.

I don't think a vast majority of prewar collectors use this site. I have no idea what the percentages are, but I would bet it doesn't even reach the 50% plateau. No disrespect intended, this is just my personal opinion based on years of buying and selling on eBay. It doesn't make me an expert. All I know is that over the years a few of the buyers names have stayed the same, but (as Barry mentioned) most are constantly new.


At this present time, I would welcome any viable "baseball card" alternative to eBay. Actually, I'm jumping at the bit for it! To become really successful an ebay competitor would have to attract the hard core collector (easy to do) and the casual one (not so easy). I'm a small fish, especially when compared to Barry during his "heyday", but I've made a few sales to "whales" (which are always nice when they are biting). However, it has been the housewife purchasing an anniversary present, or the guy who just likes old stuff, or the collector in Japan.....these are the people who have consistenly given me the most bang for my buck. I'm not sure how you duplicate that?

Lovely Day...

[sagard]

I think adding a cards section to "Vintage Sports Memorabilia" might be the easiest solution for Ebay and the group here.

Ebay made the move because even though many browse the pre-1930 category, I'm sure VERY few browsed by the literally dozens of other categories and sub-categories in the main cards section.

[ibuysportsephemera]

I think that the problem with eBay wannabees was that they just imitated eBay and tried to pull off an identical site with tons of categories. The reason why I think that Leon has a chance (although a small one..I admit) is because it will be specific to one category and he has experience in the auction business already. JMO.

Jeff

[Potomac Yank]

If you don't stand together ... You get what you deserve!

See post # 146 .....

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

As much as I've supported Leon with the idea of starting an auction site on Net54, the fact is no one can compete with the audience ebay reaches. It is simply remarkable, and probably the best thing about it.

When I was at my peak of selling on ebay, probably 2-3 years ago, the number of new names and new bidders I would get was extraordinary. And that in turn led to high prices realized. A site similar to ebay, hosted here, would only get a fraction of the views. So that would concern me.

Yep, there is just no competition for ebay...I've auctioned a few items on the BST and they just don't go for what I can get on ebay...I even tried to auction two sports related tins on the BST and nobody even posted the minimum $25 bid so I took them to ebay and combined they sold for $180...I had a $50 BIN for them on BST and there were no takers. I think the only way a dedicated auction service on N54 works is if Ebay gets rid of the auction format completely.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Yep, there is just no competition for ebay...I've auctioned a few items on the BST and they just don't go for what I can get on ebay...I even tried to auction two sports related tins on the BST and nobody even posted the minimum $25 bid so I took them to ebay and combined they sold for $180...I had a $50 BIN for them on BST and there were no takers. I think the only way a dedicated auction service on N54 works is if Ebay gets rid of the auction format completely.

The little do it yourself auctions on our BST are supposed to be mainly for fun and lower end items. That's not to say you can't try anything you want but it is mainly for fun. I sold a few sub $100 items as I didn't care what they brought.

With the newer auction proposition that I/we are considering, it's the real deal. It won't be rinky dink and it will be run a heck of a lot better than ebay (which won't be hard to do). Of course we won't have the audience ebay does. Hardly any site except Amazon does. There will be ways for sellers to protect themselves while running higher end, as well as lower end, auctions. Hey, the worst thing that can happen is it doesn't work out. Since I have always wanted to try it I am sure I/we will. Except for a link on Net54baseball.com it won't be affiliated with this forum too much. As I said before everything on the board is staying the same...same BST, same categories, no cost for anyone unless you want to advertise etc.......regards

[Buythatcard]

Hey Leon,

Will this proposed auction site have categories below Baseball?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Hey Leon,

Will this proposed auction site have categories below Baseball?

No Howard, I was thinking we would just have 1 category called "Sports and everything else too".....that should narrow it down in an ebay-like way.

