BIN vs. Auction

[bobbyw8469]

I would LOVEEEEE to get BEST OFFERS within 20% of my BIN price. For example, I have an unopened box of 1988 Fleer Basketball Wax. I have it for BIN OBO of $430. I am getting offers of $250-$300. BBCE is currently paying $325 per box. Why on Earth would I sell it for less on Ebay, and then have them take out fees, when I just just ship it off to the BBCE for $325 no fees?!?!?! They buy for $325 and sell for $475. I am constantly getting offers below other dealers BUY prices.....I don't mind giving someone a deal, but come on!!!!!

[bobbyw8469]

I am just telling you from a seller's point of view, why there are so many BINs.....from a sellers' perspective, when you auction a card, and it sells for $100 less than VCP average for a Mantle mid grade, it just makes you sick and want to give up auctions.............so to cut the through the junk, not all BIN's are ridiculous overpriced and not all auctions go for dirt cheap. But only the buyers see the high priced items and only the sellers see how cheap there stuff is going for. If only there could be a happy medium....

[calvindog]

Bobby, you make fair points: the grass is always greener, no doubt.

And some of the times, the reason bidders don't put offers on BINs within 20% of the price is because the BIN price is 40-50% higher than it should be. For example, there are two Cobb cards I'm interested in on ebay with ridiculously high BINs. I made offers on both higher than what the cards have normally sold for over the past few years -- and each time I have gotten countered with prices of $50 less than the BIN. Not surprisingly, I was the only one to make an offer on either card during the 30 day period. At least in NYC real estate, when no one buys a listed apartment after a few months the prices get cut. On ebay, the high prices just linger forever.

[bobbyw8469]

Calvin! Check out my cards!! If I EVER have anything you want, I will deal! I am happy just to make enough to buy lunch the next day! I am not naming any names, but yes some of those sellers DO have ridiculous high prices. I made a huge offer on a car from a seller named after a famous high end automobile, and you would have thought I asked him to steal the Mona Lisa. He wouldn't budge one inch......some sellers are just like that....not all.....I have stuff cheap.....but noone ever sees that.....

[Matt]

Bobby - there is a minority of BIN sellers who are ready and willing to sell for reasonable prices (it seems you are one and I believe I am one as well) but the outlandish BIN price charged by many sellers causes many people to ignore BIN listings altogether. I'm looking to take a family vacation this summer and have a few cards on eBay I'd be happy to move at previous sale prices, but people aren't even looking.

[calvindog]

Matt, people do ignore BINs with increasing frequency, no doubt. The alternative is to put the cards in a regular auction with a reserve -- but that is the kiss of death to an ending price from what I can tell.

[cbcbcb]

I look for multiple BINs I am interested in from the same seller and make an offer 50% of the price for the combined lot.