Is there a secret to getting traction on BST posts?

[wdwfan]

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 OhioLawyerF5

I can appreciate your style. I just don't understand it. Even if I was in a position where I had to get rid of cards in my collection in order to obtain something I want in my collection more, trading usually makes little practical sense. In order to trade I would need to find a specific person with the specific card I want. And that specific person would need to also want the cards I want to get rid of. And be willing to do so in exchange for the card I want. With the advent of the internet, trading became pointless. Now you don't have to find someone with the card you want who also wants your cast offs. You just reach a massive audience of people willing to buy your card. Then take that cash and find the person who has the card you want. It's so much easier, and far more likely to actually happen than a trade. Trading doesn't exist much anymore simply because it no longer serves much of a purpose for the collector. There are better/faster/easier ways to turn the cards you have into the cards you want nowadays.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

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.

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.

[wdwfan]

Thanks everyone for the helps, tips and advice. Good to know there's still some good, forthcoming people in this hobby. Going to delete this post now and use the advice I was given going forward on future posts/comments. Thanks again so much.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by jayshum

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.

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.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by raulus

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.

Instead check ebay and list something for 50% of the last selling price. Bet it last minutes. Thousands of eyes here, historically, pays below comps on common stuff

[Rich Klein]

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

[Snapolit1]

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.

[wdwfan]

Haha, very true. Unless it's Facebook. They they expect to pay 30-40% of comps.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

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.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

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

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

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by bnorth

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

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

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

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.

Why is it that you consider fees associated with selling on ebay, but don't consider selling items in forums without said fees. Yet you are comparing it to trading via platforms that have no fees?

You can find a buyer with no fees the same way you find a trading partner with no fees.

There are trading platforms that take fees, just like selling platforms that take fees. No one is forcing you to use those. The fact that selling in some platforms includes fees is not really a reason to suggest that trading is the only way to get rid of cards with no fees.