[painthistorian]

Leon- I say it is time to make a stand!...I have 5000+ names on my mailing list from 11,000 e bay transactions since 2004, I will give that to you, you can mail a notice/letters/brochure of a prototype NET54 card/memorabilia auction site and it should be all collectibles sports , properly defined and categorized plus non sports cards...also have to get PSA/SGC/VCP/ etc. all are who are affected in some way from this e bay decision, to get aboard. We are all affected by this e bay direction even if you do not buy on ebay . Collectors, dealers, occasional e bay glancers, show promoters, grading services, etc., all need to realize the severity of e bay's directives and I will donate the first customer list for you when you are ready. I want to be one of the first to defy this debacle and try something that can really work, hope everyone is up for a challenge that will be to the hobby's benefit in the long run and hopefully wishing is now....Larry.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by painthistorian

Leon- I say it is time to make a stand!...I have 5000+ names on my mailing list from 11,000 e bay transactions since 2004, I will give that to you, you can mail a notice/letters/brochure of a prototype NET54 card/memorabilia auction site and it should be all collectibles sports , properly defined and categorized plus non sports cards...also have to get PSA/SGC/VCP/ etc. all are who are affected in some way from this e bay decision, to get aboard. We are all affected by this e bay direction even if you do not buy on ebay . Collectors, dealers, occasional e bay glancers, show promoters, grading services, etc., all need to realize the severity of e bay's directives and I will donate the first customer list for you when you are ready. I want to be one of the first to defy this debacle and try something that can really work, hope everyone is up for a challenge that will be to the hobby's benefit in the long run and hopefully wishing is now....Larry.

Hey Larry
Sounds great. I am not sure how long it will take for the real auction I am looking at doing, but it will happen. I will take you up on your offer too. We are a bit of a ways out though. We are looking at a way to potentially get sniping on a site other than ebay but that is the obstacle right now. I/we (Matt is my partner on this venture) have contacted another programmer that has an idea of how to do it but it's not an immediate solution...it will take a bit of time....My guess is 30-60 days but hopefully less. Rome wasn't built overnight.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Leon

The little do it yourself auctions on our BST are supposed to be mainly for fun and lower end items. That's not to say you can't try anything you want but it is mainly for fun. I sold a few sub $100 items as I didn't care what they brought.

With the newer auction proposition that I/we are considering, it's the real deal. It won't be rinky dink and it will be run a heck of a lot better than ebay (which won't be hard to do). Of course we won't have the audience ebay does. Hardly any site except Amazon does. There will be ways for sellers to protect themselves while running higher end, as well as lower end, auctions. Hey, the worst thing that can happen is it doesn't work out. Since I have always wanted to try it I am sure I/we will. Except for a link on Net54baseball.com it won't be affiliated with this forum too much. As I said before everything on the board is staying the same...same BST, same categories, no cost for anyone unless you want to advertise etc.......regards

Leon, I didn't mean to imply that it would be "rinky dink"...I just don't think any auction site will compete with ebay until they finally turn out the lights. They are just that entrenched...I have a feeling that whatever you set up the first time someone runs a true auction without a reserve and it goes for less than they expected that they'll either do the same thing they do on ebay which is to set a reserve or a ridiculous BIN. A site like yours is going to attract a lot of card dealers and card collectors..one element it won't have is the clueless or casual seller who actually does find a stash of OJ's at an estate sale or finds a stash of Clement Bread cards in their attic. That is/was the true beauty of ebay.

[paul]

I'm not sure I see the need for any organized boycott. I'm not going to use ebay much any more, if at all, because it's pretty useless. I think most collectors of prewar cards will reach the same conclusion. So ebay will simply die on the vine for vintage card collectors.

The problem is -- if they didn't screw up the other categories, ebay won't even notice. The sellers of shiny new cards (as well as the sellers of pots and pans and whatever else people buy on ebay) will keep buying and selling. Ebay won't even be keeping track of the former pre-war categories anymore. So they won't even notice the difference.

[mintacular]

Leon--Though I'm new to the site, as a collector I can tell you that there is a need/demand for a simple yet professional site that caters to collectors. Even if the auctions were BINs for now until traffic picks up, I think a site like this one could meet the needs of niche collectors. Clearly eBay has lost its "true north" and will never be the final answer passionate collectors are looking for.

Maybe it sounds like a pipe dream but Carnegie didn't become a steel magnate overnight--it had to start with an idea and a drive to follow through. Either way, you have my support and if/when you get serious about launching an auction site, I would be glad to help in any way I can. Good luck-Pat

[barrysloate]

Leon and Matt- although you guys are still in the planning phase, Dan made a really good point. If your new site is relatively cheap, and dealers are allowed to place reserves, you are going to be filled with thousands of overpriced BINs, and cards that will never sell. That's the one thing about ebay that just about everybody hates (except the guys listing these unsellable lots), and I'm sure that's not the look either of you want.

So you need to come up with a format that allows for a real auction environment, not a long term parking lot for overpriced inventory.