Let's have an *Auction* Discussion

Well, it appears that I tweaked someone with a response of mine on this group
and it occured to me that we need a good discussion topic on this group for a
change.

The Topic:

Reserved Price Auctions, are they a good idea?

I find that the online bidders really determine the value of items and that
price guides are becoming worthless. How many times have you seen a wax box
covered in dust at a local store way over priced? IMHO, Setting a reserve is
the same thing.

Why not just put the opening bid at a price you wish to sell and if you do not
get any bidders, you can always relist later or reduce your expected price? Or,
do you believe that starting at a low price will generate more bids?

I'm very guilty of spamming this group with FS/FA postings and enjoy
discussions as well. Come on lurkers/posters, reply !

Wishing you all good luck with your collecting (I still do that) and of course,
selling!

Mike Surratt
www.mikzcardz.com

Hi Mike,
I usually start my opening bids at the lowest amount I would sell my
items for, and if the item sells for more, then that's just extra funds that
I wasn't expecting or counting on. I would estimate that more than 99% of
my auctions do not have a reserve. On rare occasions, I do post an item
with a reserve, hoping to attract multiple bidders that will stay interested
in the item and bid it up. When I do use a reserve, it is usually on more
expensive and tough to find items that have a speculative value.

Dan Carleton



"MIKZCARDZ" wrote in message
...
Well, it appears that I tweaked someone with a response of mine on this
group
and it occured to me that we need a good discussion topic on this group
for a
change.

The Topic:

Reserved Price Auctions, are they a good idea?

I find that the online bidders really determine the value of items and
that
price guides are becoming worthless. How many times have you seen a wax
box
covered in dust at a local store way over priced? IMHO, Setting a reserve
is
the same thing.

Why not just put the opening bid at a price you wish to sell and if you do
not
get any bidders, you can always relist later or reduce your expected
price? Or,
do you believe that starting at a low price will generate more bids?

I'm very guilty of spamming this group with FS/FA postings and enjoy
discussions as well. Come on lurkers/posters, reply !

Wishing you all good luck with your collecting (I still do that) and of
course,
selling!

Mike Surratt
www.mikzcardz.com

Subject: Let's have an *Auction* Discussion
From:
Date: 9/26/03 10:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

Hi Mike,
I usually start my opening bids at the lowest amount I would sell my
items for, and if the item sells for more, then that's just extra funds that
I wasn't expecting or counting on. I would estimate that more than 99% of
my auctions do not have a reserve. On rare occasions, I do post an item
with a reserve, hoping to attract multiple bidders that will stay interested
in the item and bid it up. When I do use a reserve, it is usually on more
expensive and tough to find items that have a speculative value.

Dan Carleton


Hi Dan, I guess the bottom line is -- do you usually get your reserve price?

Mike

HI GUYS...I rarely use a reserve, for fear I'll lose a good buyer. For
example, if I put a $50 reserve on an item, and someone bids $48 or $49 and
the drops out because "reserve not yet met"...I lose a potential good sale
over a dollar or two.Just last week or so I did offer a rare Spiderman Comic
with a reserve, and it did sell well over the reserve price..but I was down
to only two bidders when it finally sold. I was selling this for someone
else...not sure of the value...and started bids at $19.95 just to get it
started. And don't forget, on eBay your listing fee is based on the reserve
price..not the opening bid price..so a reserve costs you a little more on
the listing. arnie
"MIKZCARDZ" wrote in message
...
Subject: Let's have an *Auction* Discussion
From:
Date: 9/26/03 10:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

Hi Mike,
I usually start my opening bids at the lowest amount I would sell my
items for, and if the item sells for more, then that's just extra funds
that
I wasn't expecting or counting on. I would estimate that more than 99%
of
my auctions do not have a reserve. On rare occasions, I do post an
item
with a reserve, hoping to attract multiple bidders that will stay
interested
in the item and bid it up. When I do use a reserve, it is usually on
more
expensive and tough to find items that have a speculative value.

Dan Carleton


Hi Dan, I guess the bottom line is -- do you usually get your reserve
price?

Mike

Subject: Let's have an *Auction* Discussion
From: "Arnold Harris"
Date: 9/29/03 11:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:

HI GUYS...I rarely use a reserve, for fear I'll lose a good buyer. For
example, if I put a $50 reserve on an item, and someone bids $48 or $49 and
the drops out because "reserve not yet met"...I lose a potential good sale
over a dollar or two.Just last week or so I did offer a rare Spiderman Comic
with a reserve, and it did sell well over the reserve price..but I was down
to only two bidders when it finally sold. I was selling this for someone
else...not sure of the value...and started bids at $19.95 just to get it
started. And don't forget, on eBay your listing fee is based on the reserve
price..not the opening bid price..so a reserve costs you a little more on
the listing. arnie

Well stated Arnie !

I could have been one of those $48.00 possible buyers when I first started
buying/selling on ebay. It's just not worth the time/effort to keep track of...

Also, I think the word "Rare" is *really* over-used on ebay....

Hard to find --- yes (sometimes) ! Rare --- not if 1,000's were produced.

I love it when a buyer at a show says, "wow, I've been looking for that
forever"...I usually say "how many do you need?"

Speaking of rare - YOUR Printing Plates really are RARE !~!~!

Best to all - --

mike
www.mikzcardz.com