Selling: individual coins vs larger lots?
Eric Babula
auctions. I'm hoping to start with a bunch of my extras, just to get a an
idea of what I'm in for, and to get a decent feedback rating as a Seller
before I start selling my better coins. I have a dilemma, though.
I'm planning on starting out with some of my lower-value coins - IHCs,
Mercs, Franklins, WLHs of G-VF range. What's the best way to sell them,
for the best profit margin for me?
On the one hand, I could sell them in lots - maybe 10 at a time, or 20,
or rolls (e.g. 10 Mercury Dimes; or, 10 1945 Mercury Dimes; or, one Roll
mixed Mercury Dimes; or, one Roll Mercury Dimes - 1920s).
Or, I could group together lots of 'type sets'. Maybe 1 IHC, one Wheatie,
one Liberty Nickel, one Buffalo Nickel, one Barber Dime, one Mercury
Dime, one silver Roosie, one Barber Quarter, one SLQ, etc.
Or, I could list each coin separately, selling only one coin per auction.
Obviously, listing each coin individually will be a lot of work for me.
But, I don't mind that so much....yet.
So, my assumptions, at this point:
Selling individual coins will probably bring in more money per coin. But,
they're much more work, and I'd get eaten alive by ebaY fees. Is it even
worth it to list G-4 Mercury Dimes individually? Is there a cutoff limit
(dollar value) where you would/wouldn't list coins individually?
Selling coins in lots will bring in a lower average return per coin. But,
they'd be less work and the ebaY fees would be lower, overall.
So, would these coins be more attractive to newbie collectors (i.e. I
should list them individually)? Or, would I find that intermediate
collectors be more interested in these coins (i.e. medium sized lots
would be better)? Or, if I listed them in rolls or larger lots, would I
have a better audience of intermediate/advanced collectors to bid on
them?
Just wondering what your take on this would be. What have you found to be
more profitable, when listing lower-value coins?
Hope I'm making sense, here.
TIA for your advice!
--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Bill Krummel
"Eric Babula" <eba...@care2.coom> wrote in message
news:Xns9617A6E55ABF...@24.94.170.87...
> I'm starting to prepare some coins for my first coin-related ebaY
> auctions. I'm hoping to start with a bunch of my extras, just to get a an
> idea of what I'm in for, and to get a decent feedback rating as a Seller
> before I start selling my better coins. I have a dilemma, though.
>
> I'm planning on starting out with some of my lower-value coins - IHCs,
> Mercs, Franklins, WLHs of G-VF range. What's the best way to sell them,
> for the best profit margin for me?
Common date circulated Mercs, Franklins, WLs are going to bring silver melt,
or a little over. Selling individually may bring a little more but I don't
think enough extra to justify individual listing fees and the extra bite
with Paypal fees if you accept Paypal. Paypal has a minimum plus the
percentage so that a $5 item can result in an 8-10% fee by Paypal. I may
be wrong with my numbers, but I think 3 $5 auctions will cost you $1.50
total in eBay fees and about $1.35 cents total in Paypal fees. Grouping the
three $5 items together with the expectations of a $15 result would cost
$1.00 in eBay fees and 74 cents in Paypal fees. Plus, the work time is
reduced if you can get 3 coins imaged together satisfactorily and quickly;
you save listing time, invoicing, packaging and emailing time. If you
charge a buck fifty for postage costs, that is more attractive to a buyer
looking at 3 coins worth $15 than one coin worth $5.
Having said all of that, Ijust had two auctions end at $1.76 each, so you
live and learn. More below.
>
> On the one hand, I could sell them in lots - maybe 10 at a time, or 20,
> or rolls (e.g. 10 Mercury Dimes; or, 10 1945 Mercury Dimes; or, one Roll
> mixed Mercury Dimes; or, one Roll Mercury Dimes - 1920s).
>
> Or, I could group together lots of 'type sets'. Maybe 1 IHC, one Wheatie,
> one Liberty Nickel, one Buffalo Nickel, one Barber Dime, one Mercury
> Dime, one silver Roosie, one Barber Quarter, one SLQ, etc.
>
> Or, I could list each coin separately, selling only one coin per auction.
