sanmar
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posted on February 20, 2004 11:20:32 PM
I have 20+ auctions running several have a reserve & a BIN. Some as high as $65.00. The bidding is anywhere from $9.95 to $27.59. What are they thinking? Everyone of these pieces is worth at least what my BIN is. I am not trying to BS anyone. just to get fair market value. Why waste the time bidding for pennies when they know it won't happen.
[ edited by sanmar on Feb 20, 2004 11:21 PM ]
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auctionACE
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posted on February 21, 2004 02:24:32 AM
Sometimes I think people bid super low amounts, especially on Reserve Auctions, merely as a way to bookmark auctions to see how they did. Ebay is suppose to be increasing the number of items available for the 'My ebay Watchlist' and maybe that will lessen the need for some bidders to bid on certain auctions that they know they will never win.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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classicrock000
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posted on February 21, 2004 03:54:00 AM
well I see the tables are turned on this one.
I hate reserve bids-I never bid on them.
I want to know exactly what the minimum amount you will except to buy the item-that way I know right off the bat if I can afford it.Im not going to sit here bidding on an auction for 7 days and not know what Im eventually going to have pay for an item,and maybe not even get it as the reserve is too high-that to me is wasting MY time.If your item is worth $65.00 and thats what your reserve is,start the auction at $65.00 at least people know what the minimum you will take for it,then they will know if they can afford it.Oh yea,I know, you have a reserve to entice bidders-well you have your bidders,so dont complain if they dont meet your reserve,which they have no idea what it is.Then you say why waste the time bidding for pennies when they know it wont happen-well how do they know it wont happen if they dont know what the reserve is??
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Twelvepole
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posted on February 21, 2004 04:57:27 AM
Some of the people may be hoping that their bid was close enough to the reserve that if it diesn't make it, you will email them and make an offer for them to buy it at their high bid.
On the occasion where I do reserves, if the high bidder is within a couple of dollars of the reserve, I send them an email.
AIN'T LIFE GRAND... 
http://www.nogaymarriage.com/
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Damariscotta
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posted on February 21, 2004 05:00:12 AM
It is probably the same thinking that goes on at live auctions. The auctioneer holds up a 300.00 item. Asks for a 200.00 opening bidding: No response. 100.00: No response. 25.00: hands "all over the house" as they say. By the time bidding hits 150.00 there are probably only two bidders left, and the item ends at three hundred. Rinse, repeat.
As for opening bids vs. reserve, it could be that there is a difference in the listing/reserve fee that makes one or the other more attractive. And just as some people claim they "never bid on a reserve auction", there are probably just as many who "never bid when the opening bid isn't a penny".
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ihula
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posted on February 21, 2004 06:40:01 AM
I am bidding of a lot of 17 widgets currently under another ID (sorry, I don't need the competition to post the items here). His starting bid was $9.99 with a $29.99 BIN. He actually has 5 lots running with about the same prices. They are well worth the BIN price - could resell each one for about $9.99, but I bid instead hoping I would get them cheaper.
It's a little different scenario since there's no reserve. Each auction is for 17 of the same widget so he's gearing it to resellers. So far each auction is in the single digits as far as hits go (which surprises me). Moral of the story is people want a bargain I guess. If it was something I "had to have" I guess I would have BIN'd
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on February 21, 2004 07:03:13 AM
C'mon sanmar, you can't set up auctions (yeah, auctions) this way, then complain when people play by your rules in the universe you designed.
I'd end all these auctions and relist them fixed price with Immediate Payment.
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Roadsmith
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posted on February 21, 2004 11:45:53 AM
Ace: You don't have to bid on an item in order to bookmark it. I bookmark auctions all the time that I'm just watching for a while, or checking to see how something I have that's similar would do on Ebay.
___________________________________
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
You read about all these terrorists --- most of them came here legally, but
they hung around on these expired visas, some for as long as 10 -15 years.
Now, compare that to Blockbuster; you are two days late with a video and
those people are all over you. Let's put Blockbuster in charge of
immigration.
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gousainc-07
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posted on February 21, 2004 12:13:59 PM
Of course our customers want a bargain at less than fair market value.
Isn't that what people are looking for?
It should be obvious more people are willing to bid at less than market value, so a low start and a reserve brings in these people to see if they will get a bargain.
It is the situation that you created that is causing them to bid low.
I agree with Fluffy, you should list with Fixed Price if you know what your item is worth, and you know what you want for it.
Especially if it bothers you people are bidding low.
Just my thoughts.
Respectfully.
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Damariscotta
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posted on February 21, 2004 03:31:44 PM
>>Ace: You don't have to bid on an item in order to bookmark it.>>
No, you don't, but I would do this when I wanted to be able to check on things when not at my home computer, but didn't want to log in on someone else's computer, for example in the public library.
