If you sell cards on eBay how do you decide between auction or fixed price?

[drcy]

It's not an either/or. You can start with a sale, then later switch it to auction. Many big sellers have tons of stuff up for sale, then have a weekly or whatever auction of some stuff.

[T206Collector]

I just sold off about 300 T206 cards in 20 card bursts over the past week or two on ebay. I did almost every one as a 1-day auction with a .99 cent starting price. The amount of attention was more than sufficient. I did pretty well. I do think I may have done slightly better with the 3-day auction format.

I don't like going more than 3 days because people forget about listings. They get the email in the morning that there is a listing. They check it out and realize it ends in a few hours, and they get to thinking. I like to find the buyers and keep them interested in bidding on the same day.

I often do better with the auction format than I was even asking for in the BIN format. E.g., a $200 BIN that doesn't sell will sometimes sell for $225 or $250. I think BINs get ignored, even if they're reasonable.

Edited to note: This works for T206s because there are SO many collectors. If you're talking about a rare item, you may take a different approach.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

I just sold off about 300 T206 cards in 20 card bursts over the past week or two on ebay. I did almost every one as a 1-day auction with a .99 cent starting price. The amount of attention was more than sufficient. I did pretty well. I do think I may have done slightly better with the 3-day auction format.

I don't like going more than 3 days because people forget about listings. They get the email in the morning that there is a listing. They check it out and realize it ends in a few hours, and they get to thinking. I like to find the buyers and keep them interested in bidding on the same day.

I often do better with the auction format than I was even asking for in the BIN format. E.g., a $200 BIN that doesn't sell will sometimes sell for $225 or $250. I think BINs get ignored, even if they're reasonable.

Edited to note: This works for T206s because there are SO many collectors. If you're talking about a rare item, you may take a different approach.

I once had a E98 Cobb ( ratty) up on a .99 cent auction or BIN of $800. It sold via the auction at $820- go figure

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

I once had a E98 Cobb ( ratty) up on a .99 cent auction or BIN of $800. It sold via the auction at $820- go figure

You must've had a reserve on the card.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

You must've had a reserve on the card.

Nope

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

Nope

Yeah, I think we take for granted that the market is aware of all of its options. Like when an item sells for more at Heritage than the BIN price of the same card on eBay.

Same thing happens to me here when I list something on BST that doesn't sell. Put it on the auction thread here and watch it sell for more. Doesn't always happen, but happens enough that you shake your head.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by drcy

It's not an either/or. You can start with a sale, then later switch it to auction. Many big sellers have tons of stuff up for sale, then have a weekly or whatever auction of some stuff.

I love this...try to mix it up.

[ibuysportsephemera]

This is how I run my sports memorabilia side of the business on eBay. I try auctions first at an opening price I would be OK with if it sold. If it does not sell at auction, I put it in my store at a retail-ish price but with the Best Offer option. This strategy is fine if you don't need to sell anything immediately and have the patience to wait for a sale.

Jeff

[OsFan]

Thanks for all the responses!

[Exhibitman]

In my eBay store I usually start items as $6.99 auctions. If they don't sell after a few rounds, I will usually set them as fixed price sales at the minimum. I won't do that with something expensive or rare; those usually are set at fixed price sales.

[John V]

This 7 day auction has less than 20 hours to go. Started at $.99, there it sits at $2.25. This is a painful selling experience. These things tend to sell for $50 to $150. So much for auctions. Predictions?

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53...UAAOSwT75ZlI1L

[ullmandds]

now its 6.50!

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by John V

This 7 day auction has less than 20 hours to go. Started at $.99, there it sits at $2.25. This is a painful selling experience. These things tend to sell for $50 to $150. So much for auctions. Predictions?

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53...UAAOSwT75ZlI1L

Like I said...The auction format on Ebay is all but dead. When I see an auction listing, I know there's a good chance I'm getting a bargain. That said...the real bidding won't occur until the final 30 seconds.