Is this really a buyer�s market?

bcbgcbrcb · #1 11-07-2023, 04:51 PM

I am not looking to buy anything now. My point is that it’s a lot more of a hassle to buy specific cards from AH’s than eBay. When prices were sky high, you could find everything that you wanted on eBay so no need to go the AH route. Now that prices are way down, it’s a major struggle to find anything appealing on eBay and requires more resorting to the AH’s. That is my point.

raulus · #2 11-07-2023, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I am not looking to buy anything now. My point is that it�s a lot more of a hassle to buy specific cards from AH�s than eBay. When prices were sky high, you could find everything that you wanted on eBay so no need to go the AH route. Now that prices are way down, it�s a major struggle to find anything appealing on eBay and requires more resorting to the AH�s. That is my point.

A lot more hassle seems like an overstatement to me. I do think if you've never registered, then it can seem like a hassle. But my experience is that it's not that difficult.

Maybe I've just grown accustomed to buying from AHs, so it doesn't seem like a hassle to me. The various elements that seem more painful than just going to eBay aren't really that bad. And if it keeps someone from bidding against me, then I'm all for it. Stay away from the AHs and don't give me any competition for my stuff!

packs · #3 11-07-2023, 05:05 PM

I�m not sure it�s the state of the market that has sapped eBay of quality items. There was a large consignment shop on eBay trading a huge amount of cards. They created their own marketplace and took the inventory off eBay.

I do agree there is less pre-war material on eBay now. Again I don�t know that it�s the market but I was used to seeing stuff like Cobb T206s up for auction pretty regularly. They seem to trickle out now. Most of the good stuff is locked away in BIN purgatory.

Peter_Spaeth · #4 11-07-2023, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

I�m not sure it�s the state of the market that has sapped eBay of quality items. There was a large consignment shop on eBay trading a huge amount of cards. They created their own marketplace and took the inventory off eBay.

I do agree there is less pre-war material on eBay now. Again I don�t know that it�s the market but I was used to seeing stuff like Cobb T206s up for auction pretty regularly. They seem to trickle out now. Most of the good stuff is locked away in BIN purgatory.

Yes but a lot of those consignments moved to Probstein. Not sure how much to attribute to PWCC .

Republicaninmass · #5 11-07-2023, 05:29 PM

How many items have you been watching that flew under the radar? My guess is probably less than 1%. Great many eyeballs watching every venue. Still a sellers market. You think the Baltimore ruth would come out in a down market? This marlet is akin to ipos during the tech run up. People buying anything and everything on hype, or fomo prices will increase.

packs · #6 11-07-2023, 05:32 PM

A lot of AH’s have adopted the weekly auction too. That must be eating into what might have been eBay inventory in the past.

bcbgcbrcb · #7 11-07-2023, 05:41 PM

Good point regarding the weekly/monthly auctions at AH’s these days.

The hassle with the auction houses, I’m looking for a 1961 Fleer Oscar Robertson for under $1K, the best eye appeal example that I can find. First, I have to go to my AH list and search REA, then search Heritage, then Memory Lane, etc. endlessly. I would expect that very few would have one of these in their auction. If they do, every auction ends on different weeks/months, etc. With ebay, I can jump on there and buy one BIN in five minutes. So, the AH hassle seems real to me. Believe me, I did the stay up all night thing to bid on AH items countless times over the years until a massive heart attack eventually. While I certainly do not blame that as the main reason why this happened to me, I’m sure all of the sleepless nights certainly weren’t a plus for my long-term health.

HistoricNewspapers · #8 11-09-2023, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

Good point regarding the weekly/monthly auctions at AH�s these days.