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auctionACE
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posted on February 21, 2004 04:10:00 PM
>>Ace: You don't have to bid on an item in order to bookmark it.>>
No, you don't, but I would do this when I wanted to be able to check on things when not at my home computer, but didn't want to log in on someone else's computer, for example in the public library
++++++++++++
I know that you do not have to bid on an item to bookmark it but with a small 30 item limit I feel that many bidders may do that very thing to get more items on their quasi-watchlist ( Items Bid On ). The new 'My ebay' Page is suppose to expand the watchlist number and that expansion may help with some of the needlessly bidding situations.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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bigpeepa
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posted on February 21, 2004 04:27:24 PM
SANMAR, I also sell antiques so I know what you are saying. I look at it this way most bidders on Ebay really don't know the value of a real antique. I am forced to sometimes use reserves on good antiques because of the untrained bidders on Ebay. Plus Ebay's categories are a mess they let people list repos under any category. I now have listed a real early 1800 old piece of Sandwich glass. Its listed with a thousand pieces of Fenton 1970S repro Sandwich Glass that isn't worth very much so of course I had to reserve it. Real quality antiques are very hard to find so I look for the bidder that knows what he or she is looking at and how much the piece is worth. In the antique world never worry about the people that say they won't bid on reserve auctions because they are not the class of buyer you should be looking for anyway. Its more what you sell and not how you list the item. My sell through rate is about 80% on good stuff and much less on everyday stuff so don't listen to all the bull roar about reserves.
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stonecold613
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posted on February 21, 2004 09:33:43 PM
I look at it this way most bidders on Ebay really don't know the value of a real antique
With that statement, it is clear you haven't kept up with the real value of antiques either. One of the side effects of ebay is value on items is dropping. Before ebay, antique dealers could set their own prices as they often had more demand for items than supply. That has now changed. With buyers able to look world wide for items with a couple of clicks of a mouse, the supply is catching up to demand which drives prices down.
In Sanmars case, it is tough to whine when you use a reserve, and the bidders are bidding under your reserve. Congrats, you just pulled the deadbeats out of the woodwork.
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Damariscotta
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posted on February 22, 2004 02:45:28 AM
>>With that statement, it is clear you haven't kept up with the real value of antiques either. One of the side effects of ebay is value on items is dropping.>>
We have been around this discussion several times here in the past.
The market has been really bad for the general type of "stuff" you see in group shops - but not only on eBay. Good antiques (what I, being a New Englander, call "traditional" antiques), have not, with some exceptions, been good candidates for eBay selling at any time. I have been able to buy some of these things at good prices on eBay because it is not the right market for them.
As for eBay buyers not knowing good antiques, I think may be a generalization, but somewhat true. Many people hunting on eBay are like those that haunt the flea markets hoping to make a find, when most of them wouldn't recognize one if it jumped up and bit them on the A$$ (as my mother would say).
FWIW: I was at a live auction all day yesterday - if prices are dropping, someone should tell them. I spent over 2500.00 and only got 7 items. The antiques business is not entirely supply and demand; I often joke with other dealers that it is the only business where people get up at 5:00 am to go out buying more stuff they can't sell.
[ edited by Damariscotta on Feb 22, 2004 05:32 AM ]
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bigpeepa
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posted on February 22, 2004 05:21:28 AM
stonecold said "With buyers able to look world wide for items with a couple of clicks of a mouse, the supply is catching up to demand which drives prices down." True for common items but not the REAL ANTIQUES the hard to find stuff. On those items supply will never catch up with demand. I just looked up KPM figurines there are 27 listed on Ebay and 2/3 of those are fakes. The real early KPM sold well not great but well. Hardly more supply than demand. Try looking up Gaudy Dutch I saw 43 sold items. The REAL items sold very well. That is the kind for stuff I look for I do find it but I don't find it everyday when I do find it it make me serious money. In between I buy and sell tons of junk at junk prices on Ebay.
Damariscotta said, "As for eBay buyers not knowing good antiques, I think may be a generalization, but somewhat true. Many people hunting on eBay are like those that haunt the flea markets hoping to make a find, when most of them wouldn't recognize one if it jumped up and bit them on the A$$ (as my mother would say)."
I said,"I look at it this way MOST bidders on Ebay really don't know the value of a real antique." aren't we saying the same thing using different words? My Mother said 40 years ago "any fool can give good stuff away but it takes a dealer to recongize and sell good stuff"
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ltray
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posted on February 22, 2004 08:12:48 AM
Too late McJane, Damage is already done and keybd is hanginout to dry. Yes, I'm ROFLMAO!!!
SP is a very old joke between GG and me.
She has the memory of an elephant!
You'll have to come down to get the answer 
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ltray
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posted on February 22, 2004 08:18:39 AM
BTW, we'll take GG shelling with us so I don't have to hear her whine for the next 20 years!
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auctionACE
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posted on February 22, 2004 11:52:08 AM
stonecold said "With buyers able to look world wide for items with a couple of clicks of a mouse, the supply is catching up to demand which drives prices down." True for common items but not the REAL ANTIQUES the hard to find stuff. On those items supply will never catch up with demand.
True, but that pertains to only a tiny percentage of all the millions of ebay items listed. The rest of the quote by stone seems to be right on though.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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bigpeepa
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posted on February 22, 2004 12:49:11 PM
auctionace, to answer you post about what you and stonecold said.
