Seeing more 1 cent auctions
 

It used to be 99 cent auctions.. but now I am seeing this advent of people doing 1 penny auctions to start. Why get at least 99 cents minimum when you can get 98 percent less! And I am seeing quite a lot of ended auctions with only 1 bid for 99 cents. And on some cards that have bins/sales of $2-$6 after the auction for the same card.

I'm running about 50 right now.

The reason I do it is to make sure every card sells. Some will go for less than they would than if I had started them at 99¢, but most wouldn't sell at all.

[QUOTE=rwperu34;14887410]I'm running about 50 right now.

The reason I do it is to make sure every card sells. Some will go for less than they would than if I had started them at 99¢, but most wouldn't sell at all.[/QUOTE]

I can see that mentality of getting rid of cards, most will sell for more than $0.01. So it sells for $0.25 or $0.36 or have it sit in your home. I don't get paid for sitting on card, I get paid to sell so sometimes that means make less. I'd rather make a bit less and do volumes.

I’d just toss them in the dumpster


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[QUOTE=Wolf8MeVillie;14887462]I can see that mentality of getting rid of cards, most will sell for more than $0.01. So it sells for $0.25 or $0.36 or have it sit in your home. I don't get paid for sitting on card, I get paid to sell so sometimes that means make less. I'd rather make a bit less and do volumes.[/QUOTE]

So the only options you can think of are:

(1) sell the card and lose 50 cents
(2) keep the card in your home

[QUOTE=rwperu34;14887410]I'm running about 50 right now.

The reason I do it is to make sure every card sells. Some will go for less than they would than if I had started them at 99¢, but most wouldn't sell at all.[/QUOTE]

Do you charge for shipping on these? If not you are basically doing all the work to give someone a free card and in many cases losing money to do it. I know for me personally if I’m buying cards for under a dollar I’m not interested in paying 3+ dollars for shipping

[QUOTE=rwperu34;14887410]I'm running about 50 right now.

The reason I do it is to make sure every card sells. Some will go for less than they would than if I had started them at 99¢, but most wouldn't sell at all.[/QUOTE]

You are? I went to see if there were any of interest and I see none on your linked Ebay active listings or finished listings.

So what's your Ebay ID where these auctions are being run?

[QUOTE=rwperu34;14887410]I'm running about 50 right now.

The reason I do it is to make sure every card sells. Some will go for less than they would than if I had started them at 99¢, but most wouldn't sell at all.[/QUOTE]

Are you shipping with bubble mailers or PWE?

I'd be curious to know what value these types of sellers put on their time. If you sell 50 cards at $.25 a piece you are getting $12.50. Factor in the time to sort, list on ebay and pack you probably have invested 1 hour into the process. After fees and any costs not passed to buyer you are making $9 an hour, if lucky.

At that rate, I'll donate the cards to a Boys/Girls club and find a better use of time.

[QUOTE=damj91;14887587]I'd be curious to know what value these types of sellers put on their time. If you sell 50 cards at $.25 a piece you are getting $12.50. Factor in the time to sort, list on ebay and pack you probably have invested 1 hour into the process. After fees and any costs not passed to buyer you are making $9 an hour, if lucky.

At that rate, I'll donate the cards to a Boys/Girls club and find a better use of time.[/QUOTE]



I agree. I find it hard to get motivated to list cards for like $3. I’m not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination but I feel like my time is worth more. Maybe if I have like 10-15 dollar cards I’ll do it all at once


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[QUOTE=damj91;14887587]I'd be curious to know what value these types of sellers put on their time. If you sell 50 cards at $.25 a piece you are getting $12.50. Factor in the time to sort, list on ebay and pack you probably have invested 1 hour into the process. After fees and any costs not passed to buyer you are making $9 an hour, if lucky.

At that rate, I'll donate the cards to a Boys/Girls club and find a better use of time.[/QUOTE]

Only if you're doing this to make an hourly wage. If this is a hobby you enjoy, then you're making money to do something you like in your spare time.

[QUOTE=AnthonyCorona;14887595]I agree. I find it hard to get motivated to list cards for like $3. I’m not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination [B][I]but I feel like my time is worth more[/I][/B]. Maybe if I have like 10-15 dollar cards I’ll do it all at once
[/QUOTE]

I see people use this line often. What do you do instead that makes more money when you're not working? Like, if I'm not listing, selling, shipping baseball cards, I'm probably reading or playing a game online, neither of which earns a dollar.

[QUOTE=coachnip13;14887665]I see people use this line often. What do you do instead that makes more money when you're not working? Like, if I'm not listing, selling, shipping baseball cards, I'm probably reading or playing a game online, neither of which earns a dollar.[/QUOTE]



Playing with my daughter, looking online for deals on tools/equipment, researching classes for certifications. I’m a busy body, I get incredibly anxious if I’m not active


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[QUOTE=AnthonyCorona;14887678]Playing with my daughter, looking online for deals on tools/equipment, researching classes for certifications. I’m a busy body, I get incredibly anxious if I’m not active


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Nice. :)!

