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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Up and Down

If you are a frequent purchaser on eBay like myself you become pretty accustomed to price ranges for your favorite players. Usually when a card comes out that I like I'll check completed auctions to get a price range and try to snag it on the bottom half.  For the most part its a system that works pretty well. The only flaw is if you wait too long to pull the trigger and a guy blows up on you like a Mike Trout. With the Pirates only McCutchen has skyrocketed to a point where obtaining an auto will cost you an arm and a leg.  Thankfully his ascension took a few years so I was able to get in early on a lot of his high end issues.

What the Pirates do have are a lot of guys where the prices fluctuate all over the place. The two best examples of this are Neil Walker and Starling Marte. One day you will see a nice card that sold for $5 and the next it will be $15 for no reason. It makes it hard to pull the trigger on a higher end release because part of you is thinking it may not show up again, but if it does it could go for a lot less. You really have to gauge how much you want the card in your collection.

2014 Triple Threads Neil Walker Patch /9

This is one of my most recent eBay purchases of Walker. The seller started the auction at 9.99 which I assumed would get some bidding action at some point. High end set, low numbered and a decent patch usually drives the price high. Long story short I was the only one who made an attempt and won the auction. I really think the only reason I won this card is that he started the bidding high. I've seen similar cards go for closer to the $20 mark. Sellers having weird starting bids is a nice way to obtain cards as it scares away a lot bidders.

In my experiences if you just stick to your guns and have a price in mind at some point you will win the card. Sure, their will be circumstances where thriftiness will cause you to lose out on a desired card, but in the long run you will win more than your fair share by sticking to your budget. Ebay has a way to cycle even the lowest numbered of cards several times. Bid with patience my friends!

Thanks for reading.





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14 comments:

  1. DennisMarch 11, 2015 at 9:41 PM

    Nice patch! I love it when I'm unexpectedly the only bidder too. Your advice to be patient is sage!

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    1. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 7:51 AM

      I always wonder what the sellers thought process is when they start bids at 9.99 on a card that is worth about the same amount.

      Delete
  2. Zippy ZappyMarch 11, 2015 at 10:31 PM

    eBay with patience. This is the plot for the next Mission Impossible movie.

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    1. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 7:53 AM

      If you use the BIN function it will detonate the bomb!

      Delete
  3. FujiMarch 12, 2015 at 2:01 AM

    I'm all about waiting for cards to come down to my price point. And if they never do... then it wasn't meant to be. Probably why my wantlist is overflowing ;)

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    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 7:54 AM

      My price point is always much lower than what I see cards going for. If it is a card I really want that is when I do the comparison shopping. I really need to add a wantlist.

      Delete
  4. acrackedbatMarch 12, 2015 at 4:57 AM

    Nice colors! I too have won many auctions with higher first bid numbers. I do believe these deals scare off folks looking for cheap prices on higher end cards. You're a savvy shopper. ;)

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    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 7:55 AM

      I don't know about saavy. I've just learned my lesson the hard way many times.

      Delete
  5. The Lost CollectorMarch 12, 2015 at 9:24 AM

    That's a great patch!!

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    1. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 9:49 AM

      Triple Threads patches are always nice, but the prices usually reflect that. Thankfully this one was a good deal.

      Delete
  6. Big ToneMarch 12, 2015 at 10:50 AM

    I have an issue with the .99 cent starting bids with inflated shipping price.I tend to pass right on by ,without taking a second look.

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  7. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 10:55 AM

    I've been seeing that a lot more lately. Several auctions I've been following had $4-5 shipping rates. No reason shipping should cost more than $3.

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  8. YankeejetsfanMarch 12, 2015 at 7:17 PM

    Great pick up. I always go into a bidding with a top price that I refuse to exceed. At times, depending on the card, I will go past that price point, but I have learned to walk away as usually, the card will pop up again at some point.

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    Replies
    1. BobWalkthePlankMarch 12, 2015 at 8:47 PM

      Unless you are chasing a rainbow and worried the lower numbered cards might disappear their is no real reason to break the bank.

      Delete