POD: Astronomical prices on ebay

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lemieuxl66

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Just perusing the old feebay site and a thought came to me. Do you think people put some items on ebay with astronomical prices because...

a) they really don't want to let that card go, and thus price it so they won't have to

b) they are completely disillusioned and really do think their card is worth that much

c) they are hoping for that one sucker that will bite.

I am more partial to b) as I really do think some people are not in tune with the market and fail to completely gauge the buying public.

LMK what you think
 
To me I think it depends on the card in question. If you are talking cards from roughly 1989-2000 I think its mainly B that people just really aren't in tune with true card values. I mean how many of us have had that friend that wants you to check out his collection of "really nice cards" only to find its a shoebox full of rookies from 90-01 Pro Set or something of that era?

In cases where the card is from a more current time and parts of a higher end product like the Cup, I think C prevails here more often in that the sellers are hoping to cash in on someone who may not be familiar with the market but all they see is high end product and rare/low print run.

I think A happens less frequently than the others but still pops up every now and then. Either showing off a card they have or thinking along the lines of "I don't really want to get rid of it but if I get this crazy price I will let it go."

Adam
 
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They're not mutually exclusive. Hell, ask Mel/syzygy how many times we had the "I'm not bored with it yet" discussion about a card.
 
All three play some role.

I don't remember eBay always being this bad. In the past couple of years it seems sellers have taken to listing fewer items at low-start auction and all have moved to BIN or high-start auctions. A quick glance at completed listings shows A LOT more red (unsold) than I recall there being when I first started eBaying. I believe, and it's just my opinion, that this is due to case/box breakers losing more and more on breaks and being less inclined to take the huge losses anymore. They have to inflate prices.
 
I have two Colton Orr By The Letter's listed now for $599. That is about $100 over what I paid for them and I do not expect anyone to hit the BIN. If I get a good offer (probably anything over $400) then I will part with them. If not then I have no problem hanging on to them to look for the 'O'.

What I do have a problem with are the wise *** bidders who throw a low ball offer ($30) just to try to send a message. The only message they get in reply is my counter-offer for $599.98 and notification that they are now blocked from bidding on my auctions.
 
I think it may have to do a lot with sellers trying to protect themselves.

If they throw it on eBay at $0.99 and let-er-ride, then any twit with a keyboard and access to the internet can place a bid, and may end up being won by some douchebag who's looking to scam, or who has no intention of paying (which seems to happen more frequently). By putting a crazy BIN/BO, they're limiting the field of prospective buyers to only those who might be serious about acquiring said card, and won't let the high price scare them off, and therefore are less likely to screw around with the integrity of the auction. And if the seller doesn't feel comfortable with the prospective buyer, they can always reject the offer.
 
TanguayFan said:
I think it may have to do a lot with sellers trying to protect themselves.

If they throw it on eBay at $0.99 and let-er-ride, then any twit with a keyboard and access to the internet can place a bid, and may end up being won by some douchebag who's looking to scam, or who has no intention of paying (which seems to happen more frequently). By putting a crazy BIN/BO, they're limiting the field of prospective buyers to only those who might be serious about acquiring said card, and won't let the high price scare them off, and therefore are less likely to screw around with the integrity of the auction. And if the seller doesn't feel comfortable with the prospective buyer, they can always reject the offer.
Click to expand...
Except that said twit-douchebag can just as easily click the BIN button if they're looking to scam/not pay.

I get what you're saying, but if someone wants to scam you, they're going to scam you, no matter what listing techniques you use.
 
hederman said:
Except that said twit-douchebag can just as easily click the BIN button if they're looking to scam/not pay.

I get what you're saying, but if someone wants to scam you, they're going to scam you, no matter what listing techniques you use.
Click to expand...

I disagree. With the seller protections out there now the person pretty much HAS to pay or else they won't get the card. I don't know about you guys but I NEVER ship until I receive payment. Maybe that's just me but it just seems logical to me.

Steve
 
TMacfreak91 said:
I disagree. With the seller protections out there now the person pretty much HAS to pay or else they won't get the card. I don't know about you guys but I NEVER ship until I receive payment. Maybe that's just me but it just seems logical to me.

Steve
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That's not what I meant. Of course the person has to pay for you to send, but there's nothing stopping them from opening a Paypal claim later on. Even if you sent with tracking you could still be ****ed, out the card and the money.

That's the scam, the no-pay is more just a headache waiting/messaging the person and then having to relist. Doesn't cost you dollars, just time and maybe a few Advil.
 
hederman said:
That's not what I meant. Of course the person has to pay for you to send, but there's nothing stopping them from opening a Paypal claim later on. Even if you sent with tracking you could still be ****ed, out the card and the money.

That's the scam, the no-pay is more just a headache waiting/messaging the person and then having to relist. Doesn't cost you dollars, just time and maybe a few Advil.
Click to expand...

You're much more likely to get scammed by somebody on a $30 card, than you are on a $100 card. Why? Because the seller of the $100 card is not going to send without tracking and/or signature confirmation. The reality is, most scammers stick to small potatoes, because it's much easier to get away with it. You almost never hear of anybody on these boards getting scammed on large value deals, and if you do, it's usually because they didn't protect themselves.

You're right about scammers will scam if they want to, but it is MUCH , MUCH, MUCH less likely to happen on the kinds of auction that the OP is complaining about.
 
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I've noticed some singles that are entirely over priced. And their of totally mediocre players.... People are asking stupid prices for Briere cards. It's quite baffling.
 
nyrtfleury014 said:
I have two Colton Orr By The Letter's listed now for $599. That is about $100 over what I paid for them and I do not expect anyone to hit the BIN. If I get a good offer (probably anything over $400) then I will part with them. If not then I have no problem hanging on to them to look for the 'O'.

What I do have a problem with are the wise *** bidders who throw a low ball offer ($30) just to try to send a message. The only message they get in reply is my counter-offer for $599.98 and notification that they are now blocked from bidding on my auctions.
Click to expand...

I do this exact same thing except the blocking of bidders part. I always counter with an offer that is a tiny bit less than my original listing.
 
The thing that irks me is that the stupid sellers keep on listing the same card month after month for the same price. I swear some have been over a year at same prices. NO ONE wants them. I search for certain players everyday and I keep seeing the same listings and it drives me nuts. I feel like emailing them and tell them to stop listing them if you cannot sell them at your requested price. I feel it clutters up the market. My 2 cents!
 
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WildforCup10 said:
The thing that irks me is that the stupid sellers keep on listing the same card month after month for the same price. I swear some have been over a year at same prices. NO ONE wants them. I search for certain players everyday and I keep seeing the same listings and it drives me nuts. I feel like emailing them and tell them to stop listing them if you cannot sell them at your requested price. I feel it clutters up the market. My 2 cents!
Click to expand...

I have emailed them. And I've gotten insulting emails back telling me how dumb I am and that they will sell. I give them decent offers, and they just expire lol.

Prime example of over pricing. I've bought 2 of these for under $40.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Daniel-Brie...t=US_Hockey_Trading_Cards&hash=item3f07fbaec4
 
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yea I want to, but I know it is a waste of time and therefor I do not. It is like talking to a bunch of rocks.

another thing is see is, someone listed a card for 59.99 and then someone else has the same card listed for 19.99, then another has a card for 24.99. STUPIDITY

I already have that card and paid 10.00 for it.
 

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