[QUOTE=coachnip13;14887665]I see people use this line often. What do you do instead that makes more money when you're not working? Like, if I'm not listing, selling, shipping baseball cards, I'm probably reading or playing a game online, neither of which earns a dollar.[/QUOTE]

I think like you do, but I'm motivated by doing things that earn money--and it's enjoyable for me to share the hobby by taking the time to list the low-dollar cards for those who seek them. I can see though how some could look at low-dollar card sales as not worth it, not because they don't like $, but more because of the work:profit ratio. It's a lot of work for a little profit--so much that some people have determined that they would rather have the value of "work-free" down-time than the few dollars of profit from selling those types of cards. I think that's the logic behind the "my time is worth more" thought. It makes more sense when it's "my FREE time is worth more."

[QUOTE=coachnip13;14887680]Nice. :)![/QUOTE]



It’s both good and bad. On one hand I’m not a procrastinator but on the other hand it’s hard to even have a 3 day get away because I’m always thinking about what I could be getting done. My wife has said it’s her favorite and least favorite thing about me. We visited my in laws for Mother’s Day and my MIL begged me to relax but in the five day trip I changed all their toilets, faucets, installed new appliances and changed a few kitchen cabinets, that was my “vacation”


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I can't imagine taking the time to list out every single card I own knowing that many will sell for 0.01 or 99 cents.

I do not have time for this. This is where COMC is so nice. I can spend about 30 minutes to an hour getting a batch to them. Sure, alot of stuff will sit, but they will eventually sell.

If I have an item that is going to sell for $15 or more, I will always start it at a penny.

[QUOTE=baseballguy350;14888047]If I have an item that is going to sell for $15 or more, I will always start it at a penny.[/QUOTE]

exactly - there is NO difference between a penny and .99 for any auction i would run.

if i am concerned about whether an item is going for a penny or a dollar, then i am doing something wrong (i.e., LISTING it lol). Any card worth a dollar or less delivered is going to either be filler for packing or donated.

[QUOTE=silverandblack;14887489]Do you charge for shipping on these? If not you are basically doing all the work to give someone a free card and in many cases losing money to do it. I know for me personally if I’m buying cards for under a dollar I’m not interested in paying 3+ dollars for shipping[/QUOTE]

No. What happens is I list 50 of the same player and people buy multiple. I will end up sending out a few envelopes with 6¢ cards in it, but most will be $1 or $2.


[QUOTE=FT35;14887548]Are you shipping with bubble mailers or PWE?[/QUOTE]

PWE for orders under $12.

[QUOTE=damj91;14887587]I'd be curious to know what value these types of sellers put on their time. If you sell 50 cards at $.25 a piece you are getting $12.50. Factor in the time to sort, list on ebay and pack you probably have invested 1 hour into the process. After fees and any costs not passed to buyer you are making $9 an hour, if lucky.

At that rate, I'll donate the cards to a Boys/Girls club and find a better use of time.[/QUOTE]

I've been working on the penny auction for years and so far I've only been able to get it up to ~80% of minimum wage. That was true when it was $7.50 and $10.

I use my low leverage time like when I can't sleep or if I have a small window I'll scan a few cards here and there. Then when its ready and ebay gives me a zillion extra listings I just push the button in Turbo Lister.

I only do it if I can use the postage machine at work.
Shipping doesn't cost me anything, but those days are about to come to an end. They are taking it away from me.

I was selling things for $1.00 and you'll still get the card in a bubble mailer.

[QUOTE=rwperu34;14888166]


I've been working on the penny auction for years and so far I've only been able to get it up to ~80% of minimum wage. That was true when it was $7.50 and $10.
[/QUOTE]

minimum wage here in kansas is 7.25, maybe i should do this :cool:

[QUOTE=IronMonkey415;14888202]I only do it if I can use the postage machine at work.
Shipping doesn't cost me anything, but those days are about to come to an end. They are taking it away from me.
[/QUOTE]

"Dammit, why isn't work letting me ship my baseball cards on their dime anymore!?"

[QUOTE=IronMonkey415;14888202]I only do it if I can use the postage machine at work.
Shipping doesn't cost me anything, but those days are about to come to an end. They are taking it away from me.

I was selling things for $1.00 and you'll still get the card in a bubble mailer.[/QUOTE]

That’s called embezzlement.

I tend to believe the longer I've been selling on ebay, the more particular I get with what I sell.
It used to be kind of enjoyable, but has turned into a chore.
I'm not doing it for pennies.

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