Selling knives on Ebay...just a question.

navihawk

navihawk

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Why won't people bid on knives if there is a reasonable starting bid, reserve, or buy it now on the auction?For example, say a knife valued at $100.00 with a starting bid of $75.00 just gets no bids.Put .99 cents on it and everyone bids. Whats up with that?
 
Kick in for "Gold" here, you'll support the forum, have a better chance of selling your knife for a fair price, and avoid the crooks & wackos all at the same time !! :)
 
How does the selling work in the forums? Is it a set price or do you guys bid?I just paid for a basic member, do I get a credit for the ten bucks?
 
What I don't get are the little bidding wars that go on days before an auction ends. Doesn't matter what your bid is 3 days before the close, and to me there ain't much logic in pushing the price up with plenty of time left for others to come in and do the same.
 
I've sold every knife I've placed on Ebay using a starting price of the lowest amount I was willing to take.
 
hardheart said:
What I don't get are the little bidding wars that go on days before an auction ends. Doesn't matter what your bid is 3 days before the close, and to me there ain't much logic in pushing the price up with plenty of time left for others to come in and do the same.
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Sometimes I think people have their friends bid on it just to drive it up, either that or just plain inexperience.
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
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CaptInsano said:
I've sold every knife I've placed on Ebay using a starting price of the lowest amount I was willing to take.
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Do you do it at a starting bid or a reserve?I tied that once and the knife sold at the price I put in.Maybe it was just a coincidence.
 
hardheart said:
What I don't get are the little bidding wars that go on days before an auction ends. Doesn't matter what your bid is 3 days before the close, and to me there ain't much logic in pushing the price up with plenty of time left for others to come in and do the same.
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when youre selling Youve got it made when two nuts get in a bidding war.I prefer buy it now if it's a fair price,hate the bidding:D--Butch
 
navihawk said:
Why won't people bid on knives if there is a reasonable starting bid, reserve, or buy it now on the auction?For example, say a knife valued at $100.00 with a starting bid of $75.00 just gets no bids.Put .99 cents on it and everyone bids. Whats up with that?
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Do you mean it gets no bids ever or it gets no bids til the end of the auction? Lots of times there are no bids til the end of the auction becuase nobody wants to tip their hand, then there are several snipe bids in the final minutes. Or if it is a $100 knife with a starting bid of $75, everyone might just wait for another auction of the same knife and try to get it for $50.
 
For example, say a knife valued at $100.00 with a starting bid of $75.00 just gets no bids
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Then the knife is not valued at $100.00
It's valued at "less than 75 bucks"
Am I wrong Donny???


a starting price of the lowest amount I was willing to take.
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That is my method
If it doesn't sell I just keep it for the collection......

I think taking GOOD pictures is the key to selling knives on EBAY
No one is gonna buy a knife with ONE fuzzy, dark picture ;)

I use Photobucket for my pictures
That way I only have to pay EBAY for one picture (the one that is in the search results):thumbup:

Sometimes I price things really low just to see how many bids I can get
And the possibility of 2 dudes getting in a bidding war
Keeping up with the Jones's "they say"====>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspicuous_consumption

For example, the Iban only use hand knives to harvest rice. Even though the use of sickles would speed up the harvesting process, their concern that the spirit of the rice may flee is greater than their desire to economize the harvesting process.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_anthropology

Or if it is a $100 knife with a starting bid of $75, everyone might just wait for another auction of the same knife and try to get it for $50.
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I agree
 
IamMatt said:
Do you mean it gets no bids ever or it gets no bids til the end of the auction? Lots of times there are no bids til the end of the auction becuase nobody wants to tip their hand, then there are several snipe bids in the final minutes. Or if it is a $100 knife with a starting bid of $75, everyone might just wait for another auction of the same knife and try to get it for $50.
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It will get one bid for the price I put on it.I'm sort of new at it but I have 100% good feedback @ 16. Just seems like a crap shoot.I sold an old leather cairns & brother leather fire helmet for $385.00. I only paid $5.00 for it, but it seems everyone wants them.I had a guy offer me $500.00, but I was new and didn't know how to end it, and I just didn't feel right doing it.
MVC00003.jpg
 
navihawk said:
Why won't people bid on knives if there is a reasonable starting bid, reserve, or buy it now on the auction?For example, say a knife valued at $100.00 with a starting bid of $75.00 just gets no bids.Put .99 cents on it and everyone bids. Whats up with that?
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There is no one answer. Lots of strategies, though.

If you felt the knife you were selling was worth $100 and you opened bidding at $75 and got no bids, guess what: The knife is only perceived worth $100 to you and not even $75 to buyers. That's the reality check.

Now, as was mentioned there is a system to successful selling that can work in your favor and can encourage a higher selling price. Start low and don't run for seven days.

Once one or two persons get their bids on it and 'own' it, it becomes more interesting. It's human nature 1.0. Get three and four bidders and now you have created desire and competition. Human nature 2.0: I want to WIN!

So then it may drive up further than your $75 target opener.

Drag the auction out for seven days and you WILL lose interest, especially on a common lower-cost item.

It's always worked for me. Disclaimer: If it closes at $50, then sayonara your perceived value.

Did someone say a quality photo will improve the odds? What a concept! ;) :p :thumbup:

Lastly, selling right here is less work. Support the site! :thumbup:

Coop
 
Same cost: 3/5/7 days. I think it costs more to run 10 day, but that is only for super-exclusive items.

Thanks for sending me the link to your auction in a PM. :) For the readers, I found his singlemost biggest handicap was the photos. Absolutely marginal at best. (Sorry. :( Just the facts. ;))

Selling on eBay and being successful really requires the best quality photos you can muster. My light tent thread and any varient of this system will go a long way.

Good luck!

Coop
 
I don't think eBay is a very good source for values. It is only a source for values on eBay. The problem is that, over the years, eBay has spent its marketing efforts attracting sellers. After all, it is sellers that provide their revenue, not buyers. The problem is that there are too many sellers relative to the number of buyers. The basic economic law of supply and demand is skewed way, way too far in favor of supply at eBay. That's why prices are so low for name brand products.
 
On new products I agree.

On used products I disagree. Of course there are rare occasions where the balance may change, but where else (other than an online forum) are you going to sell your few 50-yr old knives and find a buyer?

I just sold a 'like new' Mac keyboard and a mouse. Retail prices: $150. My selling price with good clear photos: $40. AS eBay search history showed me, I made out better than most.

Perception of used values is fine. How many venues do we have to subject a sale to, and get actual buyers. Not many. Items can sit in your drawer at an appraised value of $100 or they can turn into real cash for $60. Which is the real value?

Coop
 
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