The hassle with the auction houses, I�m looking for a 1961 Fleer Oscar Robertson for under $1K, the best eye appeal example that I can find. First, I have to go to my AH list and search REA, then search Heritage, then Memory Lane, etc. endlessly. I would expect that very few would have one of these in their auction. If they do, every auction ends on different weeks/months, etc. With ebay, I can jump on there and buy one BIN in five minutes. So, the AH hassle seems real to me. Believe me, I did the stay up all night thing to bid on AH items countless times over the years until a massive heart attack eventually. While I certainly do not blame that as the main reason why this happened to me, I�m sure all of the sleepless nights certainly weren�t a plus for my long-term health.

One of the reasons dealers will mark up a card's price and hold steady because they did all that work for you.

Rhotchkiss · #9 11-07-2023, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packs

A lot of AH�s have adopted the weekly auction too. That must be eating into what might have been eBay inventory in the past.

This is a great point. I don�t sell on eBay (when I sell, it�s private or I consign to an auction house), but my understanding is that eBay has made it very difficult and expensive for sellers, such that for an extra few percentage points it�s just easier to send to an AH and know you will get paid, not disputed, nor have to worry about mail, etc. So I bet eBay has lost sellers to the weekly and other auctions

Rhotchkiss · #10 11-07-2023, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcbgcbrcb

I am not looking to buy anything now. My point is that it’s a lot more of a hassle to buy specific cards from AH’s than eBay. When prices were sky high, you could find everything that you wanted on eBay so no need to go the AH route. Now that prices are way down, it’s a major struggle to find anything appealing on eBay and requires more resorting to the AH’s. That is my point.

It is no hassle. I bet once you start buying from Auction houses your interest in eBay will go down. But the best part is you can do both! LOTG and REA start soon. Try signing up for both. Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions - emphasis on bidding increments and closing procedures - and bid on what interests you. If you have any questions, PM me or just ask. There is a whole world outside of eBay and BST

I just read your post that you are familiar with AHs and they gave you a heart attack. Stick with EBay!!!’

Casey2296 · #11 11-07-2023, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

It is no hassle. I bet once you start buying from Auction houses your interest in eBay will go down. But the best part is you can do both! LOTG and REA start soon. Try signing up for both. Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions - emphasis on bidding increments and closing procedures - and bid on what interests you. If you have any questions, PM me or just ask. There is a whole world outside of eBay and BST

The majority of my purchases are now auction houses followed by net54 member trades/bst, and occasionally EBay which has become a wasteland.

I never get tired of searching multiple auction houses for cards, even if I can't afford the big boys there's always something in my price range, and it's just plain fun looking at all the eye candy.

Exhibitman · #12 11-07-2023, 10:16 PM

Me too Phil. It�s fun to browse.

Snowman · #13 11-08-2023, 03:18 AM

eBay is still great for post-war vintage. I find cards I love there every week. But I also buy from all the major AHs.

bcbgcbrcb · #14 11-08-2023, 05:35 AM

That�s an awesome basketball set, Travis!

Rest assured that I am not looking for anything close to the centered cards that you have. Just hoping to be able to see at least a smidge of white borders on all four sides of the card, that shouldn�t be too much to ask for, should it? Check eBay though�..

Gorditadogg · #15 11-09-2023, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman

eBay is still great for post-war vintage. I find cards I love there every week. But I also buy from all the major AHs.

Yes, I feel you out-bidding me all the time.

Nice Mantle, and very nice 61F's!

I think there are people like you that are very picky, and buying what they want regardless of the price. However, there seem to be less buyers right now for the stuff that is not special.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Secretly a buyer's market?	Throttlesteer	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	3	03-02-2021 06:08 PM
The Monster Stock Market - Corner The Market for $150	frankbmd	T206 cards B/S/T	26	05-16-2017 12:58 PM
Is the baseball card market a "perfect" market? The Demise of the "price guide"	ullmandds	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	24	06-29-2013 10:09 PM
Housing / Stock Market Affecting Card Market ??	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	11	09-09-2007 11:37 AM
Somebody help the buyer~	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	4	05-21-2002 10:19 PM