#1 I keep up on antique values real good. Why because I work at it in several different ways.
#2 I believe most Ebay buyers do not know the value of real antiques
#3 If a sellers is selling high quality antiques on Ebay. That sellers does not need to worry about Ebay buyers that don't like reserves.
#4 to back up my point about reserves. I now have a figurine listed that has a reserve of $600.00 I started bidding at $9.99 it has several bids and now sets at $457.00 with a few hours left. If it sells fine if it doesn't sell that's fine too because I still have a beautiful figurine to look at.
#5 I am only about talking antiques and collectibles not the millions of other items being sold on ebay. Because I know nothing about the other items.
#5 do you sell antiques auctionace?
These are just my thoughts and who the heck cares anyway.
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dadofstickboy
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posted on February 22, 2004 12:53:39 PM
Here's a round about way.
From contact info you can get phone #.
Put the # in Google and get your Name & Address.
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auctionACE
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posted on February 22, 2004 12:58:27 PM
The term collectible on ebay seems to mean just about every other item. I agree with you that that teeny tiny percentage of collectibles that are truely rare are not affected by the huge number of items on ebay but the general run of the mill collectible is being governed by the laws of supply and demamd.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on February 22, 2004 05:16:09 PM
I was breezing through the Venetian casino today on my way to somewhere else (you can't get to the interstate in Vegas without having to go through someone's casino) but was amused to see a slot machine with the theme "Antiques Appraisal".
Apparently inspired by the Antiques Roadshow... I'll have to go back tomorrow and give it a spin.
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stonecold613
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posted on February 22, 2004 07:21:13 PM
Hey fluff,
Say hi to my brother for me. He is a pit boss in the black jack area at the Venetian.
Bigpeeper,
Go ahead a stay in your little dream world if you like. But when you state "real antiques" you are still living in the pre-ebay days. Either keep up with the times or move aside. The times have changed and antiquers better too or they will be dead in the water sooner than later.
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sanmar
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posted on February 22, 2004 07:53:32 PM
We all have our own way of looking at auctions. I am selling some very collectible Noritake China made ca. 1910. It is in absolutely Mint condition. I have bought & sold thousands of pieces of china in the past 14 yrs. & I have never seen anything so perfect for being so old. If you were to go to Replacements Ltd., you would pay at least 25% more tha I am asking. I haver never used fixed price, but I may in the future. My BIN is only a nickle more than my reserve. Tonight is the time to find out How I did.
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auctionACE
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posted on February 22, 2004 08:44:33 PM
I see what you mean by mint plates. Those are beauties. Still a long way from the reserve with two hours left but you always got pray for snipers to get their bids in.
Maybe some bidders will only bid on an item if it is an super exceptional deal?
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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Damariscotta
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posted on February 23, 2004 02:42:37 AM
>>But when you state "real antiques" you are still living in the pre-ebay days. Either keep up with the times or move aside. The times have changed and antiquers better too or they will be dead in the water sooner than later.
>>
Can someone translate what this comment means? These aren't antiques anymore because of eBay? People will only buy things on eBay?
You do need to take into account that in spite of eBay's presence, there is still a very large, real world outside of eBay.
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bigpeepa
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posted on February 23, 2004 05:43:14 AM
Sanmar, You are doing a fine job selling your wares on Ebay. Keep up your good work.
damariscotta, about stonecold613 comments, he or she simply doesn't know what he or she is talking about. Like your Mother said people like stonecold613 wouldn't know a antique if it was biting them on their A$$.
MAY THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ALWAYS BE WITH STONECOLD613
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auctionACE
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posted on February 23, 2004 10:21:47 AM
Sorry the reserves weren't met on the dishes sanmar. Even with high quality antiques you just about have to give them away on ebay. That may be why so many sellers are setting up webpages to sell their stuff at decent prices.
-------------- sig file ----------- *There is no conclusive evidence that life is serious*
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on February 23, 2004 12:40:14 PM
sanmar
Why not try the starting bid at a higher opening bid than $9.99. You are just going to get lost in the sea of $9.99 items. I always get more hits when I start a item over $9.99. If you have a $75.00 reserve - why not start the bidding at $24.99 or even $19.99 - you are not saving any listing fees and starting higher may attract the collectors who expect to pay $75.00 for nicer items.
Also when offering many pieces of the same item as with china - I always offer a discount if they win it all. Buyers love this and maybe willing to go for it early with the BIN.
Reserve auction are much harder to sell and cost so much. I am beginning to go with others who say ask for what you want - you may be surprised how often you get it!!
Good luck
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bigpeepa
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posted on February 23, 2004 12:44:32 PM
sanmar, Gee I am sorry about my post about you doing a good job selling. I didn't realize your Noritake china didn't hit your reserves. I just looked quickly at your sales and thought all was sold. I think auctionace is right about Noritake its not rare enough so Ebay is flooded with its class of china. I never have had a lot of luck selling Noritake for big prices on or off Ebay so when I saw the bid prices I just thought you did alright. Sorry and better luck next time.
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