I listed a cert for 4.99 starting bid last week, the card ended, with no bids. I re-list exact same card for another 5 day auction. It already at $15 plus ship. The exact same card is listed as $24.99 BIN or BO by another seller. Why not either A, scoop my card for $4.99 2 nites ago or B, best offer that guy instead of fighting over my card that has 3 days 12 hours to go. Things that make you go hmmmm? Either way Im glad it didnt sell for $4.99, because it's now more then triple that price with 3 days to go.
Things I'll never understand
- Thread starter abeabe
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Crazy stuff like this happens more often in other categories on ebay. I shop for toner cartridges a lot. I do best when the seller starts them at $69.99. Nobody wants to bid that much. They want to bid on the one that started at 99 cents... even though now it's @ $110. They'll keep bidding! They don't go to the one that started at $69.99, or grab the $99.99 BIN that's sitting there.
People love to battle and be the top bidder, that's the only thing I can figure. Myself, I'd much rather just save $40 than win a bidding war!
People love to battle and be the top bidder, that's the only thing I can figure. Myself, I'd much rather just save $40 than win a bidding war!
I had an auction end last week with no bids, starting bid $9.99. I relisted and actually removed some of the title and it sold for $19.
You just never know, but I think some of the screwiness is because of ebay's funky search ranking system.
You just never know, but I think some of the screwiness is because of ebay's funky search ranking system.
A long time ago I had a numbered Clemens UD card and started it at .99 cents and it ended with no bids. Listed the exact same description right after and two buyers fought over it and it ended at $36. You never know.
Todd
Todd
They probably had limited access to ebay....therefore, no bids the first time...The second time it was listed....they saw your card and the bidding wars starts!! Best regards, David
Last edited:
I've had experience with crazy Ebay bidders. When I was putting together my near mint 1971 Topps set, I had several battles to win near mint cards. But one day stood out in particular.
A seller was breaking a near mint condition set of 1971 Topps and I was looking to pick up a few of the singles. One of the ones I still needed was the Brooks Robinson. Now, Brooks Robinson was a heck of a defensive talent and a quick pick for the Hall of Fame, but his 1971 Topps card only books for $20, and there was a BIN also listed for a near mint copy for $39.99, so I figured I could bid and get Brooks for $20-30.
With an hour to go, the bid went up over $40, so naturally, I wasn't bidding any longer. It didn't stop there though. The final price for the Brooks was $98. Insane!
That the only craziness though. The Boog Powell from that set went for $112 that day. I don't know who was bidding at that time, but they were nuts.
Three days later, another near mint Brooks Robinson was auctioned off. I bought it for $18. Go figure.
A seller was breaking a near mint condition set of 1971 Topps and I was looking to pick up a few of the singles. One of the ones I still needed was the Brooks Robinson. Now, Brooks Robinson was a heck of a defensive talent and a quick pick for the Hall of Fame, but his 1971 Topps card only books for $20, and there was a BIN also listed for a near mint copy for $39.99, so I figured I could bid and get Brooks for $20-30.
With an hour to go, the bid went up over $40, so naturally, I wasn't bidding any longer. It didn't stop there though. The final price for the Brooks was $98. Insane!
That the only craziness though. The Boog Powell from that set went for $112 that day. I don't know who was bidding at that time, but they were nuts.
Three days later, another near mint Brooks Robinson was auctioned off. I bought it for $18. Go figure.
I should go though my 1971 Topps set...I might have over 50% of it 
Pretty much sums up any competitive action.
If I didn't log on to ebay for a month, I could almost guarantee certified Garvey autograph sales would drop significantly. When someone bids aggressively against me (timing, as I don't have any real dedicated rivals at the moment), the prices rise quickly. Luckily this doesn't happen as often as it used to.
If I didn't log on to ebay for a month, I could almost guarantee certified Garvey autograph sales would drop significantly. When someone bids aggressively against me (timing, as I don't have any real dedicated rivals at the moment), the prices rise quickly. Luckily this doesn't happen as often as it used to.
What's to understand? You're dealing with people, people make no sense. If someone else wants something they have a mild interest in, suddenly they want it more. It's why so many people snipe. They bid with three days left and get outbid, a lot of them will go back and decide they want to bid $10 higher. That card that was worth $10 to them yesterday is now worth $20 because someone else bid $10.25 or $10.50. People don't need to get a deal, they need to THINK they are getting a deal. That's why almost every show has dealers marking their cards above book and offering a big discount.
I recently offered a buyer additional items they won on ebay for a slightly lower price than what they won them for and they replied back......
And I couldn't make this stuff up.......