>
> Obviously, listing each coin individually will be a lot of work for me.
> But, I don't mind that so much....yet.
I think it wouldn't take many weeks before you are really having to force
yourself do the work to list, so using "yet" may have a ring of prophecy.
> So, my assumptions, at this point:
>
> Selling individual coins will probably bring in more money per coin. But,
> they're much more work, and I'd get eaten alive by ebaY fees. Is it even
> worth it to list G-4 Mercury Dimes individually?
I don't think so, unless semikeys like the 21 P & D, etc.
Is there a cutoff limit
> (dollar value) where you would/wouldn't list coins individually?
I've never thought about it. If I did think twice before listing, I would
probably shoot for making a listing that has hopes for $10 or more.
>
> Selling coins in lots will bring in a lower average return per coin. But,
> they'd be less work and the ebaY fees would be lower, overall.
>
> So, would these coins be more attractive to newbie collectors (i.e. I
> should list them individually)? Or, would I find that intermediate
> collectors be more interested in these coins (i.e. medium sized lots
> would be better)? Or, if I listed them in rolls or larger lots, would I
> have a better audience of intermediate/advanced collectors to bid on
> them?
>
> Just wondering what your take on this would be. What have you found to be
> more profitable, when listing lower-value coins?
I have, in my accumulation, coins such as you are fretting over. I have
many, many wheat cents in 2X2s that are common date, circulated. I don't
want them. My choices are to spend them or sell them on eBay ( dealers
wouldn't be interested). I suspect I will eventually group them together
with a group of common mercs and common buffalos, state the face value and
that I have never looked for things like doubled mint marks, etc., start
them at 99 cents and let it go for whatever. One thing you probably need to
do is just do it. I've eBayed US Mint sets that have ended in less than
face value, not counting the shipping. I should have grouped the mint set
with others or taken the coins out of the package and spent them. Oh well.
Bill
Randy Thompson
I haven't been selling for all that long either. When I started I
decided not to list anything that wouldn't get at least $10-$15. I've
violated that rule a couple of times. A few weeks ago I sold a nice XF
Indian Cent for $6. I lost money on that one even before ebay fees.
On the other hand, I also sold a VF 1920-S Walking Liberty Half that
didn't do well either. It had very clean surfaces and a nice look to
it. I paid $28 for the coin way back in 1981. It should have sold for
better than $50 if the price guides are even close to correct. I got
$20.50 for it.
I've never tried listing multiple coins. I have bid on lots like that
in the past. I usually bid based on the coin I want and add very
little to my bid for the ones I don't want. Of the ones I've won I
pretty much got the lesser coins free. With multiple coins you need to
find two buyers who want all the coins in order to get a good price.
If I wasn't worried about loosing money and just wanted to clear out
some coins I would probably list them in lots. That would provide the
easiest time for you both listing and shipping.
Good luck with whichever way you go. Don't forget to put an FA post
here. I always get some good starter bids that way and sometimes the
coins go to fellow RCCers (as you well know). ;)
Eric Babula
news:d0vuqs$uiv$1...@news.netins.net:
Thanks for the advice, Bill! I was kinda thinking along those lines, too
- maybe make all my listings so that they'd close around $10.00 or more.
So, if that means having to combine 5 coins into a lot, so be it. If that
means listing just one coin at $9.99, that's ok, too. But, I just don't
think it would be worth the effort to photograph all my common date,
lower grade Mercs, etc., and list them all individually, if they're only
gonna sell at $0.50 each.
Eric Babula
news:1110672884.5...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com:
I have a lot of lower value stuff - well, a lot for me, anyway - my
collection is fairly small. I have a 2-300 common date, lower grade
Mercs. I have maybe 100 similar IHCs. I have 20+ pounds of Wheaties. I
have maybe 50 WLHs and 50 Franklins. To list all these separately would
kill me, I think! I might try to group them as favorably as I think I can
- how I would like to see them as a Buyer.
If I saw a roll of Mercs, I'd rather see a roll of 'Teens and 20s',
rather than a 'Mixed Roll' of mostly 40s. I need to find that perfect
lot, and list it in a way that will make someone NEED to win that
auction!
Thanks for the advice, Randy!