Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

[ahuff]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Suave,

To some extent you are correct, but also incorrect. My logic is this: If I want a mass produced item (lets say a CD) then I'll certainly shop around to see where I can get the best price. If my "market" of sellers has a range of prices from $9.99 to $17.99 then that is a pretty good idea of the value of that CD. Afterall, with an item as common as a CD, if they weren't selling for that amount they wouldn't have it priced there. That being said, it would take a pretty rare and remarkable CD to get me to pay $34.99.

In our area of items, it becomes much more difficult. That is to say that game used items have so many different variables that go into creating a market value. The amount of piling or wear on a jersey, the location and number of ball marks on a bat, the provenance associated with the item, if the item comes from a record game, and the list goes on and on.

In the example of 10 Jeff Kent bats. All we know is that the average is $150. Perhaps it would be better to know the range of value. Say the range is $125 to $190. It would be even better to know that the $125 bat either had unusual markings or no wear, while the $190 bat came with an MLB hologram (indicating game use) and had tons of wear. This is where I disagree with your statement. Let me state it this way "Would it be wise to ask $350 for a Jeff Kent bat?" Or "Would you pay $350 for a Jeff Kent bat, when you can find a similar bat for between $125 and $190." Certainly a seller can ask whatever they want, as the asking price isn't written in stone. But the truth is, a typical buyer (excepting an extraordinary item) is only going to pay what they can find a substitute item for. The value of the bat may not be written in stone, but it certainly is written in the wallet.

In real estate, transactions are deemed usable as market indicators if the item was offered on the open market, it was paid for in cash (or equal to cash), and both parties are knowledgable. In our hobby, I think it might be the last item that hurts the market value in ebay transactions. We have numbers of posts about people that got great deals on items because it was listed under the wrong category, had a limited description, or the person just didn't know what they had. In addition, I think that buyers tend to put additional authority behind an auction house, irregardless if the auction house has done due diligence. The good news is that that is where our forum helps inform potential buyers and sellers and to hold the game worn community to a higher standard.

[suave1477]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Ziggy well I wouldnt rely on what ebay as being a guideline.

Buyers go to ebay to hopefully get an item at lower cost.

It would be the same as any other retail item to be sold.
If I go to buy a Bed, Furniture, food, or anything else and the store has a sale or coupon for it. Does that automatically mean the item is of lower value now? NO it just means you are trying to get that item for lower then what it normally would sell for.

If 10 items sell for a low price on ebay is that a measuring stick? Sure it is, but it doesn't mean that it is written in stone.

[David]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Depends who are the sellers. A lot of people would be wiling to pay more for a bat from Rob Steinmetz than an unknown eBay seller, and there's good reason for the price differential.

Collectors generally pay more the more confident they are of what they will be receiving in the mail, and with a lot of eBay sellers you aren't sure what you're getting into.

[ziggy]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Maybe ebay is reality????? Something is worth only want someone wants to pay for it....I tend to go by ebay prices as to what the value of an items is.......If there are 10 game used jeff kent bats over period of time on ebay and they average to $150...that is probably a good measuring stick to see what it is worth.

[suave1477]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Camaro there are so many factors that play into this.

To start off it all depends on which way the wind is blowing that day.

I have had items listed at very fair prices and still offered 1/8th of what I had listed it for. Now don't get me wrong I am a very reasonable person and willing to work with my customer as much as possible to make them happy, but when your offering me 1/8th I have to just sit there and shake my head.

Then I have listed items that I figured would go no where and have been bid up 20 times what I expected.

To answer your question as far as value.
Ebay can hurt the value for a dealer as some people rely on Ebay as a guideline which it shouldn't be because it is not always an accurate overall market perspective - again it all comes down to how the wind blows that day.
Sometimes I am approached by buyers saying an item like mine (Item A) just sold for on ebay for $, can I buy yours for that amount? - It becomes frustrating because you have to explain to the person that you may not be able to go that low.

But we all have our ups and downs with ebay and other resources its just the name of the game.

[ironmanfan]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Someone once said this and I believe it to be true. Ebay is wholesale, dealers are retail.

I don't necessarily buy this as being true. I do agree that eBay for the most part is a "buyers market," but I doubt that a memorabilia/card dealer could make money in the long run by buying off eBay and selling retail (shows, shop, etc). Keep in mind that the majority of their customers are eBay consumers as well.

[sylbry]

Re: Ebay game used prices versus Reality!

Someone once said this and I believe it to be true. Ebay is wholesale, dealers are retail.

[camarokids]

We all love getting that great deal on ebay.

I for one have scored my fair share.

But, when someone scores a players bat on ebay for say only $20-$30, what does this do for someones perception of the players bat prices?

Especially if dealer X or Y sells the same bat for $75 or $100.

Do you think it would be like comparing apples to oranges?

For ebay prices usually (depending on player and the seller) don't compare to what game used dealers charge for their inventory.

Are some people leery of buying off ebay?

What do you think?