"I really didn't even want to pay what I bid for them but I hate to lose something I'm bidding on"
WOW
and
LOL
That is very true. People have gotten caught up in those same bidding wars, first angry that someone would DARE outbid them, then in spite to make the other bidder pay more, only to win it themselves at more than they wanted to pay.
I don't always want items at 2nd chance. It really depends on what it was, how bad I wanted it and how much more I have spent since the auction ended and the 2nd chance offer was made. I have bid more than I wanted to, lost and been offered a 2nd chance, only to politely decline.
I don't always want items at 2nd chance. It really depends on what it was, how bad I wanted it and how much more I have spent since the auction ended and the 2nd chance offer was made. I have bid more than I wanted to, lost and been offered a 2nd chance, only to politely decline.
I have never offered anyone a 2nd chance offer and the only time I was offered one I turned it down. It was a box of cards and by 2nd chance offering it to me $6-$7 less then the $33 it sold for, meant to me I could get it for under $25 if i waited for another auction
I did my first 2nd chance offer recently. I had 3 of a card #/10, and sold one. I couldn't believe how much it went for! So I offered the second place guy one of the other two, and he let me know he only bid so much to make the winner pay more. I thanked him kindly, because I was the only one who benefited from that, made an extra $25!
I did my first 2nd chance offer recently. I had 3 of a card #/10, and sold one. I couldn't believe how much it went for! So I offered the second place guy one of the other two, and he let me know he only bid so much to make the winner pay more. I thanked him kindly, because I was the only one who benefited from that, made an extra $25!
That is sad...but when you are "KNOWN" there are people who will do that to you. It's good for the sellers, but a killer as a buyer in the situation above.
I guess people have a fair amount of disposable income. I have no problems walking away from an auction. Interesting stuff.
Using you as an example, you market yourself as the ultimate Brunnell collector. That will benefit you in ways and hurt you in other ways. If you remain quiet about your collection, you can sneak in and win things cheaper. On the other hand, being "the guy" has probably brought you items you would not have otherwise found or otherwise would have not been offered. You probably get first crack at a lot of stuff because people have seen your site or know of your collecting interest. Most of us have benefitted from that at one point or another if we are near the top of the pile of player collections. In some cases, maybe the seller was doing you a favor and offers you a great item at a sweet price they could otherwise get more for in the open market. In other cases they were trying to profit as much as possible using your collecting desire, by offering you something they know you want at a premium price, hoping you'll have to have it.
I'm sure there are plenty of collectors out there that would love to make you pay more. You have probably beaten them out in bid wars or with snipes to get cards, and not only 1, but entire print runs. Set builders and other "lesser" Brunnell collectors who possibly curse your very existence. I'm definitely in that boat, without a doubt, as I have monopolized certain cards and issues to the assumed frustration of other collectors. Ebay has helped hide identities more recently, as before your bidding experience was an open book. I still know who certain bidders are based on the feedback score. If they have placed a bid, I know how serious they usually are for typical items. That may affect how I bid in these cases.
Heck, you yourself have an item I noticed a while back that has been for sale on and off for quite some time that other player collectors may desire. Similar items haven't sold anywhere near your asking price for years, yet it keeps popping up at the same price and repeatedly goes unsold. At auction, it would probably bring half or less in most cases. Knowing the market for this type of card, I can say with some confidence that you are "holding that card hostage" in a way. That is your right as the owner, but I am just pointing it out to prove a point. It's human nature to want to make as much money as possible and not everyone is looking out for the other guy at the same level in this business.
I'm sure there are plenty of collectors out there that would love to make you pay more. You have probably beaten them out in bid wars or with snipes to get cards, and not only 1, but entire print runs. Set builders and other "lesser" Brunnell collectors who possibly curse your very existence. I'm definitely in that boat, without a doubt, as I have monopolized certain cards and issues to the assumed frustration of other collectors. Ebay has helped hide identities more recently, as before your bidding experience was an open book. I still know who certain bidders are based on the feedback score. If they have placed a bid, I know how serious they usually are for typical items. That may affect how I bid in these cases.
Heck, you yourself have an item I noticed a while back that has been for sale on and off for quite some time that other player collectors may desire. Similar items haven't sold anywhere near your asking price for years, yet it keeps popping up at the same price and repeatedly goes unsold. At auction, it would probably bring half or less in most cases. Knowing the market for this type of card, I can say with some confidence that you are "holding that card hostage" in a way. That is your right as the owner, but I am just pointing it out to prove a point. It's human nature to want to make as much money as possible and not everyone is looking out for the other guy at the same level in this business.
Similar threads
- Bumped
Sponsors
