Annoying trends within this hobby

One of my biggest pet peeves in this beloved hobby of ours these days is the..."make me an offer" play.  Doesn't anyone have the knowledge/balls to put a price on a card they are trying to sell anymore?!?!

Sometimes it's truly lack of knowledge of the markets. I honestly couldn't price a single card in my collection with a realistic market value. I do know the minimum dollar amount it would take to get each card, but I have no clue as to current market value. 

Others are just plain greedy and place "make offer" sales because they want to try and get top dollar from their item, especially if it's a rare card and they hope that the one person that really wants the card will make a silly offer. "Make offer" sales on cards like t206s etc is just stupid.

They say that whoever throws out the first number has the edge in the negotiation, so waiting for the other person to do so may not be a good bargaining strategy.  Better to be aggressive.

I tend to agree with ullmandds.  I think people list their item that way with the hopes of many offers coming in & then they can play games without anyone else knowing what's going on.  There are times when a card so scarce & rarely offered could justify this method, but that is rare.

jpcw wrote:I think people list their item that way with the hopes of many offers coming in & then they can play games without anyone else knowing what's going on. 

Playing games is right.  I have encountered the scenario where my offer was used as leverage in negotiations with other potential buyers.  

Accompanying my offer to the seller is a stipulation stating that my offer is good for a short, specified period of time.  Once elapsed, I'm no longer interested.

With all the games it's almost amazing there are any sales at all.

"i have this card listed but not really planning to sell if you blow me away with an offer i might consider moving it...." that's the WORST!  that'd be the description of 99.9% cards out there.

I hear you quan...I'm not married to it...but...basically means if you give me like double or triple the real market value of the actual card...I'll let u have it!  I'm experiencing a little of this with my miller run.  miller is just a common in most sets yet I've been paying 4-6 times what any other common would sell for...WTF!!!!!

ullmandds wrote:miller is just a common in most sets yet I've been paying 4-6 times what any other common would sell for...WTF!!!!!

Pete, I hope you forgive me for asking, but didn't you foresee this happening?

I suppose I expected to pay a premium...but at what cost?!?!??!

I'm so naive...just a country bumpkin left to the wolves?!?!

It's like the t206 Titus bubble... one collector wants a card and the price goes boom.  It's a small hobby...

ullmandds wrote:I'm so naive...just a country bumpkin left to the wolves?!?!

Subterfuge, bro.  Subterfuge.  Enlist hobby friends to make posts regarding the Dots cards you need so as to not give the perception that it is one person acquiring them.  By making the set run known, you lose some negotiating power, but I agree 4-6 times higher than equivalent commons is price gouging.

too late...the cats out of the bag...luckily I have many really tough ones...and the 5-6 I still need...I'm in no rush.  This miller run has actually re-invigorated my enjoyment of the hobby....I was a little lost in transition...and I've found my way...for now!

I hear some idiot is also overpaying on NY Giant cabs and also spoiling it for people.

I will start with insults... if I low-ball an "obviously valuable card" in a "Make Offer" format that has been on feebay for six months. Go ahead and tell me to stick it, but be creative; do not resort to the standard four letter, ancestry related tirades.

I've decided to offer sellers potential ammunition in a preemptive strike, so I usually include "I'm a pot smoking, gun toting, Republican supporter of the LGBT community. I'll offer $X for Y card" to any offer made. The next Bob Marley, Ted Nugent, Freddie Mercury triple fold that comes up for sale, I am golden.

I do the "make offer" Pete because I constantly get beat to death for discounts. From doing shows for 30+ years, no matter what you put on a card, they always ask "what is the best price" In the early days I used to just price the cards but I watched many people put them back down and walk away. Nice i price them higher and take a certain amount off. Same rule applies to the "make offer"

Customers like to think they are getting a deal, I think it is similar to retail having sales of 50% off after they marked the items up 40% for that day.

Dan

I agree with Dan on this one. Pete I also hear you as well. I sell very few items from my collection mostly triples and duplicates at best. Funny if you put a number on an item say a fair market value you will get hammered on a bit for a deal. I can’t keep track at this point on how many deals I have started with yes I would sell, I have “blank” in the card so won’t take less or I would take “blank” for this card if you would like to buy it.

Only to be hammered down and be offered 20-30% less after being upfront. I totally see why folks bump their cards up the 20-40% it’s just in preparation for the haggle that's coming via the next PM or email.

Happy New year Wonkabrain! How the heck are you?