Death of private sales for higher end cards?

[Johnny630]

I think this happens less and less these days however I will say the good private sales, collector to collector are not talked about they're kept private as they should be. Some people like the cold hard cash!!

I like it :-)

[raulus]

I would posit that it still happens. Sometimes with a bit of help from an intermediary, who is matching up the buyer and seller, and probably taking a smaller cut than an auction.

I suspect that the attraction for both sides is certainty.

Maybe the seller gives up a little potential upside, but locks in a known sales price that works for the seller, while avoiding the risk that it doesn’t get as much attention at auction.

For the buyer, you avoid the risk of having goons bid it up to the stratosphere at auction, and you get your nice piece for a price that works for you, without all of the drama of the auction process. Maybe you have to stretch a little, but maybe for the right piece, you’re willing to stretch.

[BKaufmann14]

You have too much time on your hands to post these videos... lol

[notfast]

Nope.

I have no desire to use a third party to sell things that I don’t need a third party to sell.

I’m sure many others feel the same.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by BKaufmann14

You have too much time on your hands to post these videos... lol

No video on this one, just a reference to another Net54 post

[mrreality68]

The hardest part to me with private sales is my network is not big enough so I do not know about what is available for sale often times until it is to late.

I hear about transactions or see them posted by the buyer after it is bought/traded.

The network I have is mostly collectors and as a result they are less like to sell and more likely to hold on to.

[Peter_Spaeth]

In a world of so many record setting prices, I think many sellers are afraid to leave money on the table. Many of the pricier cards one sees on bst just came out of an auction and are marked up by a third, so no fear there.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

In a world of so many record setting prices, I think many sellers are afraid to leave money on the table. Many of the pricier cards one sees on bst just came out of an auction and are marked up by a third, so no fear there.

Peter - do you feel like the action might shift once the auction market returns to some semblance of normalcy? Assuming it ever does?

[G1911]

All my larger deals have been private sales, usually in network or via referral. I think it varies heavily by item, a common commodity card with a lot of value like a T206 Cobb or a Goudey Ruth or a 52 Mickey, auctions make a lot more sense for the seller because everyone wants those and you'll get many bidders anywhere. My larger buys are scarce and oft obscure cards from niche interests, boxing, non-sport, as well as baseball. Placing a value is difficult; auctions can go for triple what I'd expect or a 1/3 very easily with such a small buyer pool. On these items, the ones I personally spend the most on, it is often an item that is not really for sale in the first place, and an offer greater than the seller would expect to net from auction is what makes a deal of any kind possible. It seems like a win to me for both sides; I lock up a tough item I'm after without risking it going to an auction house I won't do business with or I'm acquiring a unique type item that isn't for sale any other way, the seller also locks in a good price for them and eliminates the risk the handful of buyers willing to go for it might not show up that day and doesn't have to share the pie with anyone else but Uncle Sam. It also makes larger lots easier to move; the risk factor being removed multiplies via private sale.