Is ebay turning into a non-auction site?

[Jetfire in the sky]

So I spend hours and hours scouring ebay every week and I reckon in the last 12 - 18 months more and more buy it now/best offer auctions are coming up, to the point now where items that go to auction are in a minority. I am referring to Transformer items here.
This is more evident once you get into MIB/MISB and big ticket items. Also, and I think I read this on a blog somewhere, it seems that certain sellers Worldwide have cornered the market on certain awesome G1 boxed stuff and therefore control the prices and we have seen these types of things artificially go up.
I rarely see items that I am after go to auction.
I guess a of way to combat this is to go for the best offer option if available. Honestly I have been very surprised with some of the accepted offers or well priced counteroffers that I have received compared to their list price. So I encourage forum members to put in a cheap price because you never know your luck, you get three goes at it, so why not.
I have noticed that a lot of these listed items can sit at the same price for months and even waiting for it to be relisted doesn't mean the price will come down. I have even seen prices go up after no one buys it!!

Just food for thought :)

[Cat]

They've been trying to do this for years, to move things to a more Amazon-like format.

[lancalot]

yeah i always do the best offer ...and usually you get around 10-20 dollars off so it like free shipping :D

[lancalot]

It mainly the shop that have the buyit now anyways... and some time they do offer sale (20-30%) as well on the item ... i just bought a yamato figure and that was 30% off storewide and now the sale finished for the shop it back up to a high price...

[Trent]

Easiest way around it is dont buy G1 ;):P

But yes you are right. It's not just G1 either, go look up Takara MP Skywarp for example. They are all outrageously priced unless you get the occasional 'outsider' auctioning/selling for a reasonable price.

[DELTAprime]

I've been putting up with BIN for the last 4 or so years. If your like me and a collector that missed buying the stuff instore that doesn't get reissued often or at all like RID and AEC you pretty much have to put up with BIN.

[Omega Metro]

I've always used BIN and prefer it. Never won anything at an auction and such a long tedious wait with a big disappointment at the end.

[Gofigure]

I've always used BIN and prefer it. Never won anything at an auction and such a long tedious wait with a big disappointment at the end.

100% agree. That has been my experience since 2003

Only once or twice had achieved satisfaction at auction

Always best offer or buy it now. Saves time, energy, and heartbreak ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

Easiest way around it is dont buy G1 ;):P
I get around it by not using eBay. :p ;) :p

[theshape]

I think people are scared of an item selling for less then they want.

I saw this one a few days ago

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/370881784616?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I bet it cost that to send it to AFA and to have it graded

[Gofigure]

You would be cursing the buyer.....but hey that's eBay

[Trent]

I think people are scared of an item selling for less then they want.

I saw this one a few days ago

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/370881784616?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I bet it cost that to send it to AFA and to have it graded

Pfft. Action Master. No matter how little it sells for, buyer will still get ripped. :p

[theshape]

Yeah I've still decided not to buy any yet

[Jetfire in the sky]

Some very good points and insights. It is hard to win an auction unless you are are there at the end. I used to use a site called auction sniper before the days of fast Internet, but now if there is something that I must bid on at the end I have my phone if I'm out.
The auction Shape has used is very good in showing why sellers don't let "high end" stuff go to auction, although it is an Action Master, so, yeah, but that is what the market thinks that item is worth. :p

[Sinnertwin]

Using Transformers MISB as an example

If we were to compare the auction format
http://m.ebay.com.au/search?kw=transformers+misb&epp=24&pgn=1&bid=1&loc=2&so=16&itemId=null

Vs

The BIN option
http://m.ebay.com.au/search?kw=transformers+misb&epp=24&pgn=1&bin=1&loc=2&so=16&from=refine

[BigTransformerTrev]

The last time I actually bid on ebay was over a year ago when I got a MIB G1 Scorponok. Price over doubled in the final 10 minutes :mad: Spent way more than I had intended :o


Besides that nearly every bot I've bought from there has been a "Buy it Now" purchase. I don't mind it too much as it saves the hassle of competing with others, which often drives up the price and requires you to constantly check back.


That said, it sometimes takes away from it being a really good deal, like when I got an Animated Wreck Gar for $1.40 because the person has labelled it incorrectly so noone else bid :D

[drifand]

New items = buy it now at best price

Collector's old items, can be an auction. Remember, an auction is charged less to the seller than a buy it now auction.

[UltraMarginal]

I was under the impression these days that eBay takes a 7% cut of whatever the final sale price is, regardless of sale method.

[MayzaPrime]

I was lucky enough to win a complete G1 Bludgeon for just over $100.

Some times you can get a bargin on eBay!

[Hursticon]

I was lucky enough to win a complete G1 Bludgeon for just over $100.

Some times you can get a bargin on eBay!

Was that just last night/this morning? - If so; bloody well done mate :cool:, I was watching that auction to see how it went & was REALLY surprised when it didn't absolutely skyrocket at the end! :eek:;)

Friggin' Über jealous too! :p:D