Buying from SCF Members

[centrehice]

I have no issue with paying market prices, but do the members here think I can't check ebay? Someone offered me $10 for a card that sells regularly at $30 on ebay.
I am not some kid

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They are the seller, if they want to match eBay prices they will. if they don't then you are under no obligation to buy.

Because you are able to check eBay, has no bearing on their selling plans. Don't be offended, it's called capitalism.

[Tivo32]

For the sellers - I think those "low ball" offers can be avoided really easy. Instead of making a thread with a bunch of stuff for sale.... and say "make an offer", actually price things out. Buyers will probably still want to haggel with you, but in my experience - selling cards with prices results in very few lowballs.

THIS.

I don't understand why so many people have trade or sale threads and say "I have no idea on a value but offer anyway." Even if its a card I want, I will probably just pass because it's very difficult to try and trade or buy with someone that has no sense of a value on the card. I really wish there was a rule that you had to post an approximate value. Even just an approximate value would help a ton.

[scla6986]

THIS.

I don't understand why so many people have trade or sale threads and say "I have no idea on a value but offer anyway." Even if its a card I want, I will probably just pass because it's very difficult to try and trade or buy with someone that has no sense of a value on the card. I really wish there was a rule that you had to post an approximate value. Even just an approximate value would help a ton.

I have a very good example for this. My Crosby spa rr 87/100, I had a few decent offers but mostly lowball. I didn't know how to determine a value for the card but when people are offering me like $60-$80 for it I really have to laugh. Especially when I put it up on ebay for $500 obo and 11 people look at it and someone buys it out from me without even making an offer. My experience is that there are def very good buyers here but your best bet (especially with unique cards) is to list on ebay and if someone likes your card they can contact you here to make a deal while still competing with the world-wide market. I've done this more then once with sellers to give us both a fair and safer exchange.

[Tivo32]

I have a very good example for this. My Crosby spa rr 87/100, I had a few decent offers but mostly lowball. I didn't know how to determine a value for the card but when people are offering me like $60-$80 for it I really have to laugh. Especially when I put it up on ebay for $500 obo and 11 people look at it and someone buys it out from me without even making an offer. My experience is that there are def very good buyers here but your best bet (especially with unique cards) is to list on ebay and if someone likes your card they can contact you here to make a deal while still competing with the world-wide market. I've done this more then once with sellers to give us both a fair and safer exchange.

But you were able to determine a value because you put it up on ebay for $500. I would rather someone write "I'm not to sure on a value, but I'm thinking around $500." At least then, me as a buyer could know where you the seller are at on a price. If I see a buyer post a huge price on a card I'm interested in. I'll pm them and say "hey I think this might be a more reasonable price from what I've seen" and try to work with them like that.

[scla6986]

But you were able to determine a value because you put it up on ebay for $500. I would rather someone write "I'm not to sure on a value, but I'm thinking around $500." At least then, me as a buyer could know where you the seller are at on a price. If I see a buyer post a huge price on a card I'm interested in. I'll pm them and say "hey I think this might be a more reasonable price from what I've seen" and try to work with them like that.

True but given todays market and the absolute flood of cards I really thought $500 was a very high price for a card that has a $200bv. If I said I wanted $500 for it here I would have been destroyed plain and simple. Was $500 a price that I realistically had in mind to sell at? No, I didn't expect to come close to it but I figured with that number on it it would deter any less serious collectors or anyone who just wants to flip it (not that there's anything wrong with either). I'm just saying that for the most part high end and rare cards stand a much better chance to bring in a surprising amount. As far as your method goes to contact a seller and make an offer based on comparable cards that have sold, well I honestly was expecting that as that is what I like to do when it's an option.

[Tivo32]

True but given todays market and the absolute flood of cards I really thought $500 was a very high price for a card that has a $200bv. If I said I wanted $500 for it here I would have been destroyed plain and simple. Was $500 a price that I realistically had in mind to sell at? No, I didn't expect to come close to it but I figured with that number on it it would deter any less serious collectors or anyone who just wants to flip it (not that there's anything wrong with either). I'm just saying that for the most part high end and rare cards stand a much better chance to bring in a surprising amount. As far as your method goes to contact a seller and make an offer based on comparable cards that have sold, well I honestly was expecting that as that is what I like to do when it's an option.

Yeah, I see what you're saying. That makes sense.

[Gibby]

I believe it depends why you are on this site in the first place trade or sell or buy. I believe that has a great influence in how people value cards. Maybe a system where you rank your priorities might make it easier for more sales and trades to occur.

ie/ If you main priority is to sell people who want to primarily trade will not be sending offers.

[Goose97]

There's a lot of different factors that go in to pricing. If I bought xxx card for yyy dollars my inclination is not going to be to sell it for "eBay prices" if "eBay prices" are yyy minus $10. On the flip side, there's always going to be people that are looking to get something for as cheap as possible, and that's fine too. It hurts the value of the card in the long run, but such is life. As others have noted, the art of negotiation is becoming a rather lost one. If my starting price is $25 and you offer me $10 right off the bat, chances are that's not going to appease me but if I can drop it down a couple bucks and say $20 it might work for the guy. Every situation and sale is unique, you just have to set your standard for an acceptable price - if the other person can do it, great; if not, move on and it's no big deal.

+1

Bang on! Negotiating has disappeared. C'mon people. Start watching American, and Canadian Pickers. Learn the art of Haggling. Like Rich Mentions. It starts at $25, he may go down if he has the card priced higher than what it normally goes for. Usually a seller has it listed for higher than he wants to allow for room to see that magic number he/she is willing to work with a buyer to meet that goal.

[habscards]

When it comes to prices when I am selling it boils down to one thing;

It is my card and I can ask whatever I want for it. Sure you can haggle with me and I am fine by that. I may value a different card at a different price than some others do.

An example that I can think of is I have a Luke Schenn Young Gun. I had listed it for sale here before. Other Luke Schenn Young Guns have recently sold for:

$9.95(free shipping), $8.45, $7.00, $6.77, $3.25, $3.20, $2.80, $2.67, $2.25, $0.99.

Now when I went to sell mine I was asking for $8 delivered for it and got no offers. Yes some have sold for more and some have sold for much less. The problem that a lot of people do not think of is, that when you buy on eBay you will pay an extra $2.50-4.00 to have a card shipped to you.

[RGM81]

That's a thing that so many people don't think to factor in to their pricing. I've offered cards to people in the US for $4 dlvd. and been told, "I can get it on eBay for .99." Does that price include free shipping? Because it costs me $2.36 to ship a card in a bubble mailer to the US. My take-home price is $1.74 for that card that people are so eager to get but not if it costs them an extra .75 on that card they can get on eBay for .99 plus the $3 s/h that most people charge. And really, you can get it from me, a reputable person dealing on a reputable website, or you can take your chances with some random eBay seller that could be just as likely to send it in a penny sleeve in